GB police to review Dillon incident
Green Bay police say their internal affairs department is conducting a review after a video on social media showed an officer grabbing Packers running back A.J. Dillon during a Saturday night soccer match at Lambeau Field.
Video posted on social media showed Dillon in the end zone greeting fans in the stands during the exhibition match between FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City FC. Dillon appeared to be on the verge of doing a Lambeau leap into the crowd when the video showed an officer grabbing him by the back of his collar and giving him a shove.
After fans booed and Dillon appeared to offer an explanation, the officer backed off and allowed Dillon to jump into the stands. When the video gained attention, Dillon tweeted out his account of what happened.
“It is clear that there was a miscommunication between the officer and Mr. Dillon,” Green Bay police chief Chris Davis said Monday in a statement. “The Green Bay Police Department appreciates the perspective and supportive words from Mr. Dillon. The Green Bay Police Department Professional Standards/Internal Affairs Division has initiated a review of this incident.”
Davis’ statement didn’t identify the officer shown on the video.
Dillon said on social media that a couple of security officials had helped him come down to the field during a rain delay in Saturday’s soccer match so that he could do a Lambeau leap to excite the crowd.
“I’m assuming (the officer) missed them telling me to come down,” Dillon said.
In a later tweet, Dillon described the incident as “just miscommunication between parties.” The NFL is making its move into offering its own media streaming platform. The league announced that “NFL+” launched on Monday. Owners were briefed about it during the league meetings in May while Brian Rolapp, the NFL’s chief media and business officer, confirmed in a column for “Sports Illustrated” last week that it would be starting this season.
College basketball: First-year South Carolina coach Lamont Paris has signed five-star recruit Gregory “GG” Jackson. The 6-foot-9 Jackson was among the top prospects for the 2023 class, but has instead reclassified to this year and will be eligible immediately.
MLB: A group of U.S. senators has given baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred a three-day extension until Friday to respond to questions about the sport’s antitrust exemption and minor leaguers. The senators had made the request to Manfred on July 18, and MLB asked for the additional time. “I kind of reject the premise of the question that minor league players are not paid a living wage,” Manfred said before last week’s All-Star Game.
NHL: Center Isac Lundeström has agreed to a two-year, $3.6 million contract with the Ducks. Lundeström and the Ducks avoided arbitration with the deal announced Monday. Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek has re-signed all of the club’s restricted free agents. The 22-year-old Lundeström had 16 goals and 19 assists last year in his first full NHL season, ranking fourth on the roster in goals. The Swede also excelled as a penalty killer, tying Corey Perry’s franchise record with four shorthanded goals.