Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney arrested, accused of assaulting woman in Texas

Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney turned himself in to Dallas County Jail in Texas on Monday after an arrest warrant was issued on a family violence assault charge involving an altercation with a woman on Friday.

Gladney, a 2020 first-round draft pick who started 15 games as a rookie, faces a third-degree felony charge, which carries a possible sentence of two to 10 years in prison, according to CBS 11 News in Dallas-Fort Worth. No charges have yet been filed in the case.

In a statement, the Dallas police department said Gladney, 24, and a 22-year-old woman "were involved in a verbal altercation over content in a cell phone" on Friday.

"The altercation escalated, at which time Mr. Gladney physically assaulted the victim," the statement added. "Mr. Gladney left the location prior to officers' arrival. There was a warrant for Assault – Family Violence for Mr. Gladney's arrest and he turned himself into the Dallas County Jail April 5, 2021."

Dallas County Sheriff's Department said Gladney turned himself in at 11:20 a.m. Monday, posted bond and was released four minutes later.

"We are aware of Jeff's arrest and are gathering additional information," the Vikings said in a statement. "We take this matter very seriously, as the reported allegations are extremely disturbing."

Citing anonymous sources and an arrest affidavit, CBS 11 reported that Gladney became upset over the woman's text messages and tried "shoving" her face toward her phone to try to use its Face ID to unlock the phone, "pulling [her] by her hair trying to hold her still."

According to the TV report, the woman, who said she was in a relationship with Gladney, accused him of striking her "with closed fists, causing pain in the side of her ribs, in the stomach and the back, and hitting her with an open hand across the head."

She also accused Gladney of "strangling [her] by the neck, which impeded her breathing for approximately 5 seconds" after they returned to an apartment complex in Dallas. The woman alleged that Gladney grabbed her by her hair while the vehicle was moving and dragged her across the ground.

Attempts to reach Gladney's agent, Brian Overstreet, were unsuccessful.

The Vikings counted heavily on Gladney during his rookie season, and he was expected to be a key member of the 2021 secondary even after the team added veteran cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Patrick Peterson via free agency. The team has turned all of its attention in free agency to fortifying a defense that coach Mike Zimmer admitted was the worst he's ever coached.

Gladney, the No. 31 pick in 2020 out of Texas Christian, played in all 16 games last season, registering 81 tackles, seven for losses, with three passes defensed and one forced fumble.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league "will review the matter under the Personal Conduct Policy" before making a decision on what action to take.

The NFL also noted that all players and team and league personnel are required to participate in domestic violence and sexual assault educational programs, which are now in their eighth year.

According to the personal conduct policy, violations that involve felony assault or family violence are subject a baseline suspension without pay of six games for the first offense, "with possible upward or downward adjustments based on any aggravating or mitigating factors."

A player who is not charged with a crime, or is charged but not convicted, may still be found to have violated the league policy "if the credible evidence establishes that he engaged in prohibited conduct."