Jonathan Dwyer pleads guilty to misdemeanor, gets 18 months probation

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, in Maricopa County Superior Court Thursday.

Formerly of the Steelers, Dwyer was charged initially with felony aggravated assault and criminal damage in an incident where police alleged Dwyer broke his wife's nose in an incident at their home July 21.

Dwyer pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday. The lesser charges brought with it a sentence of 18 months probation and community service.

He was taken into custody after a practice with the Cardinals in September, and right after the video footage of ex-Ravens running back Ray Rice hitting his then-fiance went public. Dwyer was placed on the reserve/non football illness list, keeping him out of the league for the 2014 season.

Dwyer signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals in March after receiving no offer from the Steelers, the only other team he's played with since he was taken in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Dwyer led the Steelers with 623 yards on 156 carries in 2012, the lowest amount of yards to lead the Steelers in rushing in over two decades. Dwyer was released prior to the start of the 2013 season, but was re-signed after the first week when Isaac Redman struggled. Rookie RB Le'Veon Bell would miss the first three games of the season with a foot injury, and upon his return, took nearly every carry for the remainder of the year.

Dwyer is a free agent, but it doesn't appear likely he'll find much interest. Along with the stigma of domestic violence, Dwyer appeared in two games for the Cardinals, rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in 2014.