Michigan Football: Grant Perry Should Now Be Suspended From Team

Now that Michigan football wide receiver Grant Perry has accepted a plea deal, he should be suspended for at least a game this upcoming season.

I’ve been fairly critical of how the Michigan football program has been handling the Grant Perry case to this point, and now that he has reportedly taken a plea deal, the record can be set right with another, firm suspension.

On Wednesday, Perry pleaded guilty to one count of resisting a police officer and one count of misdemeanor assault and battery. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and a pending alcohol charge.

Prosecutor Christina Johnson said she is not opposed to a sentencing under the Youthful Trainee Act. In that case, Perry’s conviction would be set aside until as late as his 24th birthday.

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It was bizarre when Jim Harbaugh announced in early June that Perry was going through offseason workouts with the Wolverines, even though he was supposed to remain suspended until the legal process was completed.

Just last week, Harbaugh clarified Perry’s status, saying he would be able to play again once his court case was resolved. Now that that time has come, a suspension seems appropriate.

When Perry was allowed back with the team, I pointed out this potential problem down the road—that his case wouldn’t end favorably and Michigan would be in the position of either taking further action on his punishment or letting go of the situation.

Technically, Perry has already been suspended twice: once immediately following the incident in October, and then again once it was learned charges would be filed. I understand moving to a third suspension for the same incident isn’t something that happens often, but the program has brought this upon itself.

There’s no doubt Perry did the best thing for himself by taking the plea deal and avoiding his case going to a jury, which may have found him guilty of the criminal sexual conduct charge that was dropped. Should Harbaugh decide a suspension is necessary, it would not need to be anything drastic, but something like one or two games would be appropriate.

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I think it’s highly unlikely that it happens, and in that situation, hopefully there is still a strong and clear message that can be sent as a result of this case. Either way, I’ll go back to it one more time: By jumping the gun on bringing Perry back, Michigan brought this problem on itself, and now it must deal with it.

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