FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner apologized on Wednesday for his arrest one day earlier on suspicion of DUI.
"I'd like to apologize to (owner) Mr. (Arthur) Blank, (general manager) Thomas Dimitroff, (head coach) Mike Smith, the whole Falcons organization out there and the fans for the situation I'm in right now," Turner said. "It's a bad decision on my part. I can't say too much about any detail about it right now."
Turner said he expects to play on Sunday at San Diego against the Chargers, the team with which he played his first four NFL seasons prior to joining Atlanta in 2008 and making the Pro Bowl twice.
In talking to the media for about three minutes, Turner expressed regret for his actions. He also was charged with speeding. According to the police report, he was driving 97 mph in a 65-mph zone in the early morning hours after his team's 27-21 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night.
"Yeah, any time you're in a situation like this, you don't want this to happen," he said. "Try to keep a clean slate throughout your whole life, just like everybody else, but unfortunately this happened and now I've got to move on."
He said he has received moral support from his teammates. Toward the end of his talk with media, wide receiver Roddy White brought out a megaphone and began whispering, "Michael ... Michael ..." and then to the media, "Leave Michael alone."
Said Turner: "Just taking it day by day, hour by hour. I'm around the guys right now, they're keeping me encouraged and telling me to keep my head up and (I) have to take it day by day."
Turner has struggled so far this season with just 74 yards on 28 carries.
