THE BEARS TODAY WAIVED TANK JOHNSON. FOR THE ESPN STORY, CLICK HERE.
On this website over the last six or seven months, I have supported the rehabilitation of Tank Johnson. I have supported the Chicago Bears' decision not to treat one of their own like a piece of fruit. I have indicted the Chicago Sun-Times for their relentless attacks on Tank' character - from his arrest through his eating habits behind bars. Someone hand me a towel...there's egg on my face.
Tank Johnson's latest arrest was best summed up by the best Bears writer going, David Haugh:
Ask anybody at a sports bar or train station in Chicago or any NFL city this weekend how Johnson's latest incident reflects on the Bears. It embarrasses them.
David nailed it and he need look no further than our humble website to find the source of greatest embarrassment. My heart sank when I heard this report. My misguided and romantic view of the world saw this story having a happy ending. It saw stories on ESPN leading up to February's Super Bowl detailing the renaissance of man written off for dead in the NFL. It saw the Chicago Bears becoming the model of true human compassion in a league where Bill Bellichick forces players to play with concussions. Yet there he was at 3:30 in the morning in Arizona. Drinking. Driving.
I have to step back now, Terry, I'm sorry. And so you know, I'll no longer be calling him Tank as I'll no longer call Adam Jones "Pacman." It is time we relinquish these stupid nicknames and see these idiots for the frail and pathetic human beings they are. There are too many good men and good players on this team and in this league to waste space writing meaningless columns in defense of a man who'd so carelessly throw away the opportunity not many teams in this league would consider, nevermind give.
I've moved on.
#2 Midway Monster said . . .Its been a while since I've posted since there hasn't been much worth debating, etc...
I'm oddly ambivalent about this. Should he have been out at 3:30 am? No.
Have I ever driven 40 in a 25 mph zone? Every day.
Have I ever been impaired to the slightest degree? Every day once the alarm goes off.
Have I ever been extremely cooperative? I would like to think so.
So what does this all mean? Fuck if I know. But I'm sniffing an endless debate between the Tanks and No Tanks.
I guess I'll wait to see what his blood test reveals and where he was going/coming from.
I am sure he's out 8 games, though.
June 25, 2007
#3 big rob said . . .I am sticking with Tank come hell or high water. He was stupid & as my grandpa used to say "this $hit don't happen at the library".
Nonetheless, until he is shown the door, Midway will give him support. Call me an idiot, call me narrow minded.
--Midway--
June 25, 2007
#4 Pissed Off said . . .big rob agrees w/Midway.....
he was at his grandmas house and we can't help that grandma drinks whiskey and stays up till the wee hours of the morning.....
br
June 25, 2007
#5 beardown1982 said . . .Yeah you guys are right, he was probably at a United Way event, or sitting up with his grandama in the nursing home, he probably wasnt just finishing up with a hooker or selling a pound of crack or plotting a driveby with his gangsta pals. Your right, we should stand by him. Deep down he's a good guy, he's proven that over the years........
June 25, 2007
#6 Bearfan34 said . . .I think it is time to cut the ties. This is the 2nd time the Bears have asked Terry not to get in trouble and it is the 2nd time he has gotten in trouble. Inexcusable. Not to mention, the fact that he is out at 3:30am proves he didn't care much in the first place. I'm surprised, for some reason I really thought Terry would wise up this time...he seemed sincere enough. At some point though, you have to cut your losses. Terry is an average player, not someone you have to keep giving chances to. I'm all for second chances, but eventually, you have to stop giving them.
This certainly hurts the D-Line depth, but if Dusty turns out to be as good as advertised, and both he and Tommie can stay healthy, the Bears should be okay. If they don't stay healthy, we could be in for some trouble. I don't know much about this free agent we signed, Adams...hopefully he will be halfway decent. Really though, Harris is the ultimate key to the D-Line anyways. If the injury doesn't limit the quickness he possessed early last season, it makes the rest of the D-Line that much more dangerous because teams will have to double and triple team him. We will know pretty quickly where Tommie is at too...with the Chargers waiting in week one.
June 25, 2007
#7 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .I agree with you 100%, we have given him numerous chances to bounce back.
He's embarrassed our Franchise and the Fans of the Bears. We're the best Franchise in the NFL, so let's set an example. Cut him, and let the NFL learn from this!
Get ready to Step up Dusty D!
June 25, 2007
#8 Midway Monster said . . .If they cut him another team will pick him up.
I say let him be someone else problem.isn't he a father,shouldn't he be at home to tuck the little one in.Maybe that would help him on that being"Man of the Year" comment.
Being on this roster is now embarassing me,I've defended this guy so many times in public(Packer Fans)
my best defense against the Pack was,"Hey is Mark Chumura babysitting your kids this weekend"
at least that team had the guts to let go.Same should apply here.June 25, 2007
#9 Midway Monster said . . .Decatur Staleys: 'embarrassing me' ?
...GEEZE... he wasn't blitz out of his head drunk- he was buzzed... He wasn't going 120 mph with a line of flashing cops in tail- he was doing 40 in a 15... He didn't dash from his car with a helicopter spot light spying him as he ran through neighborhoods- he was nice to the cops.
This is just something that falls into the 'stupid lineman' bucket.
Remember, he is a foaming-at-the-mouth crazy defensive player. One good lick on a QB and you'll forget all of this.
--Midway--
June 25, 2007
#10 JB said . . .beardown1982: Sweet post (#5) but go get a cup of strong coffee, wake up, and tell yourself: Rudy was just a movie.
Most football players are touched in the head. That's why God created this sport in the first place.
--Midway--
June 25, 2007
#11 mikebdot said . . .I guess I don't understand this. It's the last day of OTA's, #99 goes out with some buddies to blow off some steam, probably drag him to a strip club, he's on the road "impaired to the slightest degree"...wtf does that mean?!... and he gets pulled over at 3:30. I realize that he is supposed to stay out of trouble, but does that equate to house arrest? I may be way out of line for saying this, pending this magical blood test, but how is this the same? He wasn't involved in a shooting or a drug case or making it rain in the club, he was caught driving with a barely noticeable buzz...how is this illegal?
Before you argue, he may be showing poor judgment for the situation he is in by going out, but it's not illegal. I guess I want to hear more of the story behind what he was doing before I go off on the guy.
But realistically, he is not that important for us to win as long as we stay healthy with the guys we have now. So whatever happens to him is fine with me, I'm just not sure I understand modern media. What if it comes back that it was a case of an over-zealous officer? What if he was driving back from his grandma's after falling asleep on her couch and decided to drive home late/early or some other ridiculous situation? I officially don't care anymore...let's just play football.
June 25, 2007
#12 jdawg said . . .Dang:
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3549
I'm actually surprised it happened this quickly...
June 25, 2007
#13 mikebdot said . . .Impared to the slightest degree sounds like black to the slightest degree, to me.
I guess that's why Bush is driven everywhere he goes.
June 25, 2007
#14 Bearfan34 said . . .He's already been pulled from the roster:
http://www.chicagobears.com/team/Roster.html
June 25, 2007
#15 JB said . . .Wow, Tank's gone!
I think it was the best move, but you're right we wasted no time!
I hope this shows that being a Chicago Bear is an honor!
As always,
Bear Down!
June 25, 2007
#16 jeff said . . .F Terry Johnson and the horse he rode in on...I never liked that guy...thank Halas he's gone....what an embarrassment to our organization ...I hope he likes his future career options as a competitive beefstick eater...okay, it's over, let's put it behind us and move on. Anyone pumped about the Anthony Adams signing now?...that's what I thought...great move bringing him in.
June 25, 2007
#17 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .this really saddened me. not sure why. i never put stake in the personal life of players but i did on this one and it bit me in the ass. camp starts soon so maybe we can finally start talking about football again.
June 25, 2007
#18 Al in WI said . . .Midway
Maybe I might forget after a 6 sack season
But his history isn't winning me over,that says give the guy another chance.
If the test come back an he wasn't drunk.I'll change my tune.
but come on 3:30AM?sounds like bar closing times to me.June 25, 2007
#19 Al in WI said . . .Excellent post by Jeff, and some good arguments.
I fell for Terry's con job as well, and I'm glad he's done with the Bears. We are not the Minnesota Vikings, or Dallas Cowboys we don't need losers and criminals to win games.
June 25, 2007
#20 Al in WI said . . .On the bright side this probably means we keep Alex Brown. We can't get rid of another lineman at this point.
June 25, 2007
#21 jeff said . . .On the Score 670 website they have a pod cast of the breaking news about Tank being cut. Mike Mulligan revealed that Tank refused a breathalizer when he was stopped that is why they brought him in for the blood test.
So that should put to bed any debate about what he was up to.June 25, 2007
#22 big rob said . . .i heard the same thing from someone close to this thing. i hear the minute jerry heard about the refusal to take the breath test, he called everyone and announced he was cutting the player.
June 25, 2007
#23 Ditka Forever said . . .http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3550
Looks like Vasher is a lock for 5 more years!!
One chapter closes and another one opens...
The circle of life is such a beautiful thing.....
June 25, 2007
#24 Megan said . . .Any moron who was on double secret probation who still goes out and abuses the ten second chances he's been given deserves no sympathy.
"Fat drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
June 26, 2007
Ditka Forever, AMEN!
BUh, BYeJune 26, 2007
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