Hines Ward pleaded guilty to reckless driving on Wednesday after prosecutors in DeKalb County, Ga., dropped drunken driving charges against the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver.
DeKalb County prosecutor Sonja N. Brown said Wednesday that Ward was given a year on probation, was fined $2,000 and must do 80 hours of community service. He also must undergo alcohol evaluation.
Ward was arrested in the early morning of July 9 when an officer said he saw Ward hit a curb.
Police said Ward had glassy, bloodshot eyes and failed field sobriety tests during a traffic stop. Ward later said he wasn't drunk.
"We are grateful for the outcome," Ward's attorney and manager, Andy Reed, said in a prepared statement. "By dropping the DUI charge, it is clear that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to proceed. Hines has always maintained that his ability to drive was in no way impaired and we are pleased that the facts supported his innocence.
"He is thankful to his legal team and to all who stood by him. Hines has a great respect for the legal system and is also grateful, in particular, to the state for the professional manner in which they handled this matter."
Jamison Hensley writes about the AFC North for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.