The Arizona Cardinals' Jonathan Dwyer has become the fourth NFL player to be charged in connection with a domestic violence case,
The New York Times reported.
Dwyer was arrested Wednesday over two separate aggravated assault charges, one involving a 27-year-old woman and the other an 18-month-old infant, which took place at his Phoenix home in July, the Times said.
The complaint reached police on Sept. 11 apparently because the complainant left the state. Police told the team of the incident the day of the arrest, and the backup running back was immediately deactivated, according to the Times.
Dwyer has denied the assaults while admitting the incidents took place,
NFL.com reported.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings placed Adrian Peterson, who is charged with disciplining his son with a tree branch, on the exempt/commissioner's permission list — a move just short of outright suspension, according to the
International Business Times.
Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers has also been put on the list after he was found guilty of threatening to kill his girlfriend. Hardy was deactivated after initially being allowed to play. He continues to draw his $13.12 million salary.
The Vikings had earlier decided to allow Peterson to rejoin the team, drawing criticism from fans. Peterson will continue to be paid his $11.75 million salary.
Castrol Motor Oil has ended its sponsorship contract with Peterson. Nike has suspended its endorsement relationship with him. And the Radisson hotel chain has suspended its sponsorship relationship with the Vikings, the Times reported.
Vikings player Captain Munnerlyn came to Peterson's defense: "I don't think it's fair at all. I think he should be able to play. He hasn't been convicted of anything. All these allegations, or this and that, pictures out, but he hasn't been convicted of nothing," the Times reported.
Former Vikings star quarterback Fran Tarkenton told Fox News that the team's initial decision to let Peterson continue to play was an embarrassment, according to the Times.
The league has been shaken by criticism, beginning with complaints of its original handling of a domestic violence incident, graphically captured on video, involving Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens. Rice was indicted by a grand jury on aggravated assault charges in May and has since entered a pretrial intervention program, the Times reported.