This Tank Johnson stuff is fucking weird. He has his house raided. The police find an arsenal. His bodyguard - Willie Posey - is arrested. They celebrate all this by hanging out in River North and party harder than I've ever partied. They party so hard one of them gets the shit shot of him.
Jay Mariotti says Tank Johnson has to go right now. He's probably right...but doesn't Jay see where this ends? Doesn't everyone see where this ends? It ends with a pop up in the bottom right corner of ESPN News that says TANK JOHNSON FOUND DEAD. Call me a bleeding heart - and I've been guilty of it in the past - but I don't think THAT'S the standard the Bears want to set.
I'd send a different message. I wouldn't cut Tank Johnson at all. I'd internally suspend him for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. I'd suspend him and in the press conference announcement I'd say that Tank Johnson is still a member of the Chicago Bears family. We won't condone his behavior and allow him to disgrace the colors on the football field but at the same time we refuse to turn our backs on him. There's a standard worth setting.
#2 Sanchez said . . .I dunno Jeff. The Bears organization shouldn't be coddling Tank. The example set would be that because of who he is he gets special treatment. If it were any other place of employment he would be fired. What if he were a teacher? He has just as much influence on kids as a teacher does. Kids will think it is okay to act like an idiot because you have special athletic talent. Consequences will have no weight and you can coast through life because you are "special"
I am not saying that we should turn our back on Tank's problems. He has obviously made some selfish choices. Okay, football is a sport, it's not brain surgery however, like any profession there should be a certain level of professional behavior that is not acceptable. I think Tank's predicament qualifies.
The only thing that would justify his staying on with the Bears or any NFL team, would be if he was the poster-boy for how NOT to behave. Serious counseling and committment to changes in behavior would be a start. Serious hard-core community service, public speaking for how incredibly stupid his life choices have been. Regular drug and alcohol testing and no more clubbing. He should commit himself to the game, his family and whatever team he ends up playing for.
I am sooooooo pissed off right now. What an incredible asshole. Clubbing... hours after he was busted... that is serious irresponsibility, not to mention the fact that his apology to his teamates and the fans was fabricated to appease everyone, he obviously didn't mean it.
December 17, 2006
#3 Max said . . .The Bears can maintain their desire to staff character players without doing it in the 11th hour. Let the League take what ever action it sees fit; then cut or trade Tank once the season is over. Yes, Tank's noise may be a distraction to the entire team but removing him from the team altogether may be a bigger one. Tank still gives this team the best chance to win, right? Cutting Tank now could turn out to be team punishment.
Having said all that, I might ask Urlacher, Ogunleye, Jones, Kruetz for thier opinion. If those guys think cutting his dumb ass right now is the best for the team - then do it!December 17, 2006
#4 paytonrules said . . .RASHIED BABY
December 17, 2006
#5 Dusty said . . .I doubt that could happen Jeff - but I think you may have the right idea. Everything Tank has done so far has been stupid beyond comprehension, but it hasn't been malicious (that we know about). Clearly he needs help. I "like" him more than Ricky Manning Jr. that's for sure.
And Meagan seriously - more influence on children than a teacher? Can he discipline? Teach geography?
December 18, 2006
#6 jdawg said . . .Let Tank Johnson play...innocent until proven guilty. Let the system play its role and until them keep him on the field and out of harms way. Keep talking to him and he'll get it
December 18, 2006
random thoughts:
What He Gone giveth He Gone taketh away.
Benson should have carried the ball when we were ahead 7 in the 4th
I'm not worried about Rex
I am worried about the d-line
I'm undecided about Tank since I don't have the facts
Bradley's block --BOOM
Doug Bafone and OB need to have their ritalin dosage upped
I have no idea what to expect from our team right now. The offense saved the defense's ass and Tampa had a huge assist from Hester.
I live in Louisville and have been drinking Weller to calm down after the game
y'all, or yous guys, if you prefer
December 18, 2006
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.