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He's no Pacman?
Apr 10, 2007 | 12:49PM | report this
Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson is more than a month into his 120-day stay in the Cook County Jail for violating probation on a weapons charge, and Chicago head coach Lovie Smith continues to strongly defend Johnson, describing him as an example of “what can happen to a good guy.” Smith definitely doesn’t want to see Johnson suspended for eight games or an entire season.
Smith and Brian Urlacher, the heart of the Bears’ team, have both stood up for Johnson. Smith visited him in jail and although he doesn’t know Pacman Jones and Chris Henry of the Bengals, Smith claims Johnson is not a violent guy. “I've been around bad guys before and he's not one,” Smith said.
Johnson, who had 500 rounds of ammunition and six guns in his suburban home, was also a witness to the shooting death of his boyhood friend, Willie Posey, at a Chicago club in December.
Basically, Smith is proud of the fact that Johnson has made great strides to change his life. Smith asked him to cut his braided hair and also to get rid of pit bull dogs. He did both and Smith believes he has moved on with his life and will be a better person in the future.
I’m not sure that Goodell, despite the strong support of the Bears and Smith, will decide to give Johnson a free pass simply because he’s paying the price right now in jail.
Unlike Pacman Jones and Henry, Johnson has been convicted and been jailed. In the past, such actions have always warranted a four-game suspension.
“I think it's devastating for any young man to get locked up for a while.” Smith said. “What Tank did, it's not like he pulled a gun on somebody. You haven't heard about him beating up people. My wife, I didn't ask her to go down there (to court). She wanted to. She's been up a few nights like a concerned Mom with Tank because of what type of guy he is. We all make mistakes. Murder and things like that, that's different."
Apr 10, 2007 | 12:49PM | report this
Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson is more than a month into his 120-day stay in the Cook County Jail for violating probation on a weapons charge, and Chicago head coach Lovie Smith continues to strongly defend Johnson, describing him as an example of “what can happen to a good guy.” Smith definitely doesn’t want to see Johnson suspended for eight games or an entire season.
Smith and Brian Urlacher, the heart of the Bears’ team, have both stood up for Johnson. Smith visited him in jail and although he doesn’t know Pacman Jones and Chris Henry of the Bengals, Smith claims Johnson is not a violent guy. “I've been around bad guys before and he's not one,” Smith said.
Johnson, who had 500 rounds of ammunition and six guns in his suburban home, was also a witness to the shooting death of his boyhood friend, Willie Posey, at a Chicago club in December.
Basically, Smith is proud of the fact that Johnson has made great strides to change his life. Smith asked him to cut his braided hair and also to get rid of pit bull dogs. He did both and Smith believes he has moved on with his life and will be a better person in the future.
I’m not sure that Goodell, despite the strong support of the Bears and Smith, will decide to give Johnson a free pass simply because he’s paying the price right now in jail.
Unlike Pacman Jones and Henry, Johnson has been convicted and been jailed. In the past, such actions have always warranted a four-game suspension.
“I think it's devastating for any young man to get locked up for a while.” Smith said. “What Tank did, it's not like he pulled a gun on somebody. You haven't heard about him beating up people. My wife, I didn't ask her to go down there (to court). She wanted to. She's been up a few nights like a concerned Mom with Tank because of what type of guy he is. We all make mistakes. Murder and things like that, that's different."
deal.
