Former University of Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett accused police officers of ruining his reputation in a newly released video in January when he was arrested for public intoxication.
Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships earlier this year, can be heard blaming Dallas-area cops from behind a police car. According to footage obtained by TMZand made a fuss about the tightness of his handcuffs.
“Defamation. It’s ruined everything I worked for 20 years. But you’re just a boy looking for me, aren’t you? Thank you,” Bennett said on body camera footage, looking upset.
Police called the scene early in the morning of January 29 and said the 911 caller had found Bennett “extremely” intoxicated and “banging on doors” and “yelling” in the neighborhood.
When officers found 25-year-old Bennett, they repeatedly asked to see his hands before handcuffing him.
Bennett, who said he attended training in Dallas, couldn’t pinpoint the exact area he was in.
Officers later asked if Bennett lived in the area, and he replied that his friend, former Bulldogs offensive lineman Owen Condon, did.
As the discussion continued, a police officer, who noted that Bennett smelled alcohol, asked where the quarterback had previously been.
Bennett then sat in the backseat of the police car and whined about the ordeal.
“The door closed and someone went to sleep,” the quarterback said. “And now five million people have to see it. Boys, thank you for caring about me. You guys are the best.”
Weeks after his arrest, Bennett expressed remorse for disappointing his loved ones.
“It was a known mistake,” Bennett said at the NFL Scouting Combine in March. According to Pro Football Talk.
“I understand why it can’t happen. I’ve spoken to my coach about it, I’ve spoken to the GM. I apologized to my family. I felt let down. [people are going to know about it]”
A former walk-on for Georgia, Bennett quarterbacked the Bulldogs to a national title following the 2021 and 2022 seasons, including a 65-7 annihilation of TCU in January.
Bennett will be part of the 2023 NFL Draft, which starts later this month.
