Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward had but one fear during his DUI arrest last summer in DeKalb county – the media getting hold of the news about his wrongdoing.

According to a police dash cam footage from the police car used to transport Ward to jail in July 9, he asked the arresting officer several times whether newspapers, especially ESPN, would learn about his DUI arrest. In the video obtained by TMZ, Hines Ward can be seen handcuffed in the back seat, leaning forward and questioning the officer through a protective see-through partition about whether his DUI arrest will be out in the media.

“Is this going to be all in the newspaper?” asked the NFL star. The police officer replied, “Only if you tell somebody.” Unconvinced, Ward then told the officer, “No, I already know ESPN. They always be looking for [expletive] like that, ” to which the officer responded, “They have to know to look.” Hines Ward answered, “They look every night.”

The 36-year-old football player was clearly agitated about the possibility of his DUI arrest getting out.

“Oh, my goodness,” he said at one point, then continued “Please, sir, I already know how y’all gonna put it out like that,” Hines Ward said to the officer. “Don’t put it out like that.” Later, he returned to the idea of ESPN finding out about his DUI arrest, saying, “They’re gonna have me all up on ESPN and stuff.”

On July 9 2011, DeKalb police apprehended Ward around 2:30 in the morning on Buford Highway near Briarwood Road. The officer said the player, who was driving an Aston Martin,  failed to maintain his lane and hit a curb.

Authorities said Hines Ward confessed that he had been at a downtown club and had two drinks. The NFL star failed a field sobriety test, refused to take a breathalyzer test, and was later taken to jail.

NFL player Hines Ward maintained his innocence. After his DUI arrest, Ward’s Atlanta attorney Andrew Ree said facts would show the football player was not impaired by alcohol and that he was “deeply saddened” by the incident, even apologizing for “the distraction.”

Hines Ward’s charge for his DUI arrest was dropped in February after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving. The Pittsburgh Steelers player received 12 months of probation, was fined $2,000 and must complete 80 hours of community service. He is also required to undergo an alcohol evaluation and participate in a risk-reduction program.

The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward needs to keep his nose clean for the next 12 months as he has been recently sentenced to a year of probation. The NFL star pleaded guilty to a lesser charge to end his DUI case which happened in 2011.

Hines Ward pleaded guilty to reckless driving and no contest to failing to stay in his lane. In return, prosecutors in Dekalb County, Georgia, where he was arrested agreed to drop the DUI case against him. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward will get probation, a $2,000 fine, 80 hours of community service, and an order to submit to an alcohol evaluation and any treatment suggested by the evaluators. Hines Ward will be allowed to check in with his probation officer via phone or e-mail, so if the football star is playing in the NFL this year, Ward’s probation won’t interrupt his practice or game schedule.

Hines Ward’s attorney, Andrew Ree, issued a statement to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review regarding the DUI case. “We are grateful for the outcome. By dropping the DUI case it is clear that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to proceed. Hines has always maintained that his ability to drive was in no way impaired and we are pleased that the facts support his innocence. He is thankful to his legal team and to all who stand by him. Hines has a great respect for the legal system and is also grateful in particular to the state for the professional manner in which they handled this manner.”

Hines Ward was busted by the authorities early morning of July 9, 2011 when a police officer saw him hit a curb while driving his Aston Martin. However, Ward claimed he was not drunk. The arrest became fodder for the Ravens-Steelers rivalry when Ravens running back Ray Rice said he expected Hines Ward to be suspended, and held firm to that comment when some suggested it was unseemly for one NFL player to weigh in on the off-field issues affecting another.