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Police: NFL player caught with gun at airport

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — An NFL football player is facing charges after police said he tried to board a plane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a gun.    

Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Andre Smith sat shackled in a Clayton County courtroom Friday as his family members looked on. He stayed silent as his attorney spoke for him.

Smith is accused of attempting to take a black .380-caliber handgun in his carry-on bag through the security checkpoint at the airport Thursday afternoon.
   
TSA agents discovered it, and Atlanta police arrested Smith. His attorney told Channel 2's Tom Jones he's sorry the football player from Alabama was arrested.

"He did not know that there was a firearm in his luggage," attorney Brian Steel said.
   
Atlanta has consistently led the nation in guns confiscated at airport security checkpoints. Most offenders say they mistakenly left their guns in their luggage.
   
Smith's attorney said he was in town on business. Jones asked Steel if he expects the league to come down on Smith, and he responded, "I would hope not, because the NFL doesn't come down on innocent people."
   
The judge gave Smith a $3,000 bond.

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