Former NFL Player Dimitri Patterson Files $50M Defamation Lawsuit Against ESPN

Former NFL cornerback Dimitri Patterson is reportedly suing ESPN for $50 million in a defamation lawsuit, claiming he was falsely portrayed as a "violent, impulsive, unstable person" in a 2017 article detailing an incident that occurred while Patterson was in court, according to TMZ Sports.

Per that report, "The article—published on August 15, 2017—says Patterson injured two police officers while trying to abruptly exit a Miami-Dade courthouse and avoid being arrested. ESPN says it confirmed the info with police—noting, 'a female officer suffered neck and back injuries, and a male officer injured his wrist while apprehending Patterson.'"

Patterson—who is acting as his own lawyer—is disputing that account, claiming court footage will corroborate his side of the story.

Another account from the time described the incident similarly to ESPN's article, however. 

Charles Rabin of the Miami Herald wrote at the time that "it took five Miami-Dade police officers to tackle [Patterson] and get him under control," later adding Patterson's arrest record reported that "with a handcuff around one wrist, he tackled one cop and knocked another to the ground before three other officers joined in and took control of the situation. One cop suffered a head injury, another hurt a wrist."

Patterson was in a hearing for a potential contempt of court from a prior hearing, per Rabin. Following the incident, he was with charged with both battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.

Patterson, 34, spent eight years in the NFL with Washington, the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins.