Landry wants to resolve battery claim
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry said he’s been “very up front” with the team and police about allegations of possible domestic battery, and he’d like the situation to come to a resolution soon.
“I’ve been up front with the team and the law enforcement,” Landry said after Tuesday’s practice. “Hopefully this gets resolved in a timely fashion.”
The Broward County State Attorney office said on Monday it is investigating a possible domestic battery charge involving Landry and Estrella Cerqueira, who was his girlfriend, stemming from an incident earlier this year. No arrest has been made and charges might not be filed.
Dolphins coach Adam Gase said Monday that the team is aware of the situation.
Landry said Tuesday he did nothing wrong.
“Like I said, I’ve been very upfront with the team, I’ve been very upfront with the law enforcement,” he said. “I’m here at training camp to help my guys get better and I don’t want any bad attention to me, this organization, Adam, nobody.
“I don’t believe that this is the place for it, or the time for it,” Landry continued. “Again, like I said, I’ve been very upfront with the team and I’ve been very upfront with law enforcement, and I put that in their hands and that’s really all I have to say about it.”
Cerqueira released a statement Monday through Landry’s publicist that said she and Landry had a “vocal disagreement that resulted in someone calling 911.” Cerqueira’s statement says Landry never harmed her and that police determined there was no cause for an arrest when they arrived.
Court records show that Landry, 24, is the defendant in an open paternity court case that was filed in April by Cerqueira.
“I was not in any way physically harmed,” Cerqueira’s statement said, refering to an April 1 incident that is being investigated. “Yes, we are going through a civil family court case and emotions are high, but I would like to make it very clear that Jarvis would never, ever do anything to harm me or anyone else. Jarvis and I are happily raising our beautiful daughter.”
Under NFL rules, Landry, who caught 94 passes for 1,136 yards and scored four touchdowns last year, could be found to have violated the league’s personal conduct policy even without an arrest or conviction.
Landry, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who led the Dolphins in receptions the past two seasons, and his agent have been lobbying for a multiyear contract extension. Dolphins owner Steve Ross said at the start of training camp that the team could place the franchise tag on Landry, which would commit $16 million to Miami’s slot receiver and prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent after the season.