National Football League

Ex-player sues TCU, Patterson, alleging abuse, harassment

Published Feb. 1, 2018 8:10 p.m. ET

DALLAS (AP) Former TCU wide receiver Kolby Listenbee (LIH'-sehn-bee) is suing the university and football coach Gary Patterson, alleging Horned Frogs coaches harassed him into playing with an injured groin, compromising his future in football.

In a statement issued Thursday, Listenbee's attorneys said TCU coaches pressured him to return prematurely in his senior year of 2015 from an injury to his pelvic cartilage. The lawsuit says the injury should have been rested and rehabilitated for at least six months.

The lawsuit alleges trainers routinely gave him injections to make his pain tolerable. He blames that for damage to his pelvic cartilage that compromised his NFL prospects. He has since signed with three teams but hasn't played a down.

In a statement, TCU declined comment on the specifics of the lawsuit but added it is proud of ''excellence in providing a positive experience for its student-athletes, especially in the areas of care, prevention and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.''