New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards was driving in Manhattan last September when he was pulled over by police. Edwards was returning home with several teammates from a charity fundraiser, but his Land Rover had tinted windows, which police were on the lookout for on the west side of Manhattan during early morning DWI checks. Smelling alcohol on Edwards’ breath, he was given a breathalyzer test and the result was a 0.16 percent, which was twice the legal limit in New York. Edwards was arrested and charged with drunk driving.
The arrest gained publicity in New York given Edwards had promised to behave in the wake of previous instances of bad behavior with his former team, the Cleveland Browns. It was in Cleveland in 2009 where Edwards was accused of punching a man. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor aggravated assault, was placed on probation and paid a $1,000 fine.
For his DWI charge, Edwards could face up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000 and the loss of his driver’s license for up to six months.
At a court hearing in November, Edwards’ attorney said he was in discussions with the New York district attorney’s office about a plea deal, which would not be revealed until the next scheduled court hearing. That hearing has been continued until March 2011.
The NFL is awaiting the outcome of the case before deciding on taking any action. Since the DWI is Edwards’ second brush with the law, a conviction could lead to a fine or even a suspension by the NFL, which is cracking down on player misconduct off the field.
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