A breaking story on ESPN.com reported that New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested Tuesday on charges of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) after officers pulled him over because his SUV had “excessive tinting” on its windows, police said.Officers on the lookout for minor Traffic Violations like excessive tinting or missing registration stickers pulled over Edwards’ Land Rover on Manhattan’s West Side at about 5:15 a.m. and noticed a “strong smell of alcohol,” chief NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said.
Edwards was given a breath test at the scene and another at a police station. His blood alcohol level was .16, twice the .08 legal limit. There were four (4) other people in the SUV at the time.
The Jets expressed their disappointment in the receiver in a statement Tuesday from general manager Mike Tannenbaum.
“We are very disappointed in Braylon’s actions this morning. The Player Protect program is in place for our organization to prevent this situation. Braylon is aware of this program and showed poor judgment,” Tannenbaum said.
“We are reviewing the information with the league and will impose the appropriate disciplinary measures.”
The Player Protect program provides a 24-hour driving service exclusively for professional athletes. The company also provides security, if requested, from current or former law-enforcement agents.
If a player wants a lift home, he can call anytime and will be driven home in a luxury SUV or a Mercedes limo or an executive limo van.
The Jets, through their player development program, distributed leaflets on the Player Protect program to every player on the team. It informs them they aren’t charged for the service, and the club picks up the expense.
Edwards caught a touchdown pass as well as a two-point conversion on Sunday in the Jets’ 28-14 victory against the New England Patriots.Edwards’ attorney, Peter Frankel, acknowledged that the specifics of the case as laid out by authorities were accurate, saying: “That’s my understanding, yes.” But he quickly added: “I can’t really get into anything that happened.”
Frankel, who represented imprisoned former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress in his attempt to gain work release, said Edwards would not be available to the media. “We just want to get him out,” he said. “I’m sure he’s absolutely exhausted and he wants to go back to his home and his teammates.”During his weekly spot on WFAN-AM on Tuesday morning, Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said Edwards attended a Monday night event in support of Cotchery’s nonprofit foundation benefiting underprivileged youth in Manhattan.
Cotchery said several teammates were there, and the event ran from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Manhattan’s West Side.
It’s not clear where Edwards was coming from when he was pulled over.
Pending the outcome of his New York City DUI case, Edwards may have to return to Cleveland to face a possible Violation of Probation, which could carry jail time.
On a side note: Being a Jets fan is not easy…
If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI, or any other Traffic Offense, the Blake & Dorsten, P.A. is on your side. Contact former State of Florida Prosecutor Nicholas J. Dorsten for a free review and consultation on your case.
To speak directly with an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney, contact the Blake & Dorsten, P.A. at 727.286.6141.