Chiefs WR Bowe to start despite arrest
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe will start against the Denver Broncos on Sunday despite being arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and speeding during a traffic stop Nov. 10, coach Andy Reid confirmed Wednesday.
"It's a legal matter," Reid said. "That's the way we'll handle it (and) let it run its course there.
"Dwayne's been a team player since I've been here," Reid said. "He doesn't want to bring any problems."
Reid said little else regarding the incident, and Bowe issued a statement that read, "I apologize to the Hunt family, Coach Reid, my teammates and Chiefs fans for the distraction I have caused the team this week. Due to the nature of the pending matter, I am unable to make any further comment on the situation," he said in a statement, which was released by the team.
Bowe was driving a 2011 Audi A8 with two passengers when he was stopped late Sunday. All three were removed from the vehicle while a K-9 search was conducted, alerting officers to "a black bag holding Bowe's wallet and two containers of what the officer suspected to be marijuana" the Star reported. One container held 3.8 grams of marijuana and the other 6.6 grams, according to the report.
Bowe's attorney, Kevin Regan, also issued a statement.
"My investigation reveals that Dwayne Bowe is unequivocally, 100 percent innocent in this matter. We look forward to clearing his good name at our earliest opportunity," Regan said, per ESPN.
"Mr. Bowe has long been a giving member of our community and remains committed to giving Kansas City his best on and off the field. He is grateful for the support shown by Chiefs fans and promises this incident will not be a distraction to his commitment to excellence on the football field."
Bowe said in August, after the franchise made a major offseason commitment to make him part of the long-term foundation with a five-year, $56 million contract, that he was ready to become a leader. The contract included a $16 million signing bonus.
"Guys make mistakes sometimes. You just have to keep moving forward," he told Bob Gretz of The Sports Xchange during training camp. "We're all trying to make plays and right now everybody is just trying to grind. Every day is a grind. The only way you'll see a difference is when it really, really counts."
Bowe has 33 receptions, top among the team's receivers but second to running back Jamaal Charles (47), for 369 yards and two touchdowns for the 9-0 Chiefs in 2013.
He was suspended four games in 2009 for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs.
Under the terms of the personal conduct policy, Bowe could be subject to fine and discipline. Players pleading guilty or convicted to possession of marijuana have been suspended one game in the past.
"Rules and regulations are put in place," Reid said Wednesday without directly referencing potential punishment from the league. "We'll abide by the rules and regulations."
