Colts' Josh McNary Benched Amid Rape Charges
— -- The NFL sidelined Josh McNary today, less than 24 hours after prosecutors in Marion County, Indiana, charged the Indianapolis Colts linebacker with rape.
Putting McNary on what's known as the commissioner's exempt list means he is no longer eligible to play in Sunday's AFC championship game between the Colts and New England Patriots.
The swift decision comes at the end of a season during which the NFL had faced criticism over its slow response to incidents of sexual assault and domestic violence involving its players. McNary has denied the charges but the league's revamped conduct policy required that he not be eligible to play for now.
"This action was taken pursuant to the Personal Conduct Policy with the support of the Colts," the NFL said in a statement.
The league toughened the policy after it admittedly mishandled the domestic violence case of former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice, who was seen on video punching his now-wife in a casino elevator.
"At this time, we are very concerned and trying to find out what the relevant facts are," the Colts told ABC News overnight. "We have insufficient information to venture any opinion."
McNary, a West Point graduate and U.S. Army lieutenant who is serving in the National Guard, after having spent two years on active duty, according to ESPN, has been with the Colts for two seasons.
According to police documents, a female accuser said she was drinking at an Indianapolis bar Dec. 1 when she met a man and later ended up at his apartment. She could not recall how she'd gotten there.
The accuser said a "physical fight" ensued, followed by a sexual assault. She said she eventually managed to grab the man's cellphone and leave. Authorities said the cellphone led police to McNary.
According to police documents, authorities said that when police arrived to his home to question him, he said: "I know why you're here" and gestured toward his bed sheets.
"I preserved it for you because I knew you would be coming," he then said, according to police documents.
"The charges and affidavit publicly disseminated on Wednesday afternoon are not evidence of wrongdoing but simply one side's story" McNary’s attorney, Ed Schrager, said in a statement. "McNary unhesitatingly denies all accusations made against him."
