The Baltimore Ravens announced Friday they will end Terrence Cody’s contract after the Super Bowl, and although the team did not give a reason, speculation has arisen that the decision could be tied to an animal cruelty investigation regarding the nose tackle.
Last year, the team signed Cody to a one-year contract “hopeful that he could return to form after getting his hip repaired and losing weight,”
according to BaltimoreRavens.com.
But
The Baltimore Sun reported the news that Cody would be terminated along with information that he’s facing an animal cruelty investigation over the death of his bull mastiff.
Peter Schaffer, Cody’s agent, told the Sun that Cody was upset when his dog, for which he paid $8,000, had died, and that his termination better not be tied to the investigation. No charges have been made against the football player.
“The fact that the NFL has created such an atmosphere of hysteria that tramples on due process rights, the right of law and common decency is a tremendous problem in our league and our society," Schaffer told the Sun. "This young man’s dog has died and the Ravens were so worried about possible ramifications from the league that they took a preemptive strike. If I find out that anyone holds anything against my client because of this, I will take every and all legal action to make sure my client's rights are vindicated."
Cody was already scheduled to become a free agent in March when his contract ended.
Schaffer told the Sun that he had no issue with the Ravens.
“We don’t fault the Ravens," Schaffer said. "They're put in this awkward predicament of what's going on. We hold the Ravens in the highest regard. It's a predicament caused by the significant overreaction of the league that tramples on players' rights. I'm not going to sit idly by and let it happen to my client."
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