Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia maintained his innocence and his new team said it supported him after a 1996 sexual assault allegation resurfaced Wednesday night.

The Detroit News reported that Patricia and a friend of his were indicted 22 years ago by a Texas grand jury http://www.officialcapitals.com/authentic-adidas-evgeny-kuznetsov-j... , on one count each of aggravated sexual assault for an alleged incident involving a woman on South Padre Island. The accuser did not testify and the case was dismissed 10 months later.

"As someone who was falsely accused of this very serious charge over 22 years ago, and never given the opportunity to defend myself and clear my name, I find it incredibly unfair Milan Lucic Jersey Kids , disappointing, and frustrating that this story would resurface now with the only purpose being to damage my character and reputation," Patricia said in a statement issued by the Lions. "I firmly maintain my innocence Ryan Dzingel Jersey , as I have always done."

The Lions hired Patricia after last season to replace Jim Caldwell as coach. He had previously been an assistant with the New England Patriots.

The Lions said a "standard pre-employment background check" did not turn up the incident. But the team said it was standing by Patricia.

"We have spoken to Coach Patricia about this at length as well as the attorney who represented him at the time," the Lions said in a statement attributed to owner Martha Firestone Ford, general manager Bob Quinn and president Rod Wood. "Based upon everything we have learned Scottie Upshall Jersey , we believe and have accepted Coach Patricia's explanation and we will continue to support him."

Jets left tackle Kelvin Beachum said recently that the team won’t know what it has in quarterback Sam Darnold until the third overall pick in this year’s draft takes a big hit and that hit won’t come during the team’s organized team activities this month.

With or without full contact, the practices will give the Jets an extended chance to see Darnold on the practice field with veteran players for the first time since drafting him. That will provide information about how Darnold is running the huddle and grasping the offensive playbook as well as how he fares against experienced defensive backs trying to stop him from completing passes.

As recounted by Albert Breer of SI.com in a lengthy look at the Darnold pursuit, the Jets didn’t expect to have Darnold fall to them — “You have a horseshoe up your a– Mathieu Perreault Jersey ,” Jets vice president of player personnel Brian Heimerdinger said to General Manager Mike Maccagnan — and CEO Christopher Johnson has made it clear that the expectations are high聽now that he did.

Whether that leads to a quick rise up the depth chart remains to be seen. The Jets don’t have big questions about Josh McCown after he spent 2017 as their starter, so the focus in OTAs is likely to be on figuring out the plan for Darnold as his rookie season unfolds.

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