Green Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Underwood pleaded not guilty today to a disorderly conduct charge in connection to an incident with his wife on June 16.

Underwood, 25, appeared without his attorney before Brown County Court Commissioner Lawrence Gazeley and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 13. His trial is set for Sept. 26. Underwood said his attorney, Barry Cohen of Elkhart Lake, had prior engagements in Madison.

Underwood is accused of ripping a necklace off his wife, Brandie Underwood, that the Packers gave her the night players and team officials received their Super Bowl XLV rings at a ceremony in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

The incident occurred outside the couple’s home on Green Bay’s west side.

Underwood also pulled his wife out of their car and threw her to the ground, according to a criminal complaint. The misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.

Brandie Underwood, 25, filed for divorce in May and did not accompany her husband to court Friday. The couple were married in 2008 and have three children ages 3, 2, and 1.
After leaving the courtroom, Underwood was asked if he expected to play with the Packers this season at the end of the NFL lockout.

“That’s their decision, all I can do is be me. God always has a plan and you don’t worry about things you can’t control,” he said. “I can’t stay in the past, I’ve got to keep moving forward.”

The Packers organization is aware of the incident, but officials have declined comment.
Underwood said he has been dealing with family issues after his older brother was recently injured in an accident involving a city bus in Columbus, Ohio.

“It just makes you put life in perspective. It makes you realize how precious life is,” he said.

GBPressGazette wrote: