UPDATE: Eagles' Michael Bennett surrenders to authorities, taken into custody | What's next?

Michael Bennett appeared in court in Houston in front of Judge Robert Johnson on Monday afternoon and will be taken into custody. His bail is set at $10,000.

The Eagles' defensive end was indicted on a felony charge of injury to the elderly on Friday stemming from an incident that occurred following Super Bowl LI in Houston in 2017. Rusty Hardin, Bennett's lawyer, said that Bennett was in Hawaii when the indictment came down from the Harris County (Texas) district attorney. Bennett appeared at the 177th District Court on Monday.

At the courthouse, Hardin expressed confidence that Bennett was innocent.

"When this is all over everyone will know Michael is not guilty," Hardin said. "He did not do this."

Later he added: "I'm going to say this with a smile and total confidence: they are going to change their mind. This guy didn't do it."

7 thoughts on messy Bennett situation

Bennett allegedly injured Barbara Tatman, a 66-year-old paraplegic woman working at NRG Stadium during that Super Bowl, which was between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. Bennett was in the crowd that day supporting his brother, Martellus, then a tight end for the Patriots.

The court imposed a no-contact order for Bennett with Tatman, the complainant, meaning Bennett is not permitted to contact her. Hardin requested Bennett be allowed to travel to and from his home in Hawaii while out on bond, and the request was approved.

According to the indictment -- and ensuing press conference from Houston Police Department chief Art Acevedo -- Bennett is accused of pushing through security personnel at the stadium in order to gain access to the field. Per Acevedo, Bennett's alleged aggression caused a shoulder sprain of the 66-year-old paraplegic woman.

The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

So what's next?

Hardin said on Monday that the case will be "dismissed or go to trial." Hardin said he spoke with witnesses of the alleged witness over the incident and feels that the prosecutors and the grand jury "didn't have the whole story."

"I can tell you that Michael had nothing to do with anything that happened with this lady they're alleging," Hardin said. "I dont know who did, or what. I don't even know what she says happened. I just know he didn't do anything and I know what the indictment said."

As for Acevedo's bombastic press conference on Friday afternoon where he labeled Bennett "morally bankrupt," Hardin said that was out of line.

"Like the Chief of Police, I wasnt't there" at the incident, Hardin said. "Unlike the chief of police, I can tell you right now this guy is not morally bankrupt, he's one of the best people I've met. if you look back at what his career and his life as been ... that's not a guy that does anything to elderly people, in a wheelchair or anything else."

About Acevedo's comments, Hardin said "I suspect he will one day regret it."

Sports Illustrated legal expert Michael McCann wrote an extensive piece on Friday about the implications of Bennett's case, and said much of it depends on the evidence the prosecution possesses -- Acevedo said there was no video or photo of the incident -- and if the evidence suggests the incident was more of a fluke accident than an act of aggression, Bennett would not have committed a crime.

McCann also posited that there's a "solid chance" Bennett never actually stands trial and instead reaches a plea deal with prosecutors where he pleads guilty or "no contest" -- meaning he's not admitting guilt but also not presenting a defense -- to a misdemeanor and would receive no jail time. In this scenario, Bennett might be required to pay a fine, perform community service and/or being placed on probation.

On the flip side, if Bennett ultimately chooses to fight the charge and loses, in Texas -- provided a sentence does not exceed 10 years --it is possible for a convicted defendant to receive a "suspended sentence." This type of sentence is where a judge delays the jail or prison detainment in order to give the defendant a chance to avoid trouble. If they stay out of trouble during a probationary period, the defeandant would not serve the sentence in prison.

From there, the next step would pertain to his status with the Eagles and the NFL. Eagles brass -- including coach Doug Pederson, general manager Howie Roseman and Eagles' owner Jeffrey Lurie -- are speaking to the media this week in Orlando at the NFL Annual Meeting, and will likely be asked about the Bennett situation.

Roseman addressed the situation on Monday and the Eagles were not aware of the alleged incident prior to Friday and implied he would let the situation play itself out in court before making any further decisions.

"I think we're in a great country and in this country people are presumed innoncent," Roseman said. "I think we have to fair about that in all these matters. People have the right to present their side. Our overriding philosophy on these things is people are innocent until proven guilty."

Pederson will speak with the media on Tuesday morning and Lurie is TBA. It will be Lurie's first time speaking to reporters since the team's Super Bowl LII victory in Minnesota last month.

In all likelihood, the Eagles will wait to make a decision on Bennett's future with the organization until situation plays itself out, of course depending on how long that would take.

If the Eagles ultimately decided to release Bennett, they would save $5.65 million without any dead cap penalties.

As for the NFL, ultimately commissioner Roger Goodell will decide if Bennett deserves to be suspended for his alleged actions. Ultimately, according to the league's conduct policy, it might not even matter if Bennett is found innocent or guilty of the charges levied against him.

Per the policy: "In cases where a player is not charged with a crime, or is charged but not convicted, he may still be found to have violated the Policy if the credible evidence establishes that he engaged in conduct prohibited by this Personal Conduct Policy."

As it stands, this process is far from over.

Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zsr1090@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZackBlatt. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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