A Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was arrested at LaGuardia Airport Monday morning after police discovered he was illegally carrying a handgun, authorities said.

Da'Quan Bowers, a defensive end for the Buccaneers, was arrested at a check-in counter after he was found with a loaded .40-caliber firearm in his carry-on bag, spokesmen for the Port Authority and the Queens District Attorney's office said. He was about to board a US Airways flight to Raleigh, N.C.

The former All-American player was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The Buccaneers' general manager, Mark Dominik, said in a statement Monday: "We are aware of the situation and are gathering information. We will withhold comment until we know all the facts.'

Bowers was arraigned in court Monday evening. His attorney declined to comment.

Bowers has played defensive end for the Buccaneers for two years. He played college football for Clemson University and graduated from high school in Bamberg, S.C.