Hines Ward was arrested for drunk driving in DeKalb County, Georgia on early Saturday morning.

He was later released after posting a $1,000 bond. If convicted of DUI in Georgia (assuming this is his first DUI offense in ten years), Ward faces at least 40 hours of community service, $300 in fines, 10 days in jail, and 120 days of driver's license suspension.

Regardless of the outcome, being arrested for drunk driving looks bad for Ward, a highly successful NLF player (Super Bowl XL MVP with the Pittsburgh Steelers) and a celebrity (winner of Dancing with the Stars season 12).

Still, what Hines has done isn't all that bad compared to what NFL players have done, let alone what US professional athletes in general have done.

Below are three worse scandals that have hit NFL players.

Rape Allegations Against Ben Roethlisberger (Ward's Pittsburgher Steelers teammate)

In March 2010, Georgia police investigated Ben Roethlisberger for allegedly raping a 20-year-old college student at a club. The DA eventually dropped the charges, citing the lack of evidence.

Still, Roethlisberger was suspended for six games in 2010 and had one of his endorsements terminated.

Michael Vick's Conviction

Michael Vick, arguably the greatest running quarterback in history, was convicted of running a dog fighting ring in 2007. He got locked up in jail and went bankrupt because of it.

Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress shot himself in the right thigh in a night club with a concealed gun he was carrying. Besides being an extremely awkward and mock-worthy incident, it was against the law to carry a concealed gun in public without having a license.

Burress was convicted and served jailed time.

So Hines Ward's golden boy and squeaky clean image is gone (for at least a few years). That's not, however, likely the end of his status as a well-regarded celebrity and athlete. Even Michael Vick, an ex-con, has gotten himself right back in the game as the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ward will probably do better than Vick and pull a Kobe Bryant. Bryant, accused of rape in 2003, recovered from the accusation. Today, he has plenty of endorsement deals and jersey sales.

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