Kansas City Chiefs Acknowledge Domestic Violence Claims Connected to Wide Receiver the Athlete

The NFL franchise released a comment Wednesday night indicating they are aware of claims of abuse circulated in online accounts by a ex-partner of player Rashee Rice and were in contact with the league office.

The team did not mention the player by name in their statement and said they would have “nothing more to add at this time”.

Claims Posted on Social Media

Dacoda Nichole Jones, who also did not mention Rice by name, shared a series of photos on social media that appeared to show signs of physical abuse. Jones did say the person involved was the father of her children, and reports indicate she has two children with Rice, whom the Chiefs drafted in the second round.

Official Complaints Reportedly Not on File

No official complaints were on file in the Kansas City suburb where the incident is said to have occurred.

Rice's Prior Off-Field Troubles

The receiver missed the first six games of this NFL campaign due to an NFL suspension for his role in instigating a multi-vehicle accident on a Texas roadway that left several individuals injured. He was given a month of incarceration and five years’ probation after pleading guilty to felony charges.

Statistically, Rice finished the year with 53 receptions for 571 receiving yards and five TDs as the Kansas City finished with a losing record and failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in a ten-year span.