National Football League

Source: NFL likely won't discipline Ray McDonald with no charges filed

Published Nov. 10, 2014 9:20 p.m. ET

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On the heels of the Santa Clara (Calif.) County district attorney's decision to not file domestic violence charges against Ray McDonald, an NFL source told FOX Sports NFL Insider Mike Garafolo on Monday night that the 49ers defensive lineman will likely not be disciplined by the league, either.

The Santa Clara DA announced earlier Monday that it declined to file charges against McDonald following an investigation stemming from his Aug. 31 arrest after an incident involving his fiancée. On Monday night, the league source told Garafolo that the NFL doesn't anticipate there will be a basis for discipline against McDonald.

McDonald had played all season despite the ongoing investigation and outside pressure on the 49ers to bench him. He has 24 tackles, 15 of those solo, while starting all nine games for the 49ers (5-4).

Prosecutors said in a release that they had insufficient evidence to charge McDonald. They cited conflicting versions of what happened, a lack of verifiable eyewitnesses and a lack of cooperation by the alleged victim, McDonald's fiancée.

"All domestic violence complaints deserve our concern, sensitivity and careful review," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in the release. "After our thorough review of all the facts, we do not have evidence sufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. McDonald committed a crime" against his fiancée.

According to the DA's office, the investigation determined that McDonald's fiancée, who was identified only as "Jane Doe" in the statement, struck McDonald during an argument at his home during his 30th birthday party and he then tried to restrain her.

The two scuffled and McDonald forcibly attempted to remove her from the home, the statement said.

McDonald called a San Jose police officer, saying he needed to get "a female" out of his house, the statement said. The fiancée subsequently called 911 and that led to McDonald's arrest.

According to a memo prosecutors sent to Rosen, both McDonald and his fiancée said she struck him first. The memo says her injuries were "consistent with restraint and an ensuing scuffle, not an attack."

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