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Following his arrest early Friday morning on suspicion of DUI, the Bears waived Tank Johnson on Monday. In the team's release to the media, GM Jerry Angelo said, "We are upset and embarrassed by Tank's actions last week. He compromised the credibility of our organization."
So what great crime ultimately lead to Tank's dismissal from the Bears? He was stopped for driving 40 mph in a 25mph zone at 3:30am in Gilbert, Arizona and cited for being "being impaired to the slightest degree." His BAC hasn't yet been released pending the results of a blood test. Um... who doesn't drive 40 in a 25? And what exactly does "impaired to the slightest degree" mean exactly? Aren't you either drunk or not? What, did he blow a .07869798?
Chicagoist doesn't quite get the timing of this decision. Seeing as they've stood by Tank through everything else, shouldn't they have at least waited until it's determined he was actually driving drunk? Would they have cut him for getting a speeding ticket? Because this arrest seriously sounds like a case of "driving while black" to us. At the very least, they could have waited for all the facts to be released.
Not that we don't agree with getting rid of Tank Johnson because of his off-the-field behavioral issues. We called for the Bears to cut him back in December, after his arrest on gun charges and his infamously stupid nightclub visit the following night.
But the Bears chose to stick by him though everything, with nearly every member of the organization visiting him during his 60 days in Cook County Jail. They stood by him as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the first eight games of the 2008 season. It's just a little curious that they so suddenly cut Tank loose now.
Really, who expected Tank to truly become a model citizen? So why act so appalled and offended when he simply lived up to expectations? The Bears knew who Tank Johnson was, and seemed to accept his personality flaws because of his football talent. And not this changes their mind?
Photo via ChicagoBears.com
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We called for the Bears to cut him back in December...
Could you be more pathetic? You're trying to sound like the Economist calling for the resignation of a rogue head of state overseas, methinks. If you're in the media business, you only "call" for something if your organization has what is called "clout".
"It's just a little curious that they so suddenly cut Tank loose now."
Well, maybe because he betrayed the team's trust, lost the chance at a potential reduction in suspension by the league, added more time and effort to finding someone to fill his role (banking on the two game reduction), showed that he is nothing more than a 7 figure hoodlum, and displayed that even under the microscope he's still a F up.
Do you still need more of a reason that they "suddenly" cut him? Were they going to wait until he did something worse? Until they found him in a puddle of his own puke in North Las Vegas? Or peppered with bullets at a stop light Dolton?
The Bears want a leg up on the criminal factor. The Bengals won't release Henry and the Titans will hold on to Jones for a draft pick (if he ever sees a play again).
See ya Tank. Good Riddance,
I don't have any sympathy for multi-millionaires who get caught drunk driving. I don't care how slightly and even if cops suck. They shouldn't be driving. Hire a driver, they have the money.