Lions Draft Pick Says "Past Is The Past" In Response To Incident Outside Nightclub

Jahlani Tavai, selected by the Lions in the second round of the draft (43rd overall) Friday night, was arrested along with a teammate for third-degree assault after a fight outside a nightclub last summer. 

But it sounds like Tavai was doing the right thing. 

According to Hawaii News Now, Tavai went after a man who allegedly pushed a woman to the ground. The incident occurred at a nightclub in Honolulu, where Tavai attended the University of Hawaii. 
Per The Athletic, Tavai "was defending his group of friends against a drunken individual, who sucker punched a teammate and his teammate’s fiancée."

Asked about the incident in a conference call with local reporters on Friday, Tavai said, "I try not to think about that. The past is the past. I’ve learned from my mistakes. Trying to move on right now and just show the Lions that I’m ready to go and I’m not allowing anything off the field to ever affect me again." 

Tavai and his teammate were not charged for the misdemeanor crime, according to Hawaii News Now. 

Lions general manager Bob Quinn said they asked Tavai about the incident when they brought him in for a visit prior to the draft, and feel good about his character moving forward. 

"He told the same exact story that he told us at the combine. It was very consistent from point A to point B," Quinn said. "You guys read the articles, you know what it was. I think a lot of people in this room would’ve stepped in and tried to do the right thing as well.

"It was unfortunate. He made a mistake. We are totally fine with him character wise, one thousand percent.”

The 22-year-old linebacker was a surprise selection by the Lions. Most projections pegged him as a day-three pick. 

When his name was called in the second round, most observers were baffled. 

Asked if he was surprised to go so early, Tavai said, "The draft is a tricky thing, of course. I'm just blessed and happy that the Lions took the opportunity to draft me. Thankful for them for showing some love toward me. Really happy right now, speechless."