Ex-Eagle Josh Huff fails to appear in court

Josh Huff, ex-wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, skipped a court date on Tuesday, failing to answer the weapons and drug charges against him.

Judge Robert T. Zane, who can issue an arrest warrant for failure to appear, did not say what repercussions Huff might face, Philly.com reported.

Zane carried on with proceedings after it was apparent Huff was a no-show.

“If the defendant was here, (I would) read them their rights and advise of them their responsibilities,” Zane said, NJ.com reported. “He is not here, so I’m not going to do that.”

Huff, who was released from the Eagles two days after his Nov. 1 arrest, was scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Court in Camden.

Huff’s attorney, Fortunato N. Perri, told reporters on Tuesday that he no longer represented the player. No new attorney has been appointed, according to court officials.

Huff was stopped for speeding on Nov. 1 on the New Jersey side of the Walt Whitman Bridge. In connection with that stop, he faces charges for possession of a small amount of marijuana and unlawful possession of a weapon.

“I want to let the fans and the community as a whole know that I understand the responsibility that I have as a professional athlete,” Huff said when he was let go by the Eagles, ESPN reported. “And I will take all measures necessary to correct mistakes I’ve made.”

Huff’s teammates said at the time he was crying and remorseful, but when asked why he carried a gun and six hollow-point bullets, he answered: “I’m a professional athlete. What professional athlete don’t have a gun?

“I have a wife and I have a son at home. My job is to protect them at all costs, and my job is to protect myself as well, even though I know I have security here, but I have to protect myself as well.”

The mandatory minimum sentence for the gun charge is 3.5 years in prison.

Huff is currently signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad.