Erickson Partakes In Typical Not-Guilty Plea Over Dwi Charges

Away from the media spotlight and without a court appearance, Seattle Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson has pleaded not guilty to drunk driving charges from an April 15 incident.

He entered the plea last Tuesday, the same day he went before the press and apologized for “an awful mistake.”

But legal experts say little should be insinuated into Erickson’s not-guilty plea, a standard practice by defense lawyers early in the process when they’re still trying to sift through all the information.

“I doubt very much that this case will go to trial,” said Steve Hayne, a Bellevue defense lawyer.

Erickson was arrested near Marysville after other drivers noted his erratic driving and used their car phones to call the police. A breath test registered his blood alcohol level at 0.23, far higher than 0.10, the legal threshold for intoxication in Washington State.

He was scheduled to appear in Everett District Court Tuesday for an arraignment. But court officials say his lawyer, Frank Willson of Everett, waived Erickson’s arraignment and entered a notguilty plea on his behalf last week.

The duo that turned around the San Diego Chargers, coach Bobby Ross and general manager Bobby Beathard, received contract extensions through the 1999 season.

Beathard, the Chargers’ GM since 1990, was in the final year of a three-year deal. Ross was in the last year of a four-year deal he signed in January 1992.”It’s great to have Bobby locked up, if he can put with me for another five years,” Beathard said.

In the three seasons since Beathard hired Ross from Georgia Tech, the Chargers have won two AFC West titles and reached the Super Bowl last season, losing 49-26 to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Carolina Panthers signed free-agent linebacker Carlton Bailey, 30, who left the New York Giants last month after two seasons. Bailey played in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills.