Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards made a brief appearance in Manhattan criminal court this morning in an attempt to get his September 2010 drunk driving arrest tossed.
The 28-year-old free agent told reporters he still wants to play for the Jets this coming season, and his attorney filed legal motions challenging the accuracy of the blood alcohol exams that show Edwards was twice over the legal limit.
“I talked to Rex … a couple of days ago, more a catching up type of thing,” Edwards said after the hearing, referring to Jets head coach Rex Ryan. “The interest is there on their side. The interest is there on my side, so we have to wait to see what happens.”
Last Sept. 21, police pulled over Edwards’ Range Rover on 12th Avenue near 34th Street for having excessively tinted windows. Cops said he appeared intoxicated and blew 0.16 (twice the legal limit) on a Breathalyzer test.
His attorney, Peter Frankel, filed routine motions challenging the accuracy of the two tests Edwards was given, one in the field and one back at the precinct, that indicated the star player was drunk.
The case was adjourned until May 16.
Since the season ended, Edwards, who denies being drunk at the wheel, said he’s been taking it easy and relaxing, but the Jets remain foremost on his mind.
“I definitely still want to be a Jet. Everyone knows that,” he said. “If they give me the opportunity, I definitely want to come back and maybe take advantage of that championship this year. Maybe we’ll win one.
“One more time, I love being a Jet.”
Edwards and all other NFL players can not sign new contracts until the league’s labor situation is resolved. The deadline on the expiring collective bargaining agreement was extended one week to this coming Friday.
The drunk driving charge isn’t Edwards’ first brush with the law. Two days before he was traded to the Jets in October 2009 he allegedly punched a local party promoter at a Cleveland nightclub.
He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge and was given probation.Â