Luv ya’ (Pabst) Blue (Ribbon)

Sporting news from the Houston Chronicle…

Former Houston Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after a three-vehicle traffic crash in Bryan early this morning.

The wreck occurred in the 3600 block of S. Texas about 1 a.m., said Sgt. Steven Spillars of the Bryan Police Department.

Pastorini, who was alone in his 2006 white Mercedes, was evaluated at a hospital following the wreck after he complained about minor injuries, said Jason James, spokesman for the department. No other injuries were reported.

Blood was drawn from Pastorini at the hospital and will be tested for alcohol content, James said. The results were not available this morning.

Spillars said Pastorini was cited for failure to control his speed and was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor.

He was released from the Brazos County jail on a $3,000 bond this morning.

Pastorini, 60, was driving southbound on S. Texas when he rear-ended a 2000 Toyota Tacoma pickup, which then crossed into the northbound lanes and slammed into the side of a green 1996 Ford Explorer, James said.

Spillars said the officer who responded to the crash smelled alcohol on Pastorini.

The pickup driver was cited for driving without a licence. The driver of the Explorer was cited for driving with an invalid license, James said.

Pastorini is listed among the celebrities scheduled to participate in a golf tournament this morning in the Bryan area to benefit local Boys and Girls Club, according to news reports.

Pastorini helped lead the Oilers to playoff appearances during the team’s Luv Ya Blue heydays in the 1970s.

Cleveland DT busted carrying loaded gun into airport

Sporting news from the AP and the Houston Chronicle…

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers was arrested Thursday at Hopkins International Airport after a loaded gun was found in his carry-on luggage.

Rogers, who had been at the team’s suburban training facility in recent days taking part in a voluntary offseason program, was stopped at a security checkpoint on Concourse C when officials spotted a loaded .45-caliber handgun in his bag, police said in a statement.

He was arrested at 12:15 p.m. “without incident,” transferred to a downtown processing center and booked for carrying a concealed weapon, a third-degree felony.

Sgt. Sammy Morris of the Cleveland Police Department said Rogers was still being held in the city’s jail Thursday night.

No charges have been filed yet, police said, though the 31-year-old Rogers could face federal fines for carrying the firearm.

It’s not yet clear what Rogers, who lives in Houston during the offseason, told officials about the gun or whether he has a permit for it. It’s also unclear whether he was traveling with anyone.

Browns president Mike Holmgren issued a statement saying the team was aware of Rogers’ arrest.

“We will continue to gather additional information, and until the legal process has taken its course, we will reserve any further comment,” the statement said.

A message seeking comment was left with Rogers’ agent, Kennard McGuire.

Beyond his legal problems, Rogers, arguably the Browns’ best player, will likely face league penalties if it is determined he violated the NFL’s player-conduct policy.

A three-time Pro Bowler who has played two seasons with the Browns, Rogers missed Cleveland’s final five games last season after breaking his leg on Nov. 29 against Cincinnati. He was acquired by the Browns in 2008 in a trade with Detroit for cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round draft pick.

Rogers came to the Browns with a spotty reputation. He was suspended for four games in 2006 for taking a banned substance to control his weight. In 2007, an exotic dancer claimed he inappropriately touched her at a club in Detroit, but an investigation cleared him.

The Lions also had issues with Rogers’ weight and his commitment.

Rogers made the Pro Bowl in his first season with Cleveland, recording 4 1/2 sacks and 81 tackles in 16 games. Blessed with amazing quickness for a man his size, Rogers has also excelled in blocking field goals and extra points. Before getting hurt last season, Rogers blocked one field goal — the 13th of his career — and two extra points.

Rogers and Browns coach Eric Mangini got off to a rough start before last season. Rogers had felt slighted when Mangini, weeks after being hired by Cleveland, did not acknowledge him at an awards banquet at a downtown hotel. Rogers reportedly asked to be traded, but the two met and patched up any differences and Mangin often praised Rogers, known to his teammates as “Big Baby,” for his leadership last season.

Gopher safety suspended after DWI arrest

Sports news from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune…

Gophers starting safety Kyle Theret, who was charged with fourth-degree driving while impaired for an incident over the weekend, has been suspended indefinitely by football coach Tim Brewster.

Theret’s suspension was announced by the team Monday without comment.

University of Minnesota police records show that Theret, finishing his junior year, was stopped by an officer in the early morning hours Sunday after he struck a parked car and pulled away. The officer determined Theret was intoxicated, and he was arrested and booked. Theret was released a little less than two hours later. He is scheduled for an initial court date May 24.

It is unclear whether he will be allowed to take part in any more spring practices or in the April 24 spring game at TCF Bank Stadium.

Theret has started every game the past two seasons. He was fifth on the Gophers with 73 tackles in 2009 and finished the season strong, picking up seven tackles and two interceptions in an Insight Bowl loss to Iowa State.

Dolphin running back dropped with DUI

Sporting news from the Miami Herald…

Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown was arrested late Friday night for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol during an offseason trip to his hometown outside of Atlanta this weekend, two sources told The Miami Herald.

Brown, who has no previous arrest record, was arrested after an officer pulled him over for making a lane change without signaling, sources said.

He was released from jail early Saturday morning.

The Dolphins are aware of the situation, and they are continuing to monitor the legal process. They are not believed to be overly upset with Brown because of his impeccable past as a player and a citizen.

The team did not have a comment Sunday.

Brown is distraught over the arrest, and he has hired an attorney to help defend him in the case, the sources said. He did not perform well during the field-sobriety test, which contributed to the officer’s decision to arrest Brown, sources said. It remains possible the charges soon could be reduced to a traffic violation in the coming days. The arresting officer’s detailed version of the arrest has not yet been obtained because it occurred during the weekend. Brown’s agent, Todd France, did not return messages Sunday to comment on the arrest.

The running back is continuing a recovery from foot surgery in November, when he sustained a season-ending Lisfranc fracture that put him on crutches for six weeks afterward.

Brown is a restricted free agent tendered with a first-round pick, but he is expected to return to the Dolphins next season given the high level of compensation that would be necessary for another team to sign him.

The Dolphins are scheduled to begin their offseason voluntary training program on Monday. Brown’s legal situation will not keep him from attending. Brown, a Pro Bowl running back who made the Wildcat offense popular in 2008, is among the most popular players on the team’s roster. His laid-back personality has typically left him in good standing with his coaching staffs when it cones to his life away from the football field.

The veteran would have hit unrestricted free agent after the most recent season, but the lack of a new collective bargaining agreement caused a delay in his ability to demand a new contract in Miami or elsewhere.

At 28, he is still expected to anchor the Dolphins’ rushing attack next season, while Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs serve as his backups.

Brown’s entire NFL career has been spent in South Florida. He was the team’s second overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Duck, duck, gotcha!

This comes to us from The Oregonian…

Mere hours after Oregon coach Chip Kelly answered questions about his team’s slew of off-field troubles, Ducks linebacker Kiko Alonso was picked up for drunk driving.

“If a player doesn’t live up to the standards we have for the football program, then they’re not going to be here,” Kelly said Friday. “But I’m also not going to follow our kids around every Friday or Saturday night so I can see what happened to them.”

Kelly almost made it through Friday night, but at 2:19 a.m. on Saturday morning, Alonso was stopped at the 7-Eleven on East Broadway in Eugene and cited for DUII.

Alonso, an athletic linebacker who will be a redshirt sophomore this fall, had 15 tackles in 11 games in 2009 and forced one fumble, playing primarily middle linebacker behind starter Casey Matthews. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder from Los Gatos, Calif., is also a regular special teams player for the Ducks.

Cops pick off Washington CB Byron Westbrook for DWI

Sports news from CSNWashington.com

Washington Redskins cornerback Byron Westbrook was arrested early Friday on suspicion of drunk driving.

A Charles County sheriff’s deputy pulled Westbrook over after 2am in Waldorf, Maryland.  Westbrook’s car was said to have switched lanes several times.  He was reported to smell like alcohol when he opened his window.

Westbrook failed several sobriety tests and is charged with a DWI, DUI and failure to drive right of center.

Westbrook has spent the last two years on the Redskins’ practice squad and is looking to earn a roster spot with the team this year.  He is the brother of Eagle’s running back, Brian Westbrook.

Ex-NFL player charged with sexual assault

One week just isn’t enough. More sports news courtesy of Sports Illustrated…

A former Detroit Lion receiver and Fraser High School track coach is facing up to life in prison on allegations he groped and had sex with a young female athlete. Tommie Boyd, 38, was arraigned Thursday in Roseville District Court on six felony counts stemming from two cases of alleged sexual misconduct. Boyd was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of accosting children for immoral purpose for incidents that allegedly occurred at Fraser High School and the student’s home beginning in 2007.

Ex-Buc charged with domestic assault on Super Bowl weekend

…and the Super Bowl celebration continues thanks to the Miami Herald…

Warren Sapp, a University of Miami legend and former All-Pro lineman in town to provide TV commentary for the Super Bowl, was arrested by Miami Beach police Saturday after his girlfriend accused him of choking her and throwing her in the couple’s hotel room.

The alleged attack occurred about 5 a.m., after the couple had been partying at Miami Beach’s Shore Club hotel, 1901 Collins Ave., the police report said.

The woman — police did not identify her — called authorities at noon Saturday. Officers arrived at the hotel and met with the 37-year-old former NFL star before taking him to police headquarters, said police spokesman Detective Juan Sanchez.

After detectives questioned Sapp and his girlfriend, police charged Sapp with misdemeanor domestic battery. He was taken to Miami-Dade County jail Saturday evening.

Sapp was set to provide commentary for the Super Bowl — but the NFL Network is taking him off the air until the company reviews the incident.

The girlfriend told police she had been sleeping in the couple’s hotel room when Sapp came in, pulled her out of bed and demanded that she leave the room. As she began to get dressed, he grabbed her neck and began to choke her, the report said.

He shoved her onto a couch and questioned her about men she listed on her cell phone, then picked her up by her shirt and neck and threw her back down, the report stated.

The tussle continued, the report said, and Sapp eventually pushed her out of the room, where she sought help from someone in the hallway.

The report said he sent her a text message that said, “You whore.”

Police reported the woman had bruises on her neck and a swollen right knee. She was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center.

But, according to the report, Sapp told police there was no fight — and that she slipped off the couch after he asked her to leave the room because he was expecting company.

Sapp told detectives he “tried to help her get off the couch, but she fell backwards and fell on her leg,” the report stated.

Sapp was a star defensive tackle with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders before retiring in 2008. He then competed on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, where he finished in second place. He has his own clothing line, QB Killa, and is a commentator on the NFL Network’s GameDay Morning.

The NFL Network is temporarily pulling him off the job.

“In light of these circumstances, Warren Sapp will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter,” the company said in an e-mail to The Miami Herald.

Sapp is no stranger to Miami Beach: At other times, he’s been spotted at The Forge restaurant and swimming at the Gansevoort South hotel’s rooftop pool, racing Olympic champion Michael Phelps.

Hours before the incident with his girlfriend Saturday morning, Sapp was scheduled to appear at the B.E.D. nightclub on South Beach for a disk jockey’s birthday party.

Police said his next appearance will likely be before a judge Sunday morning.

Cowboys’ fullback can’t outrun the law

Sports news from the AP and Fox Sports…

Dallas Cowboys fullback Deon Anderson is free on his own recognizance after his arrest at a suburban restaurant parking lot.

The incident happened early Tuesday in the Dallas suburb of Addison. A statement issued by the town of Addison says police answered an aggravated assault report and learned of a confrontation between several men and a parking valet.

Police arrested the 27-year-old Anderson on outstanding traffic warrants from Irving, another Dallas suburb. Also arrested was his 25-year-old brother, Devon Anderson, on a public intoxication charge.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple says team officials are aware of the incident and are investigating.

Deon Anderson played 16 games in his third season, including nine starts, making one catch for 5 yards.

Washington lineman arrested for PI in Iowa

Sports news from ESPN and the AP…

DES MOINES, Iowa – Washington Redskins guard Chad Rinehart has been arrested on public intoxication charges in Iowa after he pulled on a locked door at a pizza restaurant.

University of Northern Iowa police spokesman Dave Zariffs says officers responded to a door alarm at Mojo’s Pizza House in Cedar Falls about 2 a.m. on Monday. When they arrived they found Rinehart pulling on a locked door.

A police report says Rinehart, who played at Northern Iowa from 2004-07, appeared to be intoxicated. Rinehart refused a breath test and was arrested.

Rinehart was taken to the Black Hawk County jail and released by court order.

Rinehart is a native of Boone, Iowa. He made four starts for the Redskins last season before breaking his right leg.

The team issued a statement saying it was “aware of this incident” but had no further comment.