Bucs running back Michael Pittman was released from an Arizona jail early Monday morning, allowed to return to football and his family after serving two weeks of his sentence from a guilty plea on a felony charge of endangerment.
Pittman, who still faces three years of supervised probation, was sentenced to 30 days in jail with two days served April 23, but Arizona law allows a sentence to be cut in half for good behavior. He was released at 5:15 a.m. Monday, and his attorney said he was expected to return to Tampa with his wife, Melissa.
Pittman, who could not be reached for comment, was accused of using his Hummer in May 2003 to ram a Mercedes-Benz that had Melissa, their 2-year-old son and 18-year-old babysitter inside at the gate of the Arizona neighborhood where they lived.
Pittman's attorneys argued he was trying to keep her from driving away while under medication, and charges of aggravated assault and aggravated domestic violence were dropped when he accepted a plea agreement on a single count of endangerment.
The sixth-year pro awaits word on a potential suspension commissioner Paul Tagliabue can hand down for a second violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy.
Pittman was suspended one game in 2001 for a misdemeanor conviction on a similar arrest, and it's expected this suspension would be for multiple games, threatening his future with the Bucs.
NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Monday that the league has not reached a decision. Pittman's attorney, Joel Thompson, said the league called him Thursday to get his mailing address, and he has sent a letter to Tagliabue asking for leniency and suggesting community service as an alternative to a suspension.
The Bucs had no comment Monday, and Pittman's agent, Tom Condon, was out of the office.
