New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers has been banned from playing and practicing with the team amid claims he strangled his girlfriend and pushed her down the stairs during an argument over sex.
Peppers was arrested Saturday morning after allegedly strangling and assaulting his on-off girlfriend with a deadly weapon, before cops found cocaine in his wallet.
A police report obtained by DailyMail.com says that the Patriots team captain’s on-off girlfriend claims he got violent with her around 4am, after she received a phone call during sex that he ‘didn’t like’.
It is alleged that he then demanded she leave his apartment, choked her six times and pushed her head against the wall with his hands around her neck, while the pair were still naked.
According to court documents, Peppers is then alleged to have pushed her down a set of stairs, before throwing her handbag and cell phone down seconds later.
Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers has been banned from playing and practicing with the team
In light of the shocking allegations, the 29-year-old has been placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, meaning he is banned from attending games and practice with the Patriots.
Peppers, who is the Patriots’ starting safety, is expected to be charged with assault and battery, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, strangulation, and possession of a Class B drug that police believe was cocaine.
However, he claims to have video evidence that will exonerate him of all charges.
Peppers was spotted for the first time since his arrest on Monday when he was videoed leaving his arraignment at Quincy District Court, and his attorney was adamant they have evidence that contradicts the alleged victim’s story.
While the player did not speak, his attorney told reporters: ‘He’s not going to comment now, but what I said in the court room, I’ll repeat.
‘We have evidence that completely contradicts the alleged victim’s story and I expect my client to be fully exonerated.’
The NFL player is accused of strangling and assaulting his girlfriend with a deadly weapon
Police allegedly found cocaine at his property after an altercation, led to cops being called
When asked whether it was video evidence, he added: ‘Yes, and other evidence as well.’
Peppers turned 29 on Friday – just hours before the arrest – and had played in the first four games of the Patriots’ season.
He was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 after an impressive college stint with Michigan, and in 2019 he was acquired by the New York Giants.
After three years in New York, Peppers moved to the Patriots, where he has established himself as one of the team’s best players and a regular starter.
In July of this year, he also agreed to a new three-year, $30million contract with the team.
Following his arrest, the Patriots said in a statement: ‘We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating. We will have no further comment at this time.’
The 29-year-old played in the first four games of the Patriots’ 2024 NFL season
Speaking to reporters, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo added: ‘He called me that morning. I knew what was going on.
‘We’ve informed the NFL what was going on and we’re still gathering information… I don’t think anyone knows the facts or anything like that. It’s a process.’
Peppers did not play in Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins with a shoulder injury, and his future status is unclear.
He is due to be arraigned on Monday in Quincy District Court, but no further details have yet been released.
