The Buccaneers' first negative off-field incident of 2013 happened on Monday as third-year defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was arrested at LaGuardia Airport for carrying a concealed weapon in New York, according to numerous reports.

The state of New York – and New York City in particular – has some of the toughest gun laws in the entire nation, which may not bode well for Bowers.

The former 2011 second-round draft pick out of Clemson was attempting to board a U.S. Airways flight from New York to Raleigh, North Carolina when he was found with a loaded .40 caliber firearm in his carry-on bag, spokesmen for the Port Authority and the Queens District Attorney's office.

Bowers was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon charge and is scheduled for court Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

"We are aware of the situation and are gathering information," Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik said in a statement released by the team. "We will withhold comment until we know all the facts."

The former All-American defensive end spent part of last year on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list before being activated after Week 6 in 2012, where he collected 13 tackles and three sacks. In his two-year NFL career Bowers has 38 tackles and 4.5 sacks in Tampa Bay.

Complicating matters for the Buccaneers is that starting left defensive end Michael Bennett is slated to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Bowers' arrest increases Bennett's leverage for a contract extension.



PewterReport.com will have more information as it becomes available.