Hours after rushing for 42 yards and a touchdown in the Atlanta Falcons' 27-21 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, Falcons running back Michael Turner was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Gwinnett County, Ga., Mike Morris of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
According to the report, Turner was booked into Gwinnett County Jail shortly after 5 a.m. ET and was released a few hours later after posting $2,179 bond. Turner was also charged with speeding, but no other details of his arrest are known at this time.
"We're aware of the situation with Michael, but it's really not appropriate to comment on it," Falcons head coach Mike Smith told SIRIUS NFL Radio on Tuesday morning. "We'll keep the communication internal with myself and Michael, and we'll deal with it as it progresses."
Turner could face discipline from the league office for his DUI arrest, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell usually does not take action until the legal process has run its course. As evidenced by Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch's DUI case, that may not happen until after the 2012 season. Barring any team discipline, Turner should remain available to the Falcons for the duration of the season.
Turner, 30, is earning $5 million in base salary in the fifth season of a six-year, $34 million contract he signed with the Falcons as a free agent in the 2008 offseason. Turner spent the first four seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers, who had selected the running back in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL draft out of Northern Illinois.
In his first four-plus seasons in Atlanta, Turner has run for 5,355 yards and a franchise-record 51 rushing touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors following the 2008 and 2010 seasons. Turner led the NFL in rushing attempts in those Pro Bowl seasons, but as the Falcons have become more of a passing offense, Turner has had a reduced role in the offense. Through two games, Turner has just 28 rushing attempts for 74 yards and a touchdown.
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