Mark Duper, a former player for the Miami Dolphins, was arrested earlier in the week for attacking his son three times in a day, and now faces a felony abuse charge. The fights took place at the former NFL player’s Florida home.
The one-time wide receiver has since been released from custody, after posting $5,000 bail.
Duper reportedly beat up his 17-year-old son, Marcus, knocking the teen out twice.
While he has admitted to the assault, the 54-year-old claims that it was all done in self-defense. “This is a family matter,” Duper told the Miami Herald. “This is not an open book. I have to deal with this within my own family.”
The argument reportedly stemmed from a text message that youngster sent to his ex-girlfriend. He was punched by Duper because he “wouldn’t listen about picking up his hat.”
According to police, Duper picked the boy up and slammed him several times, which led to him losing consciousness. The boy eventually ran outside, crashed his bike at his father’s car, and got punched in the face. He also fell off the bike. “Once [the victim] went to the ground on his stomach, Mark climbed on top of [him] grabbed [him] by the neck and began choking,” read the police report.
A sheriff deputy arrested Duper after seeing the boy’s injuries, which included several scratches, a bump on his forehead, plus a cut and swollen lip.
Duper has gotten violent before. In 2003 he was arrested twice for domestic battery.
During his 11-year career with the Dolphins, Duper caught 511 passes for 8,869 yards and 59 touchdowns.
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Photo: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
