The NFL is reportedly investigating an alleged assault which occurred just prior to halftime of the 2015 regular season opener between the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, Steelers tight end coach James Daniel is being investigated by NFL security for allegedly assaulting and "verbally accosting" a New England Patriots fan while en route to the visiting locker room at Foxboro field for halftime.
Per Schefter, a league official has confirmed that the NFL is "looking into" the incident. A Steelers spokesman said the team has been informed of the incident and is looking into it as well.
"Daniel, who was on his way to the Steelers' locker room, was seen allegedly kicking a Patriots fan in the back of his leg and yelling at the fan in front of witnesses," Schefter reports.
"By the time Daniel returned to the coaching booth after halftime, police and NFL security were waiting for him. Once the coach was identified by witnesses, and police approached him about controlling his behavior, Daniel began shouting at the police officer, according to witnesses."
Daniel has been interviewed by NFL personnel concerning the incident.
The Steelers eventually lost the game, 28-21. Afterward, a flurry of controversy emerged regarding the sideline communication devices used by the Steelers with Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin asserting that headset issues "always" occur when visiting the Patriots and that Steelers team website alleging that the headset issues came and went depending on the presence of NFL personnel who were investigating the issues.
