ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson and safety Marques Anderson were arrested early Monday for investigation of public intoxication following the Raiders' victory over the Titans.
The Oakland Police Department said the players were arrested at
4:20 a.m. in downtown Oakland after refusing to leave the back seat
of a woman's car. Both were jailed briefly, police spokeswoman
Danielle Ashford said.
"Apparently what happened, an officer in our transportation
section was flagged down by a woman who said the men were in the
back of her car and wouldn't get out," said Ashford, who was
uncertain whether the players knew the woman. "They were very
uncooperative. They had problems maintaining their balance,
bloodshot watery eyes and had a strong odor of alcohol. They were
acting in a belligerent manner."
Both players could be subject to league sanctions under the
NFL's substance-abuse policy within the collective bargaining
agreement.
Woodson, 28, and Anderson, 25, were booked into Oakland City
Jail. Bail is not required for the misdemeanor offense, Ashford
said, but Anderson had to post $5,000 because of an outstanding
traffic violation. Both were released between 8 and 9 a.m., Ashford
said.
Ashford didn't know when the players would appear in court.
Coach Norv Turner expressed disappointment when he discussed the
situation on the heels of Sunday's 40-35 win over the Titans.
Players were off Monday because the Raiders play Saturday at Kansas
City, and Turner hadn't spoken to Woodson or Anderson.
"It's a situation where you'd like your guys to not be in that
situation," Turner said. "The thing we always talk about, those
hours are where problems turn up. That's how you avoid them, by
staying out of those situations. Again, I don't know a lot about
exactly what happened, so I'd prefer not to comment on it until I
do."
Woodson, designated as the Raiders' franchise player in
February, didn't play against the Titans because of an injured
knee, but hustled through the locker room high-fiving teammates
afterward.
He held out for four months on a mission for big money, but
insisted in September there's more to be concerned with than a
long-term contract. Now, such a deal could be in jeopardy.
He signed a one-year tender for $8.782 million Aug. 31 after
missing 33 days of training camp. Woodson has 74 tackles, 2½ sacks
and two forced fumbles this season.
He hadn't missed a game since being suspended and sent home by
former coach Bill Callahan for the final game last season at San
Diego for missing curfew.
Turner hasn't had any significant issues with Woodson.
"I have had no issues that were a problem," he said. "You're
always going to have some minor things to deal with. We have not
had a major situation."
In May 2000, Woodson was named in warrants charging him with
drunken driving and driving with a suspended license in Ann Arbor,
Mich., where he won the 1997 Heisman Trophy for Michigan. Police
said he registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.24 percent, more than
twice Michigan's legal limit.
Anderson was acquired in a September trade with Green Bay.