New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers vigorously denied accusations that he choked and shoved a woman who is suing him for assault and battery in a tense day of testimony at his civil trial on Friday.
Taking the witness stand for the second day, the 27-year-old NFL player refuted claims made by his accuser that he grabbed her by the neck, slammed her into a wall, and pushed her down a flight of stairs after another man repeatedly called her cellphone while she and Peppers were in bed together last October.
“I never put my hands on her in an aggressive manner,” Peppers insisted under cross-examination from the plaintiff’s attorney. “I was just trying to get her to leave my house after repeatedly asking her to go.”
Accuser Seeks $9.5 Million in Damages
The alleged victim, who has not been publicly identified, is seeking $9.5 million in damages in her civil lawsuit against Peppers. She claims the 5-foot-11, 215-pound defensive back brutally assaulted her in his Braintree, Massachusetts home, causing physical and emotional trauma.
In her own tearful testimony on Thursday, the woman said Peppers was enraged when her phone kept ringing with calls from another man. She alleges he choked her, threw her against a wall, shoved her down stairs, and filmed her while she was naked as she tried to collect her belongings and flee.
“He grabbed me by the neck and slammed me against the wall. My feet weren’t touching the wall and he was holding me up against the wall.”
Accuser’s testimony
Peppers Claims Accuser Looking for Money
Peppers’ attorney Marc Brofsky challenged the severity of the woman’s alleged injuries and argued she was pursuing the high-profile athlete for financial gain, not justice.
“She’s clearly looking for money with this $9.5 million lawsuit.”
Marc Brofsky, Peppers’ attorney
Police records appear to corroborate some of the accuser’s claims of assault. Officers noted she had visible injuries but the woman refused medical treatment at the time. No criminal charges were filed against Peppers.
NFL Future in Jeopardy
The outcome of the civil trial could have major repercussions on Peppers’ budding NFL career. The Patriots signed the former Browns and Giants safety to a lucrative contract extension through 2027 after acquiring him last offseason.
But Peppers was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list in October following the alleged assault and missed the Patriots’ last seven games. His status remains unresolved pending the findings in the case.
A ruling against Peppers could prompt the Patriots to void his contract on grounds of personal conduct violations. The NFL may also levy hefty fines or additional suspension regardless of the trial’s outcome.
Jury to Decide High-Stakes Case
After hearing testimony from both Peppers and his accuser, a jury will now deliberate to determine if the Patriots standout committed assault and owes millions in damages. For Peppers, his reputation and NFL livelihood hang in the balance.
The Patriots and NFL have declined to comment on the active legal matter. But for a league perpetually grappling with player misconduct issues, all eyes are on the Peppers verdict as a test case for swift and severe punishment, even when criminal charges are absent.
As both sides await a decision that will send shockwaves through the sports world, Peppers is staking his innocence, career, and fortune on the hope that a jury sees his accuser as a money-hungry opportunist, not a battered victim. The sensational trial’s outcome promises to be as impactful as any play the hard-hitting safety has made on the field.
