Friday, March 02, 2001
Akili pleads not guilty to DUI
Charge won't keep QB from camp
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
An attorney for Bengals quarterback Akili Smith entered a plea of not guilty Thursday morning to the player's misdemeanor drunken driving charge.
Smith faces a readiness hearing March 29 in San Diego Superior Court but is free to travel to Cincinnati to begin workouts March 12.
He does not have to be present at the hearing, a court spokeswoman said Thursday.
Smith's attorney, Lolita Hamby, of Newport Beach, Calif., faxed the plea Thursday morning.
Hamby referred comment to her boss, Myles Berman, whose firm, Law Offices of Myles L. Berman, specializes in DUI cases. He confirmed Smith could travel freely to Cincinnati.
Smith was arrested Feb.8 in his hometown of San Diego for investigation of drunken driving. Smith was pulled over for driving the wrong way on a one-way street downtown at 2a.m.
He was given a sobriety test and booked into San Diego County jail. He was released on $1,600 bond.
Smith, 25, was the third overall pick of the 1999 draft and received a $10.8 million signing bonus. He was given the starting job in 2000 but lost it after 10 games, during which he compiled the lowest passer rating of any regular NFL quarterback.
“It's been every father's nightmare,” said Ray Smith, Akili's dad. “This is not the norm for Akili. His desire to win and to play is still there. He's looking forward to getting back to work.”
Akili Smith's shortcomings at quarterback last season have forced the Bengals into shopping for a veteran free agent and possibly spending a draft pick on a quarterback this year to compete for the starting job in training camp.
Smith will be in Cincinnati to practice with receivers under the watch of new offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.
The Bengals had the worst pass offense in the NFL last season, a distant 31st behind 30th-ranked Cleveland.
Concerning his drunken-driving charge, Smith could face NFL sanctions if he's found guilty or admits guilt. The league could recommend counseling or an evaluation.
The Bengals are among NFL teams who have a service players can call if they are out and believe they've had too many drinks to drive legally. The service provides the player a ride home and also provides someone who drives the player's car to his residence.
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Akili pleads not guilty to DUI
