Maryland players are pushing back against a teammate’s claim that he was assaulted near the end of a practice Tuesday during DJ Durkin’s brief reinstatement as coach.
Backup punter Matthew Barber told the Baltimore Sun on Thursday he was left “bloody” by fellow punter Wade Lees after the two got into a physical altercation. Barber, 21, said he was targeted for not supporting Durkin, being known among the team as a “whistle-blower” for talking to investigators related to the program’s culture and the death of Jordan McNair. He added other players had thrown footballs at him and mocked him during practice.
But multiple players took to Twitter to accuse Barber of lying about the details.
My Statement!! pic.twitter.com/0chnHYwuaO
— Wade Lees (@WL_88) November 1, 2018
This is absolutely fake. kids lying out his mouth, this altercation had nothing to do with the coach Durkin situation had everything to do with him picking on a younger players. There were many witnesses and wade has the total support of everyone here https://t.co/bnPhj8CKfw
— Os3h $ain3 (@Oseh11) November 1, 2018
This piece of fabrication is an absolute joke and mockery of our team! Not gonna affect us moving forward in any way https://t.co/7C3NJhak67
— Tre Watson (@MDQue_33) November 1, 2018
This is a lie. https://t.co/SVbQv488B6
— Ellis McKennie (@emck_cubed97) November 1, 2018
All 100+ players are behind this man. He was standing up for younger teammates who were being ridiculed and bad mouthed. Do not always believe what you see on Social Media. The truth always wins. #FakeNews https://t.co/BXjVpc7u3F
— Jake Funk (@jakefunk34) November 1, 2018
One on One confrontation don’t believe what y’all hearing man smh Wade a good man. Those reports are no where near the truth
— JUICE MCLEAN (@GodsGift_42) November 1, 2018
Fake news! https://t.co/cknaKxXcbt
— sean Christie (@seanchristie77) November 1, 2018
lol definitely a lie… https://t.co/OmkHsOUqSS
— RaVon💰Davis (@RayyyMoneyyy) November 1, 2018
Barber told The Sun other players grabbed his arms behind his back, allowing Lees to punch him repeatedly in the face — leaving him with a black eye, needing stitches on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder.
The 21-year-old spoke to the Sun from the law offices of Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, where Barber had a sling around his arm and bandages on his head.
“My jersey was bloody,” Barber said. “I had blood all over my hands.”
On Wednesday, Billy Murphy, the attorney who represents the family of McNair, told reporters that Lees felt “empowered to act that way because of his coach’s return.”
Lees was a vocal supporter of Durkin’s during the coach’s extended absence while the school investigated McNair’s death.
Maryland briefly reinstated Durkin as coach on Tuesday before reversing course a day later, firing him after widespread backlash.
In a statement to The Sun, Maryland athletic director Damon Evans said: “We take any matters involving physical altercations extremely seriously. We are talking with the players involved and will take appropriate actions based on the facts.”
The Sun reported the University of Maryland Police Department is also looking into the incident.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.