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Charges Dropped Against Walton, but NFL Future Still Murky

Former Dolphins running back Mark Walton still faces an uncertain NFL future even after criminal charges against him were dropped

Alain Poupart

Steve Mitchell-USA Today Sports

One day after the one-year anniversary of Mark Walton signing with his hometown Miami Dolphins, the criminal charges that ended his stint with the team were dropped, according to multiple reports.

That doesn't, however, guarantee a return to the NFL for Walton, who was arrested three times during the 2019 offseason before being released by the Cincinnati Bengals and signed by the Dolphins.

Even with the latest charges being dropped, Walton still could face disciplinary action from the NFL, according to ESPN.

Walton, who starred at Booker T. Washington High School before playing for the University of Miami, was in the middle of serving an NFL suspension when he was released by the Dolphins following his arrest on charges of aggravated battery of a pregnant woman.

Walton was a fourth-round pick of the Bengals in the 2018 draft, though he had only 14 rushing attempts as a rookie.

The Dolphins signed Walton last May after he took part in a rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.

He had started the last four games he played and was leading the team in rushing with 201 yards at the time of his release

“He’s a great young player,” Walton's attorney, Michael Gottlieb, told The Miami Herald. “He came up in a tough area of Miami without a good father figure and he’s had a little bit of trouble. But by and large everything he’s had has been dismissed. I’d really like to see a team take a chance on him. ... I know that he can overcome this.”

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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