Raiders’ Davante Adams is charged with ASSAULT for shoving sideline photographer

Davante Adams has been cited for assault after Monday’s incident in which the Las Vegas Raiders star pushed over a sideline photographer, now identified as Ryan Zebley, allegedly causing whiplash and possibly a minor concussion. 

The assault charge is a misdemeanor, a police spokesman told DailyMail.com. Misdemeanor assault in Missouri can be punished with imprisonment for up to 15 days and a fine of up to $750. 

While Adams faces a possible suspension for shoving the photographer following Monday’s defeat to the Chiefs, his head coach rushed to his defense Tuesday, calling the All-Pro wide receiver a ‘great guy.’

‘I support Davante wholeheartedly as a human being,’ McDaniels told reporters Tuesday. ‘As a person, he’s a great guy. I know that was an unfortunate situation. We obviously don’t want any of our guys to be doing anything like that. He knows that. He’s very well aware of that. But I know the person. I don’t think there was any intent behind it on his part.’

McDaniels, in his first year as Raiders head coach, acknowledged that the team would abide by whatever punishment gets handed down from Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office.

‘But whatever [the NFL] asks of us, whatever they need from us, obviously we’ll comply. But we’re kind of in a wait-and-see [situation in terms of discipline] at this point.’

Zebley was working as a freelancer for ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew.  He had not been identified, publicly, until Wednesday morning. 

While Las Vegas Raiders star Davante Adams is being investigated by Kansas City police and faces a possible suspension for shoving a photographer following Monday’s defeat to the Chiefs, his head coach is rushing to his defense, calling the All-Pro wide receiver a ‘great guy’

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josh McDaniels: ‘As a person, [Adams is] a great guy. I know that was an unfortunate situation’

Adams, the NFL’s second-highest paid receiver at $28.2 million for the 2022 season, was storming off the field on Monday night after the Raiders’ final drive fell short, giving the Chiefs a dramatic 30-29 win. As the visibly frustrated Adams approached the tunnel, Ryan Zebley crossed the All-Pro’s path and was promptly shoved to the ground 

‘The victim is a photographer at the Chiefs/Raiders game,’ read the police narrative. ‘At the end of the game, he was pushed to the ground causing injury. He made arrangements for private transport to the hospital for treatment at which time he called police.

‘The injuries are preliminarily thought to be non-life threatening. The incident will be investigated by our Assault Unit detectives, upon completion they will coordinate with the applicable city or state prosecutor to determine any applicable charges.’

The league is also reviewing the incident and a suspension remains a possibility, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Pelissero’s colleague, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, suggested that ‘this one feels like more than a fine.’

The NFL is expected to rule on the matter early this week. Adams, a longtime Green Bay Packers star prior to this season, has never been in trouble with the NFL.

Adams, the NFL’s second-highest paid receiver at $28.2 million for the 2022 season, was storming off the field on Monday night after the Raiders’ final drive fell short, giving the Chiefs a dramatic 30-29 win. As the visibly frustrated Adams approached the tunnel, an unidentified man holding photography equipment crossed the All-Pro’s path.

It was then that 6-foot-1, 215-pound Adams shoved the man and watched as he stumbled backwards and down to the ground. Security ultimately helped the man to his feet as Adams casually walked into the Arrowhead Stadium tunnel.

 Stunned onlookers watch as Ryan Zebley falls to the turf at the end of Monday’s game

Adams claimed he ‘felt horrible immediately’ after shoving the man identified as Ryan Zebley

Adams apologized through the media after the game.

‘He jumped in front of me coming off the field,’ Adams said. ‘I kind of pushed him. He ended up on the ground. I want to apologize to him for that. That was just frustration mixed with him really just running in front of me.

‘I shouldn’t have responded that way, but that’s the way I responded. I want to apologize to him for that.’

Adams also offered an apology on Twitter.

‘Sorry to the guy I pushed over after the game,’ he tweeted. ‘Obviously very frustrated at the way the game ended and when he ran infront (sic) of me as I exited that was my reaction and I felt horrible immediately. Thats not me..MY APOLOGIES man hope you see this.’

But not everyone was buying the apology from Adams, who didn’t appear concerned at the time. One reply on Twitter read: ”’I felt bad immediately after” but I passed him up like it meant nothing.’

Another said: ‘Garbage apology on social media. That’s so you try and not look bad to the fans. Too late. You pushed someone down who was trying to do there job. I guess when I’m having a bad day I should push the barista down as they walk in front of me then just post an I’m sorry in Twitter’.

A different follower wrote: ‘If you felt horrible immediately, why didn’t you help him up and apologize immediately? You walked right past him with a flick of your wrist like WTH dude. Might want to keep working on that humbleness. PS you can find that guy any time and apologize to him directly.’

Adams was dealt to Las Vegas in March, reuniting with his college quarterback, Derek Carr, and signing a five-year, $141.2 million deal with the Raiders.

The two-time All-Pro has 29 receptions and five touchdowns through five games, but the Raiders are a disappointing 1-4 on the year.

A number of fans were left unimpressed by the apology Adams offered on Twitter