After 10 days in which the NFL has been forced to come to terms with the specter of domestic violence among some high-profile players, Arizona running back Jonathan Dwyer has been arrested on allegations of two incidents of aggravated assault that occurred over the summer. The Cardinals have deactivated Dwyer from all team activities.
The Phoenix Police Department indicated that the incidents involving Dwyer's wife and 18-month-old child took place over the summer on July 21 and 22. Dwyer's wife left the state of Arizona shortly afterward and took their child with her. According to Phoenix police, Dwyer admitted to the incidents but denied any assault took place.
The Cardinals released the following statement after deactivating Dwyer: "We became aware of these allegations this afternoon when notified by Phoenix police and are cooperating fully. Given the serious nature of the allegations we have taken the immediate step to deactivate Jonathan from all team activities. We will continue to closely monitor this as it develops and evaluate additional information as it becomes available."
On Thursday, Phoenix police released a report which alleged that Dwyer head-butted his wife, breaking her nose, after she rejected his sexual advances. The following day, he allegedly punched his wife in the face and hit his son in the stomach with a shoe; the son was not injured.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the NFL will be "judged on its actions going forward" in regard to domestic violence. New rules put in place last month mandated a six-game suspension for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second. However, even those punishments may not be severe enough to withstand public scrutiny after the recent decisions by the Panthers and Vikings to deactive Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson, respectively.
Dwyer has rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries this season.
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