Former NFL player Gosder Cherilus breaks his silence after being accused of urinating on a passenger during a flight

Gosder Cherilus, the former NFL player accused of urinating on a passenger during a flight to Dublin has broken his silence on social media.

Cherilus, who was selected as the 17th overall pick by the Detroit Lions in 2008, released a statement on social media on Monday explaining his “conduct” on a Delta Air Lines flight from Boston's Logan International Airport that led to his arrest.

“I would like to address the media reports about me that have emerged today in connection with a situation that occurred aboard a flight to Ireland this past weekend,” the former NFL player said in a statement posted to X.

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Cherilus further explained that after being several hours late, he took a “sleeping pill” that caused the unruly behavior.

“The flight was unexpectedly delayed by about four hours and did not take off until after 0:30 a.m. To prepare for the unexpected night flight, I took a sleeping pill that I do not normally take, which led to behavior that is not in keeping with my character. I would like to apologize to the passengers and the flight crew.”

According to the police report, Cherilus boarded the plane and appeared to be drunk. He argued with the flight crew about his seat and after an hour of flying he allegedly urinated on an elderly passenger.

Gosder Cherilus of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves the field dejected after the Bucs missed a field goal during the regular season game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

FORMER NFL STARTER ARRESTED AFTER URINATION ON PASSENGER DURING FLIGHT

He is also accused of hitting another passenger before taking his seat and passing out, police said.

Cherilus was arraigned on Monday. According to the Boston-Herald, He was charged with disturbing the peace, interfering with the flight crew and resisting arrest. He is due back in court on October 11 for a preliminary hearing.

Former NFL football player Gosder Cherilus stands during his arraignment on disorderly conduct charges in East Boston Municipal Court in Boston on Monday, August 19, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

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Cherilus, 40, played five seasons with the Lions, where he was primarily a starter on the offensive line. He took on a similar role when he signed a five-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts, but was fired after his second season.

He played two more years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring from the NFL in 2017.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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