The Sports Xchange

New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson has apologized again for his latest off-field behavior after officers observed him driving 143 mph with a 12-year-old boy inside the car.

Richardson was arrested in St. Charles County, Mo., on July 14. According to the police incident report, Richardson was driving along Interstate 64 in “what appeared to be a road race.” Police tried to pull over Richardson, who sped away, blew through a red light and turned off his lights as he pulled into a driveway that wasn’t his.

Richardson had two other men and the child with him in the 2014 Bentley Silver Spur. He was arrested and charged with multiple traffic violations as well as resisting arrest. He also was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

The arrest occurred 12 days after the NFL handed Richardson a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

“After my suspension, that was just one bad night,” the 24-year-old Richardson said Friday after practice. “I thought it would be fun to show my family members something. They never rode in a car like that before.

“I let (the organization) down, simple as that. I’m not afraid to say that. … This is a wake-up call.”

Jets head coach Todd Bowles, who addressed the incident privately with Richardson and with the entire team, is concerned about the Pro Bowler’s well-being. Richardson had eight sacks in his second season in 2014.

“He hasn’t been smart, and he hasn’t been clear in the head,” Bowles said Friday. “Clearly, he needs some help.

“I’m not even worried about him as a football player. Right now, he’s going down a spiraling road. He needs to understand he has to turn his life around. It’s not a football issue, it’s more of a personal issue.”

Bowles said the Jets will let the NFL handle further potential discipline.

“All relevant information will be taken into account,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.