ATLANTA (AP) _ Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Matt Schaub was arrested Saturday in Virginia and charged with assault and battery.
Charlottesville police Col. T.J. Longo, reading from a statement, said a 19-year-old man claimed Schaub and two other men fought with him outside a restaurant around 1 a.m. Schaub was released on his recognizance after appearing before a magistrate judge.
The Falcons are off Sunday and return to action Nov. 14 against Tampa Bay.
Schaub, drafted in the third round out of Virginia seven months ago, was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2002. He beat out Ty Detmer in preseason to claim the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Michael Vick.
Neither Falcons general manager Rich McKay nor head coach Jim Mora immediately returned telephone calls.
Reggie Roberts, the team's vice president of football communications, said McKay, Mora and owner Arthur Blank were aware of Schaub's arrest.
``We will continue to look into this matter in order to ascertain all the facts and will have no further comment until the matter has been completed,'' Roberts said.
Police said the other men alleged to have been involved fled the scene.
