Falcon Milloy apologizes for DUI arrest

Atlanta Falcons veteran safety Lawyer Milloy was charged with driving under the influence early Monday in Gwinnett County and will be evaluated for admittance to the NFL’s alcohol and substance abuse program.

Milloy, 34, also was charged with speeding.

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Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department

Falcons safety Lawyer Milloy was charged with DUI early Monday.

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Under the NFL’s alcohol and substance abuse program, a player involved in an alcohol or drug-related incident can be evaluated by program doctors and entered in the program, said Greg Aiello, an NFL spokesperson.

Details of the arrest were not immediately available, but the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department Web site showed that, Milloy, who has a Buford address, was admitted into the jail at 4:35 a.m. He posted bond at 9:48 a.m.

Milloy issued a statement Monday night through his lawyer, Manny Arora.

“I apologize to my family, my teammates, Mr. [Arthur] Blank, Coach [Mike] Smith, Thomas Dimitroff and our great fans for the incident that occurred following Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay,” Milloy said.

Earlier in the day, Falcons coach Mike Smith said, “Anytime any of our players are in this type of situation, we are extremely disappointed, myself and our organization. It’s something that is completely unacceptable.

“I’ve had a conversation with Lawyer this morning. A very lengthy conversation. It was something that I’d like to keep private between he and I. What I can tell you is that this matter will be handled internally. The league and the [NFL Players Association] sets certain standards on things you can and cannot do.”

Pressed on how the team will handle the situation, Smith would not divulge any planned discipline or fine.

“When I say internally, I’m mean it’s going to be handled internally,” Smith said sternly. “We’re going to work through this. We’ve got to let the process run it’s course. It’s a legal matter.”

Smith would not even reveal if Milloy was on hand for the team’s Monday film review session. He was not in the locker room Monday during the 45 minutes the media were allowed inside.

Milloy is one of the team’s leaders, with the second-longest tenure in the NFL on the roster. He’s also the team’s NFLPA representative.

Players did not want to discuss Milloy’s arrest.

“I don’t know much about what happened with Lawyer, so I’d rather not speak on that,” safety Erik Coleman said.

The league is reviewing Milloy’s arrest, but there are not any plans for him to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Aiello noted that DUIs normally result in fines, but that repeat offenders can face suspension.

The Falcons lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-9 on Sunday.

It’s unlikely that Milloy’s playing time will be cut. He’s backed up by Jamaal Fudge, who was picked off waivers from Jacksonville Sept. 2. Fudge has been inactive the first two games of the season.

Milloy played on two Super Bowl teams with the New England Patriots earlier in his career. After a three-year stint in Buffalo, he signed with the Falcons in March of 2006.

The arrest raises concerns about the example it sets for young players the Falcons are trying to rebuild with.

“This is something that we talk about all the time to all of our players,” Smith said. “We’ve been talking about it [during training camp]. They know how we feel about this situation.”

The arrest also comes as the Falcons try to rebuild the fan base after the turmoil of last year’s Michael Vick dogfighting case and coach Bobby Petrino’s abrupt exit during the regular season.

In June, former Falcons safety Daren Stone was arrested in downtown Atlanta and charged with driving under the influence. He was released from the team on Sept. 1.

Milloy is in the last year of a contract that pays him $1.7 million and hopes to get an extension or sign with another team after the season.

He has talked of finishing his career playing for his hometown team, the Seattle Seahawks, where former Falcons coach Jim Mora is set to take over next season.

— Staff writer Andria Simmons contributed to this report.