[CBFF] More Self-Rightous BS from Wojciechowski

[Jerry Madsen]

NFL always seems to find a home for Johnson -- and his ilk
Wojciechowski

By Gene Wojciechowski
ESPN.com

Yawn. The Chicago Bears waived the galactically stupid Terry "Tank"
Johnson after -- what was it this time? -- he got pulled over at 3:30
a.m. for speeding and suspected driving while impaired. This isn't
news, it's habit.

Tank Johnson's off-the-field problems finally ended up costing him his
job. For now.
Johnson owns guns, lots of them, but he apparently doesn't own a watch
or the name of a limo company that can drive him home when he's out
until two hours before dawn. But it isn't as though he'll be
unemployed for long. Here's what will happen next:

The now-former Bears defensive tackle will keep a subterranean profile
until blood test results determine whether authorities in Gilbert,
Ariz., charge him with driving under the influence. In the meantime,
there's always Johnson's heartfelt statement -- the one his lawyer
issued and probably wrote, too -- professing his "regret that I have
to leave Chicago under these circumstances."

Now then, if Johnson is charged with the DUI, his lawyer likely will
release another polished statement, supposedly in the player's words,
in which Tank declares his innocence, announces a spiritual rebirth,
and says the recent events have taught him a valuable and
life-changing lesson. There might even be a few strategically timed
tears at the first court appearance. You know, just for the cameras or
sketch artists.

And if he's cleared of the charges, Johnson undoubtedly will declare
his desire to move forward and return to the football field -- just as
soon as he completes his eight-game, NFL-imposed suspension for the
other dumb-ass things he has done in the past 24 months. He'll
apologize -- again -- and promise never to make the same mistake.

Until the next time.

Anyway, it's a scam and it's insulting, disingenuous and manipulative.
But it works. Always has, always will.

Johnson will get another NFL job. As long as teams need experienced
defensive tackles -- and Johnson has 46 games of experience in his
three seasons in the league -- general managers and coaches everywhere
will pretend Johnson is sincere about rehabbing his image and
character. And as usual, Johnson will pretend back.

I'm not cynical enough to question the Bears' sincerity when it came
to their efforts to help Johnson. GM Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie
Smith knew they'd look like idiots if Johnson brain cramped again, but
they took the plunge anyway. Now, their credibility needs
mouth-to-mouth.

The Bears should have waived Johnson in December, when police
discovered more than 500 rounds of ammo and six unregistered rifles
and handguns -- in full view of his children -- at his suburban
Chicago house. And if not then, they should have waived him when he
went clubbing with one of his best friends, only to see the friend get
shot and killed that night. This was immediately after the Bears
warned Johnson to clean up his act.

But the Bears needed a defensive tackle, just as the Tennessee Titans
need cornerback and playmaker Adam "Pacman" Jones, whose new nickname
should be, "The Human Mug Shot." Bears and Titans management can
rationalize it any way they want, but this is about greed, nothing
else. The greed to win, no matter what mope wears your uniform.

Can you play? That's all that really matters. Bill Walton said it in
his autobiography 13 years ago: "You can be a criminal, a druggie, a
jerk of a person, have zero social skills, very little intellect, but,
man, if you can play, there's always a spot for you." Walton was
talking about the NBA, but it fits the NFL just as snugly.

If you can play, an NFL team or a smart agent can massage the rough
spots. All it takes is, say, an appearance in a United Way commercial
or a Thanksgiving Day photo op in an Armani. Maybe something with
puppies. Hey, we'll fall for anything.

The Bears fell for Johnson, and the Titans fell for Jones. And the
Cincinnati Bengals apparently fall for anybody who has been
fingerprinted. How's that working out these days, fellas?

A New York Post columnist, Paul Schwartz, recently suggested that NFL
commissioner Roger Goodell punish not only the guilty players but also
the teams that employ the players. Take away a draft pick for every
conviction. Shrink the precious salary cap. That will do it.

No, it won't. It's a nice idea, but if it doesn't work on the college
level (NCAA investigators do a brisk business every year), it's not
going to work on the pro level. You think the Atlanta Falcons wouldn't
have traded for the right to draft just Michael Vick because they
heard he might be a fan of illegal dogfights?

NFL teams are about making money, not necessarily about making good
citizens. For some GMs and coaches, choosing between a law-abiding
player with average skills or a Pro Bowl-caliber player with a
criminal past isn't exactly a moral dilemma. Talent, not character,
wins the day.

Goodell is trying to change the culture. Johnson is looking at that
eight-game suspension, maybe more. Jones is gone for the season. The
Bengals' Chris Henry is out for eight games. But none of it matters if
another team (Dallas? Denver? Tampa Bay?) enables Johnson when he's
eligible to sign as a free agent.

Maybe you take Schwartz's original idea and apply it to suspended
players and the teams that retain their services. You want to sign
Johnson? Knock yourself out. But if he screws up again, it's going to
cost him his career and cost you a draft pick. Now that's a
partnership.

Earlier this week, Goodell spoke to all 255 players of the 2007 draft
class at the league's mandatory rookie symposium in Palm Beach, Fla.
He talked about the rookies' responsibilities not only as players but
as men. He referred to the famed NFL logo and how "We all represent
that shield."

Maybe the rookies listened, maybe they didn't. All anyone knows for
sure is that the shield has some dent marks in it. And as long as
teams keep giving the Johnsons of the world fifth chances, the marks
are only going to grow deeper.

Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You
can contact him at gene.wojciechowski at espn3.com.