ATHENS — Dallas police released body cam football of Stetson Bennett’s Jan. 29 arrest to TMZ, and it was predictably not a good look for the former Georgia football quarterback.
Bennett seemed to know it as he sat handcuffed in the squad car, telling the arresting officers, “Reputation ruined. Everything I worked for for 20 years, ruined. But ya’ll boys just looking out for me, aren’t ya? Thank you, sir.”
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The body cam footage was the first time Bennett talked publicly about what happened that night, declaring his innocence from any crime. Bennett apologized to his family when asked about the arrest at the NFL Combine
Bennett, who was in Fort Worth training for NFL workouts, told officers he was in Dallas to visit former Bulldogs’ teammate Owen Condon when he was arrested on charges of public intoxication.
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ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. has projected Bennett as an NFL draft pick who could go as high as the third round. Jordan Reid, another ESPN analyst, projected Bennett to be selected by the New Orleans Saints.
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The video, released to TMZ, showed officers telling Bennett they could smell alcohol on him and asking him about the I.D. of someone from Oklahoma that he was carrying.
Bennett told police he was from “Southeast Georgia.”
The Dallas police were responding to a 911 call they received from a woman about Bennett being outside her home and yelling, per the TMZ report.
The woman reportedly told the 911 operators that there had been a party nearby, and indicated Bennett had been banging on doors.
Bennett’s explanation from the back of the squad car was “The door shut and somebody fell asleep, and now five million people got to see it, don’t they? Thank you boys for looking out for me. You guys are the best.”
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Bennett, the Manning Award winner and a Heisman Trophy finalist, was clearly irritated.
“I hope it feels good, I didn’t do shit,” Bennett said. “I appreciate you looking out for me. Y’all can tell me whatever you need to tell me if it makes you feel good.”
When police told Bennett they were just trying to keep him safe, the Georgia team captain let them know this was a case that would receive a great deal of attention.
“Thank you ... for introducing yourself to a problem,” Bennett said. “You guys are going to introduce yourselves to a million eyes, but y’all are just doing y’alls jobs.”
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