Former USC standout Rey Maualuga speaks about time in rehab

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Former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga had a strong rookie season last year for the Cincinnati Bengals, with 63 tackles and one sack.

His life off the field unraveled on Jan. 29, when he ran into two parked cars and a parking meter in northern Kentucky. He pleaded guilty to drunk driving on Feb. 2.

‘All I can say is you’re looking at a different guy, a different person,’ Maualuga told reporters during the first day of offseason workouts with the Bengals, as reported by ESPN.com. ‘I just hope the city of Cincinnati would accept my apology and hopefully help me through all of this.’

Maualuga, who is on probation for two years and had his driver’s license suspended for 90 days, spent a month undergoing rehab in a treatment facility in Charleston, S.C.

‘I sought that help, and I got what I needed when I went in,’ Maualuga said. ‘It was definitely a life-changer for me.’

-- Chuck Schilken