PRO FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : AROUND THE NFL : Bengal Found Guilty of Drunk Driving

Linebacker James Francis of the Cincinnati Bengals was found guilty of drunken driving and had his driving privileges curtailed but will still be allowed to drive to fulfill his job.

Hamilton County Municipal Judge Nadine Allen said she will permit the rookie linebacker to drive to and from practices and games. But she otherwise forbade him to drive from Nov. 18 through Feb. 5, after finding Francis guilty of the drunk driving charge. Francis, 22, pleaded no contest.

The judge fined Francis $250 plus $32 in court costs, gave him a suspended 90-day jail sentence and placed him on a year’s probation. She also ordered Francis to attend a DUI intervention program on one weekend after the football season is over.

City police said they stopped Francis at 2:55 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 75 in Cincinnati. His blood alcohol level tested at .14, police said. In Ohio, a person is considered legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .10 or more.

Mike Brown, Bengal assistant general manager, said the team expects Francis will not repeat the incident.

“He’s a young guy. He was out with friends, and he was driving home when this occurred,” Brown said. “We think it’s unfortunate, but we aren’t going to make any more out of it than that.”