Cops: Philadelphia Eagles safety shoved officer outside Ariz. bar

TEMPE, Ariz. - A Philadelphia Eagles professional football player is facing charges in Arizona after authorities say he pushed a police officer investigating a bar brawl.

Officials said 24-year-old Keelan Johnson, a rookiesafety, was arrested early Saturday following a confrontation with officers outside Zuma Grill in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe, home of Arizona State University. Johnson played in 49 games for the school.

CBS affiliate KPHO reports police were in the process of arresting Johnson's "associate" on charges of fighting inside the bar when the football player "and his associates continued to yell over the officers conducting the interviews," according to a probable cause statement. A uniformed police officer then "used a directional contact with his right arm to Johnson's chest to get him to move back while giving him commands to move back."

The probable cause statement says Johnson "violently pushed" the officer in the chest, causing him to strike his head against a tree. Police say Johnson appeared drunk and refused officers' orders.

Johnson has been charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Eagles spokesman Derak Boyko said the team is disappointed in Johnson's arrest but is still trying to gather the facts.

It was not known if Johnson had an attorney.