The lawyer for the security guard who accused Maurice Jones-Drew of punching him in the head released a statement Thursday claiming that he has video evidence of the Jacksonville Jaguars star attacking his client.
Jones-Drew has not been formally charged for his alleged involvement in the incident, which occurred Sunday night at a restaurant in St. Augustine, Fla.
Jones-Drew's agent, Adisa Bakari, told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter earlier this week that his client was not involved, and the St. Augustine police department said that the running back "maintains his innocence."
But in a release obtained Thursday by the Florida Times-Union, Gregory Anderson asserted that his client, Kasim Howard, was "viciously attacked and severely injured" by Jones-Drew.
Anderson also claimed that video surveillance footage from the Conch House Restaurant and Marina, where the incident allegedly took place, clearly shows Jones-Drew attacking Howard.
"Conch House security video captures Mr. Jones-Drew rapidly approaching Mr. Howard from the back-left side and sucker punching him in the jaw," Anderson wrote in the statement, according to the Times-Union. "As a result of this attack, Mr. Howard suffered a dislocated jaw and spinal injuries. He was hospitalized, later released and is recovering at home.
"The current attempts by some to characterize this as a 'scuffle' are misleading and unsupported by any evidence. Any fair-minded person watching the video has to conclude that Mr. Jones-Drew initiated an unprovoked attack on Mr. Howard and then literally ran away from the scene. The videos, in addition to virtually all eyewitness accounts, unequivocally prove that Mr. Jones-Drew attacked the security officer without provocation."
According to the initial police report, one of Jones-Drew's friends was told to stop touching a woman before he put his hands on Howard, who then put the man in a headlock before Jones-Drew allegedly struck the guard with a closed fist to the cheek. Police initially said Jones-Drew had been charged before amending their statement.
The Jaguars have acknowledged they are aware of the situation but declined to comment.
Jones-Drew, 28, is trying to return from a Lisfranc injury in his right foot that cost him 10 games last season and ultimately required surgery.
The NFL's leading rusher in 2011 with 1,606 yards, he gained just 414 yards and scored one touchdown last season before suffering the season-ending foot injury on Oct. 21.