Former Patriots great Willie McGinest, three-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Network analyst, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon on Monday, according to multiple reports. A two-time Pro Bowler who played 15 seasons as a linebacker, McGinest, 51, surrendered to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department following a Dec. 9 incident at Delilah nightclub in West Hollywood .
Multiple witnesses reportedly identified McGinest at the show, according to NBC News, where the Patriots Hall of Famer was accused of participating in an assault on another club man. TMZ has since released security footage of the living room dining room, where a man appearing to be McGinest can be seen repeatedly punching the alleged victim, then later retrieving a bottle and using it to punch the man again . The victim can be seen with a bruised and bloody face at the end of the video.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department did not release details of the alleged assault, but sentenced McGinest to jail 30 minutes after his arrest Monday morning, according to NBC. The retired NFL veteran posted $30,000 bond and was released hours later, with a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday.
NFL Media has unofficially suspended McGinest while the legal situation unfolds, according to ProFootballTalk.
“We are aware of the incident and the video, which is disturbing,” an NFL Network spokesperson told PFT. “Willie McGinest will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter.”
McGinest had a prominent role on NFL Network shortly after his retirement. He played for the Patriots and Browns during his career on the court, but is best known for his 12-year run in New England, where he recorded 78 of his 86 career sacks and won three different titles. of the Super Bowl.