Tim Tebow was named as a witness in a court document which details former University of Florida and New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez assaulting a restaurant manager over an unpaid bill, puncturing his ear drum.
According to a supplemental investigation report obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Hernandez, 17-years-old at the time, was asked to leave The Swamp Restaurant after refusing to pay for alcoholic drinks he had consumed. Once outside the bar, Hernandez told police that restaurant manager Michael Taphorn got in his face. When Taphorn returned to the restaurant, police say that the Gators' tight end hit the manager on the side of his head before leaving the vicinity.
Police officers interviewed Tebow, telling them that he tried to get Hernandez to leave the premises as well as settle the bill. Police found Hernandez two hours later and interviewed him regarding the incident, in Tebow's presence.
According to the supplemental report, Tebow asked to remain anonymous "concerned that he his name would get out to the media as being involved in the incident."
Both Hernandez and Tebow reported the incident to Florida head coach Urban Meyers.
Taphorn dropped the charges, according to the report, after being contacted by university's legal and football coaching staff and that "they may be working on an agreement."
ESPN.com's Elizabeth Merrill reports that Tebow had hosted Hernandez on a recruiting visit and struck a friendship with the tight end, at one point.
"Were they still close? Yes. But I think 18-year-olds want to do what 18-year-olds want to do, and Tim was more of a 22-year-old," said Gator tight ends coach, John Hevesy. "I think it's not as much Aaron as it was Timmy. Timmy was a very mature 18-year-old. If you take a poll of 10 18-year-olds, 'What are first three things on your mind?' OK, first is going to be women, second's going be this and third's going got be this. Tim's going to be, 'Well, God, God and God.'"
Hernandez was charged, last week, with the first-degree murder for execution-style death of Odin Lloyd, an acquaintance whose body was found in an industrial park about a mile from the former Patriots' home. Hernandez also faces five gun charges and is looking at life without parole, if convicted.
Hernandez is also under investigation in connection with a double homicide in Boston. The Boston Globe reports that authorities believe that Lloyd may have been murdered because he had information about Hernandez's connection to the double homicide.
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