The string of bad publicity facing the NFL seems to be continuing, this time in Colorado, where recent reports suggest that new Denver Broncos defensive end Antonio Smith is under investigation for alleged child abuse.
Smith, per Mike Klis of 9News.com in Denver, has not been charged with a crime as of yet by the Fort Bend County police in Texas, near Houston, where the incident is said to have actually occurred.
"Our Sheriff's Office has received some information, they're working with our office to try and find out as much information as we can about the allegation," John Healey Jr, District Attorney of Fort Bend County, told 9News. "At this particular point anything in reference to Mr. Smith is just that -- an allegation."
Per Klis, TMZ was the first to report the investigation.
"We're trying to discern the truth from the untruthfulness of the claim to decide what charges, if any, will be filed," Healey said, per TMZ.
According to TMZ's report, sources allege that there have been "multiple incidents dating back to 2010" involving Smith.
Jesse Paul and Troy Renck of The Denver Post report that Texas prosecutors have confirmed the investigation.
"Texas prosecutors on Thursday confirmed they are conducting an investigation when asked about a report that Broncos defensive end Antonio Smith is being probed on suspicion of child abuse," Paul and Renck write.
Smith has now been a member of the NFL for 11 seasons, after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth-round of the 2004 NFL Draft. The 33-year-old Smith spent four seasons with Arizona before joining the Houston Texans for five.
Smith was a member of the Oakland Raiders for 2014 then joined the Broncos this offseason on a one-year, $2 million deal. Only his $500,000 signing bonus is guaranteed, meaning if the investigation should reveal wrongdoing on Smith's part, he can be jettisoned quickly and at little cost to Denver.
"Last night, we became aware for the first time of an allegation involving Antonio Smith," the Broncos said Thursday in a statement, per Paul and Renck. "We are now in the process of gathering more information."
