Raiders Defensive End Arrested

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Oakland Raiders reserve defensive end Bryant McNeal was arrested Thursday on an outstanding warrant following a traffic stop in South Carolina. <br/><br/>McNeal, 27, was wanted in

Thursday, July 5th 2007, 3:08 pm

By: News On 6

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Oakland Raiders reserve defensive end Bryant McNeal was arrested Thursday on an outstanding warrant following a traffic stop in South Carolina.

McNeal, 27, was wanted in Florida for selling a Land Rover to a pawn broker for $15,000 when he didn't own it, said Clearwater, Fla., police spokesman Wayne Shelor.

When McNeal, who spent the 2005 training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, didn't return to claim the car, Carbucks Corp. tried to collect the title. However, the company found that McNeal had not paid off a bank loan, Shelor said.

A warrant for McNeal's arrest was issued in December 2005 on a charge of defrauding a pawn broker, Shelor said.

The former Clemson star was stopped at 3:35 a.m. Thursday in Lexington County where he lives and charged with driving with a suspended license and operating a vehicle without a headlight.

He will remain at the Lexington County jail until Florida authorities make arrangements for his extradition, Lexington County sheriff's spokesman Maj. John Allard said in an e-mail. Allard said McNeal told authorities he did not have an attorney.

McNeal was also served an arrest warrant from Richland County for writing a fraudulent $1,500 check to Berger Dental Group, the Lexington County sheriff's department said in a news release.

McNeal was signed to the Raiders practice squad last season.

``We take matters of this nature very seriously,'' Oakland spokesman Mike Taylor said Thursday. ``But until we have all of the facts, it would be inappropriate to comment or otherwise react.''

McNeal, who starred at Swansea High in South Carolina, was a two-year starter at Clemson. He led the Tigers with eight sacks his senior season and was selected to the all-Atlantic Coast Conference second team in 2002.

McNeal was picked by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2003 draft and won a spot in the team's defensive line rotation. However, a lower back injury limited his effectiveness and he spent the second half of his rookie season on injured reserve.

The next summer, McNeal was signed to Denver's practice squad after the club waived him before the season started.

McNeal signed with Tampa Bay in December 2004 before being cut before the next season began.