NFL Rejects Las Vegas Police Union Demand To Probe Michael Bennett

The National Football League rejected a request from the union representing Las Vegas police officers to investigate and "take appropriate action" against Seattle Seahawks standout Michael Bennett. The Seahawks defensive end says that the night of the Floyd Mayweather fight against Conor McGregor, he was detained and threatened at gunpoint by officers.

Bennett made his explosive allegations early Wednesday, releasing a statement on Twitter, saying that he was handcuffed and a gun was held at his head simply for "being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I felt helpless as I lay there on the ground handcuffed facing the real-life threat of being killed," wrote Bennett, who is considering a civil rights lawsuit against Las Vegas. "All I could think of was 'I'm going to die for no other reason than I am black and my skin color is somehow a threat.'

"My life flashed before my eyes as I thought of my girls. Would I ever play with them again? Or watch them have kids? Or be able to kiss my wife again and tell her I love her?"

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Undersheriff Kevin McMahill disputed Bennett's version of events, saying that the officers had been responding to a call of an active shooter and that they saw Bennett — who had been crouched behind a gaming machine — had run.

"I see no evidence that race played any role in this incident," he said. (For more information on the fatal punch case and other Las Vegas stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Detective Steve Grammas, the union president, wrote to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that Bennett's comments "are false and defamatory.

"I am sure that your attorney will tell you, our officers had reasonable suspicion, which is the constitutional standard to detain Bennett until they could determine whether he was involved in the shooting."

Goodell has expressed support for Bennett.

"Michael Bennett represents the best of the NFL — a leader on his team and community," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Grammas took a swipe at the league's support of Bennett, who has become one of the most well-known activists within the league, refusing to stand for the national anthem.

"While the league may condone Bennett's disrespect for our American flag, and everything it symbolizes, we hope that the League will not ignore Bennett's false accusations against our police officers," he wrote.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said "there is no basis for an NFL investigation."

"There is no allegation of a violation of the league's personal conduct policy," he said.

Bennett late Wednesday retweeted screen shots from the video played by Las Vegas police that someone had posted.

On a video released by TMZ, Bennett can be heard telling the officer, "I wasn't doing nothing, man."

The poster referenced other video coming out.

At the news conference Wednesday, McMahill said that while there are more than 120 videos to review, there is not one from the officer who detained Bennett. That officer had failed to activate his body camera.

Bennett's brother, Martellus, who plays for the Green Bay Packers, posted on Instagram about getting a call from his brother the night of the incident.

"The call that night was a scary one," he said. "I could hear the fear in his voice."

Bennett also received the unequivocal support of his team Wednesday night.

During the Seahawks preseason, Bennett sat during the national anthem before games. He said his experience in Las Vegas underscored for him that his protest is the right thing to do. Bennett has hired an Oakland attorney, John Burris, to investigate whether his civil rights were violated.

"[E]quality doesn't live in this country and no matter how much money you make, what job title you have, or how much you give, when you are seen as a 'N----r,' you will be treated that way," he wrote.

Bennett and the Seahawks open their season on Sunday against Bennett's brother and the Packers.

Patch's Neal McNamara in Seattle contributed reporting to this piece.

Photo showing Michael Bennett on Aug. 31 sitting during the national anthem and a teammate offering support via Eric Risberg/AP Photo