Cowboys WR arrested; Manziel to CFL
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams was arrested on a charge of public intoxication early Saturday after police responded to an accident involving his car and found Williams riding an electric bicycle on a road near his home.
Police in the Dallas suburb of Frisco said Williams’ Lamborghini left a roadway and struck a light pole near the team’s practice facility around 4:45 a.m. Saturday. Police say the driver had left the scene. Officers found Williams while investigating the crash.
Williams was released from jail on bond on the misdemeanor intoxication charge.
In a statement released by his attorney, Williams said an officer he had met previously arrested him without performing a sobriety test. Williams said he was returning to the scene on a scooter to meet a tow truck driver.
The attorney, Chip Lewis, disputed the police account of Williams’ vehicle hitting a light pole.
“Terrance did not hit a light pole and there was no light pole even near the vehicle,” Lewis said. “Secondly, his arrest was wholly unrelated to the traffic accident.”
Williams said he veered into the center median to avoid a collision when a man driving a vehicle in front of him hit his brakes. The two exchanged insurance information and a neighbor drove Williams home, where the receiver said he called for a tow truck.
“I have always been an upstanding citizen and handled the situation the best way I know how,” Williams said. “I apologize if I should have handled it a little bit differently.”
The 28-year-old Williams was expected to miss all the offseason workouts after breaking his right foot in January and having surgery. The Cowboys released Dez Bryant in a cost-cutting move while signing two free agents and drafting two more receivers. The Cowboys declined comment. MANZIEL: Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel is heading to the Canadian Football League, looking to salvage his football career after a turbulent and unsuccessful stay with the Cleveland Browns.
The quarterback signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and appeared at a news conference Saturday, ending months of speculation on his possible path back to the game.
“Made the decision today to sign my contract with the CFL and further my football career after a long break,” Manziel wrote on Twitter earlier in the day. “Very grateful for everyone that’s been supporting me along the way. I believe this is the best opportunity for me moving forward and I’m eager for what the future holds.”
His last game came at the end of the 2015 season. He now comes to a team coached by June Jones, a former NFL and college coach. Players report to training camp this weekend.
In 2016, a domestic assault charge against Manziel in Dallas was dismissed after he took an anger management course and participated in the NFL’s substance-abuse program. In a recent interview, he said he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has stopped drinking.
The CFL has a policy on violence against women. The league said in a statement that in December it began a process to determine if Manziel could join the league.
Manziel had to meet certain conditions, including an assessment by an independent expert on domestic violence, a review by legal counsel and a discussion with Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.