ATLANTA (March 20, 2007) -- Police are investigating a woman's claims she was raped at the home of former Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney.
Kerney, who recently signed with the Seattle Seahawks, was not a suspect in the assault, which reportedly took place early Sunday.
The 29-year-old woman told police she and some friends were at a bar in Atlanta's trendy Buckhead area and accepted a ride home from three men, Atlanta's WSB-TV reported. Once back at Kerney's home, the men were invited inside for drinks.
The woman reportedly told police she fell asleep on a sofa and woke up in a bedroom to find one of the men raping her. The woman said she told the man to stop but he put his thumb on her throat and continued to sexually assault her.
The woman escaped by telling the man she would get a friend to join them. Instead, she ran to the bathroom with a friend, and the man fled with his friends.
In a statement issued Monday, Kerney said an assault had happened at this house while he was asleep. But he said he could not comment further "out of respect for my friend who was assaulted and the police officers who are diligently working to apprehend the offenders."
Earlier this month, Kerney signed a six-year, $39.5 million contract with the Seahawks after spending his first eight seasons with the Falcons.
