[CBFF] USA TODAY; Inside Slant

[Steve Behrens]

  Chicago Bears
    NEWS AND INFORMATION


A changed Tank Johnson discussed his transformation during last weekend's
minicamp, his first participation in a team activity since he was released
from Cook County Jail on May 13 after serving 60 days for violating terms of
probation on a weapons charge.

"I'm very thankful that I went through a situation like that," Johnson said.
"Every situation makes you stronger, and today I stand here before you guys
just a much more patient person. I have tremendous respect for so many
people around (Halas Hall) and also around the country. I got so many
positive letters of support. I just feel that, now that I'm out, I just have
a different outlook on life. It's just bright."

Gone were what Johnson described as "my beautiful dreads," replaced by a
neat, close-cropped crew cut. The team's starting nose tackle said that he
would accept whatever suspension is handed down by NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell, which could come as soon as this week. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound
Johnson was limited to individual drills on Friday, and he isn't expected to
participate in any team drills this weekend, but he's anxious to resurrect
his tarnished reputation.

"One day I want to be the face of the league for guys who have come through
adversity; came through it and ultimately became the Man of the Year in the
NFL," Johnson said. "That would be a tremendous ending to the story."

The next chapter in Johnson's story will deal with his suspension, which is
expected to be anywhere from four games to a full season. Johnson said he
appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Goodell last Wednesday in New
York because it gave him a chance to explain himself. He also heard from
Goodell about the commissioner's mission to clean up the off-the-field
incidents that have increasingly embarrassed the league in recent years.

"Mr. Goodell has a tremendous responsibility to get this league in order,"
Johnson said. "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 said his jail term wasn't necessary for his rehabilitation, but he
said he used it to become a better person.

"I wouldn't say that I needed to go to jail," he said. "I'm saying that I
used a negative situation, and I turned it into a positive. Anytime you go
through something tough in life ... everything you go through can be a
learning experience, and I learned a lot. Anytime you can sit down and learn
something, it's beneficial to you. While I was there, I learned a lot about
myself and it was beneficial to me.

The four-year veteran said his two months of incarceration were made easier
by frequent visits from Bears personnel.

"At the time the sentence was handed down, it was something that I had to
deal with," Johnson said. "There was no way around it, so I prepared myself
for that. It was a tough time for me. But during that process, I got to know
that I have tremendous support from all walks of life. The Bears showed me
unconditional support. My friends and family showed me unconditional
support."

That support and knowing he would return to a stable and nurturing
environment made Johnson's jail time more palatable compared to his fellow
inmates.

"While you're incarcerated, you're around a bunch of different people; some
with little to no hope, some guys who just hope to get out," he said. "For
me to know that I was coming back to a great opportunity, and that I've been
given a chance from the Bears to show the world who I am, it was an
experience like no other. I knew at the end of those 60 days I was coming
back to Halas Hall, coming back to my job and my family, and that's a great
feeling."

The Bears and Johnson hope to feel the same way after Goodell hands down his
ruling, which is expected on the next week.

*NOTES, QUOTES*

—To no one's surprise, Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs was a no-show at
last weekend's minicamp in protest over his designation as the team's
franchise player, which prevents the unrestricted free agent from testing
his long-term value on the open market but also would pay him $7.2 million
this season.

"I had a chance to talk with Lance," coach Lovie Smith said. "These things
happen. We're getting a chance to look at all of our other players, Jamar
Williams in particular. Players go down at any time, so you have to have a
plan 2, and that's where we are."

Williams was the Bears' fourth-round pick in 2006 and played just three
games on special teams last season before landing on injured reserve with a
torn chest muscle.

Smith wouldn't speculate on Briggs' future with the Bears, but isn't
panicking yet.

"I'm just going to try rely on history a little bit," Smith said. "History
tells me that guys will occasionally miss minicamp. History will tell you
that they're sometimes late for training camp; some maybe miss training
camp. History tells me that players don't miss an entire football season."

—Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Hester had a short and simple response
when he was asked what convinced him to switch from cornerback to wide
receiver this year.

"Lovie Smith," Hester said with a smile. "He was meeting with me. It started
once a month, then once a week, (then) every day, and I said, 'Well, there's
not no 'I' in team.' However the head coach feels, it's going to be better
for the team. He put the thought in my mind, and it was like, 'You're
right.'"

Smith made some convincing arguments.

"As I was talking with Devin, I told him he didn't get a chance to do that
Chunky commercial based on (his) backpedaling," Smith said. "We want to get
his hands on the ball a few more times. We both saw it that way."

At last weekend's minicamp, Hester looks as if he's been playing wide
receiver exclusively his whole life. He showed soft, reliable hands along
with his usual flair for making tacklers miss in the open field after the
catch.

—Safety Mike Brown, who missed the final 10 games last season following foot
surgery, practiced without any apparent limitations.

"They wouldn't have had me out there if I wasn't all the way back," Brown
said. "So, yes, I'm all the way back."

Brown also missed four games in 2005 with a calf injury and 14 games in '04
with a ruptured Achilles tendon but said he's not worried about more
injuries.

"If I'm out there, trust me," Brown said, "I'm not worried about all that."

—Coach Lovie Smith said Alex Brown hasn't been given permission by the Bears
to seek a trade, although the defensive end and his agent, Joel Segal, have
broached the idea.

"Alex has a long-term contract with us," Smith said. "He worked extremely
hard out there."

*QUOTE TO NOTE:* "I learned patience. In today's day and age, with
everything being so fast-paced, I think patience has been put to the
wayside. I think I learned a great deal of patience and self-control. A lot
of those things that maybe I didn't work on them enough in my life before,
but I got a chance to really work on those things." — Bears DT Tank Johnson
on his 60 days at Cook County Jail

*STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL*

Seventh-round OT Aaron Brant (241st overall), seventh-round CB Trumaine
McBride (221st overall), third-round RB Garrett Wolfe (93rd overall),
third-round linebacker Michael Okwo (94th overall), fourth-round guard Josh
Beekman (130th overall) and fifth-rounders, SS Kevin Payne (167th overall)
and CB Corey Graham (168th overall) have already signed with the Bears. The
Bears' only draft picks yet to sign are first-round tight end Greg Olsen
(31st overall), second-round defensive end Dan Bazuin (62nd overall).

MEDICAL WATCH: LT John Tait didn't participate in any of last weekend's
three minicamp practices after undergoing ankle surgery in late February.

"(It's) a little bit of cartilage," Tait said. "(And) ligaments getting
stretched out just from chronic rolling my ankle. I never had surgery
before. That was my first one. The doctor said I will be coming back as
strong as ever."

Tait said he expects to start running in 2-3 weeks, and coach Lovie Smith
said the nine-year veteran would be back before the start of training camp
on July 27.

DT Tommie Harris (hamstring) also did not participate in minicamp but is
expected back for the start of training camp.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: OLB Lance Briggs: Tendered at $7.206M.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

—TE Gabe Reid (not tendered as RFA).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

—RB Garrett Wolfe: 3/93; 4 yrs, terms unknown.

—S Kevin Payne: 5/167; terms unknown.

—CB Corey Graham: 5/168; $1.81M/4 yrs, $149,000 SB.

—CB Trumaine McBride: 7/221; $1.71M/4 yrs, $55,250 SB.

—OT Aaron Brant: 7/241; $1.697M/4 yrs, $42,100 SB.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

—OG Ruben Brown: UFA; $2.2M/1 yr, SB unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

—DT Anthony Adams: UFA 49ers; 4 yrs, terms unknown.

—S Adam Archuleta (trade Redskins).

PLAYERS LOST

—TE Richard Angulo (released).

—DT Alfonso Boone: UFA Chiefs; $7.2M/4 yrs, SB unknown.

—WR Justin Gage: UFA Titans; $1M/1 yr, $400,000 SB.

—S Todd Johnson: UFA Rams; $4M/4 yrs, $700,000 SB.

—RB Thomas Jones (traded Jets).

—DT Ian Scott: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.

—S Cameron Worrell: UFA Dolphins; $2M/2 yrs, $285,000 SB.