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Review: Paramount Room
Chicagoist has lost a lot of respect for Bears management this week. They talked a tough game, but when push came to shove they backed down.
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Bears GM Jerry Angelo announced that the Bears will suspend Tank Johnson for one game for "conduct detrimental to the team." ONE GAME!?!?! Talk about caving to the pressure to win at all costs. After serving his suspension, he'll be eligible to return for the finale against Green Bay. Of course, that means he'll be able to play throughout the playoffs.
The Trib explains, "The decision to discipline Johnson [was] because of his decision to go out with friend and bodyguard William Posey last Friday only hours after general manager Jerry Angelo put him on notice that poor decisions and behavior had to stop."
The NFL will handle any additional punishment that ensues from last week's arrest.
In his apology statement to the team and fans, Johnson said, "Any time you're given a second chance in life, I believe it's up to you to take advantage of it. And this is my second chance."
Second chance? Wasn't his second chance blown when six guns turned up in his house, in violation of his probation? Wasn't his third chance blown when he went out to a club, violating his bail conditions? A night that went so badly his best friend/bodyguard ended up dead? He's already well beyond a second chance.
At the very least, he should have been suspended for the rest of the season. Really, the Bears should have made a strong statement and outright cut him. They'll cut a player for muffing a few punts, but a guy who displays a repeated pattern of putting his family and others at risk, and cannot be depended upon by his teammates, gets a tickle on the wrist?
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Yes, he doesn't deserve this and he'll probably go to jail for gun offenses while on probation for gun offenses, but I think the Bears did the right thing. Eric Zorn makes the point that all we should be concerned about as fans is what happens between the sidelines. There should be no moral compass in professional football. I agree, it's not our job to "Scott Skiles" up the joint. The coaches will make the decision on what's best for the team. Cutting Bobby Wade was good for the football team. Keeping Tank is good for the football team.
Incidents like this one become an issue on the field, though, because it creates an in-season distraction, and his absence because of suspensions, jail time, etc. weaken the team's play on the field. Being part of a team means doing your part to keep it strong. Tank's actions truly were "detrimental to the team" because they did impact the team's on-field play.
I don't think he can be suspended for more than one game because of the players union. He can be benched , I think, for the remainder of the season but the bears want to go and get the superbowl.
I also don't believe in punishing people before they are proven guilty.
If matty's right, then the Bears might have done the right thing -- even if it is also the convenient thing.
Maybe it is semantics, but I don't think you "bench" a player for his bad behavior off the field. You do "suspend" him. And you should wait for his day in court to decide to cut him outright.
One question is being ignored by most commentators: why do professional atheletes hang out at such shitty bars?
The Ice Bar? Give me a break?!?!?!
If I had the kind of dough that this Johnson guy has, I would be having a margarita at Frontera or maybe a dinner at Charlie Trotters. Or maybe checking out a set at the Jazz Showcase.
At least you used to see Ozzie and Harold Baines hanging at Jimbo's back in the day.
The patronizing of these crappy, frat-boy bars by professional atheletes has to stop!
No reason to hold a football player to a higher standard than the President of the US.
I was really hoping all the lofty, sanctimonious crap wouldn't make it's way to the writers of Chicagoist. Jesus! It's football. These guys get paid to act like social misfits. Most of them come from nothing and are suddenly millionaires. It's like pulling a lion out of the wild and putting it in a kindergarten classroom. Plus the fact remains that Tank was not the target of the bust and all of his guns are legal with a FOID card and registered in Arizona. He was driving without a license. In closing, get off your high horse.
The thing I don't understand about this story, or any of the other stories about pro athletes, their bodyguard is always referred to as a "lifelong friend" whenever the issue of the player or guard comes up. I realize athletes nowadays wanna bring along everybody they know on their crazy ride thru pro athletics, but his bodyguard isn't the first "lifelong friend" to have been sent to jail, shot or killed. They've got money, spend it on someone who actually knows what the hell they are doing as far as protection and won't get into some stupid tussle at a b-rated bar. And if I was the lifelong friend of some of these athletes, I think I would keep my distance, it can be hazardous to your health. Ehh, what are ya gonna do?
Photog makes a great point. Why the hell does this "Tank" character even NEED a bodyguard unless he is involved in untoward activities?!?!
For chrissakes, White Sox pitcher Mike MacDougal took the Red Line to the games last season!!?! Im sure he wasn't travelling with his "crew" on the frikking El!
(luckily MacDougal is a reliever so the inevitable Red Line delays wouldn't necessarily make him late for work!)
"he patronizing of these crappy, frat-boy bars by professional athletes has to stop!"
Aren't all professional football players ex frat boys?
The reason most of these guys bring along their knucklehead friends from Gary is because they don't know any better. They're thrust into the spotlight, paid way more money than they ever dreamed of having when they were growing up in a shitty neighborhood. THey don't know what to do with themselves. I know the Bears have people that try to get these guys off on the right foot but i'm sure it's not an easy job.
Whoa, Chicagoist, seriously? Do you think that Joe Blogger would have had his home raided for possible gun possession? I heard originally that the home was raided for drugs and then they turn up 6 guns, but no drugs? Do you know how many people may or may not have a couple guns that aren't registered (seriously, no sarcasm)?
This was a crime that was completely blown out of proportion. Neighbors complaining about pit bulls being mistreated? Possible poessession of weapons? Now the shooting of his friend/bodyguard came at the worst possible time, but as for kicking him off the team, calm down.