NFL Free Agent Larry Johnson Sued for Battery in Miami

Former Kansas City Chief running back, Larry Johnson is being sued for battery. According to reports, Johnson allegedly brutalized a man after a party at Miami Beach in May of this year. The man accusing Johnson is 47-year-old, Jon Phillip Graney.

The alleged victim claims that the 2-time Pro-Bowler approached him at approximately 6 AM following a party, and immediately rushed him with a barrage of punches, kicks and tackles. Graney contends to have suffered three herniated discs and a torn rotator cuff because of the beating Johnson gave him, in addition to post-traumatic pain in his back, wrist, and shoulder.

In return for acting as a human punching bag, Graney is suing LJ for a reported $15,000 bucks. However, did Graney damage his own case by making some racist remarks about the former first round draft pick?

According to TMZ, the official report filed by Miami Beach police states that Graney is on the record saying: “This ni**er is going down. He needs to learn a lesson, it’s going to cost this prick.”

So what does Johnson have to say about these accusations? When the NFL leader in rushing attempts for a season (416) was contacted on Thursday, his agent Brian Levy denied all allegations.

“This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to extort an NFL player out of his money,” Levy said. “Larry was never even questioned or charged.”

But this is not the first time LJ has had problems with the law for committing violent crimes. Johnson has been arrested three times for a number of assault charges since 2003. In 2009 he was slapped with two charges of disturbing the peace and was put on two years of probation because of those incidents.

Johnson is currently a free agent after spending his last two seasons playing in Cincinnati and Washington, respectively. His best years came as a Chief from 2003-2009, when he earned the award for the team’s Most Valuable Player. LJ has been unable to duplicate the success he enjoyed in KC.

As an unrestricted free agent, Johnson signed a 3-year deal with the Redskins last season that would have been worth up to $12 million if he would’ve met team incentives. Nevertheless, Mike Shanahan and the ‘Skins released him from the team on September 21, 2010.