Texas-native Henry Melton is continuing his visit with Cowboys officials, a process which generally includes dinner with team officials.
But it was a previous quick bite outside Dallas that has Melton in the middle of another bit of business that could deal with large sums of money.
According to WFAA, Melton is being sued for “a sum greater than $1 million,” for biting a bar owner in the back while in the process of being thrown out of the bar.
Melton was arrested for public intoxication and assault on Dec. 23, 2013, for an incident that included charges that he bit bar owner Donald Payne, who owns the sports bar Chill in nearby Grapevine, where Melton lives.
Surveillance video shows a person being asked to leave, which led to a fight. The lawyer representing the bar owner said it escalated quickly.
“When he was asked to leave, his belligerence and unruliness turned into violence,” said attorney Darren Wolf. “It took four men to do this because he’s a big guy. And in the process, my client — Mr. Payne — received a really really horrific bite from Mr. Melton. He bit him in the side, near the kidney, through the skin.
“There’s some psychological injury there. The thought of another human being you don’t know biting through your skin, piercing your skin... it’s a pretty frightening experience. And it’s dangerous.”
According to Wolf, Payne was treated and released at an area hospital.
Melton’s agent, Jordan Woy, issued a statement refuting the claims.
“We have recently reviewed the lawsuit and do not believe the validity of the allegations made,” Woy said. “We look forward to providing the true facts in court and will defend this matter vigorously. We will seek to hold The Chill and others accountable for any and all damages Henry has suffered at the hands of multiple men who attacked him.”
At this point, we’d normally make a crack about a lawyer named Wolf representing a man named Payne being bitten by an NFL defensive lineman.
But sometimes these jokes just write themselves.