Ex-NFL Player Swung Samurai Sword At Matawan Middle School: Cops

ABERDEEN, NJ — You can now hear the 911 call made about former NFL player John E. "Charlie" Rogers Jr., who grew up in Matawan and was arrested earlier this November for bringing a Samurai sword to a youth basketball tournament at Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School.

The incident happened Oct. 5, Aberdeen Twp. police say. A man called 911 at 8 p.m. that evening to report that Rogers was driving around the back parking lot of the middle school, allegedly drunk and "driving around with a Samurai sword in his car." The former pro football player was allegedly swinging the sword at another parent. The Asbury Park Press obtained the 911 call.

"He's gonna end up hurting somebody," said the caller. "He's literally swinging a sword around, trying to hit this one guy."

He drove his Chevy Impala off, up Cliffwood Avenue, before police got there.

Rogers, 42, grew up in Matawan and played football at Matawan Regional High School. From there, he played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, before retiring and returning home to Matawan. He used to coach as an offensive coordinator at the private Catholic high school St. John Vianney and with Jersey Shore American Youth Football, but he lost both jobs after he left a profanity-laden voicemail for an 11-year-old player earlier this year. The Asbury Park Press obtained that voicemail and published it, after which Rogers was fired from his two coaching positions.

On Nov. 12, Rogers turned himself in to Aberdeen police for the alleged Oct. 5 samurai sword incident, and he was charged with terroristic threats, stalking and weapons offenses. You can hear the 911 call here:

Photo: The exterior of Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School via Google Earth.