Where are my Tank apologists?

Say it isn't so...this will not help his chances for being the NFL Man of the Year like he is "gunning for" (sorry, couldn't resist!)

Sherrif Joe don't mess around!

Was Tank even good last year? What were his stats? I mean, who is going to compete for that spot this year? Can't we just slide Brown or Anderson over and have them both play at same time?

NFL Man of the Year... LMAO!!!!

d'oh!

Let's just say they'll have a big "WELCOME TO TENT CITY" sign for him if the results come back he was DUI.

I hope he likes pink.

Why?

Maybe next time he can go to pay jail with Paris. I won't even dignify a response because I give up. Any post I gave forgiving him is tossed in the cyber waste can. Calling him stupid is offensive to stupid people. He need his own nomenclature. That thud you heard was the little compassion I had falling off his wagon. "Young man:you're on your own".

Roman responds: As you know, I provided excuses for him as well. I wonder if the Bears are just as tired of him and ready to cut bait.

The end.
Just cut him right now and see what Dusty Dvoracek can do.

Hard to forsee this happening. Never know where trouble will find you, although hitting the clubs and then driving home in the wee hours is a good place to start looking.

My cousin Cletus was just sayin how he hoped Tank would stay out of trouble now that he was back on the mean streets of Gurnee. Have to steer clear of all them mini vans and there is always the risk of a drive-by-catering.

Guess Arizona is just as bad. Least he didn't have any guns in the car, did he?

In light of the commissioner's hard line stance regarding off-field transgressions, Tank's behavior baffles the mind.

The only logical explanation I can come up with is that Johnson must in some sort of secret competition with Pacman Jones.

First one to get kicked out of the NFL wins!

The word "stupid" doesn't quite do him justice, and in lieu of his failure to display even a modicum of common sense, I'll be very surprised if the Bears continue to stand behind him.

Either way, the Bears' final decision will become moot if Johnson beats Jones to the finish line Roger Goodell has emphatically drawn in the sand.

Didnt the Bears give him a warning to clean up his act a couple of incidents ago? I wonder if Tank can find a racist person to blame this incident on. Loser.

Dumb, that he is.

Tank was driving 40 mph in a 25 mile an hour zone. This was in the wee hours of the morning with no one on the streets. He took a blood test but was not charged. Tank was not over the limit. If he is out a 3:30, and not offically drunk, then he has done nothing wrong. I would guess this is more likely a case of a black man being the victim of a racist society, which targets black males. This racicsm has made all young black males a target. A statement in which black people would agree and I bet the white folks will not. Considering our history, I maintain it is still a racist society and this is another sad example.

Roman responds: And how do you know he wasn't over the limit? If you have proof, that's news. It takes two weeks for blood tests results to come back. He was stopped for speeding and taking in for suspicion of DUI.

I understand mounting frustration with Tank, but as Mueller pointed out...this one can be counted as human error. If this is something most bloggers haven't done, or are going to do today, sound off. You really don't have to, because we have had this conversation. Getting arrested is not a crime. What do you really expect this young man to do - start painting water colors? Its summer, he's been through hell and probably went to a friends home and just had a ball. I was at 2 parties yesterday, and I am the least likely person to go anywhere on this blog. I want him to stay out of the media also, but he cannot enter a hyperbolic chamber until the season starts. He is going to have to take even greater measures to shield himself from "trouble", but this doesn't amount to the kind of thing that I believe Tank was doing to get himself in this present predicament. Its bad to drink and drive, but we don't take it as seriously in this country as we should. And we must not come off as Quakers on a reservation when you know many off you sipped off a dos equis while typing.

Stay home, Tank. Seriously. Do not leave your house. Order a pizza if you must. But just don't leave. Get yourself a Netflix account, read, take up knitting. No parties, no strippers - didn't Mr. Goodell tell you this stuff already? Drop your old friends. Stay out of trouble. Call your mom every day. Work out, watch game film. Brush your teeth and don't forget to floss. Go to bed early and get lots of rest. Keep your nose out of the news. Act like you care about your career.

I certainly don't begrudge anybody who wants to have a good time, and as an adult Tank can keep whatever hours he'd like. But it's about making dumb decisions. If you don't want to get stopped by the cops, don't set yourself up to do so! I was out with friends until 2 a.m. the other night, so I won't judge him about that. But I also stopped drinking about 90 minutes before I left (I hadn't had that much to start with) and then I drove the speed limit all the way home. That's been my late-night MO since I started driving and guess what, I've never once been stopped by the police! Call it conservative or whatever you want, but it's kept my butt out of trouble for a long time. Don't give the cops a reason to stop you and they will usually leave you alone. Guys like Tank just can't figure that out.

Dave: See Denis Mueller
As for you, Denis, wah wah wah......Johnson is never going to wise up. A leopard doesn't change its spots. Good riddance. End of story.

Keith, people aren't asking Tank to live the life of a Trappist Monk, just that he show some common sense. He knew he was going out to hit the bars, he should have left his car at home - it's not like he can't afford a limo or even cab fare. When the drinking age in Illinois used to be 19 (yeah back in the '70s), my friends and I had enough brains not to drink and drive, even at that young age. Before we would go out we'd draw straws and the 'loser' would be the designated driver and we'd all pile into his car; the loser always hated it, but you know what? - we always made it home safe and sound (except for our hangovers the next day) without incident. All Tank needs to do is think before he acts; maybe he'll start to do that after the Bears cut him.

Both Tank Johnson and Pacman Jones are LOSERS!!! When his blood test comes back and if he was drunk at the time he should not only lose his job in the Bears organization but put back in JAIL. What a MORON for even putting himself in this situation.

WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA.

Denis, Keith--I'm sorry, but I have to call b.s. on this one.

Denis first--sure, society is racist toward people of color, especially when it comes to law enforcement. I find it rather offensive, however, that you call someone getting pulled over for driving 15 mph over the speed limit a symptom of said racism.

Really, Denis--I don't know your ethnicity, so I'm not going to say anything about you personally, but when I see people defending Tank by saying "police are targeting him because of his race," I shake my head and realize this is why we black people have not (and most likely will not) achieve true equality in this society. Of course police were targeting Tank because of his race. I guaran-freaking-tee you even he knew that--he just got out of jail, for christ's sake. The fact that he still thought it was okay for him to do anything illegal (even if it was something as ostensibly benign as driving over the speed limit) just means he's stupid, and an embarrassment to his race.

Keith--using the "everyone does this" argument is weak, too. I'm sipping a Squirt soda while I type this--I don't drink, nor do I consume any drug stronger than caffeine--so I'll freely cast judgement, thank you very much. I've been pulled over enough times for no reason to realize it's not a good idea for me to drive over the speed limit, and I've never been to jail. Tank is a grown man who makes a sheetload of money, and he should be smart enough to know what is expected of him, good and bad.

I've reverted back to my original knee-jerk reaction: Bears should get rid of him.

Ok, first of all this is a football player we're talking about right. They have not been known for vast amounts of brain power in the first place and given that he is young, that means like puppies, he hasn't grown into his adult brain yet. This isn't a racist thing, or even an adult thing. This is an overgrown kid with to much money and time on his hands. The gun thing is easy to explain, he grew up in AZ., gun laws are straight out of the wild west. Evidently so is DUI, so the Bears can explain it all away. To bad for them that those of us that are fans know better. Tank the Tank and get on with the important things like getting Rexy up to speed.

Denis, you're really going to blame this on "a recist society"??

1. We don't know if he was over or under the limit... but the police officer obviously thought he was intoxicated. Local news did not report whether he failed a field sobriety test or not; just that he was taken in "on suspicion of a dui" and that a blood test was conduct. As Roman pointed out, it takes 2 weeks to get the results.
2. There are plenty of black people in the Phx-metro area who are treated fairly. I'm going to bet even if it was a white guy going 40 in a 25 and appearing to be inebriated at 3:30AM he'd be taken in also. Actually, I know that would be the case because it happened to someone I know IN GILBERT -go figure, this person happened to be white-.

As much as some people will make it out to be a racist thing. I don't think that has any play in this case. Hopefully it comes back as a mistake and he was not over the limit... god only knows what claims would be made about "social injustice" and etc. if it comes back he was over.

I'm not racist in any way, and I do realize/recognize some cases where it really is white cops on a power trip or visa versa. This just doesn't seem to be one of those cases.

Roman responds: And as far as we know, the cop may have been black.

Tank must have thought his only competition for man of the year was Pacman Jones.

Roman responds: Now that's funny.

I guess he can't afford to hire a Driver. What a Dope! But I see there are still Dopes out there who will continue to make excuses for him. When all else fails, play the Race card. As one said "he's been thru hell" whose fault is that? If he were an average Joe and not in the NFL, he would still be in jail.

I think Tank has made up the Bears' mind. He's a player with Pro-Bowl potential, considering his athleticism and talent. But he's played like a decent tackle at best. We were rooting for this guy to succeed. We wanted to believe he's changed.

To anyone whose had family members incarcerated, this is a familiar tune: You're completely convinced they've changed until they let you down.

Tank is a likeable player, a likeable guy--but a selfish one, and his teammates and coaches will soon realize that. To the immature and sorry masses that blame this on racial profiling, grow up, get a clue. Take some responsibility.

Fact is, the Bears should have hedged their bet by signing Ian Scott and not worried about depth. Now, we have a decent player with big problems.

Roman responds: Excellent post.

Roman, he was released and not charged. Did he take any other tests? I assume if he was drunk they would have arrested him. Are youy saying balck people do not get stopped more often than white people? Why are the Bengals who are arressed only black. I assume white players party and drink. The Cinn. police department has a history of racism. So does Arizona. Why former Chief justice Renquest hassled minorites when they tried to vote and defended Plessy vs. ferguson. Will you guys apologoze if there is no charge? I don't think so. I am white by the way.

Roman responds: If this were an isolated incident, I don't think people would be so quick to judge. But how many times does this guy have to be arrested before he realizes it's time to change his ways?

I suppose if you told the Tankster to stay out late drinking (bars close at 1:00 in Arizona), then drive by a cop at 15 over the speed limit, and make sure it's after 3:30, he would have stayed at home, sipped on a grape soda while reading National Geographic and gone right into bed after the 10:00 news. He's never going to change - let him go to Cincinnati where he'll fit right in.

LATE NIGHT CLUBS + FAST CARS + DREAD lOCKS + COPS = DONT MIX!!!

Roman responds: I believe he got the hair cut before his trial.

This guy Tank is amazing. He's almost super-human. I started out a bona fide Tank apologist as well but I began to see the light after the media event in Miami when he actually tried to blame his arrest on racism. I know what racism is; that's not it. The more I think about him leaving automatic weapons unlocked around little girls, the angrier I get.

Oh well, it doesn't really matter what the Bears do now. Tank will most likely be earning himself a few decades in the pen by the time the season starts. It'll be pretty tough to run that 4-3 defense when he gets out of jail and he's in his sixties. Bon voyage! Haven't you guys noticed that there have been no news reports about Greg Olsen for months? I told you that would blow over.

Quote from Denis Muller:

"Tank was driving 40 mph in a 25 mile an hour zone. This was in the wee hours of the morning with no one on the streets. He took a blood test but was not charged. Tank was not over the limit. If he is out a 3:30, and not offically drunk, then he has done nothing wrong."

How many times have we heard of hit-and-run drivers striking people late at night? Yes people do go out at night, even at 3:30 am. Some people work the night shift, some kids run he streets unsupervised.Arizona law states that a person can be stopped for drunk driving even if they are below the legal limit.

Quote from Denis Muller:

"I would guess this is more likely a case of a black man being the victim of a racist society, which targets black males."

You're right. This society does target black males. This is why I don't drink and drive, sell drugs, snatch purses, or harass white women. I know that I will be judged more harshly and so I don't want to be targeted.

None of this really matters because tank is a player in the National Football League. If he can't handle the game as well off the field as on, then he needs to go play another game.

Tank Johnson has a VERY RARE medical condition where his body manufactures minute amounts of alcohol at 3:30 AM while driving!

not very long ago I was stopped for making a right hand turn at a four-way stop without using my turn signal. the cop asked how much I had to drink because he could smell alcohol on my breath. well I hadn't had a beer or any other drink in 4 days, I was 5 blocks from home, just gotten out of the shower 10 minutes earlier and what he smelled on my breath was Listerine and I told him as much yet I was till subjected to a battery of sobriety tests. now if Tank's blood test comes back and shows him to have been legally sober haven't many of you convicted him unjustly? just because you're behind the wheel at 3:30 in the morning doesn't necessarily mean you've been out partying. I have left the house of a lady friend more than once after 3 am and had not had one drink all night. if Tank's blood results show he was DUI then yes by all means cut him loose but let's not forget that in this country you are presumed innocent until proven quilty.

This is ridiculous. Going 40 in a 25? What a joke. And people, the cops, boys, jake, 5-0, fuzz, or whatever you want to call them aren't trying to bust tank on alcohol. They administer a breathalizer test for that. They're trying to get him on either A) marijuana or B) cocaine. Those are the substances blood is taken for. Why doesn't Tank have a driver? Oh yeah, his driver was murdered. Well, he should get another one. Maybe a nice old caucasian lady. And no Tank, not Ma Barker.

I personally don't care if football players party, as long as they bust their ass in the weightroom, during practice, and in games. Anyone remember a guy named LT? That's Lawrence Taylor for all you youngin's. He was an out of control cokehead, and the best D-End in history.

Denis:

Yes, there certainly is racism in this country. That is sad. But why isn't that fact another reason why Tank should have the common sense not to make himself a target? If he wants to be a civil rights activist, then fine. But Bear's fans would love to believe that Tank wants to be a Bear. And if that is the case, then Tank simply needs to NOT ONLY keep his nose clean, but avoid any suspicion of impropriety. Like driving around at 3:30 am. The rules are different for him than you or I. This is not about his being black. It's about his lack of commitment to avoid trouble.

Nice post, Julie. It illustrates how Tank could have behaved if he had wanted to. If he really took Goodell seriously. Oh well, I guess fame and millions of dollars and spending time in jail just aren't enough for Tank to make the safe moves.

I assume Tank will wake up before his career is over. He has 2 know that he is moving target. There are certain types of pro players whose transgressions NEVER make the paper.

Tank cant win for losing dont judge tank he did nothing wrong but tell the police who he was, had i was driving we wouldnt be going through this. (minding his business)

I agree that Tank deserves a fair hearing... in the state of Arizona. But not by the Chicago Bears, they've already given him that chance. The Bears are an employer and Tank is an employee with an important position in the Bears organization. To my mind Tank just forfeited his position. Whether or not he's guilty of a crime, he's definitely guilty of poor judgment and can't be counted on to do his job. The Bears have no way of knowing if the next time he blows up will be during a playoff run or an important game that will determine their season. Tank has given them no reason to trust him. Angelo and Smith have a team and an organization to think about. They don't have any time or room to stick their necks out any further for Tank Johnson. They should let him go immediately.

I'm sick and tired of Tank Johnson, he's ruin his own life, by throwing away his career. Tank and Pacman should just kick-it together at a club, sipping Grey Goose, and exchange guns. These two make me sick.

I include myself in the Tank apologist group as well. However, now Im getting sick of Tank. Why can't we ever hear good news from him? He's like that one family member who can't seem to stay out of trouble. Sooner or later the family starts to turn their back. You love 'em, but you can't continue to give them chance after chance. With all he's been through, what is he doing out at at 3:30 AM? I don't care if this was his first time doing it...the bottom line is don't do it! He should've had his big behind home sleep!I mean what is Angelo and Lovie going to say now? Sooner or later they will have to turn their backs on him. Especially if it turns out he'd been drinking. Tank better prey this becomes a non issue because if it doesn't, I believe the bears will cut him loose.

For the People that are throwing Racism around: The bottom line, Tank should Know better. We know that there is racism in this country still. Its a sad fact. Being an African American myself, I know what it feels like to be pulled over for absolutey nothing. We like to refer it as DWB (driving While black). It happens. However Tank is not an ordinary Black Man. He is young, rich, black, and happens to play for the Chicago Bears. Which is a big privilege I might add. So he has an extremely huge target on his back. Plus he has been getting himself in trouble over and over. Im telling you, Tank is a target. However Tank should better, and it is incredibly stupid for him to be hanging out at 3:30am. With all of the issues he's had for the past several months, you'd think he would just chill until his contract runs out. Now the Bears may terminate his contract for being dumb. He has embarrassed the Bears over and over and I can't see why they would hold on to him if this becames an issue.

Who among us does not speed? I'm so tired of hearing about celebrities and personalities that get caught doing what so many more of us have and are getting caught doing. You call this news!

Roman responds: No, you're right, the Bears may about to release a key member of the Super Bowl team because he may be facing his fourth arrest in two years, has done time and his best friend was murdered in a Chicago bar. No, that's not news.

Tank should find some local person to be his driver, no matter what area he is in-Arizona training camp, Gurnee, etc. There are no shortage of people out there who will work cheap. Work out some 24 hours a day deal where, whenever he needs a ride, this personal will be at his beck and call. He can drive his sober ass to the store at 3:30 in the afternoon. But if he has been drinking at 3:30 am, he calls Granny for a ride. The problem with cabs is you can be in for a long wait in a rural area, or a cab might not be available at all. Of course, Tank is probably too concerned with his 'image' with his peers to get someone's Moms to drive him around.

Tank, forget your image--you have a chance to earn more money in the next few years than most do in their entire lives.

If he was drunk or high, he should be launched. If not, let it go.

In a situation like this, judgment has to be withheld until the blood tests come back. Driving at 3:30 AM is not a crime, and speeding alone does not warrant dismissal from the team. If Tank is guilty of anything less than a DUI, I don't think there should be any repercussions.

By the way, does anyone know if Ian Scott has been picked up yet? Last I heard, he was having trouble finding a taker because he apparently thought he was worth a lot more than what most owners thought he was worth.

Honestly, who cares. Does this impact your life or my life? So he made some poor decisions. People really love to gossip about other people's problems. These people serve as examples to us of what NOT to do.

Roman responds: If it serves as that example, then it is important.

2 things! To W2Jcub - Illinois never has been a 19 yr old drinking state. Get your facts right before flashing your stupidity! Also, to JOE save your racist card until you need it. Nothings been proved yet. More effective when you have a reason to use it!!!!!!!

Roman responds: Hey Quills, take it easy, and get your facts right. Illinois did have a drinking age of 19 many years ago. I celebrated my 19th birthday at the Pointe East with pitchers of kamikazees. That was a rough one.

He gone!!!

Don't get carried away...
I live in Arizona and I know how Gilbert police are...there are too many of them and not enough crime so they camp out and pull people over for any reason whatsoever...it's a police state out here....watch, Tank Johnson's BAC will be under .08...nobody fights back against Mother's Against Drunk Driving and Johnson was just another one out here who ran into the police state of Gilbert, Arizona.

I was pulled over and given a ticket for going 33 in a 25 at 4:00 am. Obviously, the police here are now profiling white, family men in mini vans on their way to work. I even had coffee on my breath. It's not my fault though. I grew up in a neighborhood where people were responsible, hard working, and try to get to work on time.

Roman responds: I was pulled over for not stopping before going right on red. The cops called in the wrong plate and thought I had stolen my car. They had weapons drawn on me - like five of them - had me throw my keys on the street. When the cop realized his mistake, he still gave me a ticket and was an ass about it.
Still, let's not kid ourselves, blacks get pulled over at a ridiculously higher rate.

Tank's speeding ticket was hardly the stuff of criminal activity. He was doing 45mph in a 30 zone on a deserted street in the wee hours. If he was DUI, that is a serious matter, but that has not yet been determined.

I don't know about the Arizona cops and all that racist stuff batting back and forth but I think the Tank situation was simply the straw and camel metaphor.

So Tank johnson was caught speeding-driving 45 mph in a 30 mph zone at 3am. What a race course! I guess he is Public Enemy No.1. The police officer "believes" Tank was impaired. What happens if the tests indicates he had the equivalent of 2 beers?
I tend to be an apologist for Tank Johnson because the previous 2 charges were "iffy" to say the least. There were several unregistered guns in his home. He was not threatening anyone or otherwise using the weapons-merely owning them. How many other Americans have unregistered weapons and how many police raids are made because of it?
Tank Johnson went to a bar and his friend got involved in an altercation that resulted in a death. I don't recall reading that Tank was involved in the altercation. He was just there. If any of this is not correct-please explain. I believe he did make an earlier mistake and kept unregistered firearms. All who have unregistered firearms please raise your hands.

So Tank johnson was caught speeding-driving 45 mph in a 30 mph zone at 3am. What a race course! I guess he is Public Enemy No.1. The police officer "believes" Tank was impaired. What happens if the tests indicates he had the equivalent of 2 beers?
I tend to be an apologist for Tank Johnson because the previous 2 charges were "iffy" to say the least. There were several unregistered guns in his home. He was not threatening anyone or otherwise using the weapons-merely owning them. How many other Americans have unregistered weapons and how many police raids are made because of it?
Tank Johnson went to a bar and his friend got involved in an altercation that resulted in a death. I don't recall reading that Tank was involved in the altercation. He was just there. If any of this is not correct-please explain. I believe he did make an earlier mistake and kept unregistered firearms. All who have unregistered firearms please raise your hands.

Roman responds: Ben, I believe Tank would fire his weapons in his backyard. And I believe there was some suggestion he fired at least once at his dogs, which were not properly cared for.

I like kamikazees!

Lets get back to why Tank originally got into trouble. He lived in a area were there isnt any diversity so when you have groups of large black guys with corn rolls driving thru the neighborhood people get nervous and call the police. Why did they raid his house? Because he met a certin profile. If he stayed in the city this woulndnt have never happened. We all talk about he had guns around the kids, I know this is wrong but have any of you been to the south? Whole families in the south go hunting and keep the guns in the truck so lets not get to crazy about that. I'm not trying to say Tank is an angel but he should have known where he was staying and made adjustments and this would have never happend.