A Philadelphia Eagles linebacker was arrested in Georgia last week, according to ESPN. Deputies clocked the luxury vehicle he was driving at nearly twice the posted speed limit.
The driver is a Super Bowl-winning Eagles player who grew up in the state and played college football there: Nolan Smith. He was found tearing up the road on a stretch of highway through a small county where the speed limit is 70 mph. The Lamborghini’s radar reading was 135.
The traffic stop itself, the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office said, was uneventful, despite the fact that the police found themselves working with a somewhat popular athlete. That alone was enough to get the attention of social media denizens around the internet.
The incident has now traveled well beyond the small Georgia county where it began, largely because of who was behind the wheel. The Super Bowl-winning player had decided to open up on a Georgia road and now finds himself paying the price.
What Deputies Discovered
Deputies first saw a Lamborghini moving at approximately 135 mph in a 70 mph zone. It raced along a stretch of highway through the county on Friday, May 15, which spurred deputies to put together a traffic stop. The Lamborghini then pulled over, seemingly willing to comply.
The driver was cooperative ahead of being taken into custody. He even followed deputies back to the station, where citations were issued. Bond was posted, then Smith was released.
The charges, the agency confirmed, were reckless driving and speeding in excess of maximum limits.
Who Is Football Player Nolan Smith?
Smith is a Savannah native who played football at the University of Georgia. The Eagles selected him as part of the 2023 NFL Draft. He earned a Super Bowl ring in his second season, when Philadelphia defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
The sheriff’s office took to social media with a bit of a cheeky share. The social team posted a “High Visibility Enforcement Reminder” to Facebook and didn’t name Smith directly. They only referred to smaller specifics from throughout the case.
The post called the incident drama-free and injury-free, but noted that it was a costly lesson for the driver of a very fast car. Though no one named Smith in the post, internet denizens eventually caught wise and his name came out through other means.
