Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson was arrested Saturday night on a domestic violence charge, accused of head-butting his newlywed wife during an argument in front of their home outside Miami.
Johnson and his wife, Evelyn Lozada, were at dinner and she confronted him about a receipt she had found for a box of condoms, said Davie police Capt. Dale Engle. The argument got heated and continued on the drive home, he said.
When they arrived in their driveway in Davie, Johnson head-butted Lozada, she told police. Lozada, who is on the reality show, ‘‘Basketball Wives,’’ was treated at a hospital for a cut to her forehead, Engle said. Johnson, who changed his last name back to Johnson from Ochocinco after his July 4 wedding to Lozada, was being held in Broward County Jail where he will remain until he can appear before a judge, which Engle said might not be until Monday. He is charged with simple battery, domestic violence, which is a misdemeanor.
Johnson signed with the Dolphins in June, four days after he was released by the Patriots. A six-time Pro Bowl receiver with Cincinnati, he caught only 15 passes in 15 games for the Patriots last year after they acquired him in a trade with the Bengals for a pair of draft picks
On Friday night in the Dolphins’ 20-7 loss to Tampa Bay in the exhibition opener for both teams, Johnson let the only pass thrown to him slip through his hands.
Coughlin not pleased
Tom Coughlin didn’t see a Super Bowl team in the Giants preseason opener. Far from it.In a conference call a day after a 32-31 preseason loss to Jacksonville, Coughlin said he was upset about losing a game in which New York blew leads of 17 and 10 points.
Coughlin, who has led the Giants to two titles in the last five seasons, was most bothered by seeing his team muff two punts and hand the Jaguars 10 points. However, there were also 11 penalties, a weak opening series by the defense, some shoddy play on both sides of the ball on third down, and losing a game in which the Giants won the turnover battle.
‘‘We have no illusions of the improvement that needs to be made, and I am talking about from the top of our team to the bottom,’’ Coughlin said.
On the positive side, Coughlin was pleased with the running game, which was ranked last in the NFL in 2011. First-round draft pick David Wilson was impressive in his first action. He gained 43 yards on seven carries and also returned a kickoff 48 yards to set up a Lawrence Tynes field goal.
Stewart stays put
The Panthers reached a five-year extension with running back Jonathan Stewart. ESPN, citing sources, reported the deal includes $22.5 million in guaranteed money and is worth $36.5 million overall.Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said the team is ‘‘thrilled’’ to keep Stewart to work with fellow running back DeAngelo Williams, who received a five-year contract last year, and fullback Mike Tolbert.
The move came before the Panthers opened the preseason in Charlotte, N.C., with a 26-13 loss to the Texans. Houston quarterback Matt Schaub led one scoring drive and threw an interception in his first action since breaking his right foot last season. Schaub finished 3 of 6 for 52 yards.