Armed robbery trial could end careers of corners Dunbar, Baker

Updated Friday, May 22, 2020

Quinton Dunbar and DeAndre Baker were two of the more significant cornerbacks in the NFL before they were arrested last week for armed robbery near Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  Suddenly their careers are very much in doubt.

There are conflicting reports about some of the circumstances, but apparently the players were attending a cookout Wednesday night where card games and video games were being played.  One witness said he saw Baker and Dunbar lose “about $70,000” while gambling at a party at another location a few days earlier.  

Witnesses said an argument ensued at the second party, apparently because Baker and Dunbar wanted to recoup their losses.  A report by the Miramar Police Department said Baker, a first-round draft pick last year for the New York Giants, flipped over a table and pulled out a semiautomatic handgun.  

With the assistance of Dunbar, who started last season for the Washington Redskins, and another man, unidentified and wearing a red mask, Baker allegedly collected $12,400 in cash and $61,000 worth of Rolexes and other watches.

One witness told police that Baker threatened to shoot anyone leaving the house without his permission.

When the incident was reported to police, arrest warrants were issued for Baker and Dunbar, who turned themselves in a couple of days later, after hiring attorneys to negotiate surrender terms. 

Baker, 22, was cited with four counts of armed robbery and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, $25,000 bond for each, making a total of $200,000.

Bond was set at $100,000 for Dunbar, 27, who was charged with four counts of armed robbery but was not accused of wielding a gun, though some witnesses said he was armed.

The Miramar Police Department issued a statement saying, “We have taped, sworn statements from four victims and a witness.”

Patrick Patel, attorney representing Baker, told SNY TV in New York that “someone should look into the record of the four individuals.  It’s longer than a football field.”

Patel contends this was a case of mistaken identity, that at the time of the fracas his client was in another room playing Madden.

Bradford Cohen, another attorney for Baker, claimed to have “affidavits from several witnesses that exonerate my client.”

Michael Grieco, Dunbar’s lawyer, said his client was at the party in question “but did not commit a crime.  He got targeted because of who he was.”

He was one of the best coverage corners in football before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury after 11 games of the 2019 season.  At one time he was ranked No. 1 at his position by Pro Football Focus.  He had 4 interceptions and 8 pass breakups for the season.  

Rob Ryan, one of the assistant coaches of Washington’s defense last year, texted Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless with this message: “Quinton is very smart, studied all the time.  He was the only one in the secondary who knew the opponent.  I recommended him to a friend of mine in Seattle.”

The Seahawks traded a fifth-round draft pick to Washington to acquire Dunbar, who  was about to begin his third and final year of a $10.5 million contract.  Upon meeting Washington’s new coach, Ron Rivera, Dunbar said he wanted to renegotiate and extend his contract.  

Rivera balked, saying Dunbar needed to prove he wasn’t injury-prone before expecting an extension. The former Florida Gator, who was undrafted, missed 14 games over the past two seasons.

Rivera has made it a policy to trade all disgruntled players.  Hence, Trent Williams to San Francisco, Dunbar to Seattle.

Baker was born in Miami and played for the University of Georgia.  Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart described him as being “from a rough neighborhood,” and there were rumblings about “character issues” during Baker’s collegiate career.  Winner of the Jim Thorpe Trophy as college football’s best defensive back, Baker had a disappointing rookie season with the Giants: 8 passes defensed, no interceptions for a defense that allowed 30 passing touchdowns and 8.0 yards per throw.

Giants coaches complained of Baker’s work ethic but still projected him as a starter this season.  After his arrest, Baker was told not to participate in any more of the team’s virtual training sessions but to “focus on your legal issues.”

Patel assured the Giants that Baker has a new attitude, that he’s been “scared straight.”  The attorney took pains to praise the Miramar police for their restraint.  His legal strategy seems to be to create reasonable doubt based upon conflicting eyewitness reports -– Dunbar and Baker likely to testify against each other — and hope that Broward County will decide not to pursue a troublesome case against a very young man who has potential for success.    

Dunbar’s attorney, Grieco, is taking a more aggressive approach with the law.  He chastised police for tweeting about the apprehensions: “I’ve never seen a police department so excited about arresting a celebrity.”  It could be a short step, however, from fame to oblivion.