May 13th 2008 5:13PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, Seattle, NFL Police BlotterSeattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu has been arrested and charged with drunk driving, a black eye for one of the league’s most respected young players less than two months after he signed a lucrative contract extension.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Tatupu was pulled over as he went through a McDonald’s drive-through after police saw him speeding and changing lanes without signaling. Police say he took two breath tests which revealed blood alcohol levels of .155 and .158, or close to twice the legal limit.

Tatupu was the Seahawks’ second-round draft pick in 2005 out of USC, and he instantly became one of the league’s top linebackers. In March he signed a six-year, $40 million deal to stay in Seattle, with the Seahawks’ front office citing his character as one of the reasons that they wanted him to be one of the centerpieces of their franchise for years to come.