THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The next time a flight attendant asks Leodis McKelvin to turn off his cellphone on a plane, the Buffalo Bills cornerback says he’s going to listen.
McKelvin apologized on Thursday after confirming he had been ticketed $75 for refusing to follow a crew member’s order during a flight from New York to Buffalo on Tuesday.
"Yeah, you’ve got to know what you’re doing and who you are. You’ve got to do what you’re basically told," McKelvin said. "It was a misunderstanding. I apologized for it, and I’m going to pay the fine, pay my dues for what I did."
Buffalo’s WIVB-TV first reported McKelvin had been fined on Wednesday.
According to a Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police report, McKelvin refused to comply with a request to turn off his cellphone and place the bag that was under his seat into an overhead compartment. He was fined upon arriving in Buffalo.
McKelvin said the bag wasn’t an issue, but acknowledged he refused to follow an order to turn off his cellphone and buckle his seatbelt.
McKelvin is the Bills 2008 first-round draft pick out of Troy, and was named the AFC’s special teams player of week on Wednesday. He earned the honour after scoring on a 79-yard punt return in a 19-14 win over Miami on Nov. 15.
The Bills (4-6) are preparing to play at Indianapolis (6-4) on Sunday.
After practice Thursday, coach Chan Gailey ruled out defensive end Mark Anderson (left knee) and cornerback Aaron Williams (right knee). Anderson, who is listed week to week, will miss his sixth consecutive game. Williams has been out since being hurt in a 21-9 loss at Houston on Nov. 4
Fullback Corey McIntyre and cornerback Ron Brooks are expected to play after both returned to practice Thursday. McIntyre aggravated a left knee injury early into practice Wednesday. Brooks missed practice after having emergency dental surgery.
