Ex-Gator Reaves charged with drug possession

TAMPA — Police in Tampa say former University of Florida football star John Reaves had cocaine on him when they arrested him for pointing a gun at two men during a dispute.

Tampa police reports say the 58-year-old Reaves was arrested Wednesday in connection with the gun episode four days earlier. A police report released Monday says a deputy who searched Reaves at the jail found a plastic bag in his pocket containing cocaine.

Reaves, a real estate agent in Tampa, is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of cocaine and introducing contraband into a detention facility. He is free on a $9,000 bond.

Reaves' attorney, Nicholas Matassini, said his client plans to plead not guilty to all the charges. A message could not be left at Reaves' home because of a full voice mailbox.

Reaves set several passing records during his four-year career at Florida from 1968-1972.

A first-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972, Reaves started 15 games over 10 seasons with the Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Oilers. He returned to play two games with Tampa Bay as a strike replacement in 1987.

Reaves also was the starting quarterback of the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits from 1983-85.

Reaves later worked as an assistant coach at Florida from 1990-92 under Steve Spurrier. He returned for a one-year stint as an assistant coach at Florida in 1994, then served as an assistant at South Carolina from 1996-97.