Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel will not be punished by the NFL over a roadside argument with his girlfriend that turned physical, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The NFL, however, contradicted Rapoport's report in a brief statement provided to The Huffington Post on Thursday morning:
No decision has been made. It continues to be under review.
On Wednesday night, NFL Players Association Attorney Heather McPhee and NFL Special Counsel for Investigations Lisa Friel met with Manziel in Cleveland, according to Cleveland.com. Both McPhee and Friel were hired by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to specifically assist the league in domestic violence and sexual assault investigations.
Last week, NFL investigators spoke to Avon, Ohio police about Manziel's Oct. 12 alleged domestic assault, according to Cleveland.com. The league interviewed the officers involved in the incident and poured over the police report, in which Manziel's girlfriend Colleen Crowley claimed to have been hit "a couple of times."
Crowley, however, has since retracted her comment, claiming that the abrasion she suffered on her arm happened when Manziel tried to keep her from exiting their moving car -- the same story Manziel told police at the scene.
The clock is ticking on the NFL to make a decision, because Manziel could start for the Browns this Sunday against the St. Louis Rams as first string quarterback Josh McCown continues to nurse a sore shoulder. Browns General Manager Ray Farmer told reporters on Tuesday that Manziel couldn't be suspended by the team under NFL rules -- only the NFL has the power to do so. Farmer also said that the team won't deactivate Manziel for the Rams game.
The Browns, for their part, reportedly want Manziel to break up with Crowley.
Also on HuffPost:
Domestic Violence Under Roger Goodell
AJ Jefferson (11/25/13)(01 of44)
Cut by team hours later. NFL suspended him reportedly for 4 games. The suspension was later lifted by commissioner Roger Goodell for an undisclosed reason, per NFL.com.Taken to jail by Eden Prairie police on probable cause of domestic assault.Legal Resolution: Pled guilt to misdemeanor count of domestic assault. (credit:Wesley Hitt via Getty Images)
Chad Johnson (8/11/12)(02 of44)
Cut by the Dolphins two days later. No NFL suspension.Accused of head-butting the wife he married a month earlier.Legal resolution: Pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic violence, probation. (credit:Gustavo Caballero via Getty Images)
Daryl Washington (5/3/13)(03 of44)
No suspension. Accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend, grabbing her by throat and shoving her to the ground.Legal Resolution: Pled guilty, sentenced to 1 year's probation. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Amari Spievey (3/26/13)(04 of44)
Released by Lions in AugustAccused of third-degree assault, risk of injury to a child and disorderly conduct in dispute with girlfriend about child support.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped after enrolling in a family violence education program. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Leroy Hill (1/29/13)(05 of44)
No suspension.Accused of third-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment in dispute with girlfriend.Legal Resolution: In May 2013 the prosecutor's office deemed the case insufficient to pursue as a felony. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Chris Rainey (1/10/13)(06 of44)
No suspension. Cut by Steelers the same day but signed by Cardinals later that year. Accused of slapping girlfriend in face in dispute over cell phone. Legal Resolution: Pled no contest, paid $500 in fines and legal fees. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Robert Sands (1/4/13)(07 of44)
No suspension. Cut by Bengals in June. Accused of assaulting his wife at their home in Florence, Ky. Wife treated at hospital for minor injuries.Legal resolution: Undetermined (credit:Joe Robbins via Getty Images)
Jovan Belcher (12/1/12)(08 of44)
Fatally shot his girlfriend 10 times during a domestic dispute, then drove to team facility and fatally shot himself in head. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Bryan Thomas (10/31/12)(09 of44)
No suspension.Charged with assault on wife at their New Jersey home. He allegedly punched her in stomach.Legal Resolution: Probation, pretrial intervention program. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Dez Bryant (7/16/12)(10 of44)
No suspensionTurned himself in after being accused by his mother of hitting her.Legal Resolution: Charges dismissed, attended counseling (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Erik Walden (11/25/11)(11 of44)
Suspended 1 game in 2012. Jailed after complaint of felony assault against live-in girlfriend.Legal Resolution: Walden reached a deferred judgment agreement to resolve the charge without pleading guilty, the Associated Press reported. He also agreed to undergo 50 hours of community service and continue counseling (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Chris Cook (10/22/11)(12 of44)
Suspended indefinitely by the team, which resulted in 10 games. No suspension from NFL. Accused of domestic assault after neighbor called 911 to report argument.Legal Resolution: Acquitted. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Brandon Underwood (6/16/11)(13 of44)
No suspension.Accused of pushing wife to the ground and ripping necklace from her neck in Green Bay.Legal resolution: Charged with disorderly conduct (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Kevin Alexander (12/20/10)(14 of44)
Cut by Broncos the next day. Hasn't been in the league since. Girlfriend accused him of shoving and striking her in the face. Charged with battery and assault. Legal Resolution: Charges dropped for a lack of evidence. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Will Smith (11/27/10)(15 of44)
Domestic violence Charged after police in Lafayette, La., observed him allegedly arguing with his wife and pulling her by the hair.Legal Resolution: Diversion program. Charges were dropped when Smith completed community service and counseling. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Phillip Merling (5/26/10)(16 of44)
No suspensionCharged with aggravated battery against his pregnant girlfriend in Weston, Fla.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped after girlfriend stopped cooperating with authorities. (credit:Marc Serota via Getty Images)
Leroy Hill (4/10/10)(17 of44)
Domestic Violence, Suspended 1 game by the NFL.Charged with investigation of assault in the fourth degree/domestic violence from dispute with girlfriend in Issaquah, Wash.Legal Resolution: Diversion program, 18-month probation, treatment program. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Tony McDaniel (2/6/10)(18 of44)
Suspended 1 game by the NFL. Charged with misdemeanor battery at Davie, Fla., home, after shoving his girlfriend, whose head hit the pavement. Legal Resolution: Pleaded no contest to amended charge of disorderly conduct, six months probation, counseling. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Jermaine Phillips (1/10/10)(19 of44)
No suspension. Never played in the NFL again. Charged with third-degree felony domestic battery for allegedly strangling his wife at home in Tampa after she called 911.Legal Resolution: Diversion program (credit:J. Meric via Getty Images)
Will Billingsley (10/5/09)(20 of44)
No suspension. Charged with assault and nonviolently resisting arrest after argument over shoes with his girlfriend, who was found with scratches on her upper arm and neck.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped (credit:Doug Benc via Getty Images)
Richard Quinn (9/7/09)(21 of44)
No suspension.Live-in girlfriend accused him of shaking her to the ground and taking away the phone during an argument in Denver.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Shawne Merriman (9/6/09)(22 of44)
No suspension. Accused of battery and false imprisonment after allegedly choking and restraining his girlfriend, television personality Tila Tequila, in San Diego.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped that week. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Quinn Ojinnaka (5/26/09)(23 of44)
Suspended 1 game by the NFL. Accused of tossing his wife down the stairs and throwing her out of the house after an argument over him contacting a girl on Facebook in Gwinnett County, Ga.Legal Resolution: Unknown (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Cornell Green (3/21/09)(24 of44)
No suspension. Accused of slamming the mother of his two children against wall and striking her arm with mop handle. Arrested at Tampa airport after incident.Legal Resolution: Unknown (credit:Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Willie Andrews (6/30/08)(25 of44)
Cut by Patriots the next day. Never played in NFL again. Accused of pointing gun at girlfriend's head, assault with a deadly weapon. Legal Resolution: Charges dropped after victim refused to testify in court. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Michael Boley (5/3/08)(26 of44)
Suspended 1 game by the NFL.Accused of becoming physical with wife during argument at home in Dacula, Ga.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped (credit:Rick Osentoski)
Kalvin Pearson (4/26/08)(27 of44)
No suspensionAccused of aggravated battery of pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, obstrucing officer in southwest Florida.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped (credit:Joe Robbins via Getty Images)
Rocky Bernard (4/21/08)(28 of44)
Suspended 1 gameAccused of hitting his girlfriend in the head at Seattle nightclub.Legal Resolution: Diversion program, agreed to have no contact with woman for two years, domestic violence treatment. (credit:Associated Press)
Cedrick Wilson (3/19/08)(29 of44)
Cut by Steelers the next day. No suspension. Never played in NFL again.Accused of punching ex-girlfriend in the face, disorderly conduct at restaurant. Legal Resolution: Unknown. The woman later amended her statement. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
James Harrison (3/8/08)(30 of44)
No suspensionAccused of hitting his girlfriend during argument about whether to baptize his son, simple assault, mischief.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped. He also underwent anger counseling. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Brandon Marshall (3/6/08)(31 of44)
Suspended 1 gameAccused of hitting his girlfriend on March 4, misdemeanor battery. Legal Resolution: Acquitted. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Fabian Washington (2/19/08)(32 of44)
Suspended 1 game by the NFL. Accused of domestic battery in Florida after incident with girlfriend. Police observed "slight red marks" on her neck.Legal Resolution: Entered diversion program for first-time offenders. (credit:Greg Trott via Getty Images)
Jerome Mathis (2/18/08)(33 of44)
No suspensionAccused of choking pregnant, common-law wife in Texas.Legal Resolution: charges dropped (credit:Larry French via Getty Images)
Daniel Graham (1/11/08)(34 of44)
No suspensionSuspected of harrasing former girlfriend, who told law enforcement he struck a bedpost during argument about sale of home.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Claude Terrell (10/23/07)(35 of44)
No suspension.Charged with assaulting his wife at hotel, where she was found with "obvious signs of physical injury."Legal Resolution: Pleaded guilty, 30 days in jail, deferred adjudication, $1,000 fine. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Najeh Davenport (10/4/07)(36 of44)
No suspensionIn Cleveland custody dispute, he allegedly slapped and choked mother of his son, age 5. Also charged with child endangerment.Legal Resolution: Acquitted (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Claude Wroten (6/28/07)(37 of44)
No suspension. Accused of damaging property on LSU campus in argument with girlfriend, kicking down her door.Legal Resolution: Undetermined (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A.J. Nicholson (5/18/07)(38 of44)
Domestic Violence, Released by Bengals days later. No suspension from NFL. Accused of hitting girlfriend in the eye. But the alleged victim went back on her statement and said she hit herself with a phone.Legal Resolution: Diversion program. Charge dropped after 40 hours community service, other programs (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Lionel Gates (3/29/07)(39 of44)
No suspension. Accused of hitting pregnant woman in argument about whether he was father of her child.Legal Resolution: Diversion program, anger management course, $3,200 in restitution. (credit:Al Messerschmidt via Getty Images)
Brandon Marshall (3/26/07)(40 of44)
No suspensionCharged with false imprisonment in dispute with girlfriend, accused of hitting her car window and blocking her taxi.Legal Resolution: Diversion program. Charge dropped when completed anger management. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Donte Whitner (11/5/06)(41 of44)
No suspensionAccused of harrassment in a dispute at his residence involving girlfriend.Legal Resolution: Charges dropped (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Robert Reynolds (10/26/06)(42 of44)
No suspensionCharged with domestic violence and criminal damaging in a dispute with his wife, whom he was divorcing.Legal Resolution: Pleaded guilty to smashing cell phone and punching hole in a wall, $300 fine. (credit:Larry French via Getty Images)
Markus Curry (10/9/2006)(43 of44)
Cut by Chargers the next day. Hasn't been in the league since. Pulled over, accused of injuring the mother of his child in the Gaslamp District of San Diego. Legal Resolution: Charges dropped (credit:Getty Images via Getty Images)
Randy Starks (8/12/06)(44 of44)
No suspensionAccused of beating fiancee, who lost some fingernails in the scuffle.Legal Resolution: Diversion program. Charge dropped after undergoing counseling. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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