Domestic-violence incident has taught Seahawks’ Dee Eskridge value of therapy, help
The “next” following Dee Eskridge’s suspension isn’t — or at least, shouldn’t be — about football.
Ultimately, it doesn’t truly matter where the speedy wide receiver fits back with the Seahawks after they put their first pick in the 2021 draft back on the active roster. They are expected to do that Saturday.
It doesn’t truly matter that there isn’t an apparent role for him in Seattle’s offense. Or that the offense has moved forward without the often-injured wide receiver and with impressive rookies Jaxon Smith-Njigba plus Jake Bobo now behind headliners Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.
What matters is the next that comes out of the domestic-violence incident the 26-year-old Eskridge had in February with the mother of their baby daughter. Their little girl turned 1 last Saturday. Eskridge said Friday he has a “co-parenting” arrangement with the woman; they no longer share a relationship.
What matters is: What has Eskridge learned?
“Just different tools,” he said at his corner spot in the Seahawks’ locker room following his third practice with the team since his suspension ended this week.
“Everybody goes through different things and handles it different ways,” he said. “So just being able to get tools. I’ve been doing therapy. It’s just helping me grow as a man.
“You know, I’m a young man. Everybody makes mistakes.”
Statistics say it’s rare in our society that the victims of domestic violence get justice or have their stories told, accurately.
(The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English, Spanish and over 200 other languages through interpretations services by calling 1-800-799-7233 or by SMS texting START to 88788; for more information online click here)
Friday, Eskridge told his side. In doing so, he said something unusual, in professional sports and in society.
A 20-something man at the height of his physical skills and profession acknowledged going to therapy — and touted its importance.
“I would definitely say, not looking at it from an ego standpoint: Everybody goes through something,” Eskridge said. “Everybody’s not perfect, and everybody goes through adversity on a daily basis.
“But I feel like as men, especially black men, too, we get to a point to where we try to keep everything inside and then try to handle it on our own — and then it doesn’t really work out.
“There are more efficient ways that we don’t have to live in the old ways.
“So I’m definitely pro-talk and pro-therapy.”
If there is a silver lining to this, and to Eskridge’s court-ordered counseling program, that’s it.
Dee Eskridge’s incident
That court order mandating he attend therapy came from his arrested in Bellevue in February.
According to court records first reported by ESPN, he was charged with gross misdemeanors of fourth-degree assault/domestic violence and interfering with reporting domestic violence.
Eskridge got a deferred prosecution on the assault charge. It includes 18 months of supervised probation. His charge of interfering with reporting DV was dismissed in King County District Court in May.
ESPN reported the criminal complaint filed in King County District Court: “The mother of Eskridge’s child told Bellevue PD that Eskridge had recently been going through periodic bouts of rage, and that she could sense he was having anger management issues when he arrived home (on the night of Feb. 4). She went into their bedroom with their then-3-month-old daughter and locked the door in order to avoid Eskridge, who gained entry into the room after hearing the child crying.
“The woman told police she stood between Eskridge and their daughter, holding up her hand to create space between the two, and that Eskridge smacked her hand out of the air before shoving her into a dresser. According to the woman, Eskridge then threw her to the ground and used his hands to pin her down before she kicked him to break free.
“The woman told police that when she regained her feet, Eskridge shoved her into a dresser again before grabbing her neck -- without constricting her airway or blood vessels -- and shoved her to the ground a second time. The woman said Eskridge took her personal phone and Apple Watch to prevent her from calling 911, and that she managed to place the call on her work phone but did not realize the call connected.”
Police reported seeing red marks and scrapes on the woman’s arms, neck and chest. That was the probable cause for officers to arrest Eskridge.
The Seattle-area Puget Law Group that represents Eskridge in this situation described the incident this summer.
“In early February 2023, Dwayne was involved in an unfortunate incident with his child’s mother, which resulted in his arrest and the filing of misdemeanor charges,” Jared Ausserer, partner of the Puget Law Group, wrote in a statement provided to The News Tribune in August.
“Dwayne quickly took responsibility for his role in this incident,” the statement said. “Dwayne entered into an agreement whereby the misdemeanor charges will be dismissed in 12 months when he completes domestic violence moral recognition therapy. Dwayne has already enrolled in and has begun therapy. Dwayne has not been convicted of any crime. He entered into this agreement because it is in the best interest of his family. Dwayne deeply regrets any embarrassment this incident has caused his family, the Seahawks, and the NFL.”
The statement was provided by Rebecca Otto, vice president of talent marketing and media for the Wasserman group.
Friday, before he described what he’s learned, Eskridge addressed his suspension and situation this way:
“First off, I would just like to apologize to the organization, apologize to my family, to everyone that was affected by it,” he said. “I take full responsibility in the situation, and I’ve grown from it.
“I’m just ready to get it behind me, and be the person that I’m meant to be — and not all of this stuff.
“I’m just grateful to be able to step back on the field.”
Metcalf, his fellow wide receiver on the last three Seahawks teams, has noticed a change in Eskridge.
“He’s back to loving football again, I will say that,” Metcalf said.
His return to play may not come Sunday when the Seahawks host the Cleveland Browns. The Seahawks could leave him inactive for the game as he works his way back from not practicing for more than seven weeks plus a knee injury from this preseason.
“He’s come back to us in great shape. He worked really hard to ensure that with the trainers leading up to this time. He looked like he was in top-flight form,” Carroll said. “
“We got a chance that he can play in this game. It’s good.”
Whenever he gets to play again, Eskridge also wanted you to know this.
“There’s a lot of ebbs and flows in this NFL thing that people don’t know about. We go through things. It kind of affects football,” he said.
“Now, I feel like I’m at a point where football is the main thing.”
This story was originally published October 27, 2023 at 6:20 PM.
