Witnesses came to the defense of New York Jets defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman on Saturday.
The New York Daily News is reporting that one day after a 28-year-old woman filed a police report accusing Thurman of slapping her after she refused his advances, the manager of the bar where the incident took place said her story is made-up.
The woman, identified by the New York Daily News as Jessie Steinberg, filed a complaint following an encounter Wednesday at Pazzo Pazzo restaurant in Morristown, N.J. TMZ Sports, who first reported the story, showed a photo of Steinberg flipping off Thurman and one of Thurman with his hand in a follow-through motion of what was characterized as a possible swipe or swing.
Woman accuses Jets defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman of slapping her at a New Jersey bar
"The allegations are actually false," said Dennis Henry, manager of Pazzo Pazzo, a restaurant with an outdoor bar in New Jersey, to the Daily News.
"They had a conversation. I guess the lady, she was kind of drunk. She was pretty much the crazy person and accused him of slapping her when there were 13 witnesses, including my bartender," said the manager, who wasn't present for the altercation but said the bartender insists Thurman did not slap anyone, the Daily News reported.
Thurman never was charged of a crime in connection with the incident. NJ.com reported that police told Steinberg she could file a disorderly persons charge and that she should avoid going to Pazzo Pazzo, which is a Thurman hangout.
Jets head coach Rex Ryan rushed to the aid of his accused assistant on Saturday.
"I know Dennis Thurman, and Dennis Thurman, the guy that I know, wouldn't put his hands on anybody, let alone a woman," Ryan said, according to NJ.com. "That's the Dennis Thurman that I know."
Ryan was speaking to the media after the Jets' second day of a three-day rookie camp, and it was the first opportunity for media to ask about -and for Ryan to talk defend - Thurman.
"I want to start today by talking about Dennis Thurman," Ryan began. "Obviously, there's something that's out there. I've been fortunate to know Dennis Thurman for about 15 years-worked with him for a long, long time.
"I'll tell you a little bit about the guy. He grew up with five sisters. He's got two beautiful daughters, and Dennis Thurman-I trust and respect-I love Dennis Thurman, OK? As a person, it's an honor to know Dennis. And he's a great person.
"I think when all the facts come out about everything, I think that people will start to realize that it'll come around that the guy that I'm describing, everybody else will see the same way I do. All right? Really I think that's all I'm going to talk about, about this situation, but I know Dennis Thurman."
The Daily News did say Thurman was involved in a 2010 incident in which several Jets players and coaches were accused of subjecting a female sports reporter to sexist locker-room conduct. It reported that Thurman, the Jets' defensive backs coach then, fueled loutish player by the players.
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