Wesbter played despite arrest

Agent says NFL's Bucs aware of draft pick's past

Posted: Saturday April 29, 2000 01:11 PM

MIAMI (AP) -- Former Miami Hurricanes linebacker Nate Webster kept playing last season despite his arrest in October on charges of battery and false imprisonment of a former girlfriend.

It's unclear whether athletic director Paul Dee or coach Butch Davis were aware of the arrest. Dee didn't return a phone call seeking comment Saturday, and Davis also couldn't be reached for comment.

Webster, taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of this month's NFL draft, entered a pretrial intervention program. Charges will be dismissed if he completes the program.

Webster was arrested by Miami-Dade police at 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 16. According to a police report, he grabbed a former girlfriend by the neck and threw her to the ground, then shoved her into the vehicle in which he was riding with a friend. A witness called police, who caught Webster fleeing in the vehicle.

Webster's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said the Buccaneers are aware of the case.

"Nate handled everything legally, and he's moving on with his life," Rosenhaus said.

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