EDITOR'S NOTE: Head Coach Mike Smith discussed veteran Lawyer Milloy's arrest Monday afternoon.
Head Coach Mike Smith
Opening Remarks
“Most of you probably want to talk about Lawyer (Milloy’s) situation. The first thing that I want to state is that anytime any of our players are in this type of situation, we are extremely disappointed. Myself and our organization. We feel it is completely unacceptable. With that being said, I have had a conversation with Lawyer this morning. It was a very lengthy conversation. It was something that I would like to keep private between him and me. What I can tell you is that this matter will be handled internally. The League and the CBA sets certain standards on things that you can and cannot do. I want to again impress on everyone that this is unacceptable.”
Q: Do think there will be a possible suspension?
A: “I know this. I know you guys have a job to do. I appreciate all your hard work, but when I say internally I mean it’s going to be handled internally. We are going to work through this. We are going to let the process run its course. It is a legal matter and we will let the due process run its course. It will be a matter that when I say internally we will keep it in house.”
Q: Obviously if it is a suspension it can’t be internal. We are going to know, right?
A: “It is going to be internally in terms of what we do. What plays out, plays out. We have to let it run its course and let the legal system go through the process.”
Q: So it sounds like that decision might not be made this week?
A: “That decision will be made. Everything that we will talk about will be done internally. You guys will see. If it become external, you guys will see it.”
Q: For our education, what are the parameters that you talked about i.e. the League, the CBA?
A: “Again, you have to go through the process of the judicial system. It is something that has been bargained collectively through the union. We want to make sure we do everything on the up and up as far as that is concerned.”
Q: In your mind, is this bigger because of who it happened to since he is a team leader?
A: “Well, I think that anytime anybody on our football team gets in this type of situation I am extremely disappointed. I can’t stress enough that this is unacceptable.”
Q: Do you have any greater concern as far as a ripple effect in terms of it being him?
A: “No. This is something that we talk about all of the time to all of our players. We have been talking about this since OTAs and minicamps. They know how we feel about this situation. I am not concerned. We want to get on to Kansas City and finish up the Tampa Bay stuff this afternoon. Our players will be here and we will move on.”
Q: If he is suspended, what is your situation at safety?
A: “I don’t even want to speculate that. These matters are going to be handled internally.”
