Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Link LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears stood by and supported Tank Johnson throughout a series of transgressions, but violating the club’s no-tolerance policy cost him his job. The Bears on Monday waived the troubled defensive tackle, who was pulled over and arrested by police in Arizona at 3:30 a.m. Friday. “We are upset and embarrassed by Tank’s actions last week,” said general manager Jerry Angelo. “He compromised the credibility of our organization. We made it clear to him that he had no room for error. Our goal was to help someone through a difficult period in his life, but the effort needs to come from both sides. It didn’t, and we have decided to move on.” Johnson was released from Cook County Jail May 13 after serving 60 days for a probation violation stemming from a gun charge. On June 3, he was suspended by the NFL without pay for the first eight games of the regular season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. While Johnson was in jail, he was visited by several members of the Bears organization including Angelo, coach Lovie Smith, chairman of the board Michael McCaskey and several teammates. “A lot of people within our organization gave extra time and energy to support Tank: players, coaches and our front office,” Smith said. “We did our best to establish an environment for him to move forward. Ultimately, Tank needed to live up to his side of the deal.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Good for the Bears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) I am somewhat mixed about this. Good for the Bears to stand up and not take any excuses. But at the same time, he was out late, not against the law. They don't even know if he got a DUI. I bet he was just high. No excuse though, I know. I guess they told him absolutely nothing will fly, not even being out late. The NFL is not taking any excuse these days and it is showing. This absolutely kills the Bears because they were under the impression that Tank was going to stay clean and help shore up the line for the future. Uh-oh. Edited June 25, 2007 by Goopster24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 So Goop, which teams of all these teams are going to be lining up for his services? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 So Goop, which teams of all these teams are going to be lining up for his services? My point was that he is one of the better defensive tackles and run stoppers in the league and his troubles pale in comparison to that of Chris Henry and Pacman (in severity too). But that probably doesn’t matter now and in general. He might get suspended for more for Goodell to make even more of a statement. All I am saying is that teams will ALWAYS take a chance. ALWAYS. Some team will that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msaint Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I bet he was just high. Phew. I thought he was doing something really bad while operating a moving vehicle at 3:25 a.m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 and his troubles pale in comparison to that of Chris Henry and Pacman (in severity too). Not really...he's actually done time which, despite all of Pacman's press, he's never done. Thay may all change now that he's been charged out in Vegas. But Johnson deserves everything he's getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pope Flick Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 So Goop, which teams of all these teams are going to be lining up for his services? Baltimore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 All I am saying is that teams will ALWAYS take a chance. ALWAYS. Some team will that is. Luckily for him. "Criminal" seems to be the only other way he's going to make a living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) Not really...he's actually done time which, despite all of Pacman's press, he's never done. Thay may all change now that he's been charged out in Vegas. But Johnson deserves everything he's getting. How many times do I need to argue this? It is stupid to argue but here it goes. Pacman has been involved in ten separate off the field incidents. Chris Henry was involved in two felonies and a misdemeanor. Tank has two misdemeanors and went to jail because he didn't have a piece of paper. Pacmanhas been charged with coercion, which is a serious offense. How can one compare the people involved with these three suspensions? Honestly. Edited June 25, 2007 by Goopster24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 How many times do I need to argue this? It is stupid to argue but here it goes. Pacman has been involved in ten separate off the field incidents. Chris Henry was involved in two felonies and a misdemeanor. Tank has two misdemeanors and went to jail because he didn't have a piece of paper. Pacmanhas been charged with coercion, which is a serious offense. How can one compare the people involved with these three suspensions? Honestly. I don't know how many times you need to aruge this. But a turd is a turd is a turd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 I don't know how many times you need to aruge this. But a turd is a turd is a turd. What the guy ever do to you? He might make bad decisions, but no where near the same as Henry or Pacman. Or lets mention Leonard Little. That's a real "turd." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 What the guy ever do to you? He might make bad decisions, but no where near the same as Henry or Pacman. Or lets mention Leonard Little. That's a real "turd." We should absolutely mention Leonard Little. He's a giant turd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSULions Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 It is all about accountability. Tank talked about how his life was changed and he was going to work to be the best player that he could yada yada yada... Within a month (give or take) he gets pulled over for speeding and possibly being under the influence. Sounds like he was really sorry about his past issues, but you shouldn't make statements like that without backing up your words. The Bears finally decided that this was the last straw and let him have his walking papers. It is a hard lesson to accept, but hopefully, he will finally get the message. If a team does take a chance on him again (I am sure one will) he will be very lucky to get anything more than a veteran minimum contract from his new team with plenty of language included for future issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) Had this discussion with some friends last night and I just kept driving home the point that these guys are held to a different standard. Rightly so IMHO. Nothing good can come for these guys being out a 3:30 am. They are young and trying to have fun, true enough, but they also have very short careers in which they make a boat load of money! There is plenty of time for the all nighters when there career is over at age 28 or 30. Why end that career early and lose out on all that money for some stripper? edit to add; Kudos to the Bears for keeping their word! More teams need to do this and we will then be really bored during the off-season. Edited June 25, 2007 by tbimm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) When Tank was in the lineup, the Bears averaged almost double turnovers (almost 3 to 1.5), 60 less yards in total yards allowed, and a touchdown less too. I am worried for this defense, which is not good against the run as it is. Edited June 25, 2007 by Goopster24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) On a separate issue, the Bears signed Vasher to a five-year deal. $14 million in guaranteed money. 5 year, $28 million. Edited June 25, 2007 by Goopster24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanCT Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I'm a little miffed by this. I'm all for cracking down on the NFL thuggery, but it seems like Tank was cut for driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone at 3:30 a.m. Is that a crime these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 I'm a little miffed by this. I'm all for cracking down on the NFL thuggery, but it seems like Tank was cut for driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone at 3:30 a.m. Is that a crime these days? The idea was that he wasn’t even suppose to be out that late. Stay as far away from trouble as he could, and he didn’t. The fact that he was “slightly” intoxicated doesn’t help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanCT Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 The idea was that he wasn’t even suppose to be out that late. Stay as far away from trouble as he could, and he didn’t. The fact that he was “slightly” intoxicated doesn’t help. If he was in fact intoxicated, I'm on board with you, but he was released without being booked or charged and it seems like they took his blood on a reach. And why was he not supposed to be out that late? He's an adult. How does that have anything to do with anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 If he was in fact intoxicated, I'm on board with you, but he was released without being booked or charged and it seems like they took his blood on a reach. And why was he not supposed to be out that late? He's an adult. How does that have anything to do with anything? I'm not sure why you are taking issue with a team's decision to disclipine a player in the manner they see fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 If he was in fact intoxicated, I'm on board with you, but he was released without being booked or charged and it seems like they took his blood on a reach. And why was he not supposed to be out that late? He's an adult. How does that have anything to do with anything? It has to do with everything sadly. The Bears told him not to get into more trouble. Being out late usually is a precursor to getting into trouble with athletes these days. He was on house arrest not very long ago and in jail. The leash was short and this is the smallest of things possibly, but it was enough for the Bears to pull the plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 yeah, leaving loaded weapons without trigger locks around toddlers and in reach is harmless right? didn't have a piece of paper huh? crack some more smoke and come back later. guy was an idiot in college and became more of an idiot when he got some cash in his pockets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godtomsatan Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Wow, someone actually defends a felon? Pathetic.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanCT Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Holy hell boys. I'm no Tank Johnson, or felon supporter, nor a Bears fan by far. I'm just trying to understand the infraction. If he was intoxicated or had a curfew, then I understand completely. I don't really care one way or another what happens to the guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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