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Miami Dolphins Release Chad Johnson In Light Of Head-Butting Allegations

Miami Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson was arrested on domestic battery charges Saturday. He reportedly head-butted his wife, Evelyn Lozada, during an argument over a condom receipt from Wal-Mart that she had found. Johnson says the two bopped heads inadvertently, but Lozada disagrees. She’s pressing charges against her husband, just about a month into their marriage.

Johnson was released from jail Sunday afternoon, and he was released from the Dolphins roster soon after.

To be clear, the Dolphins weren’t obligated to do anything. Plenty of players with pending charges have remained on a team’s roster. He could have remained active, had Roger Goodell obliged. But it was clear they thought Johnson was a distraction and cut ties with him. There’s no guarantee that he’s guilty, and he may have done nothing wrong.

It should also be noted that Johnson has never previously been arrested during his pro career, but he was once in college (also for a domestic dispute).

Still, coach Joe Philbin wasn’t happy with his receiver’s sarcastic, profane media session in Hard Knocks, (which for the record, many media outlets enjoyed, us included – very, very much so in fact) so this doesn’t come as a huge surprise.

It’s going to be tough for Johnson to find a team willing to sign him. Teams were wary of his antics when there was no crime involved, and now they’ll be even more apprehensive.

The move also leads the Dolphins paper-thin at receiver. Plaxico Burress is available, but I’m willing to bet Philbin isn’t a fan of him either. For whatever reason, finding a good, risk-free receiver seems more difficult than finding a franchise quarterback.

[ESPN]

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