BEREA, Ohio (AP) -A star-struck police officer who made a traffic stop on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards let the player go without a speeding ticket, a suburban police chief said Friday.
Edwards was stopped on Aug. 29 in Avon, Ohio, after police said he was driving 120 mph in his Bentley along Interstate 90.
The officer apparently was star-struck over meeting the Pro Bowler, said Avon Police Chief Paul Romond.
Edwards has since been served with the ticket, and the officer, whose named wasn’t released, has been counseled about handling traffic stops, said Candace Johnson, Romond’s administrative assistant.
The Browns’ receiver was cooperative and was let off when the officer determined the player wasn’t intoxicated and saw a sick passenger in the front seat, Johnson said.
The chief said he learned of the incident on Thursday when WOIO-TV in Cleveland asked about the matter.
Edwards, who last month was sidelined with a cut foot, downplayed the incident.
or,” Edward said Friday. “Because of Channel 19 (WOIO), it got brought back up, got resurfaced and there it was. I got a ticket. But I’m not the first person to get a speeding ticket.”
Edwards said it was his understanding that he could be served with the ticket for six months following the stop. He doesn’t believe he was putting himself in danger by driving nearly twice the 65 mph speed limit.
Edwards wouldn’t address the reasons for the officer not citing him.
“It doesn’t matter what was happening in the car,” he said. “It’s my personal business. The officer let me go. I’m not the first person to go over the speed limit, I’m sure I’m not the first person to get let go. It is what it is. The situation’s been taken care of. It’s not a distraction to the team. It’s over with.”
Edwards, who set team records with 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, has had a rough few weeks.
On Aug. 9, he had his right foot sliced open when teammate Donte’ Stallworth stepped on him while running wind sprints after practice. Edwards had taken off his cleats and was running in his socks at the time. The injury required an overnight stay in the hospital and kept Edwards out of Cleveland’s final three exhibition games.
Edwards dropped several passes – one for a certain TD – in the Browns’ season-opening loss to Dallas last Sunday. On Thursday, Edwards clarified comments he made about Cavaliers star LeBron James. At an appearance earlier this week, Edwards said he wasn’t bothered by James being on the Cowboys’ sideline and chatting with owner Jerry Jones and Terrell Owens before the opener.
Edwards praised James for being loyal to his favorite NFL team, but added, “LeBron isn’t a Cleveland guy. LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers?”
Edwards said he “cracked a sarcastic joke.”
—
Associated Press writer Tom Sheeran in Cleveland contributed to this story.
Add A Comment