The San Francisco 49ers released Ray McDonald on Wednesday after San Jose police revealed the defensive lineman is under investigation for an alleged sexual assault.
"This isn't about just this incident. This is about a pattern of poor decision-making,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “This is a team decision, not a league decision.”
That pattern, Baalke added, "has led to multiple distractions that no longer can be tolerated."
Police executed a search warrant at McDonald's San Jose home on Tuesday. He has not been arrested. This is the second time in recent months that McDonald has been the subject of a police investigation.
"We just want to inform everybody that after the recent allegations concerning Ray McDonald, we as an organization have notified him and his agent that he will be terminated, released immediately. Effective immediately," Baalke said.
Baalke said CEO Jed York and coach Jim Harbaugh, who notified the players, were also involved in the decision. "We expect a lot from our players, hold them accountable for their actions,'' Baalke said.
In a statement released earlier in the day, SJPD Sgt. Heather Randol said police were called to an area hospital at 10:43 a.m. Tuesday morning regarding a "possible sexual assault victim" who was receiving treatment. Officers spoke to the woman, and she told them she was "possibly assaulted" on Monday.
The "preliminary investigation revealed the alleged suspect was Ray McDonald," Randol said.
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The San Jose Police Department Sexual Assaults Investigations Unit responded to conduct follow-up investigation. Based on preliminary investigation, detectives secured a search warrant at McDonald's home some time on Tuesday. The woman's identity was not revealed, but two sources told NBC Bay Area that she is not McDonald's fiancee.
Players said they were shocked by the team’s decision to cut McDonald, but understand the reason.
“This is an organization, it’s a franchise,” quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. “You want to have a high standard and we do around here. You have to be able to abide by that.
Reached by phone in Florida on Wednesday, McDonald's mother, Labrina McDonald, said she didn't yet know the full story but insisted it was a "bunch of mess. There's no truth to it at all."
She added that her son has “cameras all over his house” after his home was broken into, which she said will show that “he’s been targeted.”
“This is just an accusation, anyone can make it. It has no merit to it,” she said. “I don’t like that they’re releasing him, and that this cost him his job.”
She offered no other details, and said her son asked her not to divulge any more.
McDonald was arrested on Aug. 31 after his pregnant fiancee at the time accused him of choking and punching her at his 30th birthday party at his home in San Jose.
On Nov. 10, the Santa Clara County District Attorney decided there was not enough evidence to charge him, Two female prosecutors investigated the altercation, releasing a public memo, deciding there weren't any "verifiable witnesses." McDonald had steadfastly denied harming his fiancee.
After the arrest, he told CSN Bay Area he was "doing stuff to try to better our relationship."
When asked for a comment Wednesday regarding the latest sexual assault allegation, an NFL spokesman said, "We are looking into it."
The Associated Press and CSN Bay Area contributed to this report.
