Not guilty plea for first-round pick DE James

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)—A not guilty plea has been entered for former Vikings first-round draft pick Erasmus James(notes), who is charged with disorderly conduct in a Madison bar fight.

James was arrested last weekend after police says he lost his temper when a bartender refused to serve him after closing time. Police say James punched a friend in the face.

The 27-year-old James stood silently Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court and a not guilty plea was entered for him on the misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.

James also is charged with felony battery. A hearing on that charge is scheduled for Nov. 30.

As conditions of his release, James isn’t allowed to return to the bar or consume alcohol. James’ attorney, Steve Mays, declined to comment.

A former Wisconsin standout at defensive end, James played three injury-plagued seasons for the Vikings after being picked 18th overall in 2005. He was traded to Washington last year and played in five games before being cut in December.

Updated Nov 12, 6:06 pm EST
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18 Comments

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  1. <i>iamadancinghobo</i>
    18. Posted by iamadancinghobo Fri Nov 6 4:04pm EST

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    post 5 you cant put a curfew on a player who doesn't even have a team
  2. Lind
    17. Posted by Lind Fri Nov 6 1:03pm EST

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    Pembroke Pines in the hizeeeeeeeeeeeee. Wisconsinnnnnnnnnnnn
  3. Jacob
    16. Posted by Jacob Fri Nov 6 12:29pm EST

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    #9, I agree alcohol excess is a bad idea, but a #1 killer??? Get your facts straight, the biggest drug killer is prescription and OTC medication pushed on us by big pharma. It ranks only behind Cancer and Heart Disease. Over 300,000 people die each year from CORRECTLY used pharmaceuticals! Wake Up!
  4. Christopher
    15. Posted by Christopher Fri Nov 6 12:23pm EST

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    wow Ron, thanks for the cutting edge news flash.
  5. Patrick S
    14. Posted by Patrick S Fri Nov 6 12:06pm EST

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    He is not a Viking and hasn't been a Viking player for well over a year now and he was sent to Washington Redskins where he got cut by them So stop thinking that he is still a Viking when we got rid of him. If anything blame it on the Redskins, why not everyone else knows that team is going to the crapper fast. But the Vikings have wiped their hands clean on this one and have nothing to do with this guy and now after this we don't want him back. But either the Raiders, Lions, Browns, or the Buccaneers might take him since they have nothing else to lose this year.
  6. Mr Common Sense
    13. Posted by Mr Common Sense Fri Nov 6 10:48am EST

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    Another loser ghetto rat. He can sign with either the Raiders or Browns and be a star!
  7. Ron H.
    12. Posted by Ron H. Fri Nov 6 9:44am EST

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    The Vikings are cheaters.

    Google Pat Williams, Kevin Williams suspensions.
  8. Argie62
    11. Posted by Argie62 Fri Nov 6 9:08am EST

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    The story repeats with this people. Where is the “news”?
  9. shane
    10. Posted by shane Fri Nov 6 9:01am EST

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    who @#$%in cares
  10. Michael B
    9. Posted by Michael B Fri Nov 6 7:48am EST

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    drinking when use in moderation can be fun some people can't handle liquor ,does not make them bad people but they shouldnt drink ,their are a lot of dicks out their who are not athlete a staduim full of drunks in front of young kids trying to enjoy a game, this is a behavior problem that is pretty much allowed in this country.liquor is just as bad as drugs when abuse number 1 killer and its legal.
  11. Greg
    8. Posted by Greg Fri Nov 6 6:26am EST

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    Nothing much good happens after midnight.....that couldn't happen earlier. I can see being with your girlfriend and having fun after midnight, but hanging out in bars after 12:00 probably leads to 90% of all arrests.
  12. Derek V
    7. Posted by Derek V Fri Nov 6 2:20am EST

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    James doesn't have a coach anymore, bro.
  13. Robert C
    6. Posted by Robert C Fri Nov 6 1:56am EST

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    None of us were there, so it is not fair to assume that James was the bad guy here.

    I have been in plenty of situations where I do the right thing, but end up the bad guy. So I know first hand all about being labeled the bad guy, when you are not.

    Amazing how one little news story that is short on details, will persuade the public into a belief...whether right or wrong.

    I wasn't there, I don't know the dude and don't know the circumstances.

    A little story to explain my point - I took my son skating at a skating rink. I was standing in line to buy concessions when a 10-12 year old girl came skating towards me. She tried to stop, but fell right towards me. By instinct, I reached out and caught her. Kept her from falling. However, my hand ended up holding one of her boobs. She gave me a confused scared look and I realized my hand was on her boob. I quickly pulled it away. Then spent the next 20 minutes expecting the cops or her dad to come kick my aasss. It was a totally incidental that my hand ended up there, but do you think anyone would believe that. I bet you don't even believe it. But it is the absolute truth.

    The next time a little girl fell into me, my hands went straight to the sky....she fell. I expected to get scrutiny for not catching her..

    So don't be so quick to judge until you know the facts.
  14. The Drinker
    5. Posted by The Drinker Fri Nov 6 1:10am EST

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    Coaches Or The League Need To Put A Curfew On These Idiots!

    What Are They Doing In A Bar AFTER Closing Time?

    I Think The Bar Should Be Fined As Well.Although I Could Use Another Drink Myself.

    "Bartender-A Round On Me"

    "CHEERS"
  15. steve
    4. Posted by steve Thu Nov 5 10:00pm EST

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    hey james really blew it...i thought he was going to be great out of collage and was touting this as a great pick.....

    regardless of the injuries he just never was going to pan out.....i hope he gets it figured out, but really why is he still hanging out at or near a campus bar??
  16. robert m
    3. Posted by robert m Thu Nov 5 9:09pm EST

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    What a horses ass!
  17. GregP
    2. Posted by GregP Thu Nov 5 9:02pm EST

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    Just a spout. Calling him another sports dick(or ex) is not understanding the reality that these are people who have lives and things happen. Your friend Joe down the street that has a small encounter on his record and he is okay cause he wasent in sports or famous. Yeah once your in sports your not human, thats right. Keep feeding the media D I C K !
  18. tony w
    1. Posted by tony w Thu Nov 5 8:49pm EST

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    LOL another sports dick out there causing problems, or ex-sports dick rather.
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