Sports
Chiefs' Rashee Rice accused of assault in civil suit by mother of his children
Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) warms up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images A former girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice filed a civil lawsuit this week in Texas alleging that he assaulted her during a span from December 2023 to July 2025.
Dacoda Jones, with whom Rice has two children and said she was pregnant during many of the alleged assaults, filed the suit on Monday in Dallas County, Texas. She is seeking monetary damages of more than $1 million, according to attorney Ron Estefan.
Per the lawsuit, Rice and Jones allegedly lived together in Victory Park, Texas, and Lee’s Summit, Mo. Jones, in the lawsuit, said Rice strangled her in December 2023, and that between 2023 and 2025, he “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit and headbutted Ms. Jones, as well as hit her with inanimate objects.”
According to the lawsuit, Rice displayed violent behaviors, including “throwing objects, destroying property, punching walls, and breaking furniture, as well as locking her out in the middle of the night.”
As part of the damages in the lawsuit, Jones claimed physical pain and mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, previous and future medical care and loss of earnings.
One of Jones’ attorneys declined comment to ESPN. Rice, who has not been charged criminally in this matter, and his agents had not responded to attempts by The Athletic and ESPN for comment.
“The club is aware (of the lawsuit) and remains in communication with the National Football League,” the Chiefs said in a statement Wednesday.
Jones posted photos on her Instagram account on Jan. 7 that appeared to show signs of physical abuse. She also alleged abuse that spanned years.
“I’m so tired of keeping quiet I’m so tired of protecting his image,” Jones wrote in a since-deleted post. “I’ve been through enough in the span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH! I’ve dealt with abuse for years, me and this man decided to break up a couple months ago and it’s been nothing but hell.
“He literally left us in Kansas and I had to beg him to send money so that I could drive to Texas with my kids and all our stuff,” she wrote. “We have an agreement because of everything he’s put me through and he still doesn’t follow it. He’s now trying to remove me and my kids from our home for no apparent reason. I’ve known this man for YEARS. He tries to put on this persona like he’s dad of the year. He does the bare minimum and I have to beg for that. I’ve protected his image too long and I’m done doing that. It’s time to protect my peace, protect my children and stand up for myself.”
The NFL said on Wednesday, “The matter remains under review.”
Rice, 25, started the 2025 season by serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas that left several people injured during the 2024 season. He pleaded guilty in district court to two third-degree felony charges — collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.
The crash ultimately involved six vehicles. Rice and four of his friends didn’t check on those injured and instead fled on foot before police arrived.
Rice was sentenced to five years of deferred probation, and 30 days in jail. He also was required to pay more than $115,000 in restitution to the victims of the crash.
He caught 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns this season as the Chiefs fashioned a 3-5 record in his appearances.
Rice owns 156 receptions for 1,797 yards and 14 scores in 28 regular-season games (20 starts) over three seasons with Kansas City. He also caught six passes for 39 yards when Kansas City defeated San Francisco in overtime to capture Super Bowl LVIII
–Field Level Media
Sports
NFL impersonator pleads guilty on wire fraud, identity theft charges
Dec 5, 2009; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Luther Davis (96) celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators 32-13 in the 2009 SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images A former University of Alabama football player on Monday pleaded guilty to committing fraud in taking millions of dollars from investors by pretending to be NFL players.
Luther Davis, 37, worked in concert with another individual, CJ Evins, 29, in donning disguises, including makeup and wigs, to impersonate NFL players to secure investments and loans from multiple individuals, according to guilty pleas entered into federal court in Atlanta.
The charges included conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Both men face up to seven years in prison, but their plea deals should lower the sentence, which is scheduled to occur in August for Evins and in October for Davis.
A defensive lineman for the Crimson Tide from 2007-2010, including Alabama’s 2009 national championship team, Davis admitted to using fake bank accounts, fraudulent driver’s licenses and misleading emails to convince investors he was acting on behalf of famous athletes, or in some cases, he was the athlete himself.
The Guardian revealed details of the case in mid-April, reporting that the pair had obtained 13 loans in the names of current and former NFL players, including Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney. The fraudulent loans obtained totaled more than $19,845,000, according to court documents.
“Davis and Evins convinced lenders they were NFL players, obtained millions of dollars in fraudulent loans, and used the proceeds of their crimes to purchase real estate and luxury items,” a statement from U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg read. “This scheme highlights that anyone can be a target of identity theft, and my office will vigorously investigate and prosecute swindlers who steal identities to defraud others.”
Davis, who owns a sports management company in Georgia, was part of Nick Saban’s first signing class at Alabama in 2007. The West Monroe, La., native who played in 45 games on the defensive line over four seasons with the Crimson Tide.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals rally in ninth to make Pirates' 6 2/3 perfect frames moot
Apr 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second basemen JJ Wetherholt (26) fields a ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2) during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images Jose Fermin’s two-run double with one out in the ninth inning capped a four-run rally as the St. Louis Cardinals overcame a near-shutout and beat the host Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Monday.
St. Louis, which had lost four straight and five of six, was hitless through 6 2/3 innings and scoreless through 8 1/3 before breaking through against Dennis Santana, who came into the contest with two saves and a 0.69 ERA with only one earned run allowed in 13 appearances.
Those numbers took a hit right away as Pedro Pages, St. Louis’s backup catcher, and rookie JJ Wetherholt hit back-to-back home runs off Santana (2-2) to even the game.
It was Pages’ third home run of the season, and second in his last two games, while Wetherholt went deep for the third straight game and sixth time this season.
Ivan Herrera walked, Alec Burleson reached base on his second infield single of the game and Jordan Walker also walked to load the bases for Fermin, who went 2-for-2 after coming in as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
Fermin’s double to left plated pinch runner Victor Scott II and Burleson.
Ryan Fernandez (1-0) struck out four in two perfect innings of relief, and George Soriano worked around a two-out single for his first save.
Dustin May had another solid outing on the hill for St. Louis. He came in with wins in each of his last three starts. Although that streak was broken, he kept the Cardinals in the game, allowing two runs while scattering seven hits and striking out two over six innings.
The Pirates, in a bullpen game, kept St. Louis off the basepaths entirely for the first 6 2/3 innings. Mason Montgomery started, and Justin Lawrence followed, each tossing a scoreless inning with one strikeout.
Wilber Dotel, making just his third major league appearance, threw four perfect innings and struck out three.
Evan Sisk allowed the first hit in the seventh — Burleson’s first infield single — but he, Isaac Mattson and Gregory Soto kept the Cardinals off the board until Santana entered in the ninth.
Ryan O’Hearn and Jake Mangum drove in runs for Pittsburgh, which dropped its second straight game. Mangum had two hits, while Nick Gonzales extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Arch Manning favorite to be top pick in '27 NFL draft
Dec 31, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Damon Payne (44) tips a pass from Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Arch Manning has opened as the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the next NFL draft for the second consecutive year.
The Texas quarterback was installed as the +250 favorite by DraftKings. That’s ahead of fellow quarterbacks Dante Moore (+380) of Oregon, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr (+650) and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellars (+1200).
After only two quarterbacks were selected in the first round on Friday — including the Rams surprising many by taking Ty Simpson at No. 13 — the 2027 quarterback class is projected to be much deeper.
It’s led by Manning, who was installed as the +200 favorite by DraftKings following the conclusion of the 2025 class to be the No. 1 pick this year. Manning endured some struggles the first half of last season before finishing strong, and opted to return for another year with the Longhorns.
Moore also decided to return to school despite being projected as a potential top-5 selection, boosting a ’27 quarterback class that already boasted intriguing talent. Carr is coming off a strong first season as Notre Dame’s starter, while Sellars is looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2025 for the Gamecocks.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has the shortest odds among non-quarterback. He is being offered at +1400 along with new Miami Hurricanes signal-caller Darian Mensah.
2027 NFL DRAFT NO. 1 PICK ODDS*
Arch Manning, QB, Texas (+250)
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+380)
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+650)
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina (+1200)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1400)
Darian Mensah, QB, Miami, Fla. (+1400)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+1800)
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State (+2000)
Dylan Steward, LB, South Carolina (+2200)
Colin Simmons, LB, Texas (+3000)
Dayden Maiava, QB, Southern Cal (+3500)
Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA (+4000)
Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana (+4000)
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas (+5000)
Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU (+5000)
Jordan Seaton, OT, Colorado (+5000)
John Matter, QB, Oklahoma (+5000)
John Henry Daley, DE, Michigan (+5000)
DJ Lagway, QB, Baylor (+5000)
Demond Williams, QB, Washington (+5000)
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (+7500)
*DraftKings
–Field Level Media
NFL impersonator pleads guilty on wire fraud, identity theft charges
Cardinals rally in ninth to make Pirates' 6 2/3 perfect frames moot
