[CBFF] Tank Johnson gets 8 games

[Victor Waldron]

Here's the story from the Bears website:

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The NFL on Monday suspended Tank Johnson without
pay for the first eight games of the regular season for violating the
league's personal conduct policy.

In a letter to Johnson, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that he
would be prepared to reduce the suspension to the first six
regular-season games if Johnson meets certain conditions.

The conditions include:

-- No further adverse involvement with law enforcement and full
compliance with any requirements imposed by a court.

-- Compliance with all league requirements, including counseling.

-- No participation in any practices or other organized team
activities during the period of the suspension. Johnson may, however,
be present at the Bears' facility during the suspension for counseling
sessions and other approved activities such as physical treatment or
individual workout sessions.

Commissioner Goodell said that he would review the matter no later
than Oct. 1 to assess Johnson's progress and determine whether the
suspension should be reduced.

Johnson met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell May 16 in New York,
three days after the defensive tackle was released from Cook County
Jail, where he served 60 days for a probation violation. Johnson's
120-day sentence was cut in half because of good behavior.

Goodell wanted to talk to Johnson face-to-face before deciding on the
length of a suspension.

"I think the most important thing about my meeting with Mr. Goodell
was for him to get to know my personality and in the process [for] me
[to] get to understand his intentions," Johnson said May 18 at Bears
minicamp.

"I feel like he and I had a very, very good conversation and he got to
know what type of man I am and some of my values, and I got to know
his expectations and his direction he wants to take this league in."

At the time, Johnson indicated that he would accept whatever
punishment was meted out.

"Mr. Goodell has a tremendous responsibility to get this league in
order," Johnson said. "Not that it's all lost, but he has a tremendous
responsibility and whatever he decides to do, it's in the best
interest of the league.

"I feel like whatever sanction he imposes, I'm man enough to take it
and I know that once I get back on the field, that chapter of my life
is closed and I can move on with a sense of closure."

Johnson was charged with six misdemeanor counts of possession of a
firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification card last Dec. 14
after police served a search warrant on his home.

He was on probation at the time after having pled guilty to a
misdemeanor charge that resulted after a nightclub valet alerted
police about seeing a gun in Johnson's car.

With an eight-game suspension, Johnson would be permitted to return
for the Bears' Nov. 11 contest against the Raiders in Oakland. A
six-game suspension would end in time for the defensive tackle to face
the Eagles Oct. 21 in Philadelphia.

The six games that Johnson is assured of missing are home contests
against the Chiefs, Cowboys and Vikings and road games versus the
Chargers, Lions and Packers.

On 6/4/07, Kenny Claxton <kenny.claxton at gmail.com> wrote:
> According to the WSCR. He could get it knocked down to 6 on appeal.
> _______________________________________________
> Check out the CBFF Blog:
> blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
> CBFF Homepage:
> www.chicagobearsfanforum.com
>