ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Matt Patricia's 1996 arrest and indictment on a charge of aggravated sexual assault in Texas came as a surprise to his NFL employers.
The Detroit Lions said they didn't know. The New England Patriots, in a statement, said they were unaware, as well.
But how did that happen?
In one respect, it's difficult to understand how the Lions missed it, since Patricia's indictment came up in a basic Lexis search -- initially proved by Deadspin and later done by ESPN.
There is an error in that search -- one that likely would have prompted more questions from the Lions, had they found it -- that says the alleged crime committed involved a child.