Jeff Reed disputes police report

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed didn’t threaten to fight with police outside a Pittsburgh bar on Sunday, his agent said.

Meanwhile, Coach Mike Tomlin said he still expects Reed to play in Sunday’s home game against the undefeated Vikings.

Atlanta-based agent Don Henderson told Pittsburgh media outlets on Monday that Reed didn’t raise his fists in front of police outside a bar Sunday and that officers were to blame. The bar is a couple of blocks from Heinz Field, where Reed kicked two field goals in the team’s 27-14 over the Browns a few hours earlier.

Police Lt. Michael Piasecki said Reed, who was leaving the bar with his parents, argued with officers who arrived to cite Reed’s teammate, backup tight end Matt Spaeth, for disorderly conduct for allegedly urinating in a parking lot.

“Mr. Reed took a fighting stance, balled up his fists, and the officers then took him into custody,” Piasecki said.

Reed was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and simple assault — a misdemeanor that is the most serious charge he faces, Piasecki said.

“When he squares off against a police officer, that’s considered an assault by statute,” Piasecki said.

Reed was handcuffed, then released to the custody of his parents. A court summons will be mailed to him, Piasecki said.

Henderson told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Reed never threatened to fight police.

“You think he’s put his hands up to fight a police officer? You’ve got to be kidding me,” Henderson said. “That’s ridiculous. Jeff Reed wouldn’t fight anybody, so we disagree with the police.”

Henderson told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “It involved somebody else on the team, he got out to try to help and basically got attacked by the police.”

Tomlin said Tuesday that the Steelers and NFL are investigating the incident.