Wikipedia

Tank Johnson

Terry"Tank"Johnson(born December 7, 1981) is an American former professionalfootballdefensive tacklewho played in theNational Football League(NFL) for theChicago Bears,Dallas CowboysandCincinnati Bengals.He was selected by the Bears in the second round of the2004 NFL draft.He playedcollege footballatWashington.

Tank Johnson
refer to caption
Johnson at Bengals training camp in 2010
No. 99, 66, 95
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:(1981-12-07)December 7, 1981(age 42)
Gary, Indiana,U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school:Tempe (AZ) McClintock
College:Washington
NFL draft:2004/ round: 2 / pick: 47
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:154
Sacks:14.0
Forcedfumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
StatsatPro Football Reference

Early life

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Johnson was born inGary, Indiana.His father moved him toArizonawhen he was six years old. He attendedMcClintock High SchoolinTempe, Arizona,where he had a B-plus grade average.[1]As a senior, he had 21 receptions, 211 yards, 4 touchdowns, 47 tackles, 3 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. He was two-time All-city and All-region honoree.

Inbasketball,he received Pepperdine PrepAll-Americanhonors as a senior. Involleyball,he received All-state, All-region and All-city honors.

College career

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Johnson accepted a football scholarship from theUniversity of Washington.He originally was recruited to playtight end.As a freshman he was suspended as a partial qualifier.

As a sophomore, he was converted into adefensive tackle.He appeared in 10 games as a backup, making 4 tackles (one for loss). He missed the fifth game againstUCLAwith a sore knee.

As a junior, he started 11 out of 13 games at defensive tackle. He registered 25 tackles (9.5 for loss), 5 sacks, one interception (returned for a touchdown) and one forced fumble. He contributed to a defense that ranked 11th in the nation with 97.7 rushing yards allowed per game.

As a senior, he started 12 games at bothdefensive tackleanddefensive end.He posted 35 tackles, 10 sacks (led the team), 18.5 tackles for loss (led the team), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery (scored a touchdown).

He finished his college career with 23 starts out of 35 games, collecting 64 tackles (29 for loss), 15 sacks, one interception, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft2+3⁄4in
(1.90 m) 		304 lb
(138 kg) 		32+5⁄8in
(0.83 m) 		9+5⁄8in
(0.24 m)		 4.74 s 1.70 s 2.77 s 4.60 s 7.56 s 34 in
(0.86 m)		 9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)		 31 reps
All values fromNFL Combine[2]

Chicago Bears

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Johnson was selected by theChicago Bearsin the second round (47th overall) of the2004 NFL draft.[3]As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games with one start, making 26 tackles and a half sack.

In2005,he played in 16 games with 4 starts, making 37 tackles (4 for loss), 5 sacks (fourth on the team) and 4 passes defensed. He had 8 tackles and 2 sacks against theBaltimore Ravens.Along with teammatesTommie Harris,Brian Urlacher,Lance Briggs,andCharles Tillman,Johnson helped the Bears' establish the league's most productive defense during the season.

In2006,Johnson saw more action due to the loss of injuredTommie Harris,allowing him to start 10 games, as the team reachedSuper Bowl XLI.He posted 38 tackles (2 for loss), 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

On January 23,2007,two days after the Bears won theNFC ChampionshipGame, Johnson was forced to appear inCircuit courtto request permission to leave the State ofIllinoisto travel toMiami, Floridato play inSuper Bowl XLIstemming from anarrest on gun chargeslate in 2006.[4]The request was granted, and he played in the game, recording four tackles, assisting on another, and getting ahalf-sack.[5]On May 16, 2007, Johnson met with NFL commissionerRoger Goodellto determine punishment for his off-the-field transgressions,[6]with Goodell eventually imposing an eight-game suspension, with the possibility of a reduction to six games if Johnson followed certain requirements for violating theNFL player conduct policy.

On June 25, 2007, three days after being pulled over for speeding and suspicion of drunk driving by the police inGilbert, Arizona,the Bears waived Johnson, although there were no criminal charges.[7]

Dallas Cowboys

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On September 18,2007,Jerry Jonesthe owner of theDallas Cowboys,took a chance and signed Johnson as afree agent,to provide depth after losingJason Fergusonfor the year with a torn right biceps.[8]He was forced to miss the first eight games, suspended by the league for violating probation on agun charge.[9]On November 11, he returned to the field against theNew York Giants,making three solo tackles and one sack.

He didn't perform as well as expected while playingnose tacklein a 3–4 defense, instead ofdefensive tacklein a 4–3 scheme, additionallyJay Ratliffhad a break-out year, earning the starting position. He finished the season with 10 tackles, two sacks, one quarterback pressure, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.

In2008,he played through a sprained ankle in a reserve role behind Ratliff. He posted 45 tackles (three for loss), one sack, nine quarterback pressures, three passes defensed and one forced fumble. Even though Johnson had no off-field issues in Dallas, he wasn't re-signed at the end of the year.

Cincinnati Bengals

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On April 7,2009,Johnson signed withCincinnati Bengals,who at the time had a reputation of taking chances on talented players.[10]He played at his natural defensive tackle position in a4–3 defense.He started 13 games, making 29 tackles and two sacks.

On March 8,2010,Johnson was signed by the Bengals to a 4-year deal as an unrestricted free agent.[11]He started the first seven games until suffering a season ending right knee injury against theMiami Dolphinson October 31.[12]He was placed on theinjured reserve liston November 23.[13]He started in seven games, registering 10 tackles (one for loss).

On August 16,2011,his contract was terminated by the Bengals and he was replaced in the starting unit with second-year playerGeno Atkins.[14]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2004 CHI 16 1 19 14 5 0.5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 CHI 16 4 34 27 7 5.0 9 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2006 CHI 14 10 26 22 4 3.5 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
2007 DAL 8 1 14 10 4 2.0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0
2008 DAL 16 1 22 13 9 1.0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2009 CIN 14 13 29 16 13 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2010 CIN 7 7 10 5 5 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
91 37 154 107 47 14.0 28 0 0 0 0 7 2 1 0 0

Playoffs

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2005 CHI 1 0 1 1 0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006 CHI 3 3 8 7 1 1.5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007 DAL 1 0 1 1 0 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009 CIN 1 1 1 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
6 4 11 10 1 2.5 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
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In November 2005, Johnson was arrested at theExcalibur nightclubin Chicago for possession of a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.[15]Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. He received 18 months probation and was ordered to undergo 40 hours ofcommunity service.[16]On February 12, 2006, Johnson, while still on probation, was charged withaggravated assaultandresisting arrestafter allegedly verbally threatening a police officer. Johnson was leaving the Level Nightclub on Chicago's Rush Street when the police officer was ticketing a limousine driver whom Johnson had hired. As Johnson allegedly put up a struggle, he wasmacedand subdued with the help of other police officers. The charges were eventually dropped.[17]

On December 14,Lake Countypolice officers searched Johnson's home inGurnee, Illinois,and allegedly discovered that he possessed six firearms, including twoassault rifles.According to police reports, some of the guns were loaded and there were children inside the house.[18]Although Johnson was at football practice during the search, hisbodyguardWillie Bernard Posey was arrested from his house for alleged possession ofmarijuana.Johnson was charged with violation to probation and possessing unlicensed weapons. Bears coachLovie Smithdeactivated Johnson for the following game against theTampa Bay Buccaneersbased on this incident.[19]

On December 16, 2006, Johnson's best friend and bodyguard Willie Bernard Posey was killed in a shooting at the Ice Bar in Chicago'sRiver Northneighborhood. Posey was shot after he was allegedly involved in a fight around midnight. Posey was rushed toNorthwestern Memorial Hospital,where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 a.m. Posey's assailant was not immediately apprehended.[20]However, on December 28, Chicago Police apprehended Michael Selvie, Posey's alleged assailant. Selvie, a "reputedgangmember "has been implicated in over 30 other crimes. However, Selvie's defense attorney claimed that Selvie did not possess a firearm or be involved in any gang affiliations. On February 19, 2010, following a bench trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Michael Selvie was convicted of first degree murder. Selvie was later sentenced to 55 years in prison. His case is currently on appeal.

On December 22, Cook County Circuit Judge John J. Moran Jr. (Skokie courthouse, Second District, Cook County, Illinois) placed Johnson on home confinement, preventing him from driving by himself or leaving the state of Illinois.[21]On December 30, 2006, Johnson contacted Gurnee Police Department to file harassment charges.[22]Local youths left a toilet seat with a harassing message on his doorstep. Local news reported that the police did not disclose what the message on the toilet seat said.

On February 8, 2007, Johnson entered a guilty plea in Cook County's Courthouse inSkokiefor violating his probation.[23]On February 17, Johnson's lawyer contested a Lake County Circuit Court to drop Johnson's unlicensed weapons charges. His attorney claimed that since Johnson was a resident of Arizona, he did not have to abide by the gun registration laws of Illinois.[24]On March 15, Johnson was sentenced to 120 days in Cook County Jail and fined $2,500 for violating his probation.[25]Johnson entered a plea of not guilty on 10 counts of possessing a weapon without the proper state-required ID.[26]

On April 30, Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons charge as part of an arrangement with prosecutors that kept him from serving additional jail time. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, which was served concurrently with a four-month sentence he was already serving in the Cook County Jail for violating his probation; to donate $2,500 to the Gurnee Police Department and $2,500 to the Gurnee Exchange Club'schild abuseprevention program.[27]While he was in jail, many of his teammates and coaches, includingBrian Urlacher,Rex Grossman,and Lovie Smith visited Johnson.[28]His release from jail on May 13, 2007, ended his legal problems from the December 2006 weapons incident.[29]The league ultimately suspended Johnson for half of the regular season on June 4.[30]

On June 22, Johnson was pulled over forspeedinginGilbert, Arizona.According to the police, he was stopped after driving forty miles per hour in a twenty-five mile per hour zone. He was also suspected of driving while impaired "to the slightest degree", but was released without being booked or charged. The Bears waived Johnson a few days after hearing the news, as general managerJerry Angelostated that he had no room for error left.[31]The incident would prove to be the final straw in his already tense relationship with the Bears' organization. The Bears ultimately released Johnson on June 25.[32]Almost a week after Johnson was waived, the results from a blood test conducted on Johnson when he was pulled over confirmed hisblood alcohol contentwas under the legal limit.[33]

Personal life

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After retiring from professional football, Johnson attended Mesa Community College in Arizona to complete the requirements for a degree in sociology from the University of Washington.[34]He created a counseling program called 'Moving the Chains', which helps ex-offenders learn from their mistakes and avoid negative influences in their life.[34]Johnson commented on his legal problems, stating, "I got in a ton of trouble and I wasn't a bad guy. I had myself in too many uncontrolled environments."[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Tank's family shocked by recent developments". ABC News.
  2. ^"2004 NFL Draft Scout Tank Johnson College Football Profile".DraftScout.RetrievedJuly 6,2023.
  3. ^"2004 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedMay 6,2023.
  4. ^"Bears' Tank Johnson can travel to Super Bowl".Archived fromthe originalon May 17, 2007.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  5. ^"Super Bowl XLI Box Score".Super Bowl. Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2007.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  6. ^"Bears' Tank Johnson meets with Goodell".NFL.Archived fromthe originalon May 19, 2007.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  7. ^Mayer, Larry."Bears say goodbye to troubled defensive tackle".ChicagoBears. Archived fromthe originalon June 28, 2007.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  8. ^"Dallas gives Johnson opportunity to resume career".ESPN. September 18, 2007.
  9. ^"Suspended Tank Johnson will practice Friday with Cowboys".October 18, 2007.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  10. ^"Tank Johnson to join Bengals".April 7, 2009.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  11. ^"Source: Johnson, Bengals reach deal".March 8, 2010.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  12. ^"Tank Johnson leaves with knee injury".October 31, 2010.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  13. ^"Chris Crocker, Frostee Rucker on IR".November 22, 2010.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  14. ^"Bengals release Tank Johnson".August 16, 2011.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  15. ^"Illinois gun laws".October 2, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon October 2, 2006.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  16. ^"Another Bears distraction: Tank charged".Archived fromthe originalon December 16, 2006.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  17. ^""Tank" Johnson In Trouble with the Law Again ".Archived fromthe originalon January 11, 2007.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  18. ^"Tank Johnson Charged After Police Raid Home". NBC News. July 30, 2007.
  19. ^"Tank Johnson Charged After Police Raid Home". NBC News. December 20, 2006.
  20. ^"Police: Man Harassed 'Tank' Prior To Bodyguard's Shooting". NBC News. December 20, 2006.
  21. ^"Tank Johnson gets home confinement". NBC News. December 22, 2006.
  22. ^"Tank Johnson Pleads Not Guilty To Gun Charges".September 30, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  23. ^"Tank Johnson Pleads Guilty On Probation Violation".Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2007.RetrievedFebruary 8,2007.
  24. ^"Lawyer Asks That Tank Johnson's Charges Be Dropped".February 23, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon February 23, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  25. ^"Tank Johnson Sentenced To 120 Days In Jail".CBS Chicago.March 17, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon March 17, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  26. ^"Bears' Johnson Begins Time At Cook County Jail".May 13, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon May 13, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  27. ^"Tank Johnson Pleads Guilty, Avoids More Jail Time".May 13, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon May 13, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  28. ^"Bears showing concern for Tank".Chicago Tribune.May 12, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon May 12, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  29. ^"Bears' Tank Johnson To Be Released Sunday".September 27, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  30. ^"NFL announces Tank Johnson suspension".Chicagobears.June 6, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon June 6, 2007.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  31. ^"Tank Johnson stopped by police in Phoenix suburb". Yahoo! Sports. June 22, 2007.
  32. ^"Bears waive suspended Tank Johnson".June 25, 2007.
  33. ^"Tank Johnson under legal limit in DUI arrest". Associated Press. July 2, 2007.
  34. ^abcBiggs, Brad (March 31, 2015)."Former Bear Tank Johnson plans to offer advice to Ray McDonald".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
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