ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams rookie linebacker Leonard Little was charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter for his involvement in a fatal car accident and remained on leave from the team.
Little, 24, is accused of getting drunk on his birthday Oct. 19 and killing a woman in an automobile accident. He faces one to four years in jail under sentencing guidelines, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Dee Joyce-Hayes said.
Little surrendered to authorities about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, posted bond of $25,000, and was released by 11 a.m., attorney Scott Rosenblum said. He is to be arraigned sometime next week.
On Monday, Rams coach Dick Vermeil said he assumed that Little would return to the team and get some semblance of normalcy back in his life. He reiterated that stance on Wednesday.
''Is it a tough decision for me to allow him to play?'' Vermeil said. ''I just would want Leonard to be handled the same way any other American citizen would be regardless of if he plays in the NFL or works for IBM.''
Little and his advisors decided this week was too soon. Rosenblum said there was no timetable for the return of Little, a third-round draft pick who has been one of the Rams' top special teams players.
''It's a lot to take in for a young man,'' Rosenblum said. ''He needs some time to clear his head.''