BENGALS’ SHIRLEY GUILTY OF DRUNK DRIVING, HIT AND RUN

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Jason Shirley has been found guilty of drunken driving and hit and run. Shirley, a rookie who is on the Bengals’ 53-man roster but has not yet played in a game, was sentenced to 30 days in an adult offender work program. On October 8, 2007, Shirley (at the time a player for Fresno State) backed his car into an apartment building and drove off. Although he admitted to drinking a 40-ounce beer, he said he wasn’t drunk and drove away because he thought he hit a curb, not a building. A breath test indicated otherwise; Shirley took a breathalyzer twice and registered over the legal blood alcohol limit both times. Shirley’s lawyer, Charles Magill, told the Fresno Bee he was disappointed that “The jury believed a machine over people.” The judge told Shirley he doesn’t have to serve the 30 days in the work program until after the season.