Former NFL QB Jay Cutler faces DUI, weapons charges

Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler was arrested in Tennessee on Thursday night after a traffic crash and faces four charges, a spokesperson for the Franklin Police Department told ESPN.

Cutler, 41, was charged with driving under the influence, possession of a handgun while under the influence, failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision and implied consent.

According to a police affidavit obtained by ESPN, Cutler, who was driving a white Dodge Ram, caused a collision in downtown Franklin around 5 p.m. Thursday when he rear ended a GMC. The driver of the other vehicle told responding authorities that Cutler "attempted to flee the scene after offering him $2,000 if he did not call the Police."

The officer on the scene described Cutler as "staggering, swaying and heavy-footed while walking" and noticed that he "spoke thick-tongued, slurred and mumbled." The affidavit states that Cutler had an "overwhelming odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his person."

Cutler initially told the arresting officer that he had not consumed any alcohol and later stated that he had "a little bit" before refusing a standardized field sobriety test. During a probable cause search of Cutler's vehicle, a rifle was found in the back seat as well as a loaded handgun in the center console.

He was transported to the Williamson County Criminal Justice Center "without issue." Cutler was booked shortly before 7 p.m. and given a $5,000 bond. He was released at 9:59 p.m.

Cutler was a 2006 first-round pick of the Denver Broncos, where he played until 2008. He was traded to the Chicago Bears during the 2009 draft and played 102 games through the 2016 season, becoming the franchise's all-time leading passer with 23,443 yards and 154 touchdowns. He played his last season with the Miami Dolphins in 2017.