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Do IT this week: Layering
No action likely to happen until after Sept. 25 hearing. Teammates express shock
By Marla Ridenour Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Friday, Sep 07, 2007
BEREA: Browns starting cornerback Leigh Bodden could face disciplinary action from the NFL after being charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after an altercation with an officer Wednesday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
But that could be weeks away.
Coach Romeo Crennel downplayed the incident, calling it ''a minor traffic stop,'' and said Bodden will play Sunday when the Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season opener.
League spokesman Greg Aiello said Bodden's case will be reviewed under commissioner Roger Goodell's new personal-conduct policy. That policy specifically mentions disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, but it also states that first offenses ''will generally not result in discipline until there has been a disposition of the proceeding.''
''There won't be any disciplinary action prior to this weekend,'' Aiello said.
Although Crennel said he hadn't spoken to Bodden before he met the media, Crennel seemed inclined to wait to hear Bodden's side of the story because of the type of person Bodden is.
''Him being an easygoing guy, you don't anticipate any problems with him,'' Crennel said. ''When something occurs with an easygoing guy, then there may be more to it than an easygoing guy all of a sudden going off the deep end.''
Through his attorney, Matthew Selby, Bodden pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor charges of aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and was released on $1,000 bond. The charges carry a sentence of up to six months in jail. He was also cited for three traffic offenses.
His next court appearance will be Sept. 25, which will please Crennel, who said, ''Hopefully it'll be a Tuesday,'' the players' day off.
Bodden commented briefly in the locker room and did acknowledge that he was picking up family. A source said it was his girlfriend and their two children, a 2-year-old daughter and 6-week old son.
''You guys know there's two sides to every story,'' Bodden said. ''Right now I can't comment on my side of the story; my attorney will handle that. It's unfortunate that it's a distraction before the biggest game. I apologized to my coaches and teammates and I talked to the coach. We're just trying to get past that and get ready for Pittsburgh.''
Lt. Thomas Stacho of the Cleveland Police Department said Bodden was initially spotted backing up his 2004 GMC Yukon with tinted windows on the lower roadway for arriving flights about 6:30 p.m. When a police officer ordered him to stop, he didn't immediately but pulled the vehicle to the curb after a second request and walked away.
Told to move the vehicle from the no-parking zone, he responded he was there to pick up some people. Asked again and told to produce his driver's license, he said it was in the vehicle. When the officer confronted Bodden, Stacho said Bodden became ''extremely verbally abusive,'' prompting the officer to call for backup. Stacho said the other officers ''observed Mr. Bodden's tirade, including the use of numerous profanities.''
Middle linebacker Andra Davis, a newly elected Browns captain, said he was shocked at what he heard on the news Wednesday night.
''The Leigh Bodden I know, he's a great guy. He's our brother,'' Davis said. ''I've never envisioned him being belligerent to anyone. I've never ever seen the guy really get mad. The stuff I heard on TV last night . . . I don't believe any of that stuff they said.
''Bod is one of the stand-up guys around here. He's one of the best guys on this team ability-wise and everybody knows how humble he is.''
The arrest came about three weeks after Goodell visited Browns camp. Davis said his teammates are well aware of the commissioner's crackdown on players who break the law.
''The easiest way to stay out of his way is to try to stay out of trouble,'' Davis said. ''But there could be circumstances that are out of your hands; sometimes trouble finds you.''
That seemed to be the approach Crennel was taking.
''I understand it's a minor traffic incident . . . it seems like maybe a verbal altercation and he got arrested as a result of that,'' Crennel said. ''It wasn't any kind of physical, abusive kind of deal. No fisticuffs occurred or anything to my knowledge. I'm going to wait until I find out all the facts before I make any kind of judgment.''
Bodden's arrest came on the same day that the Browns elected team captains and hours after executive adviser Jim Brown touted the high character of the team.
''I would imagine with the personnel the Cleveland Browns have this year, there will probably be fewer incidents with our players than any team in the league, based upon what we will put upon them from the standpoint of their responsibility to the team and the city,'' Brown said Wednesday. ''Nonsense is not tolerated.''
Punter improves
Punter Dave Zastudil said his sore back felt better, but he was still limited in practice. ''I expect to be out there Sunday,'' he said.
Zastudil said during practice Monday that he ''felt a little sore in a certain spot and decided to be cautious with it.''
BEREA: Browns starting cornerback Leigh Bodden could face disciplinary action from the NFL after being charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after an altercation with an officer Wednesday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
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