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Broncos sign Tennessee LB A.J. Johnson, who was recently acquitted on rape charge

John Elway said in a statement to the media "our organization is confident A.J. is ready to move forward and resume his playing career."
Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker A.J. Johnson (45) reacts during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 50 to 16.

ENGLEWOOD – The Denver Broncos, a franchise with a history of giving people second chances, are signing former University of Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson.

Johnson, 26, and former Tennessee teammate Michael Williams were acquitted July 28 by a 12-person Tennessee jury on all counts of aggravated rape charges after 1 ½ hours of deliberation. Johnson said during his ordeal he never doubted he would eventually play for an NFL team.

“No, never a time,'' he said. "I had faith. I trusted in God. I kept working and being determined and kept pushing. I knew it was going to come.”

Broncos general manager John Elway, his top assistant Matt Russell and head coach Vance Joseph personally worked out Johnson on Monday before the team's afternoon practice. They were impressed by his fitness at 6-foot-2, 255 pounds. Johnson also met personally with Broncos' chief executive officer and president Joe Ellis. The Broncos decided as an organization to sign him. Seven other teams had also expressed interest in Johnson, with Atlanta and Miami the most serious also-rans.

The Broncos gave Johnson $50,000 in guarantees split between signing bonus and salary, which may be a team record for undrafted rookies and is easily the greatest guarantee given to an undrafted rookie since Elway became GM in 2011.

“A.J. hasn’t had the opportunity to play football for the last three years while resolving a serious legal matter," Elway said in a statement. "We’ve had several conversations with him since he’s been cleared and have become very familiar with his background and character. Our organization is confident A.J. is ready to move forward and resume his playing career.”

The players had been indicted on February 2015 after a woman said the two men raped her during a party at Johnson’s apartment on Nov. 16, 2014. The defense lawyers argued in court that Johnson, a star linebacker at the time, and Williams, a part-time starting defensive back, had consensual sex with the woman.

Within 48 hours after the party, the players were suspended and never played for the Volunteers again. Even though Johnson missed Tennessee’s final three games of the 2014 season, he finished as the school’s second all-time leading tackler with 425.

He entered his senior season in 2014 ranked as the sixth-best inside linebacker prospect by NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. It wasn't just Johnson's career that rested with a jury, but his life. Each of the four charges against Johnson and Williams carried penalties of eight to 12 years in prison, or the possibility of 48 years behind bars.

“Yeah, you said my life, but God is good,'' Johnson said. "I had a lot of faith and I knew God was going to take care of it. I kept pushing for it. I’m glad to be here today for real, real glad.”

More recently, Johnson was charged with DUI stemming from a traffic stop on July 8, 2017. His case is still pending.

In 2013, the Broncos stood by star linebacker Von Miller when he was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and signed cornerback Aqib Talib in 2014 despite his checkered past with off-field issues. This year, the Broncos signed cornerback Tramaine Brock, who had a domestic violence charge dismissed last year.

Miller went on to become Super Bowl 50 MVP and one of the league’s top defensive players and Talib was a four-time Pro Bowler in his four seasons with the Broncos. Brock is in his first year with the Broncos.

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