Ray McDonald again faces domestic violence allegations

Former San Francisco 49er Ray McDonald again found himself in law enforcement custody early Monday morning after being arrested for the second time within a year on suspicion of domestic violence.

The Santa Clara Police Department have verified that McDonald was arrested from a Santa Clara residence around 7 a.m. under the suspicion of domestic violence and child endangerment.

McDonald, who was signed by the Chicago Bears in the offseason and released Monday after news broke of his arrest, is hardly a stranger to trouble. The lineman was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence last August after an incident with his ex-fiancee occurred at a 30th birthday party thrown at his San Jose residence.

Though no charges were ultimately brought against McDonald, the incident prompted the 49ers to terminate his contract, as general manager Trent Baalke and CEO Jed York cited a “pattern of poor decision making” as the determining factor in his release from the team. McDonald had previously been under investigation for an alleged sexual assault prior to his August arrest.

Even if McDonald was able to fend off charges for a third time, the NFL appears likely to take action against him after commissioner Roger Goodell implemented a harsher punishment system for domestic abusers last year, including those with multiple incidents.

After his release from the 49ers, McDonald followed former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to the Chicago Bears during the 2015 offseason. Bears owner George McCaskey was reportedly hesitant to sign McDonald after viewing his file, but opted to offer a one-year, $1.050 million contract after Fangio coordinated a meeting between the two.

In March, McCaskey defended the decision while talking to reporters at the NFL owner’s meetings in Arizona.

“An alleged victim, I think — much like anybody else who has a bias in this situation — there’s a certain amount of discounting in what they have to say. But our personnel department had done its work looking into the background and the incidents. And we had the benefit of two coaches who had been with him with the 49ers.”

Hindsight is always 20/20, but after McDonald’s recent incident, Baalke and York’s decision to release the lineman amidst a season marred by turbulence is looking to be a blessing in disguise for an organization that has come under fire in recent years for player and personnel conduct.