Bears should cut Tank Johnson

What a stupid idiotic fool. He won't be back.

Remember David Terrell? First round pick? Well, he had his troubles on the field, but he also had problems obeying traffic laws - that was what got him traded or cut or whatever. I'll be surprised if Johnson plays for the Bears again, especially after the murder. What the hell were these fools doing out on a Friday night after a bust? And who are they hanging out with? This guy just got killed!

Time for Tank to move on - we don't need his foolish dangerous behavior.

Love Smith needs to tell his players that nothing good happens in bars after midnight, not to have an arsenal in their homes, stop hanging around with thugs, and take a limo when you're out boozin'!

Roman responds: Now there's sound advice.

Roman, A lot of young people go to bars and UN-WIND. I don't and I never was much for clubs. A lot of people go to clubs and no fights break out. Clubs are open 5 or 6 days a week and you do sometimes hear about patrons getting shot and killed. For the number of bars/clubs in Chicagoland area there is not exactly an overwhelming amount of deaths in bars/clubs. If you compare the number of patrons killed in bars/clubs to the number of car accidents with fatalities with 16-19 year-olds you can conclude that going to a bar/club is safer than you letting your teen drive a car. If Tank's body-guard had been ran over by a 19 year-old I think it would make the news and still not be newsworthy. I chalk this up to wrong place-wrong time. Is it bad on Tank's part that his friend got killed. NO WAY!!I think what should matter most is that a young man(good/bad) lost his life. To me,it's no less or greater a loss than someone dying from a heart attack. Loss of life is sad and should not be sensationalized like I feel this will be. Does anyone remember a D linemen with the BEARS who died with his date in a car accident about 14-15 years ago? Do you remember his name?.....I didn't think so. This too will be forgotten. Fred Washington is your trivia answer. GO BEARS!!!

Roman responds: Well, call me naive, but I don't think it's too much to ask Tank to unwind in what I'm sure is a very comfortable home with his girlfriend and two kids who probably have been traumatized by all this nonsense. There's plenty of time to go to the bars once the dust settled. It was a stupid, stupid decision, and I'm starting to think it was made by a very unintelligent young man. I'm not saying it was Tank's fault Posey got killed, I'm saying Tank has become an untenable distraction for a team trying to win the Super Bowl and should be cut. If Tank wants to pretend he's Tony Montana with guns, drugs and armed-robber associates, then he's going to have to deal with the consequences.

I think it may be time to terminate Tank. Why allow this potentially dangerous individual hide behind a Bears jersey any further? Cocktails and late nights are one thing - guns and fatalities are another.

First--I'm a black man.

Second--it's important to recognize that Tank Johnson's race certainly played some part in how he is and was treated by the authorities.

Third--that just makes him an even bigger idiot. I have no idea what he was thinking, going out after getting busted for the things he and Posey got busted for. Oh, wait, that's just it--he wasn't thinking, because if he were, he'd have realized that a black man, on probation for a weapons violation and recently busted for another, is going to invite a higher level of scrutiny than most people. I suppose you could say that they're obviously troubled people--but is that an excuse? Really--let's show some sense of responsibility, people.

And anyone who feels inclined to say this situation proves Posey and Johnson needed those guns for their own protection can stop right there--does anyone think giving guns to two guys with judgement that diminished would have made that situation anything other than a bloodbath?

Griping about how the Bears organization shouldn't get involved in Johnson's personal life won't work either. I'll put it to you like this: if I'm late to work more than a few times, I'll get fired. If any normal person gets busted for parole violation, generally employers can find a reason for them not to be there. Look--Johnson makes a lot of money and has a high-profile job. I'm going to stop the bee-ess right now and tell you that does mean he should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us. Johnson needs to be suspended without pay for the rest of the season. I only hope he can't buy his way out of getting his kids taken away from him.

Lots will undoubtedly be said about the logic of using the "race" card when discussing issues like this. This is how it is, folks--Black people are held to different standards than white people are (the same is true for people of any non-white color). Anyone who tries to say that Johnson is not obligated to be an ambassador for his race is either incurably naive, completely ignorant, or both. Facts, as I say so often, are facts: until we have a truly equitable society, people in marginalized social groups have to understand they have to be 150% as good as members of the dominant social class just to be perceived as equals. Johnson should have known that. It's a shame that money (for now, at least) gives him an excuse not to.

Eh, I've got more, but I've rambled enough.

Roman responds: You know, one thing I always try to do when writing or conversing is to put myself in the other person's shoes. But I always try to be careful when that other person is black. I have no idea what it would be like to be black in this country. I think Chris Rock said it best at one of his concerts when he told the audience: "There's not a white man in here who would trade places with me, and I'm rich." He's right. I wouldn't want to be stopped for no reason or have a security guard follow me in a store just because of my race. But having said that, Darryl, I think more than race, socio-economic class plays a role in these incidents. Tank is black, but he's rich. And to me, that's why that cop dropped resisting arrest charges against him. Cops love to buddy up to athletes. But if you were a cop, would you have gone into Tank's home the other day, knowing Posey was a convicted armed robber and was armed to the teeth, and not have wanted an army backing you up? I think the answer's obvious.

OK.. Quick question. Do you know what it's like to have someone enter your home and it still feel like home? If his friend had killed someone then I can say that he showed bad judgment. Channel 5 news said that Tank Johnson was dancing on the floor when the fight broke out. How can a man be wrong if his friend was a shooting victim? Obviously when Tank UN-WIND at home his neighbors have somewhat of a problem with that. OK poor judgment because he wasn't with his family. But who is to say that they are even in Gurnee or the Chicago-land area. Why can't a man venture wherever he wants and break no laws and not be considered an idiot? I think this is just a bunch of people pointing fingers and making something about really nothing. If his friend was shot dead at the movies some people would have said he should have been home. Having the police enter your home and rummage around is really no different than a burglar sifting through your stuff. Haven't you heard that you feel violated after someone put your life on front street? I had my home broken into and didn't like to walk around it anymore. I wanted to move immediately. If he stayed home and played his music a little too loud who is to say his neighbor wouldn't have called the cops? Why are we talking about this indivdual and making assumptions and declarations about his personal life when it is really a cluster of bad things that is happening to him. Live by the gun, die by the gun. Is that an honest assessment or just a plethora of bad luck . Didn't Ray Lewis have to stand before the glare of these simular circumstances. I'm not making light of his situation but who but the media brings that up. If ever. Didn't he become Superbowl MVP the next year. Just like then,I thought it was a shame the loss of life took a back seat to the arcane circus that ensued. I think it's sad that Willie Posey getting killed in a night club is an indictment against Tank Johnson. Why do we criticize people so much for doing the things we wouldn't do. What's good for William may not be good for Jermaine or Grizz. I'm not gonna say he's wrong and I won't say he's right. The worse thing that happened didn't even happen to the BEARS or Tank. At least we all can LIVE with it. I honestly do not think this will be a distraction for the BEARS. Maybe for MR.Posey's family. That said,GO BEARS!!!!

Roman responds: William, the police didn't break into Tank's house and start rummaging around. They secured a search warrant and confiscated SIX GUNS, including ASSAULT WEAPONS. Tank can afford - or should be able to afford - pretty good lawyers, so they're not going to treat him like some average guy. And do you think you have the same chance of getting shot at a movie theater as you would at the Ice Bar at 1 a.m.? At some point, you have to act like an adult. Yes, the media will scrutinize him because he's a Bear. We did the same thing with Urlacher for his paternity case.

So where is Tank going to be dancing tonight? Somewhere, somehow, one can be sure this "man's man" will be out getting his freak on. Angelo, if you're listening, cut this guy loose. Trade him to the Raiders for some office supplies.

Roman,I"m just saying that it is not a distraction to the BEARS... Maybe if the media won't let a situation die and wave a mike in the players face and keep asking their opinion about something because it is the media's job to make a mountain out of a mole-hill. I'm not the media so when I turn the game on the last thing I'm wondering is if it's a distraction to the players. I feel as professionals that they don't get distracted about each other's personal matters as much as people think. If my co-worker gets in trouble the last thing I'm wondering is if he's gonna do his job. If I'm the one in trouble they main thing I'm gonna do is a better job. Do you think that Tank Johnson feel any less violated because the police had a warrant and found items in his house? I wonder how many BEARS or anyone else he came in contact with who told him they were behind him because they know that they too may have a couple of unregistered weapons or recreational drugs in their house and could be subjected to the same scrutiny if it were found out. My sister used to be a nanny for a beloved BEAR who will remain nameless. She said how several of them used to come over and smoke joints. I don't think any less of him because whatever he did he did in the privacy of his home and didn't hurt anyone but himself. It's not like he was puffing away in front of his kids. There are enough people in the world who do. I have never done any type of drugs but I know that this country could legalize it because it is not going away. I'm always being positive in these blogs regardless of the circumstance. Not because I'm a black man and I want to put black people in a good light. That's the way I am because as a Christian who sometimes use profane words I want to see the good side of people. I want to believe in the good I see compared to the negative. I grew up on the south side of Chicago where I knew a bunch of guys like Tank Johnson. Some were friends and some were just guys I had seen in the hood. Some times trouble finds you when you're not looking. I've had situations where the police have harassed me and I KNOW it's because of my race. That didn't stop me from becoming an MP. The only thing that stopped me from being a city cop was the B.S. that I encountered with my fellow police in regard to the treatment of minorities and poor people. I wanted to help people and other people took it upon themselves to hurt people just because they could. Not all of them but enough to turn you off the situation. If you can't solve the problem then become the solution. But that's another story. I look at Tank just like that pitcher Steve Howe who was given plenty of chances after he screwed up a bunch of times. Multiple suspensions but people were so eager to give him more chances. WHY? You have to ask yourself that? Sure, he died after all that in a manner that was along those pitiful lines but still what did anyone see in him anymore than any other drug abuser/trouble maker. Maybe it was easier to give a person a chance because the person in trouble remind you of someone you grew up with eating meals across the dinnertable. And maybe sometimes you won't give a person a chance because he is someone you never wanted to spend a minute with because someone just doesn't like THOSE people. I can't say that anyone on these blogs have a problem with people because of race but when someone can say that Michael Richards was right and you allow them an opportunity to say that, who's to say that you're not condoning it. Unless Michael Richards said that the Bears need a to rush the passer better I can only conclude that what he is famous for lately is rearing it's ugly head on these blogs. Like I said, I only try to see the good because I am a self-professed optimist. Also I must add that it bothered me a great deal to share with you guys the injustices I've endured because of race. I always wanted to talk about football and this team without someone concluding that I was making decisions based more on anything but my race. I just wanted to talk about the sport without being the black guy who thinks this or that. It could be a beautiful thing if all this could be put in the past. But I feel now that when someone read my posts that the first thing they'll see is my color more than the content of my words. That said,GO BEARS!!!

I think sportswriters should speak about the sports. I did not like to hear the details of Urlacher's paternity situation while reading about the sports. THAT was a distraction. I care less if Jordan or Urlacher have sex with groupies and have kids out of wed-lock. I watch sports for the sport and read up on sports for the sport. Are you guys up on the times and sense that we fans don't read STAR or Inquirer because we just don't wanna know. I know sex sells but if it isn't a beautiful lady in a bikini I don't care about it. Not in my sportspage. No one opens sports with what women do unless it's a slow news day. We would rather read about sports and not their social life. I've found out a lot of things about my hero Payton that I wish I never knew. What he did in his private life does not quantify or detract from his sports life. It is just too gossipy when you guys do that. Maybe other guys like it-I don't. I can skip over it but I have an opinion that I'd like to share on the matter.

Good guys usually have the proper paperwork and safety awareness with all firearms. They don't hangout with felons or try to convince others that a friend got a bad rap and was not guilty. ( fight with Boone at training camp)
Good guys are aware of the things small children can find in a home and will take the time to make tragic accidents not happen. A loaded weapon is an accident waiting to happen.!
Bad judgement..? To say the least it is/was and will be again in the near future. Send him to the Bengals, they like criminals.

In the beginning, people wondered why Tank had those guns in his house. I think the death of his friend explains it all. Being a celebrity, especially an athlete is a dangerous lifestyle. There are so many stories of athletes walking into bars and having sports fans heckle and harrass them. Tank and Posey were probably just spending time with friends when some thug decided to start a fight with them. Posey was probably unarmed and some sports jerk shot him. If anything, it validates Tank and Posey's possession of guns for protection.

The police should assume responsibility for this killing because they were the ones who took Posey's guns away. If Posey still had his gun with him, everyone would still be alive today. Tank bought those guns legally, only he forgot to register them in Illinois. The police take them away and now a man lays dead. The police are the ones responsible for this killing.

Roman responds: So you would have preferred that Posey was armed and got in a shoot-out outside a popular River North bar. As I said before, the next story I read about an athlete's life being saved because he had a gun will be the FIRST.

Overpaid, under-educated, with his best friend a drug user, the perfect formula for failure in life. What is a family man with two young kids doing at a club at 2AM in the morning, right after the police raid his house for weapons? Dump him today..off the team, out of the NFL.

Johnson must never wear the Bear uniform again.
I didn't feel this way prior to the bar shooting, but what kind of clueless loser puts himself in that sort of situation in the middle of all the other controversy?
Cut him and move on. And sure, he'll get picked up eventually, have some good games for another team and everyone will ridicule the Bears for cutting him.
Too bad.
Al Harris and Todd Bell were pretty damn good, too. And in the end, their absence from the 1985 team (over contract disputes) meant squat.
This team isn't the Bengals or the Raiders - this team is the Bears. Hopefully the GM and the Coach feel likewise.

How sad that race has to be brought into this.With people like Obama being a favorite to be our next president,I thought we were past this.
Tank obviously used very bad judgment,at the very least,over and over again.Night clubs are not where you should be if you are about to be charged with violating your probation.
I dont want Tank on my favorite team,not because hes black,but because he is a distraction and I really dont like thuggish people.If Urlacher were to act in a similar fashion,I would feel the same way.Is it asking too much for our players to be good citizens?

If Tommie Harris weren't on the IR, Tank would be history already. The team doesn't need another Alonzo Spellman distraction, nor does the Bear franchise need to further sully it's once great name by suffering dangerous buffoons like Tank Johnson. Cut him and suck it up. Can you imagine Papa Bear, Butkus, or Singletary putting up with Tank Johnson's behavior? Halas would have canned him, Butkus would have beat him, and Singletary would have shamed him.

Cut the crap and harden your hearts. The Bears will never do it. It's about money, always has been, always will be. The final decision will be profit oriented. Those are the facts. So get ready for the result. It is always the same in any situation involving big bucks. We just like to wax on poetically about how it should not be, but it is.

No need to cut him. At this point, somebody's going to have to revoke his parole before next week's game, and then the Bears can move him to whatever the NFL calls their restricted/off field list. It's less of a distraction in the long run if they just wait the week.

Antonio Garay has his big chance right now to prove that he deserves to play next season.

All of the readers keep talking about Tank's bad judgment for going to a nightclub after the raid on his home, and indicating that this is the straw that dictates that Tank should be cut. Have we all forgotten what it's like to be a know-it-all 25 year old? Although college-educated, I can't count the number of times I partied into the wee hours of the morning on a work night, and stumbled into bed in time to get 2 hours of sleep. The clubs were packed with other twenty-somethings like me who worked every day, but lived for nightlife. Was my judgment poor? Definitely. Thankfully, I didn't get shot, (and my mother and employers didn't find out).

The point is, we've all done stupid stuff during our younger years. I don't recall everybody calling for Michael Jordon to be cut because of his gambling problems. And didn't Scottie Pippen get arrested a couple of times for having a gun in his car?

Some of us even have good friends who are not quite as "upstanding" as we are, but do we write off lifelong friendships just like that? I sure Tank saw something good in his loyal friend, and wanted to give him a chance, in spite of his past.

Yes, Tank has done some stupid stuff, and it's time for him to grow up real fast. The death of his best friend will force him into manhood, and out of the pampered pro syndrome. Therefore, the Bears definitely should NOT cut him now.

I think it would be fair to give the legal system a chance with Tank. I live in Minnesota and I am a life long Bears fan. Most of what happened on the "love boat" incident up here was blown out of proportion by the media. Tank made some serious mistakes, but he stood by a friend and may have been trying to help him right his life. Let's let the courts do there thing, before every one jumps on the Tank! If he is guilty, he will certainly be punished. If he is not guilty then the Bears can try to help him be more thoughtful about his friends and situations. Let's cut him a break and realize he is human, with human frailities and emotions. He made a mistake(s). He is a young man making a lot of money. Counseling is what he needs right now not criticism.

I believe that you stick by your friends/teammates and family when they are in trouble and need help. I do not know what Tank has done that warrants releasing him. the courts will give him his punishment and the Bears should order him to get counseling. I am white and live in an integrated suburburb of Chicago. I had black neighbors that were "serviced" by MEG (metropolitan enforcement group). my 2 points are that Tank is pretty dumb and the police definitely over reacted. first, Tank is old enough to know that young black men surrounded by pit bulls, smoking weed and firing guns in their back yard in basically a white suburb would bring some heat from the police. especially after you have already been in trouble. second, it was not necessary to bring MEG over to kick doors in and grandstand for the media. for what? owning legally purchased guns (a misdemeanor charge, like a ticket) and a little weed? it is a waste of time and taxpayer money. there are many other options that the police had to deal with this situation other than a great big show of force and authority. what would have been wrong with sending regular uniformed officers over to "Tanks" home? if anyone thinks that "Tanks" house is the only one that has a few guns and weed in it in Gurnee they are definitely naive. Guns mean different things to different people. if you are raised in an area that has a " gun culture" it is understood that people own firearms. I have a friend who is from Chicago and is now living in Arizona. he loves guns and carries one with him now that Arizona has a conceal and carry law. what is "Tank" guilty of? being a big dumb, aggressive, privileged athlete, with no concept of the law. that would describe many college and professional athletes across america. "Tank"s childhood friend is dead and he will need help to deal with this and many of his own issues. letting him go now to save face is a poor way to show what you stand for.

Keep and support him. First, he's a good player who has made the defense better. Secondly, his biggest mistake is showing loyality to a long time friend, which by the way is a honorable trait. While he has shown poor judgement, it doesn't make him a bad guy or thug, as some have stated. In fact, the experience will help him mature an make better decisions. If every black male sports figure, save a few, didn't associate with friends he's had since childhood that has or had legal problems, he wouldn't have any old friends left. I can understand why he stood by his boyhood friend, regardless of his past. Keep the TANK.

I say wait until you have all the facts before you condemn a man for being shot and killed and another guy just for being with him. No one goes to a club expecting to be shot, just like those people in the law offices didn't go to work expecting it either. Maybe Posey was just standing there and got shot. Is that a crime?
How about saving your righteous indignation for the scumbag who shot and killed another person?

Roman, in your response to Darryl M. you miss the entire point: If Tank Johnson was white his house would never have been raided. The man had six LEGALLY PURCHASED weapons in his home. He wasn't home when his house was searched. He was charged with misdemeanors that will get him no time, because if it does that judge will be outed by the NRA. In fact, in many states not having your guns registered is a ticket, not even a misdemeanor. Yet, the police in Gurnee and the Northern Illinois Task Force spent 6 weeks surveilling his home. They knocked his door down and entered with 20 police officers. Slightly excessive? Maybe a little violative of a persons privacy? This is Lake County, home of racial profiling.We have the Highland Park police, Waukegan's filthy history of discrimination, and a court system that routinely gives more time to minority defendant's than whites for similar crimes.(this is particularly true in drug cases, like having 2 ounces of pot. The white defendant gets themself an attorney and gets some "help" and the charges are reduced. The black or hispanic goes to jail). There are, I would guess, thousands of unregistered guns in Lake County. I never heard of a search acted upon like this, with this many man hours and police present, for such a small case. I came up with one answer; in light of the history of Lake County, a large,young, and rich black man was targeted by a virtually all white legal system. Maybe he was too loud. Maybe they smelled "pot" coming from his backyard. Maybe they didn't like his dogs. Maybe this is America and that shouldn't be grounds for a search. What were the grounds for this search anyway? Have any of you self-righteous reporters asked that question? Tank Johnson did nothing wrong at the night club. Every one has said that. Yet his mere presence of being there should cost him his job, according to you. Luckily for Tank he belongs to a union, and to terminate his contract for this reason would violate it, causing the Bears to pay the remainder. I too feel sad for the young man who lost his life in this club. Not as sad as his childhood friend Tank Johnson, but sad all the same. Let's not pile on in some sort of macabre fashion by punishing someone who had nothing to do with it.

Roman responds: Again, the cops knew who lived with Tank. Posey was a convicted armed robber who did time. Believe me, I think some cops watch the show COPS and cowboy it, especially with blacks. But this wasn't a traffic stop for Driving While Black, this was assault weapons. As for the basis of a search warrant? You said they surveilled his house. They obviously saw things.

I've got a good idea. Why don't we expel every NFL player who owns illegal weapons, who has a criminal past, or who is secretly doping with indetectible drugs. We can then enjoy a criminal-free NFL season with the only one-and-a-half teams worth of players that haven't been expelled. You don't get drafted into the NFL by being a "Nice Guy".

"Is it asking too much for our players to be good citizens?"

-Allan

You can make your own NLF team. It'll be called the Chicago Good Citizens. Of course, you won't win any games, or have a shot a the playoffs, but at least your players will have paid all of their parking tickets.

Roman, you responded to my comment about Posey's unnecessary death by saying, "the next story I read about an athlete's life being saved because he had a gun will be the FIRST."

The whole point is that the police took away their guns and now a possibly innocent man is dead. He did not even have a gun in his possesion and he still got killed. Posey put his life on the line protecting Tank, and perhaps he did his job well. For all we know, he saved Tank's life that night. However, Posey HAD NO GUN, so now HE IS DEAD.

Everyone knows that Tank fits in the equation somehow, either due to a fan heckling him or some other reason. Is an athlete supposed to live in fear, afraid to leave his home? I'm a white man, and even I think the media would treat this story differently if Tank was white. What does a man need to do in order to defend himself, especially if the police take away his only means of protection? I still believe the police are partly responsible for his death.

I agree that Tank has become a huge embarrassment
for the organization, and that he needs to be dismissed. The problem I have with that is not his guilt or innocence, since it it already quite evident that he's guilty of bad judjement beyond any reasonable doubt, and has exhibited little or no regard for his team mates or employers.

My problem is that he'll be picked up by another team the day after he's cut. This says more about the phony nature of the NFL and the facade of respectibility and responsibility they sell as a bill of goods to a gulible audience.

I'm sure the team that snags him off the waiver wire will pontificate on how a good person like Tank deserves a second chance; never once mentioning just how hard he worked at squandering the first one.

It's a practical joke that's being played on us by ownership, and we're the dummies who buy tickets for the privilege of being made fools of.

For all those who think race is a factor in this, if it were Brian urlacher in the same situation it would be just the same. Tank was just plain stupid. You do not keep guns in a house where children can get to them loaded or unloaded. He has plenty of money for gun safes and burglar alarms. The police were watching him for six weeks, and it has been said that they were shooting and smoking pot in the backyard. And the fact that he was already on probation for gun chargers makes him even dumber. Oh and don’t forget that they also found drugs in his home.

You're all right. He shouldn't have chosen another poor black kid from his neighborhood to be his childhood friend, he should have chosen a rich white person from the suburbs. Never mind that a rich white person would have no reason to befriend a black kid from the ghetto.

We're plucking these kids from the lowest end of society with no support and we're throwing millions of dollars at them to play a stupid, dangerous(although entertaining) game. Do we really expect them to behave like Rockefellers?

Roman,

Why does race have to be a factor here? Let's look at the facts and forget about race:

Fact: Tank Johnson was previously arrested and sentence to probation for possession of unregistered fire arms. White or Black, he was on probation.

Fact: Posey was a convicted armed robber living in the same house with Johnson's two children. White or Black, that's a stupid move.

Fact: When someone is on probation for drugs or firearms, having their home searched under any circumstance is normal police business. Black or White, Tank's home could have been searched at any time with one convicted possessor of unregistered firearms and one convicted armed robber residing at his home.

Fact: Tank Johnson was in possession of firearms that violated his parole included assault rifles. The law states that in order to have a firearm, it needs to be registered. There isn't a black law and a white law. Black or White, Tank Johnson was doing something illegal and got arrested.

Fact: Tank Johnson plays for a high profile Chicago Bears team with Super Bowl aspirations. Any NFL player in a similar situation would have received just as much attention no matter the color of their skin. Black or White, Tank Johnson was going to receive plenty of attention for his irresponsibility.

Fact: Johnson went to a night club with this armed robber the day after the both of them were arrested for possesion of firearms and a small amount of marijuana. Any intelligent person would have stayed WAY out of the public's eye. Once again, Black or White has nothing to do with it. It's about intelligence.

The jury is still out on whether or not Tank should be cut. That said, let's not turn this into a race issue. I'm not naive. I know that racism is still alive and well. Just visit any Southside bar and you'll hear the "n word" dropped frequently. But please do NOT turn this into a race issue. It has nothing to do with it. Why are we quick to look at race whenever a person of ethnicity is busted for an obvious crime? He got caught red handed and that's it. Let's not give Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton any more reason to continue their careers as race card players and spinners. Let's treat this situation as is and that's a man screwing up and showing a total lack of responsibility. Black or White has nothing to do with it.

The cops said that they waited until Johnson was at work before they came in. If he brought his family with him on Monday night when he was in St.Louis they still could have avoided him. And avoided putting the children through the trauma. They waited until broad daylight to make an example. Like you said;they watch COPS and it's easier to apprehend someone who might be sleep than someone wide awake watching ALL MY CHILDREN. You can say what you want but this was nothing more than grandstanding. If they were in concert with the BEARS they could have called his house and told the girlfriend he was in a car accident and was at the hospital. After she left they could have entered still and got the cache of weapons and the drugs. Maybe Posey would have driven her and they could have avoided that shoot out they expected. I just don't believe it was a cut and dried situation. And now you guys are calling for him to be kicked because his friend was killed. WOW!

Roman responds: We're calling him to be cut because he's become a huge distraction to the team and is making horrendous choices, including one that may very well lead to incarceration. I didn't agree when the Eagles essentially kicked TO off the team for being a distraction, but this rises to another level.

"[t]hey obviously saw things." Please tell me that's not your best answer. This is the problem with modern journalists. Instead of doing investigative work, like finding out what was behind a search warrant, they all want to be critics. I guess all the money is with being the next Jay Mariotti. The police had their reasons is your response. What an embarrassing response from a news reporter.

Roman responds: Hey Tom, this is a blog. It's for a discussion of topics. I'm not reporting on this story. To get details go to suntimes.com. There's a story in our paper today that says police were acting on a warrant after complaints about Johnson's dogs and gunfire outside his home.

I do believe that we are still in america. I do believe that we are innocent until a court of law determine otherwise. Sports is no different than the rest of our society. Football is a violent game. Anyone who go out and try to hurt people to make a living is not normal. A sports writer cannot do anything except write a column. They are next to lawyers and politicians. I just wonder why TJ living with a white woman causes his door to be bashed in when he was not at home. Let the law decide if TJ is innocent or guilty. Look around you at some of the people who cannot or will not stop the killing in this society. The people in power could stop the killing if they wanted to.

-Ray Micheal

All of these facts were common knowledge before the season even started. If we were going to get all high and mighty in this situation, it should have bee done much earlier.

"Once again, Black or White has nothing to do with it. It's about intelligence."

A Black or White with any intelligence would most likely not choose professional football as a career.

The guns may have been "LEGALLY PURCHASED", but they were not "LEGALLY OWNED", under Illinois law. End of story. Tank Johnson broke the law, and is paying for it. I don't feel a bit sorry for him; he *chose* to be a "celebrity", and should have known the downsides as well as the upsides.

I'm tired of watching the National Felon League. If you accept millions of dollars for basically playing a children's game in front of other people, then you have a moral and social responsibility to act appropriately.

Tank Johnson should be banned from the NFL - or it will remain the National Felon League.

I am black and I agree that what Tank did is stupid borderline mentally special. But, I chose to look at who Mr. Johnson really hurt and what he should go to jail for. Tank hurt his children and his family. I look at the fact that as a black dad it is hard enough to have a positive image and he has six unregistered guns in his home along with weed. There are worse drugs legal that are visible to children but the guns placed everyone in the home in grave danger. It hurts because he has the money and time to visit a gun store or a currency exchange and get the proper id to carry/own a fire arm. We are so worried about a Super Bowl that we are telling parents you can leave your guns and drugs around your kids if your even borderline famous or can afford a decent attorney. Tank is guilty of being a negligent parent, bad role model, lazy, and an idiot. If the NFL suspends players based on this criteria then Tank should be worried.

Romours are that Tank is a gangbabger,the news reports state he is hanging out at a gang bar that continually has gang problems. This guy needs help and keeping him on the Bears does not help him or others that are trying to raise kids to play sports and stay out of trouble and then children sees how they continually give this individual preferential treatment when he continually breaks the law. There are plenty of businesess that would attempt to get rid of someone that brought this type of media attention to thier business.

It is incredible that people can be so judgemental when there lives are not being affected. It's very clear that Mr. Johnson has made very naive decisions that have caused turmoil in his life and others. However there is a death here and that should be the paramount issue. Is it not understood that Mr.Posey has a family that loves and will miss his presence as any family would. How can this be overlooked? The person that has used the most bad judgement here is the KILLER! Tank has the right to go wherever he pleases as long as he's abiding the law. It's easy for people to say that he should have disassociated himself from Mr.Posey due to his criminal backround.How many of us have family members,friends or acquaintances who have made bad decisions and ran afoul of the law? Should we avoid these variuous groups of people in our lives? Should we impeach the president for making a bad decision about going to war in Iraq based on a lie? What about the legal system that has falsely convicted people knowingly should we disassociate outselves from it? What about Mayor Daley and his cronies? Should he even be alowed to run for office again due to his bad decisions? These are all cases of bad judgement and it should not cost a man his means of supporting his family when he did nothing more than go out dancing days after a raid on his house. That is why we supposely have a legal system which suggest that you are innocent until PROVEN guilty. We can all be judgemental however I guarantee you that all of us have done things that would be considered bad judgement and felt stupid about. Just remember the next stupid thing you do because it will happen and then ask yourself should I resign from my job because I've just used bad judgment? Be careful those who judge will ultimately be judge.

Roman responds: When you decide to play in the NFL, you decide to put yourself in the media spotlight. That means the decisions you make will be analyzed.

Roman, your point about assault rifles is meaningless and uninformed. the type of weapons in Tanks house are not illegal to own and are not true assault rifles. they are no more dangerous than any other semi auto firearm of the same caliber. it is part of the exaggeration used to justify the overzealous use of force. ordinary police deal with dangerous people everday. to use a task force to spend weeks using surveillance to investigate and storm his house is excessive. all of that time, energy and expense should be spent on catching real criminals. the police have not said what their justification was yet and the charges are minimal. so it could be just as obvious that they made such a fuss because Tank is a privileged black athlete living in a white area as any other reason. I doubt very much that it would happen to Urlacher. Tank is lucky that he can afford good lawyers. if he were poor, he would be at the mercy of an unbalanced justice system. Tank and Posey deserve the benifit of doubt that any Amercian should get.

Roman responds: I agree the legal system is unbalanced against blacks and the poor. No question. I do not agree the police were overzealous in this case. And I don't know weaponry, but a "semi auto firearm" sounds pretty dangerous. And Posey was a convicted armed robber. To me, that says it all.

I think the bears should deactivate him for the season not cut him. He didnt shot his friend, he was just there(hes dumb for going out) His passed convictions is because he followed his constitional right to bear arms. Its not like he assaulted, robbed or killed anyone. i just hope the media lets this die down, because they are the ones(excluding you roman lol) whos gonna cause destractions if they keep asking the bears about it. Let the courts handle it, we have a superbowl to win

You know what I don't know Mr.Posey. I don't know the person that he was accused of robbing. But I know of many instances where you can be convicted just by going along for the ride. I think it's a shame how the media can come to a conclusion and not be impartial. When those people died in that night club in Chicago everyone said that some of them should have been at home with their families at the time. Some media outlets brought up how some of those innocent people had arrest records like that truly mattered. When will you see that the media has a way of painting eloquent portraits of some people and ugly broad strokes of others. A poor man has no chance in the judicial system regardless of color. Being arrested usually means that the indiginant person WILL be convicted. I don't know MR. Posey but I know plenty of people like him including myself who was too poor to avoid conviction.

I understand that six guns were found in his house. I understand that his bodyguard had drugs and was shot down in a night club. We also live in Chicago were the city is infested with gangs, drugs, and assult rifles that are being used against black men each day. Why don't police officials attack them. I think Tank is an easier and more safe target than any inner city criminal and ,to be frank, Gurnee police have nothing else to but write tickets and charge people with low profile crimes. I also see drugs being sold and people dying in the streets everyday and nine times out of ten the media doesn't report on them. I also see police officers turn there shoulder on crime every day. The funny part is that Gurnee police brought out the swat team for Tank. This act from Tank, if he is violated, will not land him in jail for a long time. I say to the police, I'm glad your teying to clean up the streets, but lets go after some real criminals and make some real busts....... Not Tank Johnson!

as they say "the devil is in the details". I believe the actions of the police were based on their reactions to the fear of people in the neighborhood. they might have been trying to intimidate Tank and Posey into moving somewhere else. the reason that I say that the police were overzealous is because there were many other options at their disposal on how to handle this issue. as I said before I have seen it happen in person with much of the same faulty reasoning and result. a bunch of gung ho cops in paramilitary gear with real assault rifles laying siege to an urban dwelling, only to turn up basically minimal law infractions. if they had found real assault weapons, or large quantities of cash or drugs I would understand. if they were doing surveillance they would have some idea of what was going on in the house. they could have handled it a dozen different ways. don't let the definitions confuse you, all guns are dangerous. your view of Posey is simplistic and contradicts your supposed agreement of an unbalanced legal system. he was a convicted criminal and also a free man who had done his time. that all being said both Tank and Posey have show that they made poor decisions and one is dead because of it. lets all hope that were ever Tank ends up he makes better decisions in the future.

Roman responds: I do hope Tank gets his life together. I felt sorry for him as he left Northwestern Hospital after Posey died. And yes, you and I can argue the philosophy of the unbalanced legal system, but we're not going into a house filled with weapons and inhabited by a convicted armed robber. I'm willing to criticize gung-ho cops, but all I know is if it were me going in there, I'd want to be ready for anything.

If Tank played for the Dolphins, Jaguars, Bucs, Texans, or Cowboys (any other 2nd amendment fans want to chime in?) he'd have been living in a place where the weapons violations wouldn't even exist. Cutting him would be a total knee jerk.

First of all I believe a man is supposed to be innocent before proven guilty. Yes there were guns in the house and pot-who's room were they in? Was it his girl friends room? Does anyone know from the media? Could it been Tanks friend, who was killed? It most likely was. We have not heard the facts. I usually agree with Mr Marrioti but for him to say release Tank at this time without hearing the facts on the case is way to premature. Tank trusted a childhood friend that took advantage of him. We all make mistake's, let him play. They both should not of gone out that evening and went to a bar, that was a mistake, but his good friend was murdered and Marroti wants him fired, and is convecting him-thats not the way the law system works, sorry mr media.

The Bears knew what the potential problems were when they drafted him. It seems to me that they assumed an obligation similar to that of any organization who employs somebody with a problematic past.

If a mistake was made three years ago (as it appears) now it is necessary for the Bears to face up to that responsibility and do whatever is possible to see if they can't get the player back on his feet and headed in the right direction.

To cut and run now that problems have surfaced to is convenient and cowardly and doing so would hardly make me feel more positive about the organization.

The hypocrisy of the press in this issue is also disturbing. Are these the same people who complained for years about the Bears passing up Randy Moss because they feared future problems ?

the comment of the week:if you were to search any of Tank Johnsons neighbors houses you would have likely found drugs,guns and child pornography.Who is actually more dangerous?Tank Johnson or the real criminals?

How does what Tank Johnson do AFFECTS US ALL? The only distraction I really see with the Tank saga is that the media has something to write about. If it wasn't for that we wouldn't have had much to talk about this week. Maybe we could have talked about the basketball brawl but that is only a passing situation. I'm not gonna have a sportswriter tell me how I should think,feel or care about anything regarding sports. GO BEARS!!!

Star Athletes are coddled through high school, college then the pro's if they make it. The rookies should be made to work at Mcdonalds or a crappy low paying job in the offseason, to show what a lot of people who don't play a freaking GAME for a living have to put with. I don't care if you come from a bad neighborhood, having to work a job and have little responsibilty builds character and gives you perspective. Give them their signing bonuses after they spend a summer hauling trash, mopping floors, cleaning the deep fryers and slinging burgers and then see if they don't appreciate what they have.

I am really surprised how many people are yelling for Tank to be dismissed from the team because they found guns in his house. You know how many people in and around Gurnee have arsenals? Plenty! Hell in Texas it would not have even been illegal.

If you guys wonder why this situation is polarizing the city and the people on these blogs:please note that the reason people refuse to talk about religion,politics and race is because it's the 3 topics where you show your ignorance.

Roman responds: I don't think it necessarily shows ignorance, as much as passion. And when people discuss something passionately, they often don't listen to contrary opinions.

Tank has shown bad judgement. But you could say the same thing for jerry angelo and the bears organization. If they release tank, they should release angelo too. \

Suspend without pay. Provide support, counsel, etc. If he gets his life together, he plays next year. If not, he's gone. If he plays again this year, it is a clear and unequivocal sign that winning (and the subsequent money) is all that matters. It also is a clear message that players can do whatever they want . . . as long as they play well and stay out of jail.

I do not believe anyone condone the behavior of Tank Johnson. We're talking about a young man who does not truly understand the price that comes with being a star as well as a celebrity. He's from a generation that seems to believe society owes him everything and he owes society nothing. However, does that mean society should give up on him? Maybe...Maybe not. I think with the lost of a friend who he held on a high post, the media and society who is asking for his head, and the Chicago Bears who is considering his future and his family's future; I think that is a true wake up call. I personally think the Bears should make him a last chance agreement, along with making some stipulations in his contract. Tank has to be held accountable for his actions and I think the Bears can issue some disciplinary action that will address his behavior as a Chicago Bear. But to say let him go because of his bad judgements is more than a judgenment call. No one is going to stay away from the Bears because they decided to keep him. If they do decide to let him go, at least trade him to the Oakland Raiders who has a system that knows how to channel Bad Boy behavior into raw football energy.

Johnson did not just have bad judgment. He broke the law. Twice. The same law. And he endangered his children, his neighbors, and everyone else within 300 yards.

His punishment should come from the State of Illinois whose laws he broke, not from the Chicago Bears. But he is likely to be punished not as a black man or even as an ordinary American, but as a rich famous athlete who is above the law. That is to say, not punished at all.

Obviously Tank Johnson needs professional help. To make things fair to both the fans, the Bears, and to Tank, I think the Bears should require Tank to seek immediate help. If he is agreeable to that (and there are no "ands" "ifs" or "buts" about getting therapy and attending), he should be allowed to play until such time as he answers the legal charges of not having a valid FOID card from the state. I agree with what some of the others have written "nothing good happens at a bar after 1 o'clock in the morning". I would hope and pray that professional counseling will show him that, but in the end, Tank is going to have to make the decision to get his life in order...don't throw away a God-given talent like some others before you have.

This whole thing whether this is a distraction or not is ridiculious what it is seems to me we have a bunch of people who want to pass judgement when if they were to have their closets open they would want them shut immediately. Yes, Tank Johnson made some poor decisions & used poor judgement but who hasn't in their lives. Dismissing him from the team what will that prove. The Bears invested in Tank and now they have to secure their investment. First, He should be fined by the team for behavior detrimental to the team. Second, have him seek counseling to address the need to have these weapons or what internal problems he may be dealing with. This is how you demonstrate to your employee that you are concerned as employer but most of all as a HUMAN! That's right for some who have never grown up in a society where you are scrutinzed purely on your race you would never understand. Remember you are the privilaged ones and no matter what you do you are given an opportunity to redeem yourself. But others living under this scrutiny aren't given such chances. I know this is the way of the society and it may never change but do we always have to follow the leader. It is time to be a leader (Tank Included) and be held accountable meaning the Bears knew what they were getting into when they drafted this young man and now they have to correct it by showing compassion and be the Leader and assist their Player (Investment) and give him the opportunity to redeem himself. Also, Roman tell the individuals who have never walked in those shoes they need to try on a pair before they judge on how they fit. They have no clue and shouldn't speak on something they haven't experienced. It is unfortunate that during the time of grief this how some feel a man should be treated and that is to take the one thing he LOVES and punish him by taking it away, instead of embracing him to let him know that he has support (Not condoning his actions but giving some guidiance) something that could have prevented the problem in the first place. At this point it is not about the team winning a game it is about a team winning in HUMANITY!!! GO BEARS!!!

To preface this, I am a white guy who doesn't like or own guns. While I agree that Tank is using atrocious judgment repeatedly, who has ever suggested the Bears cut Olin Kreutz for breaking a teammates jaw at a drunken firing range party? No one. Who ever suggested dumping Urlacher for fathering a kid out of wedlock? As far as the weapons "in plain sight" yes, it's stupid, but I doubt a 3 year old will fire an assault weapon. What the Bears should do is say, look, you've had a ton of bad things associated with you - if you voluntarily renounce weapon ownership and do positive things, not just apologize and go drinking, we'll keep you. Tank should take that deal in a heartbeat. If he doesn't, he's as stubborn as T.O. I do feel sorry for his background, having a mom who was a crackhead, and I'm tired of Rick Morrissey of the Tribune throwing Bears under the bus for everything from a bad QB rating to having unregistered weapons. Rick Morrissey is a judgmental clown. Sorry Rick, that we all can't have the white middle aged maturity you have when you're just a 25 year old black man who has grown up in the ghetto with a crack head mom. Sorry we couldn't self-develop that maturity sooner for you, Big Rick. Thanks for understanding.

Why do all of you media wussies feel like you have to dictate everyone else's lives? Is it due to fear that you cannot handle your OWN BUSINESS?

Tank stays.

The Bears are not a High School, nor are they an Etiquette school.

He plays football as long as he is not locked-up.

For inspiration, look at Ray Lewis - Super Bowl Champion.

This is a violent game, and unless the law says that a player should be off the streets, he should be on the field.

STOP MESSING THIS SEASON UP FOR THE BEARS, YOU DIRTY, POWER AND GLORY-HUNGRY MEDIA PEOPLE!

Roman, with some of the insensitive comments that some of your colleagues are making I wouldn't be surprised if Jesse Jackson called out to people to boycott the Suntimes. With Telander saying a guy could get iced at the Ice Bar,that is kind of a snide remark. If you want to know what people in the Black community feel is an insensitive remark to someone's death,things like that don't go over too well. You have to remember that you guys are journalists first and some of you are very liked-minded. Sometimes you guys don't have differing opinions. You can't see how someone will feel because you have coworkers who agree with you right off the bat. Sooner or later you guys will see that you are pandering to the fans to think like you when all they want to do is be entertained. It's one thing to report the news another to insert your influence to the masses. There will be those who will agree with you and some whose opinion you will not change. Rememeber the s-storm that came about with Guillen calling Jay the F_ word. Were you guys surprised at the positive response that Ozzie and the negatives that Jay had? Fans sometimes aren't looking to sully their team in any way. They stand behind them irregadless of what they do. Black people stood behind OJ who many thought was a murderer (including myself) because they were tired of the system not going in their favor. I knew he was a murderer and never celebrated him getting off because I thought the loss of life was overlooked by the courts and the media. It all became the let's lock OJ up show without evidence to place him on the scene. If Mark Furman was not an proven racist who knows where the situation might have ended. What the verdict might have been. Not only was OJ on trial everyone involved was on trial who came in contact with the situation. That is why so many people black and white don't want to see Tank kicked off the team. The distrust of the justice system is an ongoing thing. We were told by our Government that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. We are at war now because of what the government told us. You see day end and day out how the approval rating dips a little more with each unnecessary death. When death is made light of people have a tendency to not like what the person is selling. Jay,in the article today brought up all these past transgressions of all these players and left out so many. The average fan doesn't even think of those things and have forgotten them. Only when Jay and company bring it up do we even remember them. You guys fail to realize that it's your job to bring it up but the average man's job to put the BS out of their head. Life is hard enough without someone harping on someone's past deeds. Many people want to put the past in the past. No one wants to have their bad past brought up and don't really want to be reminded of someone else's. You're a nice guy from what I can see,Roman . I don't post blogs anywhere but in the Suntimes because of my perception of you. If I felt that you were a Jay-type I wouldn't bother. You don't have to post this, this is just a note from me to you. Like I said I think you're a nice guy. Peace..

Roman responds: William, I have to tell you, I've been surprised by the amount of support Tank has received in this blog, and it's caused me to rethink my position. I try not to be knee-jerk, and I still think I would cut Tank if I were the Bears. A lot of you have made valid and insightful arguments in his defense, and as I've said before, I agree 100 percent that the legal system is unjust and biased against the poor. But Tank has been arrested three times in 18 months. Isn't that enough? When I think about why I wouldn't cut him, the first thing that comes to mind is it would hurt the team. So how do you weigh the image of your entire organization against strengthening your defensive line? You've got fans, advertisers and sponsors to think about. And you've given Tank a few chances already. I think they should cut him.

You know what ,I came on here last week and trashed tank ,but you know there is 2 sides to everything. hey if it was me or you we wouldn't even be in the news but becuase it's tank everyone has something to say!!! I fed into the media garbage. Why din't everyone just leave him alone and let him live his life. HEY when I was 25 I was no angel either as a matter of fact I was worse then Tank, but now I got it togther and Iam very successful. The Bears drafted him now the Bears should stick with him it's like a marriage of sorts and after all this may be the bottom TANK needs to see that next time it could be him DEAD! The bears have home field let's start supporting and worring about that instead of this other BS that's a distraction. YOU KNOW WHAT #54 WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID THE MEDIA MAKES THINGS BIGGER THEN THEY REALLY ARE .I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SUNTIMES COLUMNISTS BEING FOLLOWED AROUND CONSTANTLY i'LL BET YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE YOU'LL FIND IS KNOW ANGEL. SO LIGHTEN UP ON THE GUY!!!!!!!!

Roman responds: That's a lot of exclamation marks! And nobody was following Tank around. We only heard about his Ice Bar incident because his bodyguard was shot to death. That's going to make the news.

I do not approve of Tank's behavior but I do not feel he should be "fired". I would require him to go to counseling and report regularly to both the security and personnel people. I would set down limits on where he can be seen and make it clear association with the wrong class of people will not be tolerated. Last chance.

This guy obviously did not come from a great upbringing and needs some strong guidance. Letting him go to another team wont solve the problem.

Bob

Roman, you are wrong. Playing in any pro sport iis an earned privilege and the responsibility you owe is to yourself, your coach and your teammates. No one ever worked as incredibly hard as pro athletes due with the goal of being anyones role model. This 25 y/o made some decisions that were stupid. So has everyone in this world. We have world leaders whose stupid deciosions have cost thousands of lives and regular blue-collars like myself whose stupid decisions wound up being merely a cause for embarassment. Most of us learn something from the mistakes we make. So will Tank...and he'll be a better man for it. Let his coach and teammates do their jobs as "family" and help bring this kid along. Stop being so judgemental and stop calling for his release from the Bears. Tank has a great potential that all of us call assist and nuture. Let he who has not been an a-hole at least once in his life cast the first word.

Roman responds: The difference is when you and I screw up, no one cares. When you choose to play in the NFL, you choose to live in a fishbowl. It's just that simple. And as far as learning from mistakes, how many more times does he have to get arrested before that learning process starts? The thing is, listening to Tank and from what I hear from some reporters, he seems like a fun-loving guy. He's a jokester, and obviously his teammates care about him. But if you owned the Bears and you pay somebody a lot of money and you covered for him after the gun incident, then he goes out partying that very next night, what would you do? Especially if you're trying to win the Super Bowl? I would cut him.

Simple. Ray Lewis keeps getting a pass for pulling shanks, carrying glocks in his young past and now he has found god. You media people have no heart or objectivity. If teams give one player a chance (or 8 as in the case of the Bungels), and that player turns around, more power to them. Moreover, even if the Bears want to dump Tank, play him the rest of the year to try to win a Super Bowl. Why you ask? Because you media will complain and criticize once the decision happens and then forget about it after the first playoff win like an 8yr old with ADD. After the season, they can cut him or deal him, then get grief from you punks for using Tank as a hired gun, and then have you ADD-riddled idiots forget all about it for any of a number of reasons, namely (1) Ben wears a headband again, (2) Malik Allen makes trade demands, (3) Ozzie makes a racial slur against Jewish MLB owners or (4) Alfonso Soriano refuses to go out on the field for the first spring training game unless he is allowed to catch.

Roman responds: First of all, that was pretty funny. Actually made me laugh. Secondly, it was P.J. Brown, I believe, who wants to be traded. Thirdly, judging by your writing - which I enjoyed - you may be suffering from some of that media ADD.

Outstanding blogs pro and con about Tanks future with Bears,but if I may interject why does it seem like the black athletes like T.O,and now tank Johnson undergo constant scrutiny while white athletes like mark mcgwire took steroids almost until he looked like the incredible Hulk and nothing was said.Could it be most whites inherent racism and the envy that these black men make a tremendous amount of money,could be fueling aot of hatred (the money black athletes make im sure most think they dont deserve)and why are whites the first to cry "race card"and at the same time continue to play the race card that has been played on blacks for 400 years?(how hypocritical for them to always say something isnt racial without knowing the motivations.)When whites get "caught"with guns they scream about the rights to bear arms and are backed by the NRA and other whites, when blacks have guns for protection they are portrayed as gangbangers and criminals!I even heard a radio host laughing about the death of Tank johnsons friend Posey this morning ,how could anyone in their right mind laugh at another humans death as he was coming to the defense of a friend?Bears should give him a chance to "prove"himself.Being a black man I know how we can be singled out and expected to achieve above and beyond whites and have I faced racism over and over again just to hear whites scream "reverse racism"and hey "youre playing the race card" whenever blacks point out the facts of racism.While Roman you are smart enough to say you cant judge a person especially a black man without walking in his shoes .The reality is you will never walk in a black persons shoes,because "we" are the ones wearing those shoes.Only we(blacks) will actually understand how it feels to be villified,lied on ,lynched,tortured by rogue cops while whites cheered on the likes of Jon Burge.So Tank Johnson was actually a marked man ,especially after he was found to have a "white" girlfriend(remember jack johnson the boxer?)usually when whites say something is "not" racial 99 out of 100 times it usually is racial.(With all the criminals ,pedophiles.serial killers (84% are white,you would think the police would have bigger fish to fry)yeah Tank made some bad decisions combined with bad luck but how many of us at that age didnt?The media just like Brian Urlacher stated is "blowing this out of proportion"Instead of having sympathy for this young mans plight he has to get up and the morning and hear some clowns on radio laugh about his friends murder.Yeah we have some "classy" media types here in town,Mariotti is calling for Tank Johnson to be fired also.Great job Jay kick a person while they are down that should get you a promotion.Thanks Roman for the time I dont agree with everything you say always but you have a right to your opinion, but so do the fans!

Stop crying about this. I think Tank messed up and will live w/ the consequences. Truth be told we need him to go to miami. So unless you all want to sit around come feb and watch a team other then the bears representing the NFC be quiet. So what the man had weapons, i dont care what the laws are we have rights (granted he had assault weapons yes, but who cares nothing new going on in society these things will be in peoples possessions, would you rather have them in Tank Johnson's home, or some gangbanger down the streets?) and he hangs out w/ thugs. Fact is Tank doesn't pose a threat to anyone. The man is a very talented athlete and is needed for the bears to win. If they cut him or let him go it would be a big mistake and you could kiss any chance of the super bowl good bye! I don't buy in to the theory that he is a god awful man, or a distraction to the team. I guess we will see what happens at 3!

Roman,when I say ignorance I mean how some people say that the race card being played is not racism. Everytime something happens and someone says it's about race someone else comes along and say it's not about race. When is it EVER about race? When someone feels that racism is not the response to someone else's behavior then you are showing ignorance. Ignorance by definition of Websters:lack of knowledge,Unaware. If one person's opinion is that it was about racism how can another be so certain that it isn't. Some people feel like the law is equal and silly head-band rules don't come about from racial inflexibility. Drug laws in America is dictated where a Crack arrest will get you 10 years automatic and everything including smack, meth, H and everything else is a sliding scale conviction. Meaning however much you have dictates punishment. If you're somewhat well-off you'll get probation. Because you'll be able to afford adequate counsel. If you get a crack conviction chances are you're black or a poor minority. You're getting those 10 years we talked about. I don't have a clue what it is to be white. I DO know what it's like to drive the opposite direction past of cop and wonder if he's gonna turn around and roust me. I've had it happen. I've had 6-7 cars past me in motion and the cop pull me over for his convenience. Why didn't he pull those other people over who were driving way faster than I was? Sometimes it's the presumption of guilt that drives some people. I do not know why the police targeted Tank. I do not know if his neighbors had it out for him. I do not know if he had target practice in his back yard. The police said he did, his neighbor said he did. I've learned with goverment that just because you say it's so doesn't mean it's so. One of his neighbors even said that Posey was a personable guy who often stopped and talked about little things. All it takes is one person to set some thing in motion. I can not say if his neighbor who complained on him was a racist or not. I don't know her/him or Tank. I don't perceive that what Tank was doing would be accepted in any community. If you fire shots on the southside the police will come out. People will call if their neighbors have pit bulls and weed smoke permeating the air. I also know where there is a lady in Lake Forest who have 3-4 humongous pot-belly pigs and whose neighbor call the cops every chance they get.There is no racism in this situation it's a quality of life thing. Who wants to live next to a bunch of pigs? I'm not gonna pretend that some people accept or denounce anothers due to race. Not one person on these blogs have given a first hand knowledge of the situation,only what they've heard. That is the ignorance part of this. I don't say give him a chance because it helps the BEARS I say give him a chance because everyone needs one. Being charged with trumped up charges that are not always true don't go away easily. The next time I apply for a job I have to let them know about a misdemeanor conviction that the judge told me to accept because I didn't have a lawyer present and me being there was slowing his court down. I was young and dumb and 15 years later it's a part of my history. If I had an attorney it would've been tossed. It was very minor and it wasn't my fault. It was a presumtion of guilt. Sometimes accepting probation and moving on is better than fighting the situation and pissing a judge off who'll circumvent the law and throw the book at you. It's like treaffic court: if you say guity it's a 75 dollar fine. Plead innocent and ask for a trial and he'll tell you he's gonna throw the book at you. Which one look better?

Another thing I admit is that it is wrong to think that something good would,ve came out of Posey being armed that night. Chances are it would've turned into a blood bath. I'm not crazy about guns. The only time I was around guns was in my 3 years in the ARMY . I have avoided them in my civilian life. As long as there are people in the world there will be guns,drugs and everything legal and illegal. We will not eradicate the use of anything in our lifetime or a great children's great grandchildren's that is illegal. Not one single thing. As long as there are humans there will be illegal activity. Guns will never be banned.

It is really nice to read a bunch of crap from others who are some broke-azz Monday Morning Judge and Jury idiots. Matter of fact, some have become Sociologists, Pyschologists and Behvavior Scentists....*SIGH*

Most of you don't view Mr.
Johnson as a human being.
This is quite apparent in the posts here, and what newspaper sports columnists\critics have to harp about, also.

Don't blow the lilly white peoples Bears season. I know everyone is going to say BUT THIS AIN'T ABOUT RACE!...Okay, and the Bears ain't 12-2 either this year, are they?

Though some African Americans have identified themselves as such, you might as well play for the white team, because you definitely not backing this particular player up. We whine, how come those players don't come back, and help build the communities up? How the hell can they when we judging harsher than some others are doing to him?

Do any of you really THINK if Tank Johnson was a White player, there would be a need for 20 police to bust down their door in lilly white suburban Gurnee and the surrounding suburbs? I can hear the poor little white woman, with the lawyer suing right now, because of the trauma brought to her and the kids....*sheesh*

His friend died. OKAY PEOPLE! Everything else doesn't matter right now!

HIS FRIEND IS DEAD! HE IS 25 YEARS OLD! How many of you if past, 35 can look back to your twenties, and simply say, "That was some Dumb Azz Shyt I was doing!"...

His FRIEND is DEAD!...Get it!

Tank Johnson is inocent untill proven guilty, this is still the USA, right? It appears he is guilty of stupidity, but unless part of his contract has a morals or non repeat gun offender clause; how can he leagally but cut? Many people make stupid mistakes, and still keep their jobs. I believe in seperation of church and state, and also seperation of work, and off work. What you do, or have in your home is your business.

I bet after the game yesterday that you'll see more pro than con because the reality to some people is that the BEARS need Tank to win football games. That's the only thing that matters to The BEARS'management and its fans in the long run. Society can say whatever it likes but the fans will have the last word.

Roman responds: You're right. If the Bears were to keep him - and I don't think they will - and win the Super Bowl, the feel-good story will be how they gave Tank another chance. But if they kept him and they lost before making it to Miami, they'll be perceived as sell-outs who only care about winning. Winning puts everything in context. If they cut him and win it all, they're a team of morals and values. If they cut him and lose, they're idiots.

Roman you know what I know part of the media's job is to sometimes make sure you guys get and create the news, but last week it was gross rexman . Then Tank now it's the Bears defense. I'll tell you what ,If the Bears play the same game in all there playoff games and Super bowl like they did yesterday AND WIN WHO CARES THEY WON!!Don't tell me you guys don't go around following certain players becuase I don't care what you say certain players our the ones that make the news . and you guys get paid If you produce a great story.

Roman responds: You're the second one who's referred to him as Gross Rexman. That's pretty funny. Maybe some of my colleagues sneak around following athletes, but if they do, they do it so clandestinely I don't even know about it. If we had someone following Tank Friday night, I wish he would step forward and tell us what really happened.

1st and foremost my heart goes out to Tank not only for the lost of his friend but for his court battle as well. Second its only the WHITE FOLKS that want the man kicked off the team. Third do you know how many times I called the police, crime stoppers and the lake county megs to report gun and cocaine and nothing has never been done about it. It don't matter anyway, he is a good player and another team will pick him up and pay him more money. Lets get a blog to talk about how murders and shooting go unsolved in North Chicago. Lets get a blog to talk about how police talk to much in the streets. Lets get blog to talk about how all these white men are molesting young people even the Priest.

Douglas,

Unfortunately for Mr. Johnson the dumb stuff he does happens to be illegal and he happens to keep getting caught. He needs to stop hanging out with gangsters and maybe get out of the small arms business. BEARS Super Bowl in 06’ !!!!!!!!!

About this being a distraction to the team: All the quotes I've read from players say that they want him back. No one on the Bears is being kept up at night because they're worried about Tank's future, or grieving over his friend's death. They may empathize with him, but they're professionals and competitors first and foremost. They recognize that Johnson is a solid lineman who can help them win a ring. It will distract them less if he is on the field rather than if they have to study the solutions Turner devises to conpensate for Tank's absence. So much for the 'distraction' argument.
As for the 'image problem', when was it decreed that athletes had to be pillars of the community? These are angry guys playing a violent contact sport. Sure, there are pacifists out there who consider football a career and nothing else, but it's safe to assume the game also attracts those who sought in childhood a relatively safe outlet for aggressive tendencies. It's good that society provides such outlets, but realize that it is not a "cure-all". Some of them are going to become violent off the field (ricky manning), or let their violent mindset dictate how they live their life (assault weapons and pit bulls at home). There is a higher incidence of violence on in professional sports than outside of it. Witness the Knicks-Nuggets brawl. When is the last time you walked into the office and started a fight with a guy in the next cubicle? Or seen it happen? Professional athletes, and professional football players especially, are guys for whom contact sports were invented as a means of control. We don't fight groups next to us anymore. But that ability conferred an evolutionary advantage earlier in the development of civilization, and it is not something that can be erased. So we contain it, and live with it. Live with it, Bears fans. Your heroes are not saints. But they're a very good football team with legitimate Super Bowl chances. So worship your peace loving religious icons Sunday morning, and cheer for the Tank Sunday afternoon. Go Bears!

Love all of you who won't to cut Tank soo easily... If this was Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, or Brian Urlacher, you wouldn't be saying the same things, because they are the stars of the team, while they may be able to survive without tank, because of there defensive line depth... You're beloved bears bottom line is making money... if cutting a player (for integrity of the game, please! ) will cost them money (attendance, etc.), they won't do it...

stop acting like judge and jury with Tank's future. If the court of law finds Tank guilty, he will be punished accordingly by law... Football is a violate game, played by people who have to have a mean streak in them, like it or not. That doesn't give them an excuse to break the law, but don't expect them to be boyscouts... if Tank continues to play for the Bears this season, and they win the super bowl... I will be there to cheer ALL of them on! And so will you!

I think that if the BEARS cut Tank they'll have a few players quit on them and have an excuse to have the McCaskeys not field a money-maker through the playoffs. If one of their own can be cast aside why couldn't they?

This is Chicago's favorite sports fan checking in again and I wanted to make two points... First and foremost is about this young man - Tank Johnson. He is a young man who's made a few bad choices and I don't know why we accept the media's attempt to air his dirty laundry. We all make mistakes and we are all not under the scunity of the media over it. I really hope Bears management looks into this for themselves and not be pressured to do something based on how they may be precieved because of Tank Johnson actions away for the game. He has a right to bear fire arms, now should he have the proper permits to have them...of course. Tank was at work preparing to do his job when someone decided that going into his home was a major concern of the public. Now I'm all for keeping those that want to harm to my family or others and or criminals that choose to break the law off the streets. The bigger question here is who felt is was neccessary to tricked off about how he had weapons of mass destruction in his home. Now I'm betting it was our favorite Bush, not Reggie. ( OK, this is a joke ) Hopefully, we can find the humor in today's society. We are all in a huge pile of mess about that topic so let's move on. Is Tank Johnson a football player or undercover Thugs rushing against defenses and attacking the QB's. Just like with our own family members we should be supporting each other. I hope the Chicago Bears look to help make Tank J the best Football player he can be and not some sort example for some "bad choices." My prayers go out to his Best friend and his family. Very unfortunate. My second point is about how the media air waves are being flooded about Lovie's decision to go for the win in over time yesterday. We should be stading behind our team 100% Win or Lose, life lessons will teach us all something. The word Appreciation comes up again. Our team won the game, hold home field advantage among the NFC. Why must we continue to show doubt. Now had Rex thrown an interception, or fumbled and turned the ball over and we lost the game going for it in the final minute we all we be writing in about why we didn't trust our good defense, and Above average special teams! Da Coach did what he felt was best to win the game PERIOD. We took the oppurtunity to go for the win and not try and force the ball and make the same mistakes we've been urging Rex to not make. What isn't this entire city behind this team. We have a good chance! So bring on the AFC ( San Diego, Colts, Cinci...) Let's the Saints or Cowboys come marching to Soldier Field this Jan... I'm putting my money on the best TEAM and I'm going to support them 100 % Win or Lose cause God knows how many hours I've spent on sunday waiting for a good team to play to win. Attack on offense and defense. Show trust in the players. Is there anyone else with me?
Go BEARS, America's true TEAM!

Roman you continue to say that because someone chose to play a sport they have consented to living there lives in a fishbowl. How stupid is that? It just gives people who happen to be writers a reason for existence. This clearly has overtones of racism. I am a blackman and I am the first to say that Tank has made stupid decisions regardless of color. However stupid decisions are punished differently clearly because of race. Let's take a look shall we. You get caught drunk while driving with weed on more than one occassion and what does that qualift you to be? The present Chicago Bulls coach. Where was the outcry about Scott Skiles less than glamourous backround? What happened to the fishbowl there Mr.Roman? How about you are a known hippie who smoke weed and partied non-stop well let see what that qualifies you to be? The former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson. Where's the fishbowl Mr. Roman what about the outcry? How about you get charged with driving while drunk what does that qualify you to be? How about the former Chicago Bears coach Iron Mike Ditka? where the fishbowl and outcry Roman? Hey if drink a lot and toot a little coke you may end up being the President of The United States surely no fishbowl for this position. Maybe Tank should run for president or coach?

Roman responds: Let me ask you something, how did you know about all those incidents? Maybe you read about them in the newspaper? Ask Brian Urlacher how he feels he was treated by the media during his recent paternity case.

OK Everyone... Yes, there are different standards at play and on many levels. Most of the posts speak of them. Bottom line is it's the NFL, top of the heap. If you can't be a professional on or off the field you don't belong there. And if you can't be mature enough to handle all that goes with... same applies. Regardless of age, sentiments, or situation. Off the team and out of the NFL for Johnson. He had his "chances". Let someone who respects being there have their go. Coddling is for losers.

What you all are failing to keep into context is the simple fact that a large number of NFL players are just street scum rats who happen to be good at football. Why should it come as a big surprise when many get arrested time and time again?

As you asserted Mr.Roman yes all incidents were read in the newspaper which makes my point. Any trangression is highlighted when the person is of color. However my point is there was no out cry as I recall by any newspaper personnel for an ouster of any of these public figures to be relieved of their duties and what do they all have in common? For every Urlacher there's a Larry Bird Mr.Roman how public was that made? However I bet you everyone knows about the sexual escapes of Shawn Kemp as compared to Larry Legend. One paternity case is no different than multiple cases out of wedlock doesn't differ if it's one or eighteen.

Roman responds: Well, it kinda matters if you make one mistake or 18, doesn't it? I won't disagree the media does sometimes favorites, but from what I hear from people who covered him on a full-time basis, the all-time media favorite - not even close - was Michael Jordan.

Thankg GOD T.O. isnt on this team, cuz this city and all the damn media would blow him out of proportion too and convince us the end of the world is upon us!

Yes he made a mistake. I dont see how the homicide is his fault unless HE shot him and we all know he couldnt withouth his massive gun storage.

This isnt the worst thing an athlete has done. Its stupid, but most Bengals have done worse. So stop overreacting to everything negative about this damn team! Grossman this, Gould that, Miami this, Tank that. This team feels like they are 0-11 with the way people overreact to everything going on.

Until Tank is convicted of something, the team should simply Fine him and get him some help. Cut him from the team after the season if you must and dont pay him if you need to discipline him. No one wants to play for free on this league so they wont want to repeat this kind of offense.

But enough already! Who cares, talk about somethign else. It seems just last week we were talking about a damn headband, wasnt that overreacting too? I agree its not the same, but stop blowing it out of proportion.

Wow did anyone else notice how many of the packer fans are in support of dumping tank? who did you think you where fooling....funny how all this got started in the first place ..it was not like Tank was pointing guns at people no it was a parking attendant snooping thru tanks car looking for what ???? money to steal is my guess but since he found none he turned Tank in to teach him a lesson

Has anyone anywhere actually reported the facts on what the basis or reason for the search warrent was? I've heard dogs not cared for and shots fired in back yard...sounds like rejected script from desparate housewives, but hey it is gurnee.

I'll say one thing in tanks defense, he had a suspended license and had been caught driving while suspended once. So he had to have someone drive him. Maybe he didn't want to call his friend his driver so he amped the title to bodyguard. Think about it, maybe he had the guy at his house so he wouldn't get in any more trouble for driving without a license. But i doubt having a stranger hanging around the neighborhood endeared the johnson household to the gurnee neighbors.

If the cops had been watching the house for six weeks and all they could come up with is some barking dogs, some guns, and a little pot, sounds like just about any street in america.

And why did the police want the media on the scene for the event too? Helicopters and armored cars, how often does that happen in gurnee?

Maybe the worst decision tank made was in where he chose to live?

I am not a black man and I think the initial arrest smacks of a bit of racism. Not likely by the authorities, but more likely by his neighbors. Tank's decision to go out Friday night was a little on the dumb side, but not because I think he was snubbing his nose at Angelo or Smith. Bears fans are in some ways maniacal and take their team way too seriously. At a minimum his arrest is seen as letting the team down and Bears fans have been letting him hear about it. It is not a stretch to think that could have been what caused the altercation in the bar. I am only speculating, though. I am sure we will find out more later.

I also know individuals who are good people, but they make poor decisions. That makes them bad decision makers not bad people. To say anything else about Tank is both ignorant and stupid.

Let's put this in perspective. We've been waiting 21 years to go back to the Super Bowl, and we're going to get rid of a starting DT because of a REGISTRATION issue? Are you friggin' kidding me? You mean if they broke in and his weapons were locked up and he had proper registration this wouldn't be an issue? OK, he had pit bulls. He's had pit bulls since college, look it up. Having a gun in his lap? That was last year, and the media hasn't made a big deal about it this year. The only year the Bears were in the SB they were led by a coach who, despite his age and maturity, went into a steam room in a plastic suit to lose weight by sweating it out, and promptly gave himself a heart attack. Yet we expect a 25 year old to obey all registration rules promptly or we fire them. Rrrrright. Leonard Little is still playing in the NFL after killing a woman with his car after driving drunk. Trust me, the Tank situation will be forgotten as soon as the Laura Bush skin cancer story. Talk tough to Tank? Absolutely. Fire him, though? Have you lost your minds?

Roman responds: Well, call me naive, but I don't think it's too much to ask Tank to unwind in what I'm sure is a very comfortable home ..................Oh you mean the house that the Cops just raided. That place must feel real comfortable right about now.

If Tank wants to pretend he's Tony Montana with guns, drugs and armed-robber associates, then he's going to have to deal with the consequences...................And you can pretend you are Jay Mariotti.

Roman responds: Can I pretend I make as money as he does?

Roman when you mention Jordan it harkens back to that scene in Do the Right Thing when Spike's character was asking the guy who was a racist why he had so many people he admired that were Black and his responce was that they may have been black but they were better than black/a step above black and no ordinary black. I don't know if that is reality or screen play. Or a play on reality. I think you have some people who are racist who like another person of race because they're non-threatening. The TV character Archie Bunker liked Sammy Davis Jr and who knows how many people like him existed in reality. I think plenty.

Roman responds: No argument. The truth is, there are some reporters who just like to buddy up to athletes like Jordan because of his star power. And I loved that All in the Family episode when Sammy Davis kissed Archie.

Roman sometimes you upset me but in this case you have several valid reasons to have Tank released but from a life perspective it should serve as a lesson for athletes and black athletes in particular. I've had a similar John Burge type situation happen to me and at the time I was doing nothing wrong.Then there were times when I did stupid #@$% and either was given a break by cops or ignored by them to my benefit.Guns are legal and the 2nd amendment however archaic it allows citizens to purchase them. The sad truth guns(mostly handguns) are used by many to rob and murder our citizens at will.Our country has to deal with violent crimes due to this and so far Congress has and will accept the contributions of the gun lobby indefinitely so we are faced with the dread of higher murder rates and armed robberies. Tank's problem is shared by many minorities. It's the street life and being perceived as being "hard" or "thuggish" and that being a honorable thing. I won't be upset if the Bears cut Tank but I would like to see them help him either way instead of turning their back on him. He'll play football again in the NFL as we all know.I haven't met or heard of anyone who hasn't done stupid things in their life.Privileged as they are look at Mayor Daley, George W., George Ryan etc. Daley is thoroughly coated with with non-stick cooking spray. Hopefully Tank won't become a Maurice Clarett type tragedy. Tough love and learning that some friends have to be cut off,Posey perhaps but it's obviously too late, or distanced.This is what Tank has to consider.As cheesy as this sounds I'll use Judge Mathis as an example. He was born and raised in Detroit in the street life.He was in the "game" and like countless other young black men found himself in trouble with the police constantly.His talent of being highly intelligent was seen by some very caring but rare people and he was given some mentoring and look at him now. Tank is not going to win orlose a Super Bowl for the Bears. We need him but we need Nate Vasher, John Tait and Todd Johnson more. I'll stand by the Bears decision either way and I hope Tank will somehow turn things around.

Roman responds: As do I.

This is Chicago at its best. When situations like this occur, it only highlights the magnitude of deep racial divide in this city. Are ALL the facts in? No. Does the average fan have a clue as to what is going on? No, but the easy answer for almost all of the non-black people are to throw this man under the bus. There is no compassion at all for the black man.

I would like to know the reasons for the search warrant. It probably has something to do to a large degree of Tank's neighbors. It's his fault for moving around those folks. Supposedly the guns were registered, but not in Illinois. A lack of follow-up on Tank's part and I'm sure the courts will not hand out too stiff of a penalty, but people are ready to take away this man's career for it.

Tank didn't start the fight. Tank didn't participate in the fight. His bodyguard started the fight and was killed. How is this Tank's fault. Yeah, maybe being out on the town wasn't the best idea given the way people always hate on athletes in this city. It was bad judgement at most.

Tank is not a saint by any degree, but I have witnessed some horrible behavior by some white athletes in public and rarely is a peep heard. I'd hate to be a black athlete in Chicago. Hopefully Tanks know understands what he is dealing with.

Tank should not be allowed back, and there are SEVERAL other Bears that need to be investigated. These are not people I would like to see in the Super Bowl.

What difference doe it make? Most professional athletes are degenerates anyway!

A suburbanite armed to the teeth ready for a battle to break out at any moment.

This is exactly what is wrong with America today. If a person if having trouble in their life...GIVE UP ON THEM! Or send them away and let them be someones else's problem. Shame on any person who judges Tank Johnson for his legal troubles. People have problems in life all the time, some people cant stay faithful, some people abuse drugs, some people like guns. The point is, we all have issues in our lives that need to be adressed, so go adress them and stop judging others. And a final thought, a young man lost his life, regardless of what you may think of him or heard of him. This man was someone's son, someone's brother, possible someone's father. And I'm sure they all loved him. Have some respect for his family and refrain from belittleing a dead man.

Are you people insane!
i feel for the guy. the city is rough. now you have to be crazy not to have a gun! Have you ever accidently bumped into a gang member? So give the guy a break and tell the media to bash the gangs and police for not cleaning them up. i honestly believe he has a thug mentality but this might change him. chicago is no joke. do not come to this city and try to look for trouble cause you will unfortunatly find it everywhere i was born at chicagos childrens hospital GO BEARS! pss Tank it's time to get your mind right. this is it that moment time to be what you can.

tank should be cut because he thinks he's better than anybody else. Hey tank unless you are a felon you can get a gun card in Illinois.

After hearing the news that the Bears were not cutting Tank Johnson, it made me proud to say I'm a Bears fan. GM Jerry Angelo and the Bears organization made the correct decision to help Tank Johnson, rather than give up on him. That was a very brave move by the Bears organization and, in my opinion, it exemplifies the meaning of a team. Sure, it would be easy to cut Tank Johnson and be done with him but it takes the courage of a team to stick by someone, and be there for him, which is the TRUE meaning OF a team. Just as the old adage goes, "there's no (I) in team. I am not saying this because I think the Bears will have a better chance of winning a Super Bowl....I would be fine with a decision to keep Tank Johnson out until next year and see how he changes his life. I just have a gut feeling this guy needs support, not a cold shoulder or a "cut and run" attitude. Granted, he should be on a short leash, and he needs to give something back to the community as a way of repayment for the kindness and understanding shown him. Mr. Angelo put it best when he said Tank Johnson has seen the worst and if that doesn't scare him straight nothing will, so you hope for the best in this case and guard against the worst. Be a friend, help him through counseling, stick with him, and most of all, act like a teammate....that's what a Bears fan would do!

Tank abuses animals and that makes him a pea brain troll in my book.
Alicia Martinez

Tank was wrong with his handling of his guns and irresponsible to have them out. But I don't see the issue in going out the next night. Thats totally plausible. How many of us do that. And now were judging him. He was on the dance floor and had nothing to do with the shooting. And he's a menace? The Bears are going to keep Tank and try to help him with his life. It is an admirable act by a first class organization. Tank knows he will have to be on his best behavior on and off the field. This only helps the Bears. Do we really think that locker room thinks Tank is a distraction? They don't, they think Tank is family.

The sad thing is that he would be out the door if it wasn't for Tommie Harris' injury.

Too bad the bears put winning ahead of character. Quickly approaching the bengals in mind.

O yeah and Rexy is not the answer for your QB. He has field days against crappy teams and the press anoints him.

I originally thought the raid on Johnson's home was bad, but not that bad...that is, until I heard the rest. Two kids in the house. Three problems with the law in 18 months. His neighbors also weren't just complaining about loud music, they were complaining about 3 pit bulls barking all day and night and animal abuse, as the dogs were not being fed or given water or let out of their cages for days, not brought in the house in severe weather, and were living in their own feces. Tank's murdered friend also went out and shot a gun at one of the dogs. No wonder the dogs were barking, and no wonder the neighbors were complaining FOR SEVEN YEARS before the raid. What is Tank's answer? To move where there are no neighbors. Oh, wonderful, then you can kill your dogs through neglect, let your friends shoot guns at your dogs, and there will be no one to complain. Tank, though very talented physically, is a disaster and should be cut from the team, and though I would feel badly about it, it needs to be done.

Roman responds: If that's true about the dogs, he really is a jerk.

the good thing is people are given chances to redeem stupid behaviors... all of you that write he should have been cut, I dare to say look and the mirror first and then make a judgemnet based on what you see... just because this young man made a mistake or two should his life be cast away... and those who think you know the entire story based on media accounts are foolish at best.. the fact is HE DID LOOSE HIS BEST FRIEND... HELLO!!! maybe that counts for nothing in many eyes but he could honestly be mourning that right now... and lets face it the BEARS are a BUSINESS and they are in ther BUSINESS of winning which equates revenue, so don't be a damn fool and think they were going to cut this dominant lineman... he is 25 young and still learning to live in this two-faced world, and he is still a BEAR... so quit all your whinning and all of this moral hypocrisy... the very people always wanting justice done are the very people who are the most unjust both morally and ethically... just chill and watch the games already!!!
sam

Of course Tank may not be a genius, but he is a physical specimen. That being said no one seems to ask why a SWAT team with armor is sent to a suburban home because of unregistered guns and pot. There are hundreds of thousands of outstanding warrrants for real criminals who should be apprehended, plus hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens in the Chicago area, plus the incredible stench of corruption in all levels of government in Illinois, so we make an example of Tank. I wonder if the guy that shot Posey will turn to either be a fugitive or a murderer released early. The news department should pick apart our sainted leaders with the same vigor that the sports writers attack players, coaches, owners etc.
Merry Christmas

The Bears have really lost what the NFL stands for by not dumping Tank. There are too many young men out there who are very impressionable. They will look at this situation and see that if you screw up not once, not twice, but three times, your still not out.

Tank should have been let go. But because the Bears have a game with Tampa, the worst offense in the league, and they almost blow it, that will factor into the decision on keeping Tank. The bottom line is they sold their soul to get another SB ring.

The man is a loser. He associated himself with a bigger loser, who ultimatley paid the highest cost--his life. The bottom line is this, there were illegal drugs found in Tank's house, illegal firearms amongst his children, three pit bulls that were mistreated, along with a convict (Posey) who is an armed robber and a drug dealer. Nice. Real class act Tank. Too bad your class is all fourth. You can't even mail a letter on that.

You give Tank some time. He is a moron and he will screw up again. I really hope that the court throws the book at him and revokes his probation. Why should'nt they. If it were you and me in his shoes, we would be locked up. As far as the Bears go, they really lost any iota of class that they had by keeping this loser.

Mike

What do you think would happen if the Bears released Tank Johnson? Every team in the NFL would looking to sign him. Look at what happen when the Vikings released Korn Robinson, the Packers signed him. I would hate to have to face Tank in a Packer uniform. Everyone should get off their high horse and just enjoy the Bears winnig season.

I own two guns and three pit bulls. I was kicked out of high school for fighting and was accused of theft and assault with a deadly weapon. Some of my friends are in jail for a long time. Should my life be ruined because of some stupid things that I did in my past? If given the chance, some of the people on this blog would have thrown me in jail a long time ago. Just from my first sentence it would have been assumed that I was, and still am a gang member. However I have never and will never belong to a gang. I graduated from high school and attended a university. I am respected in my community and my past has put me in a better position to help kids with some of the problems that they are facing today. The thing is, I was not just given another chance. I was given several opportunities by different people that did not give up on me. That's why I'm the man that I am today. This being said, people that have never faced any adversity are quick to past judgment without living a day in the life of the accused. This man had weapons in his house that were not registered in Illinois. He had "evil" pit bulls. His friend was killed at a club. This man lost a very good friend. This is enough without people calling for his head. Let Tank grieve and get along with his career without people scrutinizing his every move.

Now more of the facts are coming out. . .

Tank's guns ARE registered in Arizona. He is a legal resident of Arizona. Thus, the charges will likely get dropped or significantly reduced to a permit technicality.

To say he must register those guns in both Arizona and Illinois is ridiculous. If this is true, and this is only coming to light now, it is a travesty by all authorities involved.

Some say six guns are too many? I agree. Problem is, it's LEGAL. If these guns were properly registered, he did NOTHING WRONG.

The only thing he did wrong in this first circumstance, was to be born a black male. Serioulsy, if these guns were found in any other place in Gurnee, all the gun advocates would be crying bloody murder.

As far as the shooting. . . should he have gone? No. But again, he did NOTHING WRONG legally. He was insuboordinate, however of team rules.

The fact, however, that his best friend is headed to the ground is punishment enough. Getting cut, losing money. . . none of that can account for the pain he must feel now.

Shouldn't have such friends? That's easy for all of us to claim. Fact is, true friends, especially best friends, do not just dump each other because of life changes and circumstances. It's called love. It's an emotional bond. A good friend is just like a family member.

All of you should know this. Maybe your friend isn't a thug, but they may be an alcoholic, a wife beater, a white-collar sleaze-bag. . . have you dumped them? If they own guns, are they still your friends?

I'm glad the Bears had the sense to look into the entire situation before cutting this

White neighborhood and folks see fancy cars, pitbulls, hear gunshot(s) and "those" people....THEY MUST BE DRUG DEALING there! Response: Knock the door down with a battering device. Forget ringing the bell with the warrant.
Where Tank is from, an ARIZONA senator suggests arming TEACHERS with guns in the schools. A little different perspective than we have here. Oh, Tank does have them registered there in Arizona? (Maybe he should have left them unattended there. No, all men like their toys close to them.)
Former gun incidents? Oh, didn't Scotty Pippen have someone see a gun in his car and report it too? I guess today's publshing world puts more demands on their sports writers to decide morality and/ or be controversial.
PUT THE SHOES ON YOUR FEET: You are on probabtion for messing up before, but not deep evil crimes. Now more lack of judgement again brings YOU into the media spotlight...you feel terrible...your life long friend who the media says you should have lost as a friend becomes part of the firestorm added to your problems and another poor judgement call has you watch him die.
WOULD YOU WANT TO THEN, before trial, BE TOLD YOU ARE FIRED FROM YOUR JOB and THAT YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM OF FOF FRIENDS was now being TAKEN AWAY?
By next year, Tank will have had his day in court and the Bears will looking at DTs in the draft.
But if he stays or goes was never our decision to make.
Bears should use their player while he is legally available according to the rules.
Courts should judge all the evidence, and make the correct decision.
Sportswriters and people who have little to do, but repeatedly come to this blog & post will find someone else to voice their flawed opinions about.
Let's let life move forward and enjoy Tank and his team as they try to go to work with a goal in mind and hope we all use better judgement in our lives.

Roman responds: I love the beginning of this post about how neighbors: "Hear gunshot(s)'' ... and overreact.
As if hearing gunshot(s) is something neighbors should just accept without question or complaint. Unbelievable.

Roman:

If Tank's guns were registered in Arizona, would you still want to cut him?

Because if the guns were registered, the only thing he did wrong legally was not have them re-registered in Illinois, and frankly, that's stretching constitutional muster, in my opinion.

Futhermore, had the fact come out earlier, if it is true, I doubt the same degree of outrage would have swept through the nation.

If this not-so-minor detail had been known, as others have stated, all of you who have called for Tank to get cut may have jumped the gun before you had your facts straight.

And when this happens, someone's life is usually upended by a bunch of speculative commentators like yourself without salient justification -- see Richard Jewell.

Just like Tank probably didn't make the best decision when he chose to go out to a shady nightspot -- although, in truth, we should remember his friend was a victim of the crime, not the suspect, whatever his background was -- you and others didn't make the best decision when you decided to call for a guy's head without knowing exactly what had happened in either case.

Right now, this is really what people are angry about -- Tank had six guns in his house . . . possibliy registered guns, Tank had a friend with a rap sheet and marijuana, Tank's friend was MURDERED without justification in Tank's eye-view, Tank didn't necessarily heed Angelo's warning about shaping up, although goning out to a club -- probably to relieve a little stress -- doesn't necessarily evoke a negative action.

Truth be told, a lot of people, whether you like it or not, own guns, especially suburbanites, a lot of people smoke weed, a lot of people have a shady friend or two and a lot of people go out to clubs to relieve stress.

If this was the extent of his sins -- arguably less, in the grand scheme, then the antics of Terrell "not as bad" Owens in the grand scheme of things -- then the one game suspension was the correct call by JA and Lovie. He was naive, but not criminal -- just like many millions of Americans, regardless of race, class or any other "ism".

The real outrage is that you, Mariotti, Joe Buck and the rest of the moral police sought to make an example out of this young man without having all the facts straight. I don't care whether it's a blog or whatever, GETTING IT STRAIGHT is the first rule of any journalistic endeavor.

Otherwise, you end up treating people unjustly.

As a Arizona gun owner, let me give you some info. You do not need to register a weapon in Arizona to legally own one. You as a gun owner may apply for a consealed weapons permit, but there is no firearm registration...

Also...

P.S. You are what wee thought you were...

After some more thought, as a responsible gun owner, many times over, in Arizona or any other state. You must abide by the laws of the state that the guns are physically in...

Now let no one forget the real tragedy is someone who got killed...

He is a story on Willie Bernard Posey Jr

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/articles/1221tank1221.html

In response to the previous post regarding that Tank did nothing wrong;
He did do wrong. They found illegal drugs in his house. He was convicted previoulsy on weapons violations and, he did indeed, break the law again. As far as you playing the race card about how white folks never have their doors busted down by SWAT teams is absolutley ludicrous. Your analogy to Scottie Pippen, even though well intended, is poor. Scottie wasn't arrested three times within an 18 month time span, and never phyically threatened police officers. Pippen is no saint and I am not trying to portray him as one. However, Tank Williams is a loser, has been a loser, and if were not for the NFL, he would be serving time in jail. You never know though, he still might.

Mike

Roman responds: You're the third person - the other two being a reporter friend of mine and my uncle - who mistakenly referred to Tank Johnson as Tank Williams. So I Googled, and there is a Tank Williams who plays safety for the Vikings but has been hurt this season and hasn't played. The reporter wondered if she subconciously was thinking of Hank Williams. Anyway, I just thought it was interesting. And I'm sure I'm the only one.

How about we wait an see if he is convicted before we jump to an conclusions. We still live in a country where you are assumed innocent until proven guilty. Not the other way around.

In response to MIKE...
Did Tank steal your girl or something... you are the epitome of hypocrisy, so much jealousy and anger (SIT AND SPIN)... look in the mirror and make some real judgements... scary thought I am sure... bottom line is he is still with the BEARS and he will play... just find another girl everything will be fine... okay
sam

I think he should be cut. Doing what he did definitely falls outside the idea of normal off-field antics. I cannot recal the last time a SWAT team was called for a member of a football team. Certain things can be as legal as you want...it is the perception with the public that counts.

The court has ruled that Tank Johnson must stay home, except to work or travel to work, until it is determined whether his arrest last week violated probation on a 2005 gun charge. I do not think he has learned his lesson. I believe a professional athlete should be a role model. Mr."Tank" seems to enjoy trouble and danger.
Johnson is only allowed to leave his house for work, but someone else must drive him, and he cannot stop along the way. "Absolutely no stops," Judge John J. Moran said. "Not for a drink, not for a sandwich, not even for a drive-thru." Johnson won't be allowed to visit his family in Arizona for the Christmas holiday, and will need to attain court permission to leave the state for out-of-town games.
Maybe, he'll have time to clean the dog crap in his yard now!!

He should have been cut the last time he got himself in trouble.

Jesse...What were they doing out on a Friday night after a bust???????.....Gee man i didn't know there was etiquette whern it came to "busts"...Is this a new "Man Law"...No man shall go out after a drug bust???

Jesse...What were they doing out on a Friday night after a bust???????.....Gee man i didn't know there was etiquette whern it came to "busts"...Is this a new "Man Law"...No man shall go out after a drug bust???