The Florida man who was caught on surveillance video knocking out NFL player Dallas Goedert at a bar last month said the Philadelphia Eagles tight end and several others had been “harassing” him and his friends in the moments leading up to the bloody brawl.
Kyle Hadala, a 29-year-old from Sarasota, was charged with simple assault after he was shown punching Goedert at the Zoo Bar in Aberdeen, SD, during a 40-second clip that went viral.
No other charges were filed and Hadala plans to fight the case.
Hadala told TMZ that Goedert and his friends “were extremely aggressive and disrespectful” toward him and his friends over their jukebox selections at a previous pub. He said Goedert and the others followed them to the Zoo Bar, where tensions soared.
“They picked out my smaller colleague from the group, got in his face, and made very threatening remarks toward his personal well-being,” Hadala told the website. “Then one of his crew told my other colleague, and I quote, ‘You’re just a fat f–king p—y. I’ll beat the s–t out of you.'”
Hadala said the 6-foot-5, 256-pound Goedert then put his hand on his friend — which can be seen in the video.
“At this point, I was in fear for both of my friends’ well-being especially due to the fact there were 10 of them and we were not familiar with the area,” Hadala said.
“I protected my friend and then was ambushed by 5 to 7 individuals that punched, kicked, threw beer bottles, etc., trying to cause me bodily harm which I received medical treatment at the hospital for my injuries the next day.”
The 25-year-old Goedert lay motionless on the floor following the crushing blow, but did not sustain serious injuries, according to reports.
Hadala sustained a cut above his right eye, according to unverified images he shared with TMZ, and said he needed several stitches.
Aberdeen police were called to the restaurant at 1 a.m. on a report of “people busting glasses and have busted heads,” according to the Mitchell Republic.
It was initially reported that Goedert was sucker-punched while out to dinner with his family at the bar near where he grew up in Britton, SD.
Neither Goedert nor the Eagles have publicly commented on the matter. He is entering the third year of a four-year contract that pays him a guaranteed $2.9 million.
Goedert has played two seasons for the Eagles, catching 91 passes for 941 yards and nine touchdowns.