DETRIOT, MI (WBZ-AM) -- Detroit lions coach Matt Patricia says he was falsely accused in a 1996 sexual assault allegation that resurfaced this week.
Patricia spoke to reporters a day after a Detroit news reported that he and a friend were indicted at that time by a Texas grand jury
The accuser never testified and the case was dropped.
The Detroit Lions say -- while a background check did not turn up the incident -- the team is standing by Patricia.
And so is patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
In a statement, Belichick praises Patricia for his 14 years as an assistant coach with the pats -- calling him an outstanding coach, person and family man.