Bears Release Tank Johnson
Chicago Waives Star Defensive Tackle after Latest Arrest
The Chicago Bears cut budding superstar Tank Johnson after he was arrested in Arizona for driving while impaired, Tank's third arrest in two years.
The Chicago Bears released troubled defensive tackle Tank Johnson Monday, three days after Johnson’ most recent scrape with the law.
Johnson was stopped in Arizona after police in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert clocked his car at 40 mph in a 25 mph zone about 3:30 a.m. Friday, reported The Associated Press. A police spokesman said the 300 lb. third-year star from the University of Washington was arrested for "DUI Impaired to the Slightest Degree." But officers ultimately released him without booking or charging Johnson.
Police – who described Johnson as “very cooperative” – said Johnson had blood drawn for a blood alcohol content test but the test results could take as much as two weeks for a formal determination of whether or not Johnson’s alcohol intake exceeded the legal limit.
Bears management: “Enough is enough”
The Bears wasted no time in severing ties to the big defensive lineman, who was Chicago’s second round draft pick in 2004. Although he accounted for 26 tackles and 4 sacks last season, Johnson was twice arrested on gun-related charges, serving two months in jail for a probation violation starting last March.
After placing him on waivers Monday, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo released a scathing statement concerning Johnson, declaring, “We are upset and embarrassed by Tank's actions last week. He compromised the credibility of our organization.”
For his part, Johnson too released a prepared statement through his Chicago-based lawyer, voicing his regrets. “I want to thank the Bears organization and fans for their support during a difficult time,” The Chicago Sun-Times quoted Johnson as saying. “I regret that I have to leave Chicago under these circumstances and wish my friends at the Chicago Bears nothing but the best.”
Angelo said the team had been willing to bear with the eight-game suspension levied against Tank by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, as long as Johnson had no further trouble with the law.
Bears coach Lovie Smith released a prepared statement Monday echoing Angelo’s sentiments. "We did our best to establish an environment for him to move forward,” Smith said. “Ultimately, Tank needed to live up to his side of the deal."
Tank Johnson has been a lightning rod for trouble
While incarcerated last spring, both his teammates and his coaches visited Johnson regularly. Many expressed their disappointment following Tank’s most recent run-in with the law. Johnson’s incarceration took place after a December 2006 police raid at his suburban Chicago home that netted six unregistered firearms – a violation of his probation. He was already on probation after his 2005 misdemeanor conviction of carrying an unregistered firearm.
Two days after the December raid Johnson’s bodyguard, Willie B. Posey, was shot to death at a Chicago nightclub during a brawl. Johnson was suspended for a single game by the club for his involvement in the fracas. Johnson pleaded guilty last month to another misdemeanor charge stemming from his December arrest.
He started for the Bears in last season’s Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts. Overall Johnson played in 46 games for Chicago during three seasons, starting 15.
The NFL’s “Brat Pack”
Johnson is by no means the only young man in the National Football League who’s created major league headaches for their respective NFL clubs. Suspended Tennessee Titan Adam “Pacman” Jones surrendered to Las Vegas police last Friday after being charged with two counts of felony coercion. And star quarterback Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons is the subject of two investigations – one state, one federal – for allegedly sponsoring dogfights at his former mansion in rural Southeastern Virginia.
In the wake of Johnson’s release Fox Sport’s Kevin Hench penned a particularly cogent column on why the NFL needs to stick to its guns – and demanded that NFL franchise owners need to back the commissioner – in enforcing its new, strict player conduct rule.
