Ex-UH star Oliver faces DWI, gun charges
Former University of Houston star and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver was arrested Saturday night on misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
Oliver was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and is free on bond after paying a total of $1,350 Sunday morning. He was taken to Kingwood Hospital for a mandatory blood test and booked into jail following a traffic stop by a Montgomery County
Sheriff’s deputy.
According to police records, Oliver, 22, was pulled over after a driver called police and reported a white Ford truck was allegedly failing to maintain a proper lane and driving dangerously in a 45 mph construction zone.
The 6-1, 287-pound former Westfield standout was pulled over, and a DWI-certified officer was called to investigate and conduct a field sobriety test. An open beer was discovered between Oliver’s legs during the traffic stop, according to police.
Oliver has made no comment about his legal situation. Earlier
Saturday, he posted a photo on his Instagram account that said he was fishing in Louisiana.
“We are aware of the situation and we are gathering more information,” the Bills said in a statement. “We will have no further comment at this point.”
Under NFL rules, a DWI can carry a two-game NFL suspension. Under the league’s personal conduct policy, a suspension would cost Oliver $81,705 per game out of his $1.389 million salary. Violations of the NFL personal conduct policy can cause guaranteed money to be voided. Oliver has $6.8 million of guaranteed money remaining on his four-year, $19.565 million rookie contract that includes a fifth-year club option.
“We are aware of the matter,” an NFL spokesman said in a statement to the Chronicle. “We have no further comment at this time.”
Oliver, who was taken with the ninth pick in the 2019 draft, is highly regarded by the Bills and is expected to remain on the roster as a key part of their defense.
A former Outland Trophy winner, Oliver played roughly half the snaps as part of a deep front seven as a rookie for the Bills. He recorded 43 tackles in 16 games, making seven starts.
Oliver played three seasons for the Cougars before declaring early for the NFL draft.