Former Patriots receiver Chad Johnson was released from a Florida jail Monday after serving seven days of his 30-day sentence. Johnson, as part of a court appearance requested by his lawyer to appeal his sentence, apologized to Judge Kathleen McHugh for jokingly patting his attorney on the rear end during his previous court date — an action that infuriated McHugh and led to her disregarding his plea deal for a probation violation.

“I just wanted to apologize for disrespecting the court last time,” Johnson said. “I apologize. I did have time to reflect on the mistakes I made in this courtroom.”

After leaving court, Johnson told reporters that he respected McHugh for making him slow down and think about his life.

“No one has been able to do it, not even my parents,” he said. “I thank her. Everything she did was justified.”

Johnson was ordered to perform 25 hours of community service and attend domestic violence counseling sessions twice a week during his probation period, which was extended three months, through mid-October.

The Patriots signed free agent running back George Winn on Monday.

The 5-foot-10 1/2, 218-pounder out of the University of Cincinnati was a signee of the Texans right after the draft, but was waived last month. The 22-year-old Winn had little success over the first three years of his collegiate career, but really busted out in 2012 as a senior with the Bearcats when he finished with 1,334 yards and 13 touchdowns on 243 carries.

One possible connection on how he landed on New England’s radar screen could be because of the fact that he was recruited to Cincinnati by former Bearcats coach Brian Kelly. Kelly, who has since moved on to Notre Dame, was a guest at Patriots minicamp last week.

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Because there’s no shortage of odd stories during the most fallow period on the NFL calendar, we introduce the latest chapter in the story of the Patriots’ (allegedly) purloined Super Bowl ring.

To recap: New England owner Robert Kraft told a story late last week — one that has been recounted on several occasions — about Russian President Vladimir Putin accidentally/on purpose pocketing Kraft’s ring from Super Bowl XXXIX on a trip to Russia.

“I took out the ring and showed it to [Putin], and he put it on and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring,’ ” Kraft told the crowd at a gathering at Carnegie Hall’s Medal of Excellence gala where Kraft was receiving an award. “I put my hand out and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.”

According to CNN, Putin is denying Kraft’s claim, saying the ring was a gift.

“What Mr. Kraft is saying now is weird,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said in a statement. “I was standing 20 centimeters away from him and Mr. Putin and saw and heard how Mr. Kraft gave this ring as a gift.”

On Sunday, Peskov elaborated on the statement.

“Back in 2005 I stood behind the president’s back and I saw how that ring was presented to him. All that talk about some kind of pressure that was exerted on him (Kraft) should be the subject of a detailed talk with psychoanalysts, I think,” Peskov told The Associated Press.

“At the same time, I am aware that this gentleman (Kraft) is feeling such a horrible pain about the 2005 loss,” Peskov said. “The president will be ready to send him another ring as a gift, which he (Putin) can buy with his own money.”

On top of that, Patriots spokesman Stacey James issued a statement to the Associated Press, saying the whole thing shouldn’t be taken so seriously.

“It’s a humorous, anecdotal story that Robert retells for laughs,” James said. “He loves that his ring is at the Kremlin, and, as he stated back in 2005, he continues to have great respect for Russia and the leadership of President Putin. In particular, he credits President Putin for modernizing the Russian economy.”

Whatever. If Putin really wants a Patriots’ Super Bowl ring, maybe he can fly to Vegas and ask for Rick.