Tank Johnson

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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
  • Second-team
    All-Pac-10
    (2003)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:154
Sacks:14.0
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Terry "Tank" Johnson (born December 7, 1981) is an American former professional

2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington
.

Early years

Johnson was born in Gary, Indiana. His father moved him to Arizona when he was six years old. He attended McClintock High School in Tempe, 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.

In

All-American honors as a senior. In volleyball
, he received All-state, All-region and All-city honors.

College career

Johnson accepted a football scholarship from the University of Washington. He originally was recruited to play tight end. As a freshman he was suspended as a partial qualifier.

As a sophomore, he was converted into a

UCLA
with 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 both defensive tackle and defensive 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

2004 NFL Combine

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 ft 2+34 in
(1.90 m)
304 lb
(138 kg)
32+58 in
(0.83 m)
9+58 in
(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 from NFL Combine[2]

Chicago Bears

Johnson was selected by the

2004 NFL Draft.[3]
As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games with one start, making 26 tackles and a half sack.

In 2005, 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 the Baltimore Ravens. Along with teammates Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Charles Tillman, Johnson helped the Bears' establish the league's most productive defense during the season.

In 2006, Johnson saw more action due to the loss of injured Tommie Harris, allowing him to start 10 games, as the team reached Super Bowl XLI. He posted 38 tackles (2 for loss), 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

On January 23,

NFL player conduct policy
.

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

Dallas Cowboys

On September 18,

gun charge.[9] On November 11, he returned to the field against the New York Giants
, making three solo tackles and one sack.

He didn't perform as well as expected while playing

Jay Ratliff
had 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.

In 2008, 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

On April 7,

4-3 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 the Miami Dolphins on October 31.[12] He was placed on the injured reserve list on 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 player Geno Atkins.[14]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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

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

Legal troubles

In November 2005, Johnson was arrested at the

aggravated assault and resisting arrest after 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 was maced and subdued with the help of other police officers. The charges were eventually dropped.[17]

On December 14,

marijuana. Johnson was charged with violation to probation and possessing unlicensed weapons. Bears coach Lovie Smith deactivated Johnson for the following game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers based 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's

River North neighborhood. Posey was shot after he was allegedly involved in a fight around midnight. Posey was rushed to Northwestern 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 "reputed gang
member" 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 in Skokie for 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's child abuse prevention program.[27] While he was in jail, many of his teammates and coaches, including Brian 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 for

speeding in Gilbert, 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 manager Jerry Angelo stated 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 his blood alcohol content was under the legal limit.[33]

Personal life

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

References

  1. ^ "Tank's family shocked by recent developments". ABC News.
  2. ^ "2004 NFL Draft Scout Tank Johnson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "2004 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ^ "Bears' Tank Johnson can travel to Super Bowl". Archived from the original on 2007-05-17. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  5. ^ "Super Bowl XLI Box Score". Super Bowl.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  6. NFL.com. Archived from the original
    on 2007-05-19. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Mayer, Larry. "Bears say goodbye to troubled defensive tackle". ChicagoBears.com. Archived from the original on 2007-06-28. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "Dallas gives Johnson opportunity to resume career". ESPN. September 18, 2007.
  9. ^ "Suspended Tank Johnson will practice Friday with Cowboys". 18 October 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  10. ^ "Tank Johnson to join Bengals". 7 April 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "Source: Johnson, Bengals reach deal". 8 March 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Tank Johnson leaves with knee injury". 31 October 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "Chris Crocker, Frostee Rucker on IR". 22 November 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "Bengals release Tank Johnson". 16 August 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Illinois gun laws". October 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  16. ^ "Another Bears distraction: Tank charged". Archived from the original on December 16, 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  17. ^ ""Tank" Johnson In Trouble with the Law Again". Archived from the original on January 11, 2007. Retrieved July 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 from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  23. ^ "Tank Johnson Pleads Guilty On Probation Violation". Archived from the original on March 14, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  24. ^ "Lawyer Asks That Tank Johnson's Charges Be Dropped". February 23, 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  25. ^ "Tank Johnson Sentenced To 120 Days In Jail". CBS Chicago. March 17, 2007. Archived from the original on March 17, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  26. ^ "Bears' Johnson Begins Time At Cook County Jail". May 13, 2007. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  27. ^ "Tank Johnson Pleads Guilty, Avoids More Jail Time". May 13, 2007. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  28. ^ "Bears showing concern for Tank". Chicago Tribune. May 12, 2007. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "Bears' Tank Johnson To Be Released Sunday". September 27, 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  30. ^ "NFL announces Tank Johnson suspension". Chicagobears.com. June 6, 2007. Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved June 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. ^ a b c Biggs, Brad (March 31, 2015). "Former Bear Tank Johnson plans to offer advice to Ray McDonald". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2020.

External links