Police Investigate Former Ravens Nose Tackle in Animal Cruelty Case

The Baltimore Ravens terminated the contract of nose tackle Terrence Cody, 26, on Friday. His contract was set to expire in March.

Cody was out for all but one game this year and has “struggled with injuries and his weight” since 2011, which was his best season, according to a statement the Ravens issued Friday.

The same day the Ravens made their announcement, the Baltimore County Police Department said that Cody was involved in an animal cruelty investigation. No charges have been filed, and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case, police said.

Whether the case would produce criminal charges will be clear by the end of next week, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger told the New York Daily News.

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Cody’s lawyer, Peter Schaffer, said his client was mourning the death of his dog and denied wrongdoing.

“There was no animal cruelty,” Schaffer told Fox Sports, which reported the football player’s dog recently died of worms.

“When the dog passed away, Terrence was in tears,” Schaffer told the Associated Press.

Cody had taken his Bullmastiff to the vet because of an illness and was “extremely upset” by the death, according to NBC Sports. The $8,000 dog came from Spain, NBC Sports reported.

Schaffer called the Ravens’ termination of his client’s contract a response to the “hysteria” created by the NFL, stating the team was “so worried about possible ramifications from the league that they took a pre-emptive strike,” according to The Baltimore Sun.

Cody was a member of the team during the 2012 season, when he racked up 25 tackles and the Ravens won the Super Bowl.

This season, Cody was active for nine snaps and was on the physically unable to perform list with the exception of one game, according to The Baltimore Sun.

He had two hip surgeries in recent years, according to NBC Sports, which said that “bears mentioning in any discussion of what kind of response Cody ... will get on the open market.”

Screenshot from Terrence Cody 2012 workout video by Baltimore Ravens/YouTube.