A Minnesota Vikings player was released from the Anoka County jail on Tuesday without being charged in the beating of a 22-year-old man at a weekend birthday party in Oak Grove. He was cut from the team later in the day.

Running back Caleb King was arrested early Saturday after allegedly assaulting Andrew Hayek, of Coon Rapids, leaving him with a fractured skull and facial injuries.

King could still be charged in the incident.

The Vikings waived King on Tuesday afternoon.

Hayek's sister, Jenny Eagle, said Sunday that Hayek is 5-foot-6 and weighs about 130 pounds. King was listed by the Vikings at 5-foot-11 and 217 pounds.

Hayek did not know King, but their female companions were friends, Eagle said. Hayek and King "were pretty chummy until they left" the party. The mood changed when Hayek told King that he resembled actor Eddie Murphy, Eagle said she was told.

According to an Anoka County sheriff's report, Hayek went outside to wait in a vehicle for a ride home. King allegedly confronted Hayek outside the car and struck him in the face.

Hayek got into the car, locked the passenger door and called 911. King allegedly opened the driver's side door, pulled Hayek out and hit him several times in the head and face before throwing Hayek head first to the ground.

PAUL WALSH