Detroit Lions Cut Guard Rodney Austin After Abuse Arrest

The Detroit Lions have decided to release guard Rodney Austin on Tuesday after he was arrested on multiple misdemeanor charges.

Austin, 26, was arrested on April 17 at 9 a.m. after he turned himself into the police. He was later charged with four crimes, which included domestic abuse, abuse of a child younger than 12, misdemeanor larceny, and interference with the emergency communication, the records from the Office of the Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina revealed.

"There is a process to this. At the end of that process, I am confident that this will be clear to everybody is a non-issue," said Mark Magazu, Austin's agent. "We need to let the process play out. We will have more in the coming days."

Lions coach Jim Caldwell had previously stressed his no-tolerance policy in regards to domestic abuse and he is holding firm to his stance by cutting Austin. The Lions have not commented about Austin's departure from the team.

Austin only played in one game for the Lions over the past three years. He has moved between the practice squad and the official roster in his three seasons with the Lions.

He has been considered as one of the stronger offensive lineman but his strength did not transfer over to the field. Austin was expected to play a larger role in the Lions' offensive line this year before he was released.

He is set to appear in Mecklenberg County District Court on June 5 at 1 p.m.