Kansas City running back Larry Johnson was sentenced to two years' probation Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of disturbing the peace for separate incidents involving women at nightclubs last year.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was sentenced to two years of probation Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of disturbing the peace for separate incidents involving women at nightclubs last year.
A Kansas City Municipal Court judge suspended imposition of the sentence and will remove the guilty plea from the public record if Johnson finishes the probation without further incidents.
While on probation, Johnson will not be allowed to consume alcohol or be at any Kansas City bars or nightclubs after 9 p.m. He also must complete anger-control counseling and 40 hours of community service.
The 28-year-old Johnson was originally charged with assault in the two incidents, but those charges were changed to disturbing the peace on Friday.
The first incident occurred on Feb. 24 last year, when a 26-year-old woman accused Johnson of pushing her head at a Kansas City nightspot.
He also was accused of spitting a drink in the face of a 24-year-old woman and threatening to kill her boyfriend at another Kansas City club on Oct. 10.
That woman, Ashley N. Stewart of Lawrence, Kan., filed a suit against Johnson in November, accusing him of negligence, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The NFL suspended Johnson one game for violating the league’s player conduct policy in November and the Chiefs deactivated the two-time Pro Bowler for three games. He has asked the Chiefs to trade him.
The October incident marked the fourth time in five years Johnson had been accused of assaulting a woman.
New Orleans wants Super Bowl
NEW ORLEANS – Less than four years after Hurricane Katrina tore up the Louisiana Superdome and cast doubt on the future of major professional sports in New Orleans, the city is formally pronouncing itself ready to bring back the Super Bowl.
The New Orleans Saints and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation on Friday submitted a bid to host the NFL’s championship game in 2013, which would be the city’s 10th Super Bowl and first since the New England Patriots’ last-second victory over the St. Louis Rams in 2002.
“With 18,000 downtown hotel rooms, the Superdome, the convention center and French Quarter all within walking distance of each other, New Orleans is still very well-suited to host this event,” said Jay Cicero, the sports foundation’s president. “The renovated Superdome is very impressive and with planned improvements the dome will be even better for events like this.”
49ers dump Jennings
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers finally released offensive tackle Jonas Jennings on Friday after four injury-filled seasons with the club.
Jennings was the first major free agent signing of former coach Mike Nolan’s tenure in 2005, leaving the Buffalo Bills for a seven-year, $36 million deal. But the lineman played in just 23 of the 49ers’ 64 games, finishing three of his four seasons on injured reserve.