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DK Metcalf has full support from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The star receiver, who was suspended for the final two games of the season for his violent altercation with a Lions fan on Dec. 21, could have had his guaranteed money voided by the Steelers, but the team has rebuffed the opportunity to do so.
“Because he got suspended, the Steelers could have basically taken back all of his guarantees,“ Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer said during “Fox NFL Kickoff” on Sunday. “They, however, have decided not to do that. They’re gonna stick with DK. They don’t want to do something like that. They kinda want to make a long-term commitment to DK Metcalf, even in situations like this.”
The two-game suspension for Metcalf could have cost him the remaining $45 million in future guaranteed money after he signed a four-year, $132 million contract this offseason — which included $60 million guaranteed at signing — after he was acquired from the Seahawks.
If the Steelers wanted to, they could have voided Metcalf’s guaranteed money and cut him without penalty at any point of the contract.
The actions in question surrounding Metcalf, who had previously gone up to a fan, later identified as Ryan Kennedy, and grabbed him by his blue hair and pulled him down before throwing a wayward punch that didn’t fully land on Kennedy’s face.
Metcalf, 28, alleges that Kennedy used racially charged hate speech toward him, per Chad Johnson, which was the reason for the visceral reaction.
Video emerged of Kennedy allegedly saying, “that was the goal,” after Metcalf went after him.
Kennedy reportedly taunted Metcalf while he was with Seattle last season and at the time, the receiver reported the fan to security.
Meanwhile, Kennedy has retained a lawyer, Shawn Head, to insist Metcalf retract the accusation that his remarks toward him were racially charged.
“Being falsely branded as a racist is one of the most damaging accusations that a private citizen can endure,” Head said as Kennedy sat next to him wearing a backwards Lions hat. “It’s dangerous and causes very real consequences and very real damage.”
Kennedy says that he called Metcalf by his full name, DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf, which initiated the altercation.
“The goal here is accountability and to correct the record,” Head said. “The false accusations or racial statements or racial slurs being used causes real damage and that needs to be corrected. … (Metcalf) can come out and tell the truth and indicate that he never heard any racial slur uttered by Mr. Kennedy.
“Right now we’re evaluating all of our options, of course, and we’re going to make sure we use any legal remedies available to protect Ryan Kennedy and his family. We’re not going to litigate this in the media. We’re here today to set the record straight.”
Kennedy, nor his lawyer, has ruled out the possibility of a lawsuit being placed on Metcalf, who has not been seen or heard from in the past week.
Metcalf missed Sunday’s game against the Browns a game they lost on the final play of the game where they threw a back shoulder fade, arguably Metcalf’s best route.
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