Retired fullback Jameel Cook is being accused of fraud by the state of Texas. Authorities claim the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer is guilty of filing fraudulent documents in order to obtain medical coverage. He also stands accused of filing for other expenses as well, all through the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg says Jameel is guilty of committing a third-degree felony, on the grounds that he obtained his medical clearance through a meticulous act of deception. Cook's criminal offense is punishable with a 10-year maximum sentence, although that seems unlikely, given the circumstances and probable cause. Cook filed the alleged faulty paperwork between March 2016 to September 2017 while holding residential property in the state of Texas.
Cook was a 6th round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he took part in the franchise's lone Super Bowl win under current Raiders' boss Jon Gruden. He then joined the Houston Texans in 2006 for a brief stint before returning to Tampa to cap his career. Within those 8 years of NFL service, Cook was primarily deployed on slant routes, he was never once considered an "every-down" positional player.
Court records indicate that Cook is currently without an attorney. There's the odd chance he might be representing himself in the court of law, however unlikely.
