PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Steelers have cut rookie running back Chris Rainey following his arrest on a battery charge in Florida.
Gainesville (Fla.) police officers charged Rainey with a single count of misdemeanor simple battery following an incident with his girlfriend. Police say in a news release that Rainey was arguing with his girlfriend over his cellphone. His girlfriend got into a vehicle and the former Florida Gator tried to pull her out.
Witnesses told detectives that Rainey slapped his girlfriend across the face and then chased her when she ran away with his phone in her purse.
Rainey’s agent, Joel Segal, didn’t return a phone call for comment.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert called Rainey’s actions “extremely disappointing.” The Steelers selected Rainey in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
