MSU says Edmondson's departure 'not directly related' to Green altercation

EAST LANSING - Jermaine Edmondson's departure from the MSU football team, announced Wednesday, was "not directly related" to Edmondson's altercation with NBA star Draymond Green in East Lansing on Sunday, an athletic department spokesman said.

Edmondson and his coaches began having conversations about his departure from the team after the spring football game, Assistant Athletic Communications Director Ben Phlegar said Thursday. Statistics compiled by the university indicate Edmondson, while on the spring roster, did not play in the April 23 Green and White game.

Officials announced Wednesday night that Edmondson, a fifth-year senior who played defensive back for the Spartans, asked for and received a release to play for a different school in his last season.

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Phlegar said Thursday that the department typically doesn't release an updated roster until Big Ten Media Days, scheduled this year to begin on July 25.

However, given the number of media inquiries about Edmondson's status after his name became public in connection with Green's arrest, the department made an exception, Phlegar said.

When asked whether the final decision that Edmondson would leave the team was made before or after the Sunday incident with Green, he said he would not delve into "that specific of a timetable."

Green, meanwhile, has been charged with assault or assault and battery. His next scheduled court appearance is a pre-trial conference set for July 21 at 1 p.m. The date was moved up from Aug. 4 at the request of his attorney, who cited Green's commitment to play for the U.S. Men's Olympic basketball team. The Olympics open Aug. 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the basketball competition runs from Aug. 6-21.

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Green played at MSU from 2008-2012. The Golden State Warriors signed him to a five-year, $85 million contract last year.

Edmondson, from Canton, Ohio, played 38 games for MSU. That included all 14 games last season, when he had a career best 25 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio, said in the statement released Wednesday:

“In discussions with Jermaine Edmondson following spring practice and in the weeks thereafter, it became clear that Jermaine wanted to play a larger role on the team. After consulting with him in the summer, he felt it was in his best interest to finish his playing career elsewhere. We have granted his immediate release to transfer to another institution to have that opportunity.”

Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.