Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was arrested late Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn., on a charge of driving under the influence, even though he wasn't the one driving.
McNair was charged with a little-known Tennessee misdemeanor offense, commonly referred to as "DUI by consent," which prohibits a vehicle owner from letting the vehicle be driven by someone who is inebriated.
Police pulled over McNair's 2003 silver Dodge pickup just before midnight for speeding about a mile from the quarterback's Nashville home and arrested the driver, who was identified as McNair's brother-in-law, after he failed a field sobriety test.
McNair was then charged under a statute that has been on the books in Tennessee for more than 50 years, but isn't widely known in the area.
"I was trying to act responsibly," McNair said in a statement released by the team.
McNair could face punishment by the NFL under the league's stringent personal conduct policy, which has become a point of emphasis with commissioner Roger Goodell. Any violation - whether it's a felony or misdemeanor - can result in action by the league.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said it was too early to determine whether McNair would be subject to league discipline.
"We will look into it," Aiello said.
This is the second DUI arrest for McNair, who guided the Ravens to a 13-3 record in his first season with the team.
In May 2003, McNair was arrested in Nashville on charges of driving under the influence and illegal gun possession. The charges were dismissed after a judge threw out the evidence, stating police did not have sufficient reason to pull him over.
"I have to go through the court process now and I understand that," said McNair, who played from 1995 to 2005 with the Tennessee Titans. "I was planning to be in Baltimore for most of the remainder of this month to work out with my teammates, and anticipate that I will be doing that."
McNair's vehicle, which was being driven by 31-year-old Jamie Cartwright, was stopped at 11:53 p.m. Wednesday after police clocked it at 45 mph in a 35-mph zone five miles southwest of downtown Nashville. The officer detected an odor of alcohol and saw that Cartwright's eyes were red and glassy, according to police.
According to the police report, Cartwright said he drank at least two beers earlier in the evening. He then took a field sobriety test, which indicated impairment. Cartwright, whom police said refused to take a Breathalyzer test because he wanted to help McNair stay out of trouble, was arrested on DUI charges along with McNair.
