Broncos' Ward Appears In Court On Misdemeanor
DENVER (AP) — Broncos safety T.J. Ward appeared in court Friday on misdemeanor charges that he threw a glass mug at a bartender at a Denver strip club.
Ward, 27, is charged with misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace in the May 10 incident at PT's All Nude club. Court documents say Ward tossed the mug at the bartender at 2:40 a.m. after he was told he couldn't bring a drink into the club.
A court date was set for June 23.
Police had issued an arrest warrant for Ward on Thursday. Ward's attorney, Abe Hutt, said Ward didn't know he was wanted until he saw a television news report Thursday night. Hutt said the warrant was dismissed Friday.
Hutt said he had not read police statements and could not respond to questions about what happened at the club.
Ward signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with Denver this spring. He is coming off a Pro Bowl season in Cleveland.
Under NFL rules, Ward could be fined for a misdemeanor offense, but a suspension is considered unlikely.
Ward's agent, Josh Arnold, couldn't immediately be reached by phone for comment.
Club video surveillance shows that Ward picked "up a glass mug that is sitting on the bar and tosses/throws the glass mug at her. The male then walks away," the court documents said.
Ward, who was also a second-team All-Pro last season, is one of three marquee free agents the Broncos signed to add an edge to their defense following their 43-8 loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl. The others are pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Aqib Talib.
"He's a young, explosive strong safety who is going to bring a lot of energy and toughness to our secondary," general manager John Elway said when he signed Ward on March 11 to a contract that guarantees the 27-year-old Oregon product $14 million.
Ward projects as the Broncos' strong safety with Rahim Moore returning at free safety. Ward can also line up as a weak-side linebacker in some of the Broncos' specialty looks with six and seven defensive backs.
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