Bills running back LeSean McCoy, accused of assaulting off-duty Philadelphia police officers earlier this week, is expected to be charged within the next day or two for his involvement in the incident, according to 6 ABC Action News in Philadelphia. Sources tell Action News that arrest warrants related to the case will likely be issued either Wednesday or Thursday.
According to the Action News report, police investigators have sent the results of their investigation to the District Attorney’s office, and have recommended criminal charges, including aggravated assault. It’s not clear whether McCoy and all three of his companions will face the same charges, but the off-duty officers involved in the altercation are not expected to be charged, per Action News.
Depending on how the case plays out, McCoy could be facing discipline from the NFL, in addition to possible prosecution from the legal system. For the time being though, with the offseason underway, there’s no need for the league or the Bills to place the running back on paid leave, since all players are essentially on unpaid leave at this time of year.
If they want to, the Bills could cut McCoy, but based on how they’ve handled run-ins with the law before – such as the arrest of offensive line coach Aaron Kromer last summer – the team likely won’t rush into any decisions. McCoy’s $4.8MM base salary for 2016 is not yet fully guaranteed, but there’s still enough prorated bonus money left on his contract that his cap charge would increase significantly if the Bills were to release him this year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
