A former University of Wisconsin and NFL player was arrested after a fight broke out at Wando’s on University Avenue early Thursday morning.

Erasmus James, 27, attempted to order a drink at Wando’s around 2:15 a.m., according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Upon being told it was past bar time and no more drinks were being served, James complained to the bartender. His friend then stepped in and told James to relax and the two began to fight. At one point, James was pinned to the floor.

Madison Police Department Sgt. David Samson confirmed once unpinned, James punched his friend before being arrested.

According to the State Journal, James was tentatively charged with battery and was released from the Dane County Jail Thursday.

Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, said he was surprised to hear a fight occurred at Wando’s, as he does not know of many past incidents they have had.

“I know they have a pretty good crew of bouncers and security staff that typically run a pretty tight ship,” Eagon said. “Anytime there are these isolated incidents, it does raise the profile of those kinds of fights.”

UW senior Ashley Leatzow said she spent several hours at bars with James prior to his visit to Wando’s.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., Leatzow and a group of her friends were at Monday’s when they ran into James and a few of his friends from college. The group was celebrating James’ birthday.

“I was waiting behind him to buy a drink, and he bought me and all my friends a drink,” Leatzow said. “I had no idea who he was until much later. He was such a nice guy — I feel bad that it went south afterward.”

The group later moved to the Kollege Klub before going their separate ways at bar time. Leatzow said James was noticeably inebriated at that time.

James played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2005 to 2007. He was traded to the Washington Redskins in 2008, where he recorded five games. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL this year and is currently a free agent.

Wando’s representatives declined to comment.