William Moore, the Atlanta Falcons’ starting safety, was arrested and booked into Fulton County Jail on a battery charge on Thursday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
WSB-TV reported that Moore was involved in a dispute with a woman and allegedly grabbed her shoulder.
“We are aware of the situation involving William Moore and are in the process of gathering more information,” a Falcons spokesperson said in a statement released to the AJC. “Because this is now a legal matter, the club will have no further comment at this time.”
Moore was due in court Friday morning.
The Falcons signed Moore to a five-year, $30 million contract extension just before the 2009 second-round pick out of Missouri was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Moore’s deal included $14 million in guaranteed money, including an $8.25 million signing bonus and a fully guaranteed base salary of $2.25 million for the 2013 season. Moore’s $3.5 million base salary for 2014 is guaranteed for injury only.
While it is still very early in the legal process, a suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy could void those guaranteed salaries.
After missing all but two games of his rookie season due to a hamstring injury, Moore has started 38 of 40 games over the last three seasons, totaling 201 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and 25 passes defensed. Moore had four interceptions in 12 games and was added to the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster as a Super Bowl replacement.