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Woman now says she hit herself with cell phone
ESPN.com news services
Updated: May 21, 2007, 1:30 PM ET
The woman who claimed Bengals linebacker A.J. Nicholson assaulted her told reporters at his arraignment Monday that Nicholson never hit her.
Nicholson
"I'm embarrassed to tell you that I was extremely emotional when I contacted police and that caused me to exaggerate what had taken place between A.J. and myself," Victoria Johnson said, according to WLWT-TV in Cincinnati.
Johnson said she was trying to grab a cell phone away from Nicholson and accidently hit struck herself below her eye.
Nicholson was arrested on a domestic violence charge Friday, the first arrest of a Cincinnati Bengals' player since commissioner Roger Goodell cracked down on misconduct last month.
Nicholson already was one of nine Bengals players arrested during a nine-month span, turning the team into a prime example of player misconduct. The team had gone four months without having a player arrested.
Police in nearby Taylor Mill, Ky., arrested Nicholson after a woman called 911 on Friday afternoon to say she had been assaulted by the second-year player. He was charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
Goodell introduced a new conduct policy last month that stiffens penalties and holds franchises responsible when their players get into trouble.
Nicholson, a fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2006, appeared in only two games last season, when he had a hamstring injury.
Last March, Nicholson pleaded no contest to burglary and grand theft in Tallahassee, Fla., and was sentenced to two months in a work program. He had been charged with stealing electronic equipment and other items from the apartment of a former Florida State teammate.
Nicholson was also placed on two years' probation, which could be jeopardized by his latest arrest.
Taylor Mill police chief Steve Knauf said a woman called police to Nicholson's apartment at 3:10 p.m. on Friday, saying she had been hit in the face. The officer who responded saw that the woman had an injury by her eye.
Nicholson wasn't at the apartment, but later showed up at the police station and was arrested, Knauf said. He faces up to 12 months in jail and a $500 fine if convicted.
He was jailed in the Kenton County (Ky.) Detention Center following his arrest and released late Friday on $5,000 bond, jail personnel said.
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the team had no immediate comment because it was still gathering information on the arrest.
Nicholson was suspended for Florida State's appearance in the 2006 Orange Bowl after he violated team policy by taking a woman to the team's hotel in Miami.
A month after the Bengals drafted him, he faced the criminal charges in Florida. He and another Florida State player, Fred Rouse, were accused of breaking into the apartment of former teammate Lorenzo Booker and stealing items.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ESPN.com news services
Updated: May 21, 2007, 1:30 PM ET
The woman who claimed Bengals linebacker A.J. Nicholson assaulted her told reporters at his arraignment Monday that Nicholson never hit her.
"I'm embarrassed to tell you that I was extremely emotional when I contacted police and that caused me to exaggerate what had taken place between A.J. and myself," Victoria Johnson said, according to WLWT-TV in Cincinnati.
Johnson said she was trying to grab a cell phone away from Nicholson and accidently hit struck herself below her eye.
Nicholson was arrested on a domestic violence charge Friday, the first arrest of a Cincinnati Bengals' player since commissioner Roger Goodell cracked down on misconduct last month.
Nicholson already was one of nine Bengals players arrested during a nine-month span, turning the team into a prime example of player misconduct. The team had gone four months without having a player arrested.
Police in nearby Taylor Mill, Ky., arrested Nicholson after a woman called 911 on Friday afternoon to say she had been assaulted by the second-year player. He was charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
Goodell introduced a new conduct policy last month that stiffens penalties and holds franchises responsible when their players get into trouble.
Nicholson, a fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2006, appeared in only two games last season, when he had a hamstring injury.
Last March, Nicholson pleaded no contest to burglary and grand theft in Tallahassee, Fla., and was sentenced to two months in a work program. He had been charged with stealing electronic equipment and other items from the apartment of a former Florida State teammate.
Nicholson was also placed on two years' probation, which could be jeopardized by his latest arrest.
Taylor Mill police chief Steve Knauf said a woman called police to Nicholson's apartment at 3:10 p.m. on Friday, saying she had been hit in the face. The officer who responded saw that the woman had an injury by her eye.
Nicholson wasn't at the apartment, but later showed up at the police station and was arrested, Knauf said. He faces up to 12 months in jail and a $500 fine if convicted.
He was jailed in the Kenton County (Ky.) Detention Center following his arrest and released late Friday on $5,000 bond, jail personnel said.
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the team had no immediate comment because it was still gathering information on the arrest.
Nicholson was suspended for Florida State's appearance in the 2006 Orange Bowl after he violated team policy by taking a woman to the team's hotel in Miami.
A month after the Bengals drafted him, he faced the criminal charges in Florida. He and another Florida State player, Fred Rouse, were accused of breaking into the apartment of former teammate Lorenzo Booker and stealing items.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
