Former Cardinals RB Chris Johnson pleads not guilty to battery charge
Jun 11, 2018, 10:52 AM | Updated: 10:54 am
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Former Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson pleaded not guilty last month to a misdemeanor assault charge that resulted from an April incident in Florida.
Johnson, who has been a free agent since being cut by the Cardinals in October 2017, was arrested for allegedly beating up a valet outside a Tampa nightclub.
According to the Hillsborough County arrest report, Johnson placed Matthew McNeel in a chokehold and punched him in the face, causing minor injury.
The report said McNeel and the owner of the club identified Johnson as the suspect.
On Monday, TMZ Sports posted video of the April 9 incident. The victim’s lawyer, Matt Powell, told the website that Johnson didn’t have a valet ticket for his Porsche and got angry when McNeel asked him to prove the vehicle was his.
Johnson, 32, has played 10 NFL seasons, including the last three with the Cardinals. He was cut last year after appearing in four games.
His best season was 2009, when he rushed for 2,006 yards for the Tennessee Titans, the sixth-highest total in NFL history.
He was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, and went to college at East Carolina University.
