Tank Johnson got slapped with an eight-game suspension that could be reduced to six with good behavior. I think it's an appropriate punishment. What do you think?
Posted by Roman Modrowski on June 4, 2007 02:34 PM|Permalink
Very appropriate. Some type of suspension was warranted. Now, I hope this is all in the past. A lot of media types and fans who are perfect will still not be satisfied. But that's their cross to bear.
Honestly, do we even care? Last time I checked Tank Johnson was a backup.......why are we getting so riled up over him? Oh that's right....the Bears are cheap and decided to go with him(a super sub at best) instead of going out and getting a really good front line player who can keep the tackles off "can't slip the blockers Urlacher" and keep the fullbacks from knocking out "I just got knocked on my butt by a fullback Urlacher"......
Honestly I don't see how actually getting arrested and only getting 8 games is fair when a person who has never been arressted just questioned gets the whole year.
Tank's a lucky man. I think the punishment is more than fair, and I don't think I could've argued if he had been suspended for the entire season. An optimist would say "Tank's half full."
Considering he was allowed to play post-season, when the boom could have been lowered even then, Tank probably got as fair a deal as anyone could hope for. I just hope that he means it when he says he wants to take his punishment, close the chapter, and go on to be NFL Player of the year some day. Some of these athletes seem to lose track of how blessed they are to be able to play professional sports and make big money...don't throw it away! Keep playing and use some of the money to help the less fortunate whenever you can.
It is a little surprising and very disheartening to see how much support this misguided soul and others like him recieve from people who really should have more important things to care about in their short lives. Take off the pads and go get an office job Tank and see what your gang-banger B.S. gets you...That's right..."YOU'RE FIRED!" No second chances, no arbitration, no appeals. That is what us real people deal with in the real world if we aren't smart enough to behave ourselves. Heck, see if you could even land an office job to begin with when you're football career hits the skids and that could happen soon enough. Athletes and their second, third, fourth chances....ridiculous. Uhhhh, GO Bears!
Bryant my friend, its called "contrition". Only time can tell for sure, but he seems sincere. And that may be the difference here. People act differently when you talk to them after they did something. Some come off as if they don't care, and others know how to act when they have done wrong. Sometimes thats the difference. Tank has done time, and that may also have gone into consideration. That alone makes be believe the suspension is fair. The league could speak to his parole officer about how he behaved and other factors. Tank has suffered more than any of the others.
Finally something from Darryl that isn't completely lame. Been taking classes? I see the improvement. Keep up the good work. You still have miles to go, but I believe in you.
what the h@ll is Vick going to get? NOTHING. What did Lewis get? NOTHING. I guess you have to kill people or animals in order to avoid suspension. D@mn Tank! Get it right.
I read Mariotti for laughs. He's even funnier than you are, Modrowski. The difference is that he's trying to be serious.The irony of his lack of perspicacity is what I most appreciate.
Hey Bryant the Bears have this guy named Tommie Harris, you might have heard of him. Or not.
But the suspension is fair, and giving him the option of shortening his suspension by 2 games if he acts right is a good idea too. Gives Tank a chance to redeem himself and make his words worth something. And I don't know why people are trying to compare him to Pacman Jones. Pacman still has ongoing investigations if I'm not mistaken, so the fact that he hasn't been convicted of anything is irrelevant. And although he's said the right things his actions show he's really not sorry about anything at all.
JD, what does your post have to do with Tank Johnson? I'm going to give you a time out for being mean. I can do that - I'm a mom. Go sit in the corner for as many minutes as your age.
Tank sure was wearing a cool shirt at the press conf. NOT! What a dork!
Roman responds: I gotta tell you, I believe he deserved jail time just for what he did to his dogs, but I kinda like Tank. The few times I've talked to him, he's been pretty cool. And he seems articulate and genuine. We'll see. I hope he works things out. Didn't see the shirt.... Wait a minute, after writing that, I looked at my paper sitting next to me and there's a pic of Tank on the back cover. Hard to tell, but the shirt looks ok.
Roman, you might not post this or was hoping no one would comment on it,
but I am going to get it off my chest. I read this blog entry yesterday,
and the first entry stated It's fair. END OF STORY!
I started to post NOT FAIR, STORY JUST BEGINNING! But I let it go.
This other crap I will NOT!
Roman and other posters, it is people such as
Posted by: Lee E. | June 4, 2007 04:53 PM
which keeps up the negative imagery of others.
Lee E. what the hell do you know what a gang-banger look
like except for what the news media feed you every day. I
wonder do you take time out from your segregated coffee
breaks and really talk with colleagues of a different hue.
Oh yeah, obviously you cared enough to spew ignorace.
By the way is your first round draft pick by the Chicago
Bears a gangbanger or just another college kid caught
up in prankism? Do NOT answer, your previous bias remark
was enough to give me insight.
See, I was waiting for Jay to say something. And I was not surprised that it was all negative. Why does it all come down to viewing things in a negative vein? It's the narrow view by some people that make it hard for someone who was incarcerated to get even a Mickey D job because they are perceived as guilty forever. He could have skipped giving his opinion on the topic because I can't remember him ever being positive about much, if anything, when it comes to sports personalities in this city. He's like that uncle that gives you sound advise but you tune him out sometimes because it veer off into something that you don't want to hear. Why can't he cut a guy a break every once in a while? I would love to borrow his crystal ball from time to time because he always know what people will do before they do it. One question I'd like to ask Jay is: what harm or crime will Tank commit next because obviously he can't help himself? And what does it matter what the guy ate in jail? "Pass the Grey Poupon". Would that have been better?
Douglass, I have met gang bangers and actually played college basketball with a crack dealing thug for life from cabrini, who was a cool cat actually, but still a crack dealer when i met him.
Gangbangers is not an ethnicity, it is a behavior. And just as ignorant it was for Lee E to lump a couple black NFL players into that catagory, its equally, if not more racist and ignorant for you to blanketly defend gangbangers, because u think they happen to mostly be black.
When you look at these hi profile athletes who do dumb stuff, or that propogate the THUG LIFE image, it comes down to one thing. Street Cred. We all joke about it, but its as real as PEER PRESSURE was when you were in Jr Hi. Peer pressure probably made me do 9 out of 10 of the dumbest things i have ever done in my life. and Street Cred is the adult version of peer pressure. Sure it afflicts mostly Black Male Professional Athletes, but it doesnt stop there.
My point gaurd eventually saw the light, got out of the life, and raised a great little family. Not because he was black or white, but because he got it. It may have cost him a little street credit, but it probably saved his life.
Dont defend gangbanging because you think that it happens to be an intrinsicly black activity, gang banging is a sympton of a larger disease, and that disease is STREET CREDIBILITY.
Roman responds: I think the problem as Douglass sees it, and I don't think anyone would argue this, is that there are people who simply would look at Tank and assume he's a gang-banger. And that is racial stereotyping.
If it's football season, I'll forgive BBB for the insult. I imagine he's getting his High School team ready for another championship campaign, and the stress must be making him touchy.
Roman responds: It's football season because I'm going to have to become a referee again and a psychologist and deal with my warring posters.
Maybe Douglas is overreacting but he's not full of hate. It's just nobody is comfortable with talking about what he's talking about and the conversations always degenerate and stray far away from the topic. But, what the point that he brought up irritates me too. Why do people have to perpetuate these negative stereotypes? Tank is a gang-banger? How? Because he likes guns? Okay, but apparently some people didn't pay much attention in 8th grade so they need to be reminded of certain text in our nation's laws:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
He is entitled to have guns as much as he wants and if he chooses to own guns, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. He just has to follow the rules just like everyone else, which he did not do, and he paid the price. So because he did some incredibly stupid things all of a sudden he is a dangerous criminal, or he is being portrayed like he belongs in a 50 Cent song with all the stereotypical gun violence. It doesn't help that he's a large black man who wore braids (and he didn't help himself by bringing race into the discussion in the first place and appearing to try to deflect blame from himself).
If Greg Olsen had a couple of gun violations people probably would've chuckled and said "oh, he must be a gun rights fanatic, he's from the South, they like their guns" or something. If Tank Johnson had been heard in the 7th Floor Crew what would he be? a gang-banger, I guess. That label seems to apply conveniently everywhere.
Roman responds: There's no denying that some posters on here would label Tank a gang-banger just by looking at him. And obviously that's not right.
Also, for the record, tank had those same guns out here in Arizona, where they are totally legal. & I think the pot was from Jaimaica, again...totally legal there!
Roman responds: Pot is not legal in Jamaica. I was just there.
If a guy looks like, acts like, talks like, and hangs with the gang type then he probably is one or is intentionally giving others that impression because he thinks it makes him cool or he has no sense. So, that kind of guy deserves to have others get that impression. No racism at all in this case. Quack!
BTW, I never considered or expressed that Tank is a gang member. I just don't believe that. I do feel he is an irresponsible dumb a$$. That's not illegal so I don't care about that except he plays for my team and I would not allow such a person to play for the Bears if I the authority to make that decision. Too bad huh! Too bad we will never reach our full potential under the current management.
Anyway, if a guy had some problems but took them on and straightened himself out then I'm all for that. I would forget his past and accept him for what he has become, not what he was. Let's hope Tank will do that. I doubt it though. He does not seem to have the right attitude. All I've seen is he's trying to hold back blaming others for his problems. That won't get it done. That's just hidding the fact there is no improvement with his thought process, which is the root cause of all of his problems.
I just have to say how hysterically preposterous it is to think Tank Johnson could be NFL Man of the Year. LMAO! We need to remember that comment for the Dumbest Comments of the Year - 2007 show.
Roman responds: Right after Zambrano saying he would win Cy Young and the Cubs would win the World Series.
Those awards don't mean anything, anyway. Remember that Falcons DB who was given religious man of the year or something and got caught trying to get a hooker before the Super Bowl?
Isnt it ironic that we nic name the guy TANK and we exhault him in a violent sport, and then we FREAK OUT that he has guns? Come on???
Truth Be told, I don't think that we would even be talking about "Tank" johnson if his name was Qausim or Albert or Sam Johnson or something like that.
Also, i bet if he wasnt a trouble maker, NO ONE outside of the bears defensive line coach and a few of us would even know who he is. He wasnt good enough to luade this attention without being a trouble maker. Just like Paris Hilton. He has become more reknown for getting in trouble.
Point is, we are still not far removed from the days of watching gladiators, and the word FAN comes from the greek word FANUM, which means LOVER OF THE FLESH. A FANATIC was someone who lusted for BLOODY clashes in the Collosium. How far have we really come??
Roman responds: Thank you for our lesson of the day. Actually, decent post, but Tank's more talented than Paris. And I thought he was coming into his own last season.
No question that Tank is more talented than Paris, much smarter too. Mariotti was actually intentionally funny today. I don't totally disagree with him for a change. I hope he's wrong about Z. and M.B., but grudges can last quite a while. Look at Cub fans'attitudes toward A.J.
Truly, All I know, is that I know nothing. (Your Right BBB, That didnt take long).
I was only trying to pile on you actually, i was in a bench clearing brawl sort of mood the other day. Akin to Amare' and Diaw. Don't penalize me a game please Roman. I'll play nice!
I don't understand why players are suspended for things they do off the field during the off-season. Tank was already sentenced by the courts, and now the NFL is punishing him again. Isn't there something in our Constitution about not punishing someone twice for the same crime?
Professional sports franchises are looking more and more like big brother, with the justification being that professional athletes are role models. Well, whose fault is that? If you can't convince your kid that they shouldn't emulate a 300 pound millionaire ball of muscle then you have more problems than what they're watching on T.V.
Besides, when kids see the public reaction to these sorts of incidents they get all the information they need as to what constitutes acceptable behavior. I think it's better for them to see the good, the bad, and the ugly. That way they can engage with the subject rather than just having blinders put over their eyes.
The Constitution prohibiting people from being punished twice? Come on, get serious. The NFL is a private organization and they can deal with a situation in whatever way they see fit. The NFL is not the government and Goodell is not an elected official.
You wouldn't use that argument if you got a couple of DUIs and your employer fired you, would you? No.
John S… You don't sound like a parent. Parents only have so much control over what their children are exposed to. Many entertainers, athletes, the media, and others with a public forum spew out to the world whatever they think will make them money or influence others to their beliefs, life style, or benefit. They don't care about our children or our country. Only themselves. Parents can't make a child forget something awful they've seen or heard and there's usually no way for a parent to know when and where these things will be forced upon them.
Much of the media often gives coverage to things and people that are a bad influence on all impressionable people; not just children just because they believe it will improve their market share, profits, and influence people. They knowingly do things that are unethical and don't care.
Sports and entertainment television are the worst because so many young people are interested in sports, music, actors, fashion, and celebrities. They know that children are a huge portion of their audience and they put out the worst trash and poor examples they can think of that are aimed right at our kids from every possible angle.
Back to Tank. The NFL is not punishing him for the same reason the law did. They are punishing him because he broke NFL rules, embarrassed the league, the profession, real men everywhere, and the fans. He deserves to be punished.
Keith is right, the NFL is a billion dollar business that depends solely on its Product Image. The reality is that..Tank IS the product, him and all the other players make up the NFL and its image, and if that image gets repeatedly tarnished by guys like PunkMan Jones, Michael "water bong" Vick, Dog Fights, Strip Club fights....it will eventully ruin the entire Business. Albeit we like the bad boy image, eventually the public willl turn its back on you if your league puts speed and strentgh before character and class.
Good thing nobody in the NFL uses steriods, like in baseball, or it would have a real problem on its hands.
Yeah, he's lucky, but it doesn't have much to do with football or suspensions. Anytime anybody leaves firearms and children together and everyone walks away, luck is involved. Don't get me wrong - I firmly believe in the right to arms, but not if you are an idiot. The guy is a thug, and that won't change, but maybe his kids will benefit from changes in his behavior caused by the suspension. I dunno, maybe not.
Just saying. [Sentence about race removed for fear of retaliation from the White Privilege Denial Movement.]
(Roman--heard anything from Bears grapevine about how the quarterbacks are doing? Larry Mayer over on bears.com says Orton's made some good progress. Sure, Grossman's going to have to get hurt for anyone else to get any playing time, but I can dream, can't I?)
Roman responds: Now, now, no wishing for injuries on my blog. And Daunte sucks, no matter what color jersey he's wearing.
Comments
It's fair. End of story.
Posted by: BBB | June 4, 2007 03:06 PM
Very appropriate. Some type of suspension was warranted. Now, I hope this is all in the past. A lot of media types and fans who are perfect will still not be satisfied. But that's their cross to bear.
Posted by: William R. Donald | June 4, 2007 03:21 PM
Honestly, do we even care? Last time I checked Tank Johnson was a backup.......why are we getting so riled up over him? Oh that's right....the Bears are cheap and decided to go with him(a super sub at best) instead of going out and getting a really good front line player who can keep the tackles off "can't slip the blockers Urlacher" and keep the fullbacks from knocking out "I just got knocked on my butt by a fullback Urlacher"......
Honestly I don't see how actually getting arrested and only getting 8 games is fair when a person who has never been arressted just questioned gets the whole year.
Posted by: Bryant | June 4, 2007 04:13 PM
Tank's a lucky man. I think the punishment is more than fair, and I don't think I could've argued if he had been suspended for the entire season. An optimist would say "Tank's half full."
Posted by: Julie B. | June 4, 2007 04:27 PM
Considering he was allowed to play post-season, when the boom could have been lowered even then, Tank probably got as fair a deal as anyone could hope for. I just hope that he means it when he says he wants to take his punishment, close the chapter, and go on to be NFL Player of the year some day. Some of these athletes seem to lose track of how blessed they are to be able to play professional sports and make big money...don't throw it away! Keep playing and use some of the money to help the less fortunate whenever you can.
Posted by: Tom L. | June 4, 2007 04:30 PM
Honestly, who cares?
It is a little surprising and very disheartening to see how much support this misguided soul and others like him recieve from people who really should have more important things to care about in their short lives. Take off the pads and go get an office job Tank and see what your gang-banger B.S. gets you...That's right..."YOU'RE FIRED!" No second chances, no arbitration, no appeals. That is what us real people deal with in the real world if we aren't smart enough to behave ourselves. Heck, see if you could even land an office job to begin with when you're football career hits the skids and that could happen soon enough. Athletes and their second, third, fourth chances....ridiculous. Uhhhh, GO Bears!
Posted by: Lee E. | June 4, 2007 04:53 PM
(forecast today in hell: snow flurries)
BBB's exactly right.
Posted by: darryl m | June 4, 2007 04:58 PM
Bryant my friend, its called "contrition". Only time can tell for sure, but he seems sincere. And that may be the difference here. People act differently when you talk to them after they did something. Some come off as if they don't care, and others know how to act when they have done wrong. Sometimes thats the difference. Tank has done time, and that may also have gone into consideration. That alone makes be believe the suspension is fair. The league could speak to his parole officer about how he behaved and other factors. Tank has suffered more than any of the others.
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | June 4, 2007 05:44 PM
Finally something from Darryl that isn't completely lame. Been taking classes? I see the improvement. Keep up the good work. You still have miles to go, but I believe in you.
Roman responds: Must be football season.
Posted by: BBB | June 4, 2007 09:22 PM
what the h@ll is Vick going to get? NOTHING. What did Lewis get? NOTHING. I guess you have to kill people or animals in order to avoid suspension. D@mn Tank! Get it right.
Posted by: stuckinwisconsin | June 4, 2007 11:16 PM
I read Mariotti for laughs. He's even funnier than you are, Modrowski. The difference is that he's trying to be serious.The irony of his lack of perspicacity is what I most appreciate.
Posted by: Paul Manter | June 5, 2007 09:38 AM
At this point, he deserves to sit out an entire season. When you look at what Pacman got, it seems that Tank got off easy.
Posted by: Keylan | June 5, 2007 09:39 AM
Hey Bryant the Bears have this guy named Tommie Harris, you might have heard of him. Or not.
But the suspension is fair, and giving him the option of shortening his suspension by 2 games if he acts right is a good idea too. Gives Tank a chance to redeem himself and make his words worth something. And I don't know why people are trying to compare him to Pacman Jones. Pacman still has ongoing investigations if I'm not mistaken, so the fact that he hasn't been convicted of anything is irrelevant. And although he's said the right things his actions show he's really not sorry about anything at all.
Posted by: Keith Sowa | June 5, 2007 09:57 AM
JD, what does your post have to do with Tank Johnson? I'm going to give you a time out for being mean. I can do that - I'm a mom. Go sit in the corner for as many minutes as your age.
Posted by: Julie B. | June 5, 2007 10:15 AM
Tank sure was wearing a cool shirt at the press conf. NOT! What a dork!
Roman responds: I gotta tell you, I believe he deserved jail time just for what he did to his dogs, but I kinda like Tank. The few times I've talked to him, he's been pretty cool. And he seems articulate and genuine. We'll see. I hope he works things out. Didn't see the shirt.... Wait a minute, after writing that, I looked at my paper sitting next to me and there's a pic of Tank on the back cover. Hard to tell, but the shirt looks ok.
Posted by: BBB | June 5, 2007 01:48 PM
Roman, you might not post this or was hoping no one would comment on it,
but I am going to get it off my chest. I read this blog entry yesterday,
and the first entry stated It's fair. END OF STORY!
I started to post NOT FAIR, STORY JUST BEGINNING! But I let it go.
This other crap I will NOT!
Roman and other posters, it is people such as
Posted by: Lee E. | June 4, 2007 04:53 PM
which keeps up the negative imagery of others.
Lee E. what the hell do you know what a gang-banger look
like except for what the news media feed you every day. I
wonder do you take time out from your segregated coffee
breaks and really talk with colleagues of a different hue.
Oh yeah, obviously you cared enough to spew ignorace.
By the way is your first round draft pick by the Chicago
Bears a gangbanger or just another college kid caught
up in prankism? Do NOT answer, your previous bias remark
was enough to give me insight.
Have a good day Roman.
Posted by: Douglas | June 5, 2007 02:45 PM
See, I was waiting for Jay to say something. And I was not surprised that it was all negative. Why does it all come down to viewing things in a negative vein? It's the narrow view by some people that make it hard for someone who was incarcerated to get even a Mickey D job because they are perceived as guilty forever. He could have skipped giving his opinion on the topic because I can't remember him ever being positive about much, if anything, when it comes to sports personalities in this city. He's like that uncle that gives you sound advise but you tune him out sometimes because it veer off into something that you don't want to hear. Why can't he cut a guy a break every once in a while? I would love to borrow his crystal ball from time to time because he always know what people will do before they do it. One question I'd like to ask Jay is: what harm or crime will Tank commit next because obviously he can't help himself? And what does it matter what the guy ate in jail? "Pass the Grey Poupon". Would that have been better?
Posted by: William R. Donald | June 5, 2007 09:08 PM
tank was a 2nd round pick, our first round DT pick is the son of a minister( tommie harris)- if going to throw rocks, do not be in a glass house.
Posted by: P.D. | June 6, 2007 06:07 AM
I feel sorry for Douglas. I can't imagine how awful it must be to be that full of hate.
Posted by: BBB | June 6, 2007 08:24 AM
Douglass, I have met gang bangers and actually played college basketball with a crack dealing thug for life from cabrini, who was a cool cat actually, but still a crack dealer when i met him.
Gangbangers is not an ethnicity, it is a behavior. And just as ignorant it was for Lee E to lump a couple black NFL players into that catagory, its equally, if not more racist and ignorant for you to blanketly defend gangbangers, because u think they happen to mostly be black.
When you look at these hi profile athletes who do dumb stuff, or that propogate the THUG LIFE image, it comes down to one thing. Street Cred. We all joke about it, but its as real as PEER PRESSURE was when you were in Jr Hi. Peer pressure probably made me do 9 out of 10 of the dumbest things i have ever done in my life. and Street Cred is the adult version of peer pressure. Sure it afflicts mostly Black Male Professional Athletes, but it doesnt stop there.
My point gaurd eventually saw the light, got out of the life, and raised a great little family. Not because he was black or white, but because he got it. It may have cost him a little street credit, but it probably saved his life.
Dont defend gangbanging because you think that it happens to be an intrinsicly black activity, gang banging is a sympton of a larger disease, and that disease is STREET CREDIBILITY.
Roman responds: I think the problem as Douglass sees it, and I don't think anyone would argue this, is that there are people who simply would look at Tank and assume he's a gang-banger. And that is racial stereotyping.
Posted by: BrianCulz | June 6, 2007 09:38 AM
Roman responds: Must be football season.
If it's football season, I'll forgive BBB for the insult. I imagine he's getting his High School team ready for another championship campaign, and the stress must be making him touchy.
Roman responds: It's football season because I'm going to have to become a referee again and a psychologist and deal with my warring posters.
Posted by: darryl m | June 6, 2007 10:34 AM
Maybe Douglas is overreacting but he's not full of hate. It's just nobody is comfortable with talking about what he's talking about and the conversations always degenerate and stray far away from the topic. But, what the point that he brought up irritates me too. Why do people have to perpetuate these negative stereotypes? Tank is a gang-banger? How? Because he likes guns? Okay, but apparently some people didn't pay much attention in 8th grade so they need to be reminded of certain text in our nation's laws:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
He is entitled to have guns as much as he wants and if he chooses to own guns, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. He just has to follow the rules just like everyone else, which he did not do, and he paid the price. So because he did some incredibly stupid things all of a sudden he is a dangerous criminal, or he is being portrayed like he belongs in a 50 Cent song with all the stereotypical gun violence. It doesn't help that he's a large black man who wore braids (and he didn't help himself by bringing race into the discussion in the first place and appearing to try to deflect blame from himself).
If Greg Olsen had a couple of gun violations people probably would've chuckled and said "oh, he must be a gun rights fanatic, he's from the South, they like their guns" or something. If Tank Johnson had been heard in the 7th Floor Crew what would he be? a gang-banger, I guess. That label seems to apply conveniently everywhere.
Roman responds: There's no denying that some posters on here would label Tank a gang-banger just by looking at him. And obviously that's not right.
Posted by: Keith Sowa | June 6, 2007 11:26 AM
Also, for the record, tank had those same guns out here in Arizona, where they are totally legal. & I think the pot was from Jaimaica, again...totally legal there!
Roman responds: Pot is not legal in Jamaica. I was just there.
Posted by: BrianCulz | June 6, 2007 11:39 AM
If a guy looks like, acts like, talks like, and hangs with the gang type then he probably is one or is intentionally giving others that impression because he thinks it makes him cool or he has no sense. So, that kind of guy deserves to have others get that impression. No racism at all in this case. Quack!
Posted by: BBB | June 6, 2007 02:09 PM
BTW, I never considered or expressed that Tank is a gang member. I just don't believe that. I do feel he is an irresponsible dumb a$$. That's not illegal so I don't care about that except he plays for my team and I would not allow such a person to play for the Bears if I the authority to make that decision. Too bad huh! Too bad we will never reach our full potential under the current management.
Posted by: BBB | June 6, 2007 02:15 PM
Thanks Darryl! I do admit I have trouble withholding a response when someone (you) insults me first. Thanks for understanding.
Posted by: BBB | June 6, 2007 02:19 PM
Anyway, if a guy had some problems but took them on and straightened himself out then I'm all for that. I would forget his past and accept him for what he has become, not what he was. Let's hope Tank will do that. I doubt it though. He does not seem to have the right attitude. All I've seen is he's trying to hold back blaming others for his problems. That won't get it done. That's just hidding the fact there is no improvement with his thought process, which is the root cause of all of his problems.
Posted by: BBB | June 6, 2007 02:33 PM
Roman responds: It's football season because I'm going to have to become a referee again and a psychologist and deal with my warring posters.
Are you implying something about me, Roman?
(Touche. Although we'll see if I ever take your side in a flamewar again.)
Roman responds: Don't take it personally. I'm sure BBB thought it was about him.
Posted by: darryl m | June 6, 2007 05:31 PM
Any truth to the rumor that they were raiding Michael Vicks house on [some other] warrants, when they found the dogs? Has anyone else heard this?
Also, what the Heck is BBB talking about. BBB, what is that your HIGH SCORE name from King Kong?
Posted by: bculz | June 6, 2007 07:35 PM
I just have to say how hysterically preposterous it is to think Tank Johnson could be NFL Man of the Year. LMAO! We need to remember that comment for the Dumbest Comments of the Year - 2007 show.
Roman responds: Right after Zambrano saying he would win Cy Young and the Cubs would win the World Series.
Those awards don't mean anything, anyway. Remember that Falcons DB who was given religious man of the year or something and got caught trying to get a hooker before the Super Bowl?
Posted by: BBB | June 7, 2007 08:44 AM
Isnt it ironic that we nic name the guy TANK and we exhault him in a violent sport, and then we FREAK OUT that he has guns? Come on???
Truth Be told, I don't think that we would even be talking about "Tank" johnson if his name was Qausim or Albert or Sam Johnson or something like that.
Also, i bet if he wasnt a trouble maker, NO ONE outside of the bears defensive line coach and a few of us would even know who he is. He wasnt good enough to luade this attention without being a trouble maker. Just like Paris Hilton. He has become more reknown for getting in trouble.
Point is, we are still not far removed from the days of watching gladiators, and the word FAN comes from the greek word FANUM, which means LOVER OF THE FLESH. A FANATIC was someone who lusted for BLOODY clashes in the Collosium. How far have we really come??
Roman responds: Thank you for our lesson of the day. Actually, decent post, but Tank's more talented than Paris. And I thought he was coming into his own last season.
Posted by: bculz | June 7, 2007 09:10 AM
No question that Tank is more talented than Paris, much smarter too. Mariotti was actually intentionally funny today. I don't totally disagree with him for a change. I hope he's wrong about Z. and M.B., but grudges can last quite a while. Look at Cub fans'attitudes toward A.J.
Posted by: Paul Manter | June 7, 2007 11:52 AM
bculz... just what is it that you don't understand? Maybe it would be faster to tell us what you do understand. Your choice.
Posted by: BBB | June 7, 2007 11:58 AM
I bought Tank Johnson's album, and saw him in that bit part in that horror movie, and let me tell you--he's no Paris Hilton.
Posted by: darryl m | June 7, 2007 12:56 PM
Truly, All I know, is that I know nothing. (Your Right BBB, That didnt take long).
I was only trying to pile on you actually, i was in a bench clearing brawl sort of mood the other day. Akin to Amare' and Diaw. Don't penalize me a game please Roman. I'll play nice!
And ummm...whatever happened to Michael Haynes?
Posted by: bculz | June 7, 2007 01:10 PM
8 Games - he's damn lucky
First the police find illegal guns and ammo all over his house.
Secondly his friend who was watching his kids when the raid occured is shot to death a few nights later with Tank by his side in a downtown club.
He's lucky he wasn't put away for years.
Posted by: Irish Pete | June 7, 2007 03:27 PM
I don't understand why players are suspended for things they do off the field during the off-season. Tank was already sentenced by the courts, and now the NFL is punishing him again. Isn't there something in our Constitution about not punishing someone twice for the same crime?
Professional sports franchises are looking more and more like big brother, with the justification being that professional athletes are role models. Well, whose fault is that? If you can't convince your kid that they shouldn't emulate a 300 pound millionaire ball of muscle then you have more problems than what they're watching on T.V.
Besides, when kids see the public reaction to these sorts of incidents they get all the information they need as to what constitutes acceptable behavior. I think it's better for them to see the good, the bad, and the ugly. That way they can engage with the subject rather than just having blinders put over their eyes.
Losing Tank for eight weeks sucks.
Go Bears!
Posted by: John S | June 7, 2007 05:51 PM
The Constitution prohibiting people from being punished twice? Come on, get serious. The NFL is a private organization and they can deal with a situation in whatever way they see fit. The NFL is not the government and Goodell is not an elected official.
You wouldn't use that argument if you got a couple of DUIs and your employer fired you, would you? No.
Posted by: Keith Sowa | June 8, 2007 09:16 AM
John S… You don't sound like a parent. Parents only have so much control over what their children are exposed to. Many entertainers, athletes, the media, and others with a public forum spew out to the world whatever they think will make them money or influence others to their beliefs, life style, or benefit. They don't care about our children or our country. Only themselves. Parents can't make a child forget something awful they've seen or heard and there's usually no way for a parent to know when and where these things will be forced upon them.
Much of the media often gives coverage to things and people that are a bad influence on all impressionable people; not just children just because they believe it will improve their market share, profits, and influence people. They knowingly do things that are unethical and don't care.
Sports and entertainment television are the worst because so many young people are interested in sports, music, actors, fashion, and celebrities. They know that children are a huge portion of their audience and they put out the worst trash and poor examples they can think of that are aimed right at our kids from every possible angle.
Back to Tank. The NFL is not punishing him for the same reason the law did. They are punishing him because he broke NFL rules, embarrassed the league, the profession, real men everywhere, and the fans. He deserves to be punished.
Posted by: BBB | June 8, 2007 10:50 AM
Keith is right, the NFL is a billion dollar business that depends solely on its Product Image. The reality is that..Tank IS the product, him and all the other players make up the NFL and its image, and if that image gets repeatedly tarnished by guys like PunkMan Jones, Michael "water bong" Vick, Dog Fights, Strip Club fights....it will eventully ruin the entire Business. Albeit we like the bad boy image, eventually the public willl turn its back on you if your league puts speed and strentgh before character and class.
Good thing nobody in the NFL uses steriods, like in baseball, or it would have a real problem on its hands.
Posted by: bculz | June 8, 2007 11:12 AM
Yeah, he's lucky, but it doesn't have much to do with football or suspensions. Anytime anybody leaves firearms and children together and everyone walks away, luck is involved. Don't get me wrong - I firmly believe in the right to arms, but not if you are an idiot. The guy is a thug, and that won't change, but maybe his kids will benefit from changes in his behavior caused by the suspension. I dunno, maybe not.
Posted by: Scott C | June 8, 2007 12:14 PM
Hey, Daunte Culpepper's on the market.
Just saying. [Sentence about race removed for fear of retaliation from the White Privilege Denial Movement.]
(Roman--heard anything from Bears grapevine about how the quarterbacks are doing? Larry Mayer over on bears.com says Orton's made some good progress. Sure, Grossman's going to have to get hurt for anyone else to get any playing time, but I can dream, can't I?)
Roman responds: Now, now, no wishing for injuries on my blog. And Daunte sucks, no matter what color jersey he's wearing.
Posted by: darryl m | June 8, 2007 01:01 PM
I THINK WERE READY FOR A NEW BEARS POST!
Roman responds: What do you want to talk about, Timon Marshall?
Posted by: bculz | June 8, 2007 03:49 PM
I'd just like to say I'm glad the Bears signed Obafemi Ayenbadejo.
Posted by: darryl m | June 12, 2007 04:58 PM
Did they really sign him darryl m.? Hope he plays like his brother. Just don't end up like Brian's little brother.
Posted by: William R. Donald | June 12, 2007 09:50 PM