CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Super Bowl hero Dwight Smith of the Tampa Bay Bucs was arrested Wednesday and charged with brandishing a handgun at another motorist.

Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2001, returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Tampa Bay's Super Bowl victory over the Oakland Raiders in January. A backup cornerback in 2002, he is expected to become the starting free safety next season.

"I apologize for any negative light that I may have placed on our football team and the entire Buccaneer organization,'' Smith said in a statement released by the team. "However, it is not appropriate for me to comment any further on the specifics of this matter at this time.''

He was charged with aggravated assault.

Police said they responded to a cell phone call from a motorist who complained that a man in a sport utility vehicle pointed a gun at him at a traffic light.

Police said the 24-year-old Smith was traveling westbound in the inside lane of the highway when he and John Schultz, driving a van in the outside lane, began to move simultaneously to the center lane.

The men avoided a collision, then exchanged words at a traffic light. There, Smith also pointed a gun at him, the 43-year-old Schultz told police.

Police said Smith was cooperative during the roadside investigation. He told officers he "displayed'' a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun because the other driver was being aggressive.

The Buccaneers declined comment on the arrest.