Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Willie McGinest beat the hell out of a man at an L.A. hotspot — an attack that got him arrested Monday — and shocking video, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows him punching the guy in the face and later bashing him in the head with a bottle.
The wild altercation went down on Dec. 9 at Delilah in West Hollywood … when the ex-NFL star and several of his apparent acquaintances could be seen in the footage unloading on a man who was sitting at a table at the popular lounge.
In the clip, you can see McGinest walking up to the guy and appearing to exchange words with him — before landing a left hook straight to his face.
At least three other men could be seen in the video immediately jumping into the action — landing a flurry of strikes on the man over and over again.
The punches rarely stopped for around 30 seconds — despite bystanders’ attempts to try to separate the men from each other.
At one point during the melee, McGinest appeared to pick up a bottle … and then slam it into the man’s head repeatedly. The 51-year-old former linebacker can be seen in the footage tossing it onto a nearby sofa, before finally walking away from the scene.
Since retiring from football, McGinest has worked as an analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports and currently works for NFL Network. In a statement sent to ProFootballTalk, a NFLN spokesperson said that McGinest has been suspended.
“We are aware of the incident and the video, which is disturbing,” the statement said. “Willie McGinest will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter.”
Prior to joining the NFL, McGinest played at USC. In 1991, he and teammates Michael Jones and Jason Oliver were charged with sexually assaulting a female graduate student in a dormitory. A jury found all three not guilty on the misdemeanor charges after a five-week trial. Jurors didn’t believe the accuser’s account and there was no corroboration from other witnesses, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Patriots selected McGinest with the No. 4 pick in the 1994 draft.
McGinest is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. A two-time Pro Bowler, McGinest can be seen in security footage that has since been released, approaching another man’s table with a group of men. the Patriots Hall of Famer can then be seen repeatedly punching the alleged victim, after which he even retrieves a bottle which he used to hit the man again. Toward the end of the video, the victim can be seen with a bloodied face. While no details have been released by the police regarding the assault itself, it is understood that McGinest was booked into custody half an hour after his arrest on Monday morning. The three-time Super Bowl champion then posted bail for $30,000 and was released hours later. Reports indicate that a court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
Given the severe nature of the situation and the video evidence to support the allegations against him, it wasn’t long before the league itself gave a statement on McGinest’s actions. Having played 15 seasons as a linebacker, McGinest enjoyed a career playing for both the Browns and Patriots, but it was the 12 years he spent in New England that he will be best known for. During that time, he registered 78 of his 86 career sacks, while collecting three Super Bowl rings. Not long after his playing career came to an end, McGinest began what would become a prominent role as an analyst on the NFL Network. Needless to say, that role has now been rescinded while the legal process unfolds. “We are aware of the incident and the video, which is disturbing,” an NFL Network spokesperson said. “Willie McGinest will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter.”
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