Quentin Groves Apologizes for His Actions

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- From the locker room this afternoon, Quentin Groves first issued an apology for his actions on Friday.

"I want to say I'm sorry to the Jacksonville community, especially Jaguars fans, Coach Del Rio, Mr. Weaver, and the family involved. I actually called Mr. John Jackett, and apologized to him and his family," Groves said.

When asked if Groves thought a warning was a fair reprimand as opposed to a charge, Groves said, "I've been advised not to speak or comment on the situation."

The football player also declined to talk about how the accident occurred, saying again, that he'd been advised not to speak on the situation until it is resolved.

In Monday night's press conference, Head Coach Jack Del Rio told reporters he is addressing Groves' incident internally.

"I will continue to do the right things for the right reasons," Del Rio said of decisions he makes regarding his players' accountability on and off the field.

Groves says he expects to be fined for missing the charter flight with the rest of his team.

He added that the situation has been difficult for him.

"I'm usually an upbeat guy. When something like this happens, it tears you. I don't want anyone to be in the situation I'm in right now. I'm sorry about what happened. It never should have happened and it won't happen again," Groves said.

Groves was involved in a crash Friday afternoon at JIA; he ended up getting a warning citation.

Groves was given the citation for improper lane change. Airport police say Groves changed lanes hitting a car, then Grove's SUV was hit by another car.

The father of one of the drivers, Robyn Jackett, says Groves hit his son's car and another car and then fled the scene.

Jacksonville Aviation Authority spokeswoman Debbie Jones says Groves' truck was parked about 100 yards from the accident scene, with Groves on the scene to talk to the investigating officer.

"They did an investigation with all three drivers who were involved in the accident. They issued a warning citation to vehicle number one, which was the the vehicle that belonged to Mr. Groves," said Jones.

This is not Grove's first driving issue this year.

Jackett says his son was approaching the intersection when a Cadillac Escalade changing lanes clipped another car and sent it spinning.

The Escalade then changed lanes again and stopped abruptly and Jackett's car ended up wedged under the Escalade.

According to Jackett, Groves then stepped out of his car, said he was a Jaguars player and had a plane to catch and drove off.

Both Jackett and the other driver involved told First Coast News another driver that witnessed the crash then followed Groves down the road and blocked him from driving away until airport police arrived.

But the report shows Groves was only given a warning for improper lane change.

"You hear the news reports and things about what the Jaguars do and it's like, well, they're the Jacksonville Jaguars, they're celebrities. It seems like they get a different justice then the rest of us would," says Jackett.

Jackett's son did go to the hospital with back and arm pain.

Lori Abbott says her husband, Paul, is still in a Brevard County hospital. She says he was admitted on Sunday with a possible concussion.

Jackett says his car is totaled. The other car involved had about $5,000 damage and Groves' car was also damaged.

Jones says Groves was found to be at fault, he missed his charter flight and took a commercial flight to Seattle.

And she says it is up to the officer's discretion whether to give just a warning.

Dan Edwards, Jaguars spokesman, says the team is still gathering information and had no additional comment at this time.

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