According to Field Gulls, Ryan Autollo from the Austin American-Statesmen said the way Earl communicated with Nina went against the order.

“In the arrest affidavit, police allege Thomas violated a protective order that was issued in May 2021 by a Travis County civil court judge,” Autollo said. “That order stated that Thomas could communicate with the woman only through a co-parenting phone application. The woman told police that Thomas refuses to download the application and instead reaches out to her by phone, and he arrives unannounced at places she frequents.”

Police say on April 18, the former Seattle Seahawks player texted his soon-to-be ex-wife that he had two handguns in his possession and that “waiting on hand in foot is why I’ll kick ur ass,” according to the New York Post.

The following day, according to authorities, Earl allegedly sent Nina another text, wishing ill will on their children.

“I hope u in the car with him and the kids and yall drive off the road,” he allegedly wrote.

The next day, he allegedly sent Nina another text: “Ima let my momma and my cousins poison they [their children] ass.”

Court records show that Austin, Texas, Magistrate George Thomas signed a warrant on April 27, officially charging Earl with third-degree felony for allegedly violating the protective order, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

According to Sports Illustrated, Trey Dolezal, Earl’s lawyer in his ongoing divorce with Nina, said that the cause of the warrant was a miscommunication regarding custody.

“They were consciously and collectively working together to see his kids,” Dolezal said, SI reports. “I don’t really understand how he could be in violation by working together to visit with his children.”

However, the warrant details that his communication method was in violation of the protective order.

Nina allegedly told police that Earl suffered several concussions while he was playing football, and that she suspects he may have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Marca reports. CTE is a condition that causes brain degeneration as a result of head trauma.

The warrant comes almost two years after the couple made headlines in 2020, after Nina allegedly confronted Earl and his alleged mistress while holding a loaded gun to the former NFL player’s head, Black Sports Online reports.

According to ESPN, she was charged with first-degree felony burglary of a residence with intent to commit aggravated assault.

In a since-deleted clip after the incident, Earl was seen begging for the public’s sympathy for his quarrels with his wife.

“Just pray for us, you know, as we go through this stuff,” Earl said, according to SI. “We’re back talking, I’m seeing my kids. So just keep us in your prayers.”