The Kansas City Chiefs have released the defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs after multiple incidents this offseason, including allegations of domestic violence and animal cruelty.
The 27-year-old player, who signed a $1,292,500 contract with Kansas City for the upcoming season, has been arrested twice in two months in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
News of Buggs’ departure from the reigning Super Bowl champions was revealed Monday by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero.
It comes after Buggs was arrested on June 16 on domestic violence/burglary charges in Alabama. He was later released on a $5,000 bond, according to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office records, although no other details were provided.
In May, Buggs turned himself in to the sheriff’s office after being charged with two felony counts of second-degree animal cruelty.
Tuscaloosa police found two dogs that were “severely malnourished” and “emaciated” on the back porch of a house Buggs had rented, according to court documents.
Court records show a neighbor said a pit bull-Rottweiler mix had been left there for at least 10 days with no access to food or water. The pit bull was eventually put down.
A Chiefs spokesperson said this at the time The Associated Press that the team was aware of the situation but declined to comment.
Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, released a statement to the AP saying the player “vehemently denies” the allegations and that the dogs were not his. “Under no circumstances will Mr. Buggs tolerate the mistreatment of any animal,” Robinson said.
Buggs, a run-stuffing tackle from Alabama, played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before spending his final two seasons with the Detroit Lions. He has started 23 games and appeared in 56 in his career, with 89 tackles and two sacks.
The Chiefs planned to use Buggs to strengthen the middle of their defensive line.
The team is aiming for a record third Super Bowl in a row, but has faced a series of off-field legal issues since beating the San Francisco 49ers in February.
Wide receiver Rashee Rice faces eight misdemeanor charges stemming from a high-speed crash in Dallas, and offensive linemen Chukwuebuka Godrick and Wanya Morris were arrested last month in Johnson County, Kansas, for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
