CHICAGO -- Tank Johnson was released Monday by the Chicago
Bears, who are "embarrassed" by the defensive tackle's legal
troubles and say he "compromised the credibility" of the team.
Johnson was waived three days after he was pulled over by police
in Arizona. He already had been suspended for the first eight games
of the 2007 season for violating probation on a gun charge. He
spent two months in jail and was released in May.
"We are upset and embarrassed by Tank's actions last week,"
general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement. "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."
Police in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert said Johnson was stopped
for driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone at 3:30 a.m. Friday and the
officer made observations that led him to believe Johnson was
impaired.
Sgt. Andrew Duncan, a police spokesman, said Johnson was
arrested for "DUI Impaired to the Slightest Degree" but was
released without being booked or charged.
Duncan said Johnson was taken to the Gilbert police station,
where officials drew blood for a blood-alcohol content test before
his release. He described Johnson as "very cooperative."
Test results aren't expected for up to two weeks, and they would
be sent to Gilbert town prosecutors for consideration of any
charges.
Johnson had called his suspension an "opportunity for me to
move forward." NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had said the
suspension could be reduced to six games if Johnson had no further
involvement with law enforcement and underwent counseling.
"A lot of people within our organization gave extra time and
energy to support Tank: players, coaches and our front office,"
Bears coach Lovie Smith said in a statement. "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."
Johnson released a statement Monday evening through his Chicago
attorney Lorna Propes:
"I want to thank the Bears organization and fans for their
support during a difficult time," he said. "I regret that I have
to leave Chicago under these circumstances and wish my friends at
the Chicago Bears nothing but the best."
Last December, police raided the 300-pound defensive tackle's
suburban Chicago home and found six unregistered firearms -- a
violation of his probation on an earlier gun charge.
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.
GM Jerry Angelo
That charge stemmed from Johnson's 2005 arrest after a Chicago
nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his SUV.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
Two days after last December's raid, Willie B. Posey, Johnson's
bodyguard, was shot and killed in an early morning fight while he
and Johnson were at a Chicago nightclub.
Johnson was suspended by the Bears for one game for being at the
club. He played in the Super Bowl as the Bears lost to
Indianapolis.
In March, Johnson began his two-month jail stint and during his
time he was visited by numerous teammates and members of the Bears
staff.
"I went to go see him a couple of times when he was there. As
far as the situation now, it's very unfortunate," defensive back
Nathan Vasher said.
"Tank is one of my closest friends here in Chicago. It's really
hard to see him go through some of the things that he has. But I
think sometimes the Bears were kind of pushed into a corner because
we had been able to support him throughout this whole ordeal. I
think you have to be accountable for your actions and the Chicago
Bears had to do what was needed."
Vasher said he was surprised that Johnson would be involved in
another incident.
"I was really convinced that Tank had more than thought about
the time he did in prison or just every other compromising
situation that he has been in, not to jeopardize that any
further," Vasher said. "It's disheartening for something like
that to happen."
Last month, Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons
charge stemming from the December raid as part of a deal with
prosecutors that kept him from serving more time in jail. He was
ordered to serve 45 days, which he served concurrently with the
sentence for violating his probation.
Johnson was chosen by the Bears in the second round of the 2004
draft out of Washington. He played in 46 games, starting 15.
For his career, Johnson has registered 63 tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defensed. The departure of Johnson further weakens a tackle corps that has suffered plenty of attrition this offseason.
Veteran tackles Alfonso Boone (to Kansas City) and Ian Scott (to Philadelphia) exited the Bears as unrestricted free agents this spring. The team's top tackle, two-time Pro Bowl performer Tommie Harris, is rehabilitating from hamstring surgery that cut short his 2006 season and was only recently cleared to return to the field.
That means Chicago may have to rely on young and untested tackles, like second-year pro Dusty Dvoracek, a third-round choice who missed his entire 2006 rookie season because of a foot injury, to fill the void. The Bears did sign one unrestricted free agent, four-year veteran Anthony Adams, formerly of San Francisco.
Because he has accrued only three seasons toward the NFL pension plan, Johnson is subject to waivers, but it is unlikely, given his circumstances, that the former University of Washington star will be claimed by another club. If he is not, Johnson will become a free agent able to sign with any team.
Johnson, 25, had two seasons remaining on his original rookie contract with Chicago, at base salaries of $510,000 for 2007 and $548,750 in 2008.
The Associated Press and ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli contributed to this report.