Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said he panicked after crashing his new Lamborghini along a highway early Monday morning and initially reported his car stolen after abandoning the mangled vehicle.
Speaking to reporters after practice on Tuesday, Briggs said he called a tow truck after leaving the scene and then reported his 2007 Murcielago was stolen.
"When it happened, the first thing I did was, obviously, I panicked," Briggs said. "I didn't want there to be a big scene there. And so I left the scene. When I left, I called the tow truck. I also was startled, and I called to report that my car was stolen. Within probably 10 minutes, I called back and accepted responsibility for what I did because it was ridiculous in the first place."
Illinois State Police said they have no record of Briggs reporting a stolen vehicle. They did say that Briggs placed a 9-1-1 call at around 4 a.m. Monday, after initially saying he did not call police until sometime between 8 a.m. and 9.
But Master Sgt. Luis Gutierrez said Briggs gave "no indication of his car being stolen" during either call.