National Football League

Chiefs LB Vrabel arrested for theft

Published Apr. 5, 2011 1:24 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kansas City linebacker Mike Vrabel was arrested Monday and charged with theft from a riverboat casino.

The Switzerland County sheriff's department said Vrabel, 35, was arrested at 5:30 a.m. and released about 5 hours later on $600 cash bond. He was charged with a class D felony.

''It was an unfortunate misunderstanding, and I take full responsibility for the miscommunication,'' Vrabel said in a statement issued through his agent. ''I feel comfortable that after talking with the appropriate parties, we will resolve this matter.''

The incident happened at the Belterra Casino in Florence, Ind. A call to the security department of the casino was not immediately returned.

Vrabel, a three-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots, is a member of the NFLPA executive committee and one of the plaintiffs in the players' antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. A hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Minneapolis in federal court in the lawsuit.

Vrabel was traded from the Patriots to the Chiefs before the 2009 season and was a starter on the team last season that won the AFC West title.

''We are aware of the reports regarding Mike Vrabel, but we are not permitted to have contact with Mike at this time,'' the Chiefs said in a statement. ''We understand that Mike has communicated publicly that the matter is a misunderstanding for which he takes full responsibility. We hope it is resolved for Mike in a positive way.''