Entertainment
Former Federal Prosecutor Calls Out ‘Strange’ Handling Of John Elway Golf Cart Incident
A former federal prosecutor in California has several questions over the sheriff’s office investigating the fatal golf cart incident involving Hall of Fame NFL quarterback John Elway, stating that investigators are either withholding information or not doing their jobs properly.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Elway was behind the wheel when his longtime friend and agent Jeffrey Sperbeck, 62, fell off the back of a golf cart at the Madison Club in La Quinta, California last Saturday. Sperbeck sustained “serious” injuries after hitting his head on the pavement and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he ultimately passed away on Wednesday.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident. In an X post Friday, the sheriff’s office said that “there’s nothing to indicate that this is anything more than a tragic accident.”
Investigators raised eyebrows when they said they had not been informed about the incident until two days after it happened, however. While the sheriff’s office did not respond to a request to comment about the statement, a spokesperson for Cal Fire told Fox News that the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office wasn’t asked to respond to the incident “due to the call being medical in nature.”
Elway is not being charged with a crime and has retained Denver-based lawyer Harvey Steinberg.
Photo: Jeff Sperbeck via Facebook
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Neama Rahmani is unsatisfied with the response from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, telling Fox News that they are “either being less than honest or not doing their job” in response to the late notification.
“Nothing else makes sense,” Rahmani said, adding that the lack of response from law enforcement was “strange.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing it’s coming from a ‘former federal prosecutor,’ It appears we are all much better off with them in retirement,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told the outlet in response to Rahmani’s comments.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said it would “take appropriate action based on the outcome” of the investigation.
Elway released his first public comments on the incident shortly after Sperbeck’s passing in a statement released through ESPN. “I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” the two-time Super Bowl Champion said.
“There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me. My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori; his children Carly, Sam and Jackson; and everyone who knew and loved him. Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.”
Sperbeck had a long relationship with the Denver Broncos legend dating back to 1990, when he became his manager. A number of additional NFL Hall of Famers were among the hundreds of players represented by Sperbeck, including Ronnie Lott and Jim Plunkett.
Elway led the Broncos to two Super Bowls across his 16-year career, the entirety of which was spent in Denver. He went on to become the Broncos general manager and executive vice president after the conclusion of his playing career and remained with the club as a consultant until 2023.
