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Ex-Super Bowl Champ Fired, Accused Of Body Slamming Bowie State Athlete

BOWIE, Md. (WJZ) -- Caught on camera. An assistant football coach and former NFL player is out of a job after video surfaces of him slamming a student to the ground at Bowie State University.

Rochelle Ritchie has more on the video and reaction from students.

It's video obtained and released by TMZ Sports that has Charles Grant, a now former assistant football coach at Bowie State University, out of a job.

In the video, you see Grant point in the student-athlete's face. That's when things escalate into an all-out brawl. Grant then slams the student to the ground. Seconds later, he picks him up and slams him into the bleachers.

WJZ showed the video to students, who were shocked.

"He's not really posing any physical threat to the teacher. And see, he grabbed him first," said Deon Dawkins, student.

Before Bowie State, Grant played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and was part of the 2009 championship team. His NFL career ended after two years with the Chicago Bears. He has since been fired from the university.

In a statement, the university says: "The department of Athletics has a zero tolerance of behavior that violates the university's core values and jeopardizes the welfare of student-athletes."

It's a decision some students support.

"When you have a leadership position, you're supposed to act accordingly at all times," said Annika Johnson, student.

"It was unprofessional. He shouldn't have did that," said Janae House, student.

There are plenty of students who agree with the university's decision to fire Coach Grant, but there are some who have his back.

"I don't see nothing wrong with it," one student said.

Students say the video doesn't show enough of the whole story to warrant Grant being fired.

"I see it as self defense. The other guy came up on him," said Dawkins.

"Probably suspended, but I don't think he should have gotten fired for something like that," said Jordan Mitchell, student.

No criminal charges have been filed against Grant as a result of the incident.

University officials at Bowie State have not released the name of the student in the video.

The fight is being investigated by university police.

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