ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Redskins safety Montae Nicholson won’t play Saturday against the Tennessee Titans after a video emerged of the fight that led to his arrest early Tuesday morning.
TMZ Sports released the video Wednesday showing Nicholson punching another man on a street five minutes from Redskins Park. Nicholson and a female companion were arrested for attacking another couple, according to a Loudoun County police report.
Nicholson was charged with assault and battery and being drunk in public. His companion, Sydney Maggiore, was charged with malicious wounding and assault and battery.
The Redskins were still deciding whether to suspend Nicholson or place him on a list that would essentially end his season. Redskins coach Jay Gruden did say he wouldn’t play Saturday. The Redskins (7-7) have two games remaining and remain alive in the playoff race.
Gruden said they were aware of the video and planned to look at it after meeting with the media. The video emerged while the Redskins were at practice. They also planned to speak with Nicholson and then make a decision. Gruden said he wasn’t sure if Nicholson would play again this season.
The 39-second video showed part of the incident that led to the arrest around 2 a.m. outside World of Beer in Ashburn. It showed the other man on top of another female with Nicholson either trying to pull him off or fighting him. It’s uncertain if the female was Maggiore. Another man was trying to contain Nicholson, but Nicholson pulled away.
As the man stood up, Nicholson hit him with two left-handed punches, the second of which knocked the man to the ground. The man got back up and, as another man tried to hold off Nicholson he again pulled away and knocked the man to the ground.
The police report states that “an investigation determined the male suspect assaulted the male victim, and the female suspect struck the female victim with a bottle and also assaulted the male victim.”
The report also says one of the victims claimed the altercation occurred after the “suspects pulled up in a vehicle and honked the horn at them.” Nicholson and Maggiore returned to the scene after deputies arrived. The two alleged victims were treated at a local hospital for injuries that were considered serious but not life-threatening.
Redskins corner Josh Norman said he didn’t want to discuss the situation because he didn’t know all the details. He said he did reach out to Nicholson.
“That goes without saying,” Norman said. “He’s still going to be at our [group] dinner tomorrow. It’s what it is. But I don’t know the full details of what happened. We’ll figure it all out. I guess on the organization side if they want to do something, that’s on them. I don’t know.”
Redskins linebacker Mason Foster said, “I haven’t talked to him. He’s going through a lot. I don’t really know the details. I’ll support him fully and wholeheartedly, man. That’s my brother.”
Nicholson, a second-year safety, started the first seven games but lost his job when the Redskins traded for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Nicholson has not played in the last four games.