Chad Johnson said he learned a lot from his time in jail, according to ESPN.com, citing Johnson’s interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday.
Johnson was handed a 30-day jail sentence after he slapped his attorney Adam Sickle on the rear end in court.
"I've learned my lesson, especially over those past seven days," the former Cincinnati Bengals wide-receiver 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."
Johnson was sentenced by Broward County Judge Kathleen McHugh. According to McHugh, this is not the first time Johnson showed misconduct in a courtroom.
One time Johnson placed his arm on a female attorney and she had to him to stop more than once, said McHugh.
McHugh also mentioned the incident in which Johnson head-butted “Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada—his wife at the time—which left a huge cut that needed eight stitches.
Johnson said he did not intend to be disrespectful and had actually slapped his attorney in the backside two other times before in that day. Johnson explained 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," said Johnson seeming not to show any ill will towards McHugh. "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."
McHugh has sentenced Johnson to domestic violence counseling, 25 hours of community service and an extension of his probation to the middle of October.
Johnson also discussed his legacy. He was most recently let go by the Dolphins after he was taken into custody for the assault and battery of Lozada.
"I don't want the last thing to be remembered you know, well, Chad was cut from the Dolphins for an incident he had with his wife," said the 12-year NFL veteran. "I would love to grace the football field one more time and to help some team. I'm not injured. There's nothing wrong with me."
