ESPN reported Monday that a playful kiss to the head of a teammate led to the release of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins last week by the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders decision to release veteran defensive lineman Christian Wilkins "took a long time," coach Pete Carroll said Friday, adding there was "no clear path" for Wilkins' return to the team amid his recovery from a foot injury.

The Raiders’ abrupt release of Christian Wilkins last week wasn’t only about his lingering foot injury, it seems.