Cornerback Jermaine Edmondson, who allegedly was punched in the face by Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green over the weekend, has been granted his release from the Michigan State football team.
Spartans coach Mark Dantonio made the announcement on Wednesday night but did not mention the alleged altercation -- which was detailed in a police report obtained by ESPN earlier in the day -- as the reason why the senior was leaving.
"In discussions with Jermaine Edmondson following spring practice and in the weeks thereafter, it became clear that Jermaine wanted to play a larger role on the team," Dantonio said. "After consulting with him in the summer, he felt it was in his best interest to finish his playing career elsewhere. We have granted his immediate release to transfer to another institution to have that opportunity."
Edmondson played in 14 games as a junior, making 24 total tackles and recovering two fumbles.
Green was arrested early Sunday on charges of "simple assault" for an incident that occurred at Conrad's Grill in East Lansing, Michigan. He was released on $200 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for July 20. If convicted, he would face a maximum of 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Green also took a blood test at the jail -- which showed a blood alcohol content of .10 -- and wasn't allowed to leave "until completely sober," according to the police report.
However, it wasn't the first incident between Edmondson and Green, according to Edmondson's statement to the East Lansing Police Department.
Edmondson said to police that he told Green to watch where he was going after Green had bumped into him at a different establishment on Friday night and that he and his girlfriend were "choked" by Green's associates.
"I was talking to one of my teammates when Draymond bumped into me, and I said, 'Hey bro, can you at least say excuse me?'" Edmondson, 22, said in a statement to the East Lansing Police Department about the incident on Friday night. "... I asked who he was to think that it's OK to bump into somebody without saying excuse me. He then said, 'I pay for n---as like you scholarships.' Then I started to say you have me messed up before I was choked out by two guys who were with him."
Edmondson told police that he, his girlfriend and his friends went to Rick's and then Conrad's Grill the following night to celebrate his birthday, and he noticed Green was there at Conrad's, as well. Edmondson told police that the NBA star was talking to his roommate when Edmondson decided to tell Green that "last night wasn't cool."
That's when Edmondson told police that matters began to escalate.
"As he responded to me, he began to poke me on my shoulder and I tell him that he doesn't need to put his hands on me, we can just talk," Edmondson said in his statement to police. "As I started to talk again, boom, I'm punched in the jaw, in front of all my friends and peers."
According to the police report, Green indicated to officers after the arrest "that he was sorry for slapping the subject and wanted to speak with him to make things right."
On Tuesday, Green himself said that he expects the incident to be "resolved really quickly."
"I think when things happen, I think you meet them head-on," Green told reporters Tuesday in Aspen, Colorado. "My legal team is handling it. It will be resolved really quickly. As a public figure, I just can't put myself in certain situations. It's something that I'll learn from and just move on."
Denver Broncos wide receiver and Michigan State alum Bennie Fowler also said Green did not punch Edmondson.
"On Saturday night, Draymond and I were eating in East Lansing. At no point, ever, did Draymond punch anyone," Fowler said in a statement via text to The Undefeated. "The claims against him are beyond false, and I look forward to the truth coming out."
Sources close to Green told The Undefeated that while Green did slap Edmonds, Green never threw a punch or did any other physical harm, and Green is shocked by what they deem a laughable accusation.
Lt. Scott Wrigglesworth of the East Lansing Police Department told ESPN on Monday that there were no injuries as a result of the incident. He also said police were not called to the scene but were already in the area as part of their normal patrol.
Both the Warriors and USA Basketball are awaiting details. Green, 26, is set to join Team USA in August at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Information from The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears contributed to this report.