Joseph Randle’s arrest leads to endorsement deal with underwear company

Dallas Cowboys running back and Wichita native Joseph Randle, who was arrested last week on a misdemeanor charge for allegedly shoplifting a pack of underwear and a bottle of cologne at a Frisco Dillard's department store, will now be a spokesman for an underwear company.

MeUndies will pay Randle enough to help defray the cost of the reported $29,500 fine the Cowboys imposed on him.

Randle and MeUndies will also donate $15,000 worth of underwear and basic apparel to children in the Dallas area.

A statement by the company posted to Twitter read:

“Randle would like to take full responsibility for his actions, and take this time to not only apologize to his fans, teammates and coaches, but the entire NFL, the Dallas Cowboys Organization and the department store for what took place. He saw this partnership as an opportunity to turn a negative situation into a positive and teamed up (sic) MeUndies to give back to his community and help families in need. Every mistake can be a teaching opportunity if you are willing to take advantage of it."

Randle apologized Wednesday for the incident.

"I know there’s big-time consequences for things in life," Randle said Wednesday. "I disappointed a lot of people who really care about me like my brothers on my team, the coaches around here, this whole organization, people who have supported me, my family, my dad. I let a lot of people down. I am really just trying my best to make it up to them and do whatever I’ve got to do to get past this."

On Wednesday, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Randle's punishment would be a significant fine, but no suspension.

Randle, who has rushed for 113 yards on 16 carries this season, was glad he was still allowed to play Sunday against the Giants.

"It means a lot to be out there with my team," he said. "I love this game and I love the team I play for. I try my best to rep the star the right way. I didn’t do that. I am going to try my best to make it up to my teammates and all of the people that really care about me....It’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life. I have never got in any kind of trouble in my whole life. This is just something I have to learn from and move forward."

On Friday, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones shared his thoughts on the matter.

"I was surprised," Jones said. "I think for the obvious reason, but I do believe and we obviously have spent quite a bit of time this week really reviewing everything we can review. I think he's very, very capable, his track record (shows) if he makes a miscue he'll straighten it up and he'll go forward.

"He sees how his actions can impact a lot of people. He's certainly going to pay a high price for some underwear and a demonstration bottle of cologne. That'll set a record. It'll probably be what they charged Dez Bryant when all the seniors took Dez out for that hazing. When they put that big tab of food and wine on Dez. That'll probably surpass what Dez paid for a few bottles of wine."

Police said Randle attempted to steal a $39.50-pack of two black Polo underwear and a tester bottle of Gucci Guilty Black cologne valued at $84 on Monday.

He was released from Frisco City Jail early Tuesday after posting a $350 bail, police said.

The video shows Randle walking to the underwear section and dropping a packet of underwear into a Dillard’s bag he’d received from a previous purchase.

A security officer stopped Randle in the parking lot. A store manager escorted Randle back to the store and recovered the stolen items, which were valued at $123.50 before taxes.

After he was arrested by Frisco police, Randle told police he thought, “All right, y’all got me” when he saw the security officer — who he described as the “old guy” — approach him in the Dillard’s parking lot.

He also told police he “should have just kept walking to his car if he knew he would be arrested,” the arrest report states.

Randle has a base salary of $495,000 for this season. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys out of Oklahoma State in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

This story was originally published October 20, 2014 at 8:30 AM with the headline "Joseph Randle’s arrest leads to endorsement deal with underwear company."