New details have emerged from the arrest of Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who was booked early Friday morning in Nashville on charges of DUI and speeding after the Week 11 win.
According to authorities, via Daniel Smithson of WSMV.com, Downing was estimated to be going 95 to 100 miles per hour by police, but was officially clocked at 50 miles per hour in a 40 mile-per-hour zone while being followed.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper who made the stop smelled alcohol coming from Downing’s car, and the Titans offensive coordinator had “red eyes and slow, slurred speech.”
During the stop, Downing, who admitted he had been drinking beer prior to driving, claimed he was trying to get home to his family quickly because he had “been receiving death threats.”
The 42-year-old coach then accepted a field sobriety test, which he failed, leading to his being taken into custody.
One of the many questions people have are, was Downing drinking alcohol on the team plane on the way back from the Packers game?
Alcohol on team planes and in team facilities is forbidden by the NFL, and if it is found that occurred on the Titans’ flight home from Green Bay, the team could face discipline.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel declined to comment on whether or not that was the case. The NFL sent a memo out on Friday reiterating the rules.
Full text of the memo from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, which was sent hours after #Titans OC Todd Downing was arrested on suspicion of DUI after the team’s win at Green Bay. pic.twitter.com/XT7QjIZPmr
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 18, 2022
The league will review the situation, as it does in all cases like these. Downing, and now the team itself, could potentially face discipline.