Blatnick Cited for Assault and Battery; Denning Hopes for Less Severe Consequences

Witnesses claim the junior fought with former Cowboy Stephen Denning in a Stillwater bar.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:52 am

By: News On 6

Blatnick Cited for Assault and Battery; Denning Hopes for Less Severe Consequences

Originally Published: Aug 2, 2010 11:6 AM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff and Wire Reports

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Oklahoma State defensive end Jamie Blatnick was cited with assault and battery Saturday morning after a fight with former Cowboys teammate Stephen Denning.

In a news release issued by the Stillwater Police Department, witnesses claim Blatnik fought with Denning inside J.R. Murphy's -- a Stillwater club -- starting the fight by striking him with a beer bottle.

Officers were called to the scene at 1:17 a.m. Saturday morning and escorted both men out of the club. The release states officers used a Tazer on Denning after the fight nearly broke out a second time.

Denning was taken to the hospital by police. Among his injuries were a fractured orbital socket and lacerations to his left eyelid and upper cheekbone. Denning required stitches and was "bleeding profusely," according to the release.

Witnesses came forward to police to indicate Blatnik instigated the fight.

View the full Stillwater Police news release.

As of Monday morning, the Payne County District Attorney's office had not charged either man in the case. It wasn't immediately known if either man had an attorney.

OSU spokesman Kevin Klintworth says the university is still gathering information on the incident and otherwise had no comment.

Blatnick was one of three Oklahoma State players chosen to join the Cowboys in Irving, Texas for Big 12 Media Day.

The 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior is expected to start at defensive end. He totaled 28 tackle a season ago.

A source told Oklahoma Sports sports director John Holcomb that Blatnick and Denning have "already made up" and that Denning doesn't want Blatnick to suffer severe consequences.