AP Sports Writer
DAVIE — As the Miami Dolphins took the field for practice Sunday, Chad Johnson was getting out of jail. Hours later, he was out of work. By Tuesday, his wife was filing for divorce.
The Dolphins terminated the six-time Pro Bowl receiver's contract 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife, Evelyn Lozada.
Johnson was released from jail on $2,500 bond Sunday after she accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. Johnson was charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor.
The confrontation came barely a month after Johnson married Lozada, who is on the reality TV show Basketball Wives. The 34-year-old Johnson had been battling for a spot on the team after a disappointing 2011 season with the New England Patriots.
Johnson, who recently changed his name from Chad Ochocinco, was arrested Saturday after Lozada confronted him about a receipt she found for a box of condoms, a police affidavit said, and Johnson got upset and head-butted her.
Lozada ran to a neighbor's house and called police. A responding officer said Lozada had a three-inch cut on her forehead, while Johnson did not have any visible marks. He confirmed there was an argument over the receipt but said his wife had head-butted him.
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. He could also receive community service, probation or anger management classes.
Johnson was known as Ochocinco for the past four seasons, a playful reference to his uniform No. 85. He changed his name back to Johnson after his July 4 wedding.
Johnson and Lozada were prominent in the recent first episode of HBO's Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins. VH1's Basketball Wives, filmed in Miami, also features Shaunie O'Neal, former wife of former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, and Lozada, former fiancee of NBA player Antoine Walker.
Photo: Evelyn Lozada
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