The crazy number of NFL players who have been arrested since 2000 will blow your mind

WELCOME to the NFL, where a shocking number of players make our baddest footy stars look like boy scouts.

epa03761803 Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez appears in Attleboro District Court to face murder charges...

WELCOME to the NFL, where a shocking number of players make our baddest footy players look like boy scouts.

One of the world’s most violent sports also has a seriously lengthy off-field rap sheet, with the National Football League’s players involved in a staggering number of crimes each year.

More than 700 NFL players have been arrested, charged or indicted since the 2000 season, with crimes ranging from alcohol offences to drugs, guns, sex crimes and domestic violence, according to data collated by USA Today.

The most recent incidents include Ray Rice, who was delisted by the Baltimore Ravens after footage emerged of him punching his now-wife unconscious in a casino lift and star Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, who was indicted by a Texas grand jury on child abuse charges after it was revealed he violently disciplined his own son by hitting him with a tree branch.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was delisted after it was revealed he punched his wife unconscious.

As bad as those alleged offences are, they pale in comparison with former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who is currently on trial for allegedly murdering Odin Lloyd and is facing charges over a double murder in 2012.

While some players have had their charges dropped or are later found not guilty, a greater number are found guilty and handed sentences of varying severity.

The USA Today data shows there have been 730 separate arrests, indictments or charges recorded against NFL players since January 24, 2000, when Denver Broncos wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion Rod Smith was arrested on charges of choking, beating and shoving his wife at their home.

Adrian Peterson has been stood down by Minnesota after he was indicted for child abuse.

Smith’s wife later recanted her version of events, while he pleaded guilty to verbal harassment and was sentenced to two years of probation and to undergo counselling. The NFL also imposed a $25,000 suspended fine.

Smith’s is one of 94 domestic violence incidents listed among the data, with assaults on women among the most common offences committed by NFL players.

Alcohol-related incidents top the list with 252, while 101 players have been caught up in drug offences.

Assault and battery rank alongside domestic violence with 94 arrests, charges and indictments, while gun offences figure 51 times among the crimes.

Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend, and then himself, last year.

Among the listed charges are:

— Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher, who murdered his girlfriend by shooting her 10 times in 2013 and then killed himself;

— Dallas defensive tackle Josh Brent, who was sentenced to 180 days jail after crashing his car at more than 175km/h, killing passenger and teammate Jerry Brown;

— A player who slammed his partner against a wall and hit her arm with a mop handle;

— A player who hit a pregnant woman during an argument about whether he was the father of her child;

Josh Brent served six months in jail over the death of teammate Jerry Brown, who was killed when Brent crashed his car at high speed.

— A player who pleaded guilty to child endangerment after putting a dry cleaning bag over his two-year-old son’s head;

— A player who rammed his Hummer into his wife’s car, which was carrying his two-year-old child and a babysitter;

— New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick, who served a long jail term over his involvement in a dog fighting ring.

— A player accused of bringing a loaded gun in his carry-on bag at an airport;

— A player who defrauded his insurance company by falsely claiming his $54,000 car was stolen.