Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Eric Wright Arrested In Los Angeles

By Max Luckan

Early Monday morning, newly acquired Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright was arrested on suspicion of a felony DUI near the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Police responded to an accident around 12:20 a.m., and Wright was present, Los Angeles police said.

Wright was not injured, but apparently told police that he had been drinking earlier at a friend’s house in the area. He refused to take a Breathalyzer or field sobriety test. Wright was then booked, but was released after posting $100,000 bail. This isn’t Wright’s first encounter with the law. Earlier in 2005, Wright was arrested on suspicion of rape, and police found Ecstasy pills in his apartment.

It should be worth noting that Wright’s former team, the Detroit Lions, have had many players arrested this off-season on suspicion of driving under the influence.

It remains to be seen whether or not Wright will face disciplinary action from the NFL, but there is a very real possibility. And if not, the Buccaneers could punish him by handing out a fine or suspension. Head coach Greg Schiano has already attempted to reestablish order within the organization, and won’t take this situation lightly. The Buccaneers haven’t had too many off-the-field problems as of late, and hope to keep it that way to avoid distractions. Wright’s situation is hopefully the only exception.

Still, Schiano could use his incident as an example and hand down harsh punishment. Wright signed a $37.5 million deal this off-season and is expected to be one of the starters on defense. However, that could change if off-the-field behavior doesn’t improve.

You can follow Max Luckan on Twitter @MaxLuckan

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