Bears waive troubled DT Tank Johnson

[djnemo65]

sandtrap made the correct point and you guys are missing it. He's got an automatic 8 game suspension. Now if it's November and our line is battered, we are potentially in the playoff hunt but giving up big yards on the ground each week then this would at least be worth discussing. But as it stands now, Tank is not going to be playing for anyone until midway through this season at the earliest.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

sandtrap made the correct point and you guys are missing it. He's got an automatic 8 game suspension. Now if it's November and our line is battered, we are potentially in the playoff hunt but giving up big yards on the ground each week then this would at least be worth discussing. But as it stands now, Tank is not going to be playing for anyone until midway through this season at the earliest.

Yes but we could sign him now with it in our minds that we would have him after this season.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by angryssg

Yes but we could sign him now with it in our minds that we would have him after this season.

Well we could also sign Jeff George with it in our minds that he would lead us to the superbowl. However, I don't think we'll be spending a valuable roster spot on either of them.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

Well we could also sign Jeff George with it in our minds that he would lead us to the superbowl. However, I don't think we'll be spending a valuable roster spot on either of them.

Point taken, but we would have to spend as much on Tank.

[offiss]

I hear Ray Caruth will be paroled soon as well, we should start negotiating with his agent now!

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by offiss

I hear Ray Caruth will be paroled soon as well, we should start negotiating with his agent now!

Hell, while we are at it Michael Westbrook isnt doing anything right now either. Lets just go get them all. Look I was just saying for the sake of argument that it could be looked at as an investment. Personally I could care less either way.

[724Skinsfan]

Signing him would be sending a real positive message to our hard-working overachievers that keep their noses clean. I give better chances of us signing Deion Sanders over Tank the Shank.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by offiss

I hear Ray Caruth will be paroled soon as well, we should start negotiating with his agent now!

What's the big deal?????? It worked in the Longest yard.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Signing him would be sending a real positive message to our hard-working overachievers that keep their noses clean. I give better chances of us signing Deion Sanders over Tank the Shank.

The flip side is our d-line could not rush the passer for crap. Plus if I remember correctly, the last game of the year, Tiki ran for somthing like 235 yards. You just don't see that very often in the NFL. So our d-line is VERY questionable at best. Yeah it's good to have great character guys, but if they aren't any good then we gotta look at all the options.

It's not going to happen on Gibbs' watch but I would try and sign the guy.

[Hog1]

Big Daddy..........Johnson?

[diehardskin2982]

I think there are alot of people on here that are over-reacting on Tank's case.. Would u sign Ray Lewis to a vet min if he became available? Most of u would even though he killed 2 people. Stuff changes over time and I think he could a great value to our team in a reserve role

[MTK]

First off, Lewis wasn't convicted of anything.

Tank on the other hand is a thug, plain and simple. He's one F up away from a season long ban from the NFL and probably prison time.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

First off, Lewis wasn't convicted of anything.

Tank on the other hand is a thug, plain and simple. He's one F up away from a season long ban from the NFL and probably prison time.

With the new Comiss in place, he obviously will not tolerate multple nickel dime problems, or more serious probs. It will get you the door. Guys like Tank have NO chance

[skinsWill]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

First off, Lewis wasn't convicted of anything.

Well neither was OJ...

This last incident in Arizona is petty. a speeding ticket and being "impaired to the slightest degree" they could say that if he admitted hed even been to a bar. Who gets into trouble with their job for getting a speeding ticket?!?! Granted, his previous charge for the guns does say something about him, at least he didnt use them on anybody. But dont we have the right to bare arms in this country? I know they should have been registered. But compared to Pacturd and Henry... this is not even in the same range of problems.

[MTK]

There's no comparing OJ to Lewis. They had barely any evidence against Lewis. OJ on the other hand...

C'mon, don't pull this right to bare arms crap in regard to Tank. His problems go much deeper than that.

In November 2005, Johnson was arrested at the Excalibur nightclub in Chicago's Cook County for possession of a handgun in his sport utility vehicle. Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge and was sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours of community service. On February 12, 2006, Johnson, while still on probation, was charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest after allegedly verbally threatening a police officer. Johnson was leaving Level Nightclub on Chicago's Rush Street when the police officer was ticketing a limousine driver whom Johnson had hired. As Johnson allegedly put up a struggle, he was maced and subdued with the help of other police officers. The charges were eventually dropped.

On December 14, 2006, Lake County police officers searched Johnson's home in Gurnee, Illinois, and allegedly discovered that he possessed six firearms, including two assault rifles. Although Johnson was at football practice during the search, his bodyguard William Posey was arrested from his house for alleged possession of marijuana. Johnson was charged with violation to probation and possessing unlicensed weapons. Bears coach Lovie Smith deactivated Johnson for the following game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers based on this incident.

On December 16, 2006, Johnson's best friend and bodyguard William Posey was killed in a shooting at Ice Bar in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Posey was shot after he was allegedly involved in a fight around midnight. Posey was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30am. Posey's assailant was not apprehended by the police. On December 28, Chicago Police apprehended Michael Selvie, Posey's alleged assailant. Selvie, a "reputed gang member" has been implicated in over 30 other crimes. However, Selvie's defense attorney claims that Selvie does not posses a firearm or any gang affiliations. If found guilty, Selvie will face charges of first degree murder.

On December 22, 2006, Cook County Circuit Judge John J. Moran, Jr. (Skokie courthouse, Second District, Cook County, Illinois) placed Johnson on home confinement, preventing him from driving by himself or leaving the state of Illinois. On February 8, 2007, Johnson entered a guilty plea in Cook County's Courthouse in Skokie for violating his probation. On March 15, 2007, Johnson was sentenced to a 120 days in prison (Cook County Jail) and fined $2,500 for violating his probation. On February 17, 2007, Johnson's lawyer contested a Lake County Circuit Court to drop Johnson's unlicensed weapons charges. His attorney claimed that since Johnson is a resident of Arizona, he does not have to abide to gun registration laws of Illinois. Johnson entered a plea of not guilty on 10 counts of possessing a weapon without the proper state-required ID. On December 30, 2006, Tank Johnson contacted Gurnee Police Department to file harassment charges. Local youths left a toilet seat with a harassing message on his doorstep. Local news reported that the police did not disclose what the message on the garbage can said Other sources claim that "Nice Job Tank" was written on the seat. The seat had been duct-taped to a garbage can filled with excrement.

On April 30, Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons charge as part of an arrangement with prosecutors that will keep him from serving additional jail time. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, which will be served concurrently with a four-month sentence he's already serving in the Cook County Jail for violating his probation; to donate $2,500 to the Gurnee Police Department and $2,500 to the Gurnee Exchange Club's child abuse prevention program. While he was in jail, many of his teammates and coaches, including Brian Urlacher, Rex Grossman, and Lovie Smith visited Johnson. His release from jail on May 13 ended his legal problems from the December 2006 weapons incident. The league ultimately suspended Johnson for half of the regular season on June 4.. However, he will have the opportunity to reduce the sentence to six games if he complies with Commissioner Goodell's guidelines of behavior, which include going to counseling.