Players making headlines off the field

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - They're idolized for their skill.

But what happens when their off the field antics, start making headlines?

Since January, more than 20 current and former NFL players have been in trouble with the law.

Donte Whitner is now charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

For the first time since Donte Whitner was arrested, we're now hearing from a Lt. in the Cleveland Police Department by phone.

"So whatever the circumstances these officers found themselves in they felt this was the option they needed to resort to and they did," he said.

Police tasered and arrested Whitner as they tried to control a rowdy crowd outside the House of Blues early Saturday morning.

Donte is just one of several NFL players to have a recent run in with the law.

NFL players are considered star athletes and role models to kids like these who play for the New York Wildcats, a youth football team in Buffalo.

"My favorite player is Adrian Peterson. My favorite football player is Marshawn Lynch," said one child.

But some of their favorite players don't always make the best moves off the field.

So why is it that professional football players seem to make more headlines than players in any other field?

We asked Julie Long, a local Sports Psychology Consultant.

"It's hard to switch from being aggressive on the field and in the gym to being just in daily life," said Julie Long. "It just takes a lot more effort to get yourself out of that athletic state of mind."

Rene Valazquez is the founder of New York Wildcats and he's also a coach on the football team.

As a coach and father, he says it's tough to compete with NFL players in the eyes of children.

Rene said, "Those guys being role models and they're placed on a pedestal as being super stars, so it's kind of difficult at times."

Whitner is expected to be back in Buffalo Tuesday and he's scheduled to be in court in Cleveland April 28th.

The Bills tell us the team is holding off on making any comments until all the facts have been gathered.