New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl made a savvy public relations move this week by issuing a sincere public apology just hours after being arrested for a DUI, according to a recent report in the New York Post.
Sources say that Diehl crashed his BMW into two other vehicles on Sunday night after he had spent several hours drinking at an Astoria bar in New York City.
At the time of his arrest, the police measured his blood alcohol level at .18 percent, which is well above the legal limit of .08 percent.
Diehl was released from jail shortly after his arrest, but he faces his next court date on July 26, which is when the Giants are supposed to report to training camp.
Diehl is one of the most popular Giants players, and sources say that he has mostly stayed out of trouble during his 10-year tenure with the football team.
In order to protect his public image, Diehl quickly went on the offensive Tuesday morning, as he issued a heartfelt apology while standing in front of his locker on the first day of the Giants’ summer mini-camp.
In his own words, Diehl said, “I’m going to make sure I learn from this, it’s a mistake I guarantee will never, ever happen again. I’m going to make sure I help people never make the same decision I made. I’m going to become a stronger person because of it.”
Diehl had the full support of his head coach, Tom Coughlin, who said that his player was “very remorseful” and offered his full support. Coughlin also described Diehl as “an exemplary citizen” and a “very good spokesperson” for the team.
Sources indicate that Diehl will face a fine from the NFL for his actions, but will likely not have to serve a suspension.
Diehl’s arrest is another in a long line of DUI troubles faced by NFL players in the past few years, and sources suggest that the league may soon begin leveling harsher penalties against players who are arrested for drunk driving.
One notable recent incident involved Justin Blackmon, a former collegiate star at Oklahoma State who was arrested for his second DUI last week after being drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Blackmon registered an alarmingly high blood alcohol level at the time of his arrest, and his legal troubles led to cries from observers for more action by the NFL to protect the livelihood of its players.
For its part, the NFL is weighing whether to increase the potential penalties faced by players who are convicted for a DUI, but, as it currently stands, most teams simply prefer to let the court system handle the bulk of the punishment.
