Chad Johnson reflected on his week in jail Tuesday during an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" claiming that his stint behind bars has made a positive impact on him and is seeking another chance to play in the NFL. The 35-year-old former Pro Bowler was released Monday after issuing an apology to Broward County Judge Kathleen McHugh for slapping his attorney on the butt, which the judge found to be disrespectful.
Johnson was originally sentenced to 30 days in jail after his actions made members of the courtroom break out in laughter. This prompted the judge to reject his plea agreement for the probation violation he faced.
"I've learned my lesson, especially over those past seven days," he said. "I think everyone deserves a second chance. Many would say I might not deserve it. I would like to finish my career off the right way."
McHugh pointed out that in a previous hearing, the former NFL star put his arm around a female prosecutor's shoulders, which she told Johnson twice not to do. She also noted that when Johnson head-butted his new wife, Evelyn Lozada, star of the VH1 show "Basketball Wives," she suffered a three-inch gash on her head which forced her to receive eight stitches, an action McHugh called 'horrific'.
Johnson still claims he wasn't trying to disrespect the courtroom during last week's hearing and when the judge saw him tapping his attorney it was the third time he had done so that day. The longtime football player said it was "the way I've always interacted throughout life, just in general."
"I think that Judge McHugh was able to get me do something many people have tried to get me to do for a long time: slow down, just at life in general," Johnson said. "She was able to get me to do that, maybe not in the best circumstances for those on the outside but I see being able to sit down and think about life and where I'm going from this point was probably on one of the best things that could happen to me right now."
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