WRENTHAM, Mass.--New England Patriots tight end Ben Coates was acquitted Thursday of assaulting a former girlfriend.

Jennifer Marshall, the 27-year-old mother of one of Coates' children, claimed the football player pushed her to the pavement and then slammed her head on the hood of a car outside his condominium. Coates said he acted in self-defense.

The jury cleared him after deliberating for one hour.

"There was never any doubt in my mind. I'm thrilled with the verdict. It just shows that the right thing was done," said defense lawyer Mark Berthiaume.

Neither Coates nor Marshall was in the courtroom when the verdict was read.