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Police book Browns NT Rogers on felony gun possession at airport

CLEVELAND -- Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers was arrested Thursday at Hopkins International Airport for having a loaded gun in his carry-on luggage.

Rogers, who had been at the Browns' suburban training facility in recent days for a voluntary offseason program, was stopped at a security checkpoint on Concourse C when officials spotted a loaded .45-caliber handgun in his bag, police said in a statement.

Rogers was arrested at 12:15 p.m. "without incident," transferred to a downtown processing center and booked for carrying a concealed weapon, a third-degree felony.

Sgt. Sammy Morris of the Cleveland Police Department said Rogers was still being held in the city's jail Thursday night.

No charges have been filed at this time, police said, although Rogers could face federal fines for carrying the firearm.

It's not yet known what Rogers, who lives in Houston during the offseason, told officials about the gun or if he has a permit for it. It's also unclear whether he was traveling alone.

Browns president Mike Holmgren said via a team-issued statement that he was aware of Rogers' arrest.

"We will continue to gather additional information, and until the legal process has taken its course, we will reserve any further comment," Holmgren's statement said.

A message seeking comment was left with Rogers' agent, Kennard McGuire.

Beyond his legal problems, Rogers likely will face league penalties if it's determined that he violated the NFL's player-conduct policy.

A three-time Pro Bowl pick who has spent two seasons with the Browns, Rogers missed the final five games of 2009 after breaking his leg during a Nov. 29 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns acquired Rogers in a 2008 trade with the Detroit Lions in exchange for cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round draft pick.

Rogers came to Cleveland with a spotty reputation. The NFL gave him a four-game suspension in 2006 for taking a banned substance to control his weight. In 2007, an exotic dancer claimed Rogers inappropriately touched her at a club in Detroit, but an investigation cleared him.

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The Lions also had issues with Rogers' weight and his commitment.

Rogers made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Browns, recording 76 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 16 games. Blessed with amazing quickness for a man his size, Rogers also has excelled in blocking field-goal and extra-point attempts. Before he was hurt, Rogers blocked one field-goal attempt -- the 13th of his career -- and two extra-point tries last season.

Rogers and Browns coach Eric Mangini got off to a rough start before last season. Rogers felt slighted when Mangini, weeks after being hired, didn't acknowledge the lineman at an awards banquet at a downtown Cleveland hotel. Rogers reportedly asked to be traded, but the two men met and patched up any differences. Mangini often praised Rogers, known to his teammates as "Big Baby," for his leadership last season.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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