Los Angeles Rams director of strength training and performance Ted Rath was arrested on Friday and charged with three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press. The Rams subsequently placed Rath on leave of absence.
Rath, who rose to national fame over the last two years for his additional job of “holding back” enthusiastic coach Sean McVay from the field of play, was first arrested on January 15, per the Ventura County Sheriff's department. Police spokesperson Eric Hatlee offered no further details on the matter. Rath did not travel with the Rams to New Orleans for the NFC Championship Game five days later, nor to Atlanta for the Super Bowl in early February. At the time, Los Angeles explained Rath's absence was related to injury.
The Rams released a statement regarding the news on Friday.
“We are aware of the charges filed against Ted Rath. We take these allegations very seriously. Once the charges were filed, we decided Ted would take a leave of absence from the team as this matter works its way through the justice system.”
Vicki Podberesky, Rath's attorney, pleaded not guilty to the charges on his behalf in court on Friday. Podberesky says Rath is prepared to let the case go to trial to prove his innocence.
“Mr. Rath takes these allegations very seriously,” she said in a statement to the AP. “Ted is a man who has led a law-abiding life. He is a husband, a father and a dedicated family man. He has the utmost respect for women and would never intentionally act in a manner that was demeaning or otherwise inappropriate. We intend to defend this matter to the fullest extent possible in a court of law, and we believe that after there has been a full vetting of the facts of this case Mr. Rath will be shown to be not guilty of these charges.”
Rath joined the Rams in 2017. His NFL career began in 2009, as an assistant strength and conditioning coach of the Detroit Lions.
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