Cleveland Browns linebacker Armonty Bryant was to miss yesterday’s game against Kansas City after he and safety De’Ante Saunders were arrested on Christmas morning following a traffic stop.
Bryant, who has a history of legal troubles, is not traveling with the team so he can tend to the legal matter.
Browns general manager Ray Farmer was critical of the players’ behavior in a statement on Saturday.
“These are charges that we take very seriously,” Farmer said.
“The importance of responsible decisionmaking is something we continually stress to all members of our organization, which makes it extremely disappointing that these two individuals would put themselves in this situation by making such poor decisions,” Farmer said.
Farmer added the incident was subject to the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Saunders was cited for driving under the influence after a traffic stop in Cleveland suburb Brook Park at 2:16am on Christmas Day, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol citation. He was driving at 120kph in a 100kph zone, the citation said.
Saunders, 23, refused a breath test, according to the citation, meaning he automatically loses his license for a year.
In addition, a gun was confiscated from Saunders’ car, patrol spokesman Lieutenant Craig Cvetan said.
Information about the gun is to be forwarded to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office for potential charges, since Saunders does not have a concealed weapons permit, Cvetan said.
Saunders is scheduled for a hearing today in Berea Municipal Court.
Bryant, 25, was arrested at the scene for having the medication Adderall without a prescription, the lieutenant said.
He was released after being taken to the patrol’s Brook Park post, and the information was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, Cvetan added.
Browns coach Mike Pettine gave his players the holiday off so they could be with their families.
Bryant is second on the team with five-and-a-half sacks this season, his third with the Browns. He was drafted in 2013 from East Central University, where he had some off-field problems.
He was arrested for driving under the influence less than a week after Cleveland drafted him. He was also suspended for three games in college for selling marijuana to an undercover officer.
Saunders has been on Cleveland’s practice squad.
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