Kevin Mack, absent from the Cleveland Browns' pre-season training camp while undergoing drug treatment, has the support of teammates despite pending cocaine trafficking charges.
"We'd love to see Kevin get out of this because what happened is not Kevin," linebacker Eddie Johnson said Tuesday at training camp at suburban Lakeland Community College while Mack was arraigned in a Cleveland courtroom."Kevin is a very nice person and a great football player," Johnson said. "I hope he gets out okay and realizes his mistake. Maybe this will help him get over the hump and see that drugs are not the answer."
Ozzie Newsome, a tight end, said he hoped "they'll treat Kevin like they would any other human being. Hopefully he'll be able to put this in the back of his mind eventually."
Mack, 26, who was arrested with two others June 28, pleaded innocent Tuesday and was allowed to remain free on $2,500 bond by Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court Judge William E. Aurelius.
Gerald S. Gold, Mack's defense attorney, cautioned Mack against commenting on the case. He said Mack's month-long drug rehabilitation program at the Cleveland Clinic was "going very well" and would be completed Friday.
Mack was indicted on one felony count each of cocaine possession, cocaine trafficking, possession of criminal tools, and using a motor vehicle for drug abuse.
If he's convicted on all counts, Mack could face up to 20 years in prison.
Police have said they found 11 packets of cocaine valued at $50 each inside his car.