Jets' Edwards benched 1st quarter, then scores TD

MIAMI - The final decision wasn't made until about two hours before kickoff Sunday night, but the choice was unanimous: Five days after Braylon Edwards was arrested in Manhattan for driving while intoxicated, the Jets' 26-year-old receiver was benched for the first quarter of the Jets' 31-23 win over the Dolphins.

"We've made our disappointment clear to Braylon," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said in a statement before the game. "Now he must deal with the consequences of his actions as the legal process runs its course, and the league will determine the appropriate discipline under the guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement."

Edwards quietly endured his benching but made his presence felt later in the game, scoring on a 67-yard touchdown pass to give the Jets a 21-17 lead with 8:29 left in the third quarter. Edwards took a short pass from Mark Sanchez near the left sideline, spun around defender Jason Allen, and then sped up the sideline for the score.

Edwards had one other reception, and it was a big one. His 20-yard catch on third-and-10 kept alive the touchdown drive that put the Jets up 31-23. Edwards also drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone to position the Jets for Tomlinson's score.

Of the benching, Edwards said, "It was obviously not the situation I want to be in. But I was there supporting my team. I was there for every play, watching and knowing what it was, up and cheering guys on. I was just being the best teammate I could be."

It was the culmination of a tumultuous week that created a firestorm of controversy around the team. Edwards is scheduled for a Nov. 9 court date to enter a plea on DWI charges. He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Manhattan Criminal Court after being arrested at around 5 a.m.

Edwards, who was driving his Range Rover with three passengers, including teammates Vernon Gholston and D'Brickashaw Ferguson, registered a .16 in a Breathalyzer test. That's double the legal limit of .08 in New York.

The Jets came under pressure to deactivate Edwards, but stuck by their contention that the move would have violated the terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement. The NFL's policy stipulates that players cannot be suspended or deactivated for a first-time DWI unless there are aggravating circumstances, such as physical injury or property damage. In Edwards' case, no one was injured, and there was no damage to his vehicle or other property.

"The biggest thing I can say about this week is that I really am glad that I have teammates and an organization like the Jets," Edwards said. "They've been very supportive."

Edwards may still face sanctions, however. Because he pleaded no contest to assault charges filed last October in connection with a fight outside a Cleveland nightclub, he may be disciplined as part of the league's personal conduct policy if he is found guilty or pleads guilty to DWI charges.

Edwards was not suspended after pleading no contest, but was fined $200,000 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. It is Goodell who would decide on any NFL sanctions of Edwards once his DWI case is resolved.

Ryan said during the week that he didn't think deactivating Edwards was the right thing to do, and that benching him would serve as a "severe punishment."

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy, now an NBC commentator, thought Ryan should have benched Edwards for the entire game. "I asked him what he was going to do, and he basically explained - just like he did to our crew - what he was going to do," Dungy said. "[Ryan] told me he felt Braylon had been punished enough. He had been embarrassed in the media, is going to lose money in free agency, so he didn't feel like he had to pile on him."

Dungy said"you have to discipline players. You have to let them know what you expect."

NBC reported last night that Edwards said he left a message for Goodell Friday afternoon, saying "I want to be the kind of guy you want in this league."