Veteran struggling this year

tered a .109, the report stated. He was arrested on DUI and speeding charges, according to police. The legal blood alcohol level in Georgia is .08.

It was the second time in five seasons that a Falcons player was arrested in Gwinnett County sometime after leaving a strip club. Lawyer Milloy was arrested in a similar case in September 2008.

Turner, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the key members who helped turn around the team’s fortunes in the post-Michael Vick/Bobby Petrino era, was relaxed when talking to the media.

“I’d like to apologize to Mr. [Arthur] Blank, Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith and the whole Falcons organization and the fans out there for the situation that I’m in right now,” Turner said. “It was a bad decision on my part. I can’t say too much about it in detail right now. I’m just trying to move forward from here.”

The violation will lead to Turner entering the NFL’s substance-abuse program as a first-time offender. If Turner has no additional problems, he could eventually be dismissed from the program. If he has another alcohol-related arrest, he could be suspended and face a fine from the league.

San Francisco linebacker Clark Haggins was suspended by the league Wednesday for three games for a 2011 DUI arrest after he pleaded guilty. He could have been suspended for up to six games.

Coach Mike Smith would not say if Turner will play Sunday. Since Smith has been head coach, no Falcons player has missed playing time following an arrest.

“Nobody has told me that I’m not playing, so I’m just going to prepare like I am [playing],” Turner said.

Turner did not call a driver or limo service to drive him home. The league and team provide that service to players.

“Any time that you’re in a situation like this, you don’t want this to happen,” Turner said. “You try to keep a clean slate throughout your whole life like everyone else. Unfortunately, this happened, and I just have to move forward.”

Turner spoke with his father and later Smith after the arrest.

“I don’t think that anybody is more disappointed than myself,” Turner said. “I just have to man up, talk to everybody and face it.”

Turner rushed for 42 yards on 17 carries against Denver. He contends his play and the arrest were not related.

“I never really thought about it like that,” Turn- er said.

Police said they stopped Turner shortly after 4 a.m. when a Gwinnett County officer clocked a 2012 Audi going 97 mph in a 65-mph zone on I-85 northbound near Indian Trail Road. The officer reported smelling alcohol, but Turner didn’t have trouble walking, and his speech was normal, the report stated. But Turner did have trouble focusing during an eye test, according to police.

Turner was not asked to walk and turn or stand on one leg during the stop because he told the arresting officer he injured his ankle during the football game hours earlier, according to police. However, Turner was not listed on the team’s official injury report Wednesday.

The arrest came after a slow start to the season for Turner, who has rushed for more than 1,300 yards in three of his four seasons with the Falcons. He has rushed for only 74 yards in the first two games this season.