Tank Was Sober

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jul 3, 2007 1:04PM

See, they should have waited!

The Bears cut defensive tackle Tank Johnson last week following his arrest in Arizona on suspicion of DUI, before even getting all of the facts in the case. At the time, we suggested that maybe they should have waited until the blood alcohol content results came back rather than making such a hasty decision.

On Monday, the results came back and showed that Tank's BAC was .072 — below the .08 limit for DUI.

Now the Bears look silly because, after standing by him through numerous arrests for serious charges, through a 60-day stay in the county lockup, though an 8-game suspension by the NFL, they have essentially cut him for a speeding ticket. This whole controversy started when Johnson was pulled over for driving 40 mph in a 25-mph zone in Gilbert, Ariz., a little over a week ago. Who doesn't do about 40 in a 25? Could his stop and arrest even have been a case of DWB — driving while black? Certainly, there are many cops who might be suspicious of a black man, driving a nice car, late at night. But that is not a crime.

We understand the tough love and final chances, but should this have been the event that caused the Bears to cut him? A damn speeding ticket? What if he'd been ticketed for jaywalking? What if he'd been in a fender bender on the way to pick up his child at school? Would those also have embarrassed the organization such they they'd have cut him in those circumstances, too?

Image via www.gasf.com.