Mizzou cuts Dorial Green-Beckham
Missouri has dismissed star wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham from the team, coach Gary Pinkel announced Friday.
"This decision was made with the best interests of all involved in mind," Pinkel said in a statement. "Dorial's priority going forward needs to be focusing on getting the help he needs. As we have all along, we will continue to do everything we can to assist Dorial and his family. We care deeply about Dorial and his well-being, but hopefully he can benefit from a fresh start."
Green-Beckham was the subject of an investigation by Columbia, Mo., police this week after an 18-year-old Missouri student said the receiver forced open her apartment door at 2:30 a.m. Sunday while trying to see his girlfriend, a friend of the alleged victim.
The woman said Green-Beckham pushed her down at least four stairs.
Another roommate told police the 6-foot-6, 225-pound athlete pushed the first woman with two hands to the chest. Later that night, the two told a detective they didn't want to press charges, and police closed the case Thursday without an arrest, citing reluctant witnesses fearing retaliation.
In a statement given to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch through his father, John Beckham, before his dismissal from the team Friday, Green-Beckham accepted "responsibility for my conduct and my mistakes."
"Don't blame my girlfriend or her friends for anything," the statement said. "I am not looking for sympathy. I thank those who have given me concern. I have been young and dumb. I want to be better. During my suspension I'm entering counseling. With help, I know I can be stronger emotionally and spiritually."
Missouri had suspended Green-Beckham from the team indefinitely Monday.
Beckham coached his son at Springfield Hillcrest High and adopted Green-Beckham and his younger brother Darnell, who signed a letter of intent in February to attend Missouri.
Athletic director Mike Alden also helped rule on the decision to dismiss Green-Beckham, although he said it ultimately was Pinkel's call.
"We have a high standard of conduct for our student-athletes," Alden said in a statement. "Though we provide the resources and mentoring to all of our student-athletes, we are also responsible to the community at large and to the ideals and values of the University of Missouri. We have determined that this was a necessary step for our football team, athletic department, the university and our community."
Green-Beckham isn't eligible for the NFL draft until after his junior season. He will have to sit out a year if he transfers.
Green-Beckham has two prior marijuana-related arrests. In January, Green-Beckham and two other men were arrested after Springfield, Mo., police found a pound of marijuana in their car. No charges were filed in that case. In October 2012, Green-Beckham, then a freshman, was charged with marijuana possession in Columbia and later pleaded guilty to second-degree trespassing after he and two teammates were reportedly smoking marijuana in a campus parking lot. Green-Beckham was suspended for one game after that arrest.
The loss of Green-Beckham, who was the No. 1-rated wide receiver in the 2012 class by ESPN's recruiting services, is major. After catching 26 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman, he led Missouri with 59 receptions and 12 touchdowns last season, including a school-record four receiving TDs against Kentucky. He also had 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the SEC championship game.
Green-Beckham was second on the team with 883 receiving yards and averaged 15 yards per catch.
With the losses of L'Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas, Green-Beckham was Missouri's only returning receiver who recorded at least 30 receptions in 2013 and had multiple touchdown catches. Players who produced 27 of the school's 31 receiving touchdowns last season are gone.
Senior Bud Sasser, who caught 26 passes for 361 yards and a touchdown in 2013, is now Missouri's leading returning wideout.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
