CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- A Carolina Panthers cornerback who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005 was arrested early Saturday morning for driving while impaired.

The arrest could bode badly for Ricardo Sanchez Colclough on the eve of the Panthers’ first and largest round of cuts. The Panthers are required to turn in their cutdown from 75 players to 53 to the NFL by 6 p.m. today.

Colclough was arrested by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers at 2:35 a.m. Friday. An arrest report, which would include details of Colclough’s arrest, including his alleged blood alcohol content, wasn’t immediately available. He was released from Mecklenburg jail at about 1:30 p.m. on $1,000 bond.

Authorities have been cracking down on drunk driving during the holiday weekend.

Colclough appeared to have won a spot on the Panthers' roster as a backup cornerback and kick returner. The arrest came a little more than a day after he recovered a lost fumble in the Panthers’ final preseason game against his former team, the Steelers.

An unrestricted free agent, Colclough was picked up by the Panthers this year. He was inactive during the last nine games of the 2007 season after he was acquired by the Cleveland Browns from the Steelers. Pittsburgh selected him in the second round of 2004’s NFL draft.