Packers RB Josh Jacobs describes latest abuse allegations as an 'attack,' not worried about suspension from league

Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs addressed the new abuse allegations made against him for the first time on Wednesday afternoon. 

Jacobs, who has returned to the field for the Packers in recent weeks, again denied any wrongdoing. He said the latest wave of abuse allegations, which came after his arrest earlier this year, felt like an “attack.”

“It really felt like an attack on me and who I am and my character,” Jacobs said, via NBC26’s Kelly Hallinan. “At the end of the day, there’s a lot of stuff that’s being said about me that’s completely false, like completely made up. People just run with it. 

“I can’t change that … I didn’t want to go to a place where I felt like I was closed off and I’m angry all the time because of what’s going on in my life.”

New allegations made against Josh Jacobs

Jacobs was first arrested in northern Wisconsin in May and charged with multiple counts of domestic abuse. He allegedly grabbed a woman who was trying to leave his garage and threw her to the ground. 

Jacobs was formally charged with battery and criminal damage to property after that incident. He pleaded no contest to both charges. Jacobs landed on the commissioner’s exempt list as a result of his arrest, and missed the first six games of the season.

Last week, previously unreleased files from the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department revealed that they were contacted by at least three other women accusing Jacobs of abuse.

One woman told police that Jacobs slapped her in the face and took her phone as she tried to leave his home. She said that Jacobs grabbed her by the hair and throat, pinned her down on the bed and threw her onto the floor. A second woman said that Jacobs grabbed her arm, pushed her up against the wall and threw items of hers outside of the home. 

A third woman said that Jacobs flew her to his home and later grabbed her by the head, dragged her, scratched her chest and took her phone after it fell to the floor during an altercation. The woman said she had bruising on her arm and scratches on her chest, and that she didn’t report it because she feared being deported from the United States.

Jacobs has denied any wrongdoing through his attorney, and said that they have “a substantial body of tangible evidence to back up his assertions.”

“Everything that my lawyer said in the statement, it’s one of those things where I’m going to lean on that,” Jacobs said. “It’s just one of those things where it’s like, anything can be said and people are just going to run with it. I can’t really change how you feel. But at the end of the day, I know what I have on my part.”

Jacobs returned to the field for the Packers’ loss to the Detroit Lions on Oct. 25, and he had 36 yards on 11 carries in that contest. He had 29 yards on 21 carries and scored a touchdown the following week in their win against the Carolina Panthers.

The NFL is investigating the new allegations made against Jacobs, and could still hand down a suspension. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that they were letting the league process play out, but he expected that Jacobs would remain with the Packers.

Jacobs said he isn’t expecting any further suspension, either.

“With all the evidence that we have and that they have, at this point it’s not one of those things where I’m sitting back on my hands like, ‘OK, am I going to play this week?’ I kinda already know what it is,” Jacobs said. “It’s really just up to them to make their final decision. But I’m not worried about feeling like I’m going to miss any more time than I already have.”

What about his handcuff celebration?

When Jacobs scored a touchdown against the Panthers, he celebrated in the end zone at Lambeau Field by mimicking that his hands were handcuffed behind his back — something that has drawn criticism considering his recent arrest and the abuse allegations that were levied against him. 

Jacobs again denied that the celebration had anything to do with his arrest, and said instead that he was referencing a gospel song.

He did, though, say that he spoke with LaFleur and apologized for the extra attention that it’s brought to the team.

“It wasn’t my intention to make it a thing that it would be negative,” Jacobs said. “The thing that I was receiving when he was walking to me was, it’s not just me that has to answer for it … I told him for that, I apologize.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/packers-rb-josh-jacobs-describes-latest-abuse-allegations-as-an-attack-not-worried-about-suspension-from-league-232954880.html