NEW YORK (AP)—Braylon Edwards will play in the Jets’ next game against the Miami Dolphins. When he gets on the field against New York’s AFC East rival is up to Rex Ryan.
General manager Mike Tannenbaum told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the star wide receiver will be active Sunday night despite being arrested for drunken driving Tuesday morning.
Tannenbaum said that after speaking with Ryan and owner Woody Johnson, the team determined that Edwards won’t start but will play in Miami.
“Braylon’s actions clearly come under the purview of the league’s substance abuse policy,” Tannenbaum said. “This is going to have to run its course through the legal system, and any discipline that occurs will be by the league under that program.”
Edwards was arraigned on drunken-driving charges after a breath test showed he had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit after he was stopped on Manhattan’s West Side around 5 a.m. Tuesday, prosecutors said.
The Jets had few options in terms of discipline due to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. Any punishment they would dole out other than what the NFL eventually decides, would violate the CBA.  That means the Jets could not suspend or deactivate him without risking a violation. Keeping him active and not playing him could also be perceived as punishment, also a violation.
Edwards will practice with the team this week as the Jets, coming off a huge victory over New England, prepare to play the undefeated Dolphins (2-0). He produced a solid performance against the Patriots, making five catches— including a touchdown—and had a 2-point conversion.
But, he angered Ryan when he was penalized for taunting after the touchdown catch—he briefly danced in the end zone in front of the defensive back covering him—and then danced again, but wasn’t penalized, after the conversion.