Manley Gets Two Years in Jail

Thursday, March 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) _ Former NFL star Dexter Manley was sentenced to two years in jail Thursday for evidence tampering after he was convicted of swallowing cocaine during a drug bust and failed to show for a court-ordered meeting.

Manley could have received as little as probation. His possible state jail term ranged from six months to two years. He received the maximum.

The 43-year-old ex-player was arrested Monday at a Houston hospital, where he checked in last weekend.

``I do think that you need drug treatment,'' Judge Elsa Alcala said. ``From your history, I do see that.

``I do see that you do need mental health counseling because you are so self-destructive but I also think you need to be punished.''

Manley was convicted last week after a jury determined he tried to swallow less than a gram of cocaine during a drug bust at a Houston motel. He was required to meet with a probation officer last Thursday and failed to show.

``I did it to myself,'' Manley told Houston TV station KRIV as he was hustled by deputies to an elevator outside the courtroom. ``I apologize to the fans and the public.''

Manley, who grew up in Houston, retired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1991 after a second failed drug test. He previously failed a drug test in 1989 while playing for the Washington Redskins, was suspended from the NFL and the next year joined the Arizona Cardinals.

Manley was arrested four times from November 1994 to July 1995. He later was convicted and served 15 months of a four-year sentence. He was paroled in November 1996.

``Mr. Manley may well have been a superstar on the football field but in this courtroom _ Harris County, Texas _ he was like any other defendant,'' prosecutor John Jordan said.

Manley's lawyer, Jonathan Munier, said he believed the former player would use his time wisely behind bars and get treatment.

``He's got some demons,'' Munier said. ``He's fighting them the best he can. The punishment was severe but at the same time he kind of brought that upon himself.''

Manley was free on $20,000 bond after last week's conviction when he failed to show for the appointment arranged by the judge. Munier said Manley sought hospitalization for depression.

Manley was stopped Jan. 10, 2001, because officers saw him leave a motel room they were about to search. Police said he tried to swallow the cocaine he was carrying as they tried to arrest him.