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Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis cracked a joke Wednesday when he compared left cornerback Deltha O'Neal to Wally Pipp. But Saturday's events were no laughing matter. O'Neal became the eighth Bengals player arrested in 2006 when he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol at 12:20 a.m. in Clermont County.
Pipp was the New York Yankees' first baseman best remembered for losing his starting role to Lou Gehrig at the beginning of Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games.
O'Neal, who lost his starting job to rookie first-round draft pick Johnathan Joseph, is scheduled in Clermont County Municipal Court on Tuesday. According to the Batavia post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, O'Neal's car was one of 531 vehicles that passed through an Ohio Highway Patrol checkpoint from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday in Pierce Twp. on Ohio 125. Six vehicles were diverted to a holding area, and four drivers, including O'Neal, were charged with DUI. Sgt. Paul Lezotte said an officer at the checkpoint detected the odor of alcohol on O'Neal, who was put through a series of field-sobriety tests and a breath test. O'Neal registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.10, above Ohio's legal limit of 0.08, and was arrested at the scene, Lezotte said. "He was cooperative," Lezotte said. "He called someone to ... pick up his vehicle. His vehicle wasn't towed. It was released to a sober driver, and he was on his way with a (Tuesday) court date." The Bengals' club policy is to not comment on player arrests until they are resolved in the legal system. O'Neal, a seven-year NFL veteran, earned his second Pro Bowl berth in 2005 after setting a Bengals' single-season record with 10 interceptions. He has one interception this season and has missed the past three games after suffering a bruised right shoulder Nov. 12 against San Diego. O'Neal is probable for today's 1 p.m. game against the Oakland Raiders
Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/bengals/2006/12/10/ddn121006deltha.html |
