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MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson became the latest contributor to the team's string of negative off-the-field news this season. The 30-year-old was arrested by Minneapolis police and booked into the Hennepin County jail at 3:18 a.m. Sunday for one count of trespassing and one count of disorderly conduct. Both charges are misdemeanors. Johnson posted bail of $78 and was released at 10:00 a.m. Sunday. He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 17. "We are aware of the matter involving Tom Johnson," the Vikings said in a statement. "We are continuing to gather information and will have further comment at the appropriate time." Johnson's agent, Bardia Ghahremani, said in a statement Sunday night they were confident the charges were baseless and he would be exonerated. "Upon clearing Mr. Johnson's name, we will move forward with the appropriate legal action," Ghahremani said. Johnson, who has become a key contributor to the team's pass rush in its nickel package, is the third Vikings player to encounter legal trouble in the past month. Running back Adrian Peterson was arrested on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child Sept. 12 and is barred from all team activities until his case is resolved in Texas; his first court appearance in the case is scheduled for Wednesday. Wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who was days from being reinstated after a suspension for a drunken driving arrest this past November, was cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and driving with an open bottle in July. The Vikings released Simpson hours after ESPN reported the charges Sept. 18. According to USA Today, which maintains a database of NFL player arrests, the Vikings have had more arrests than any other team since 2000; Johnson's arrest is the 47th for a Vikings player since that year.
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