Trial set for January on domestic violence charge against Broncos rookie Richard Quinn

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos rookie tight end Richard Quinn has pleaded innocent to harassment and domestic violence charges stemming from a Labor Day quarrel with his girlfriend.

Quinn appeared in court Tuesday morning and was released on a personal recognizance bond. A trial was set for January.

“Richard is looking forward to clearing his name after the season is over,” said Peter Schaffer, Quinn’s agent and lawyer. “Right now he’s focused on being the best father he can be, an upstanding member of the Denver Broncos and an upstanding member of society.”

Quinn wasn’t at the open portion of practice Tuesday after spending the night in jail nor was he in the locker room during the team’s media access period.

Quinn was ordered held overnight in jail without bond per Colorado law in domestic dispute cases.

“I have talked to Richard and I’m not going to comment on it,” coach Josh McDaniels said after practice. “We’re going to support him and also let the legal process play out and again I’m not going to comment on that whole situation.”

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department said Quinn was arrested early Monday afternoon after a woman called 911. The woman told deputies that her live-in boyfriend, Quinn, grabbed and shook her to the ground during an argument and grabbed the phone from her while she was trying to dial 911.

Deputies said Quinn told them he grabbed the woman only after she started hitting him in the face.

Schaffer said his client never struck his girlfriend, whom he said was distraught. He said Quinn “went and locked himself and their 1-year-old daughter in the bedroom to get away from her,” doing what he could to diffuse the confrontation, just as he was taught at the NFL rookie symposiums this offseason.

Quinn was touted by McDaniels on draft day as the type of player he wanted on his team because of his character. A second-round pick out of North Carolina, he played in all the Broncos’ preseason games and is listed as the third tight end on the depth chart behind Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler.