CHICAGO — Tank Johnson was released Monday by the Chicago Bears, who are "embarrassed" by the defensive tackle's legal troubles and say he "compromised the credibility" of the team.
Johnson was waived three days after he was pulled over by police in Arizona. He already had been suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season for violating probation on a gun charge. He spent two months in jail and was released in May.
"We are upset and embarrassed by Tank's actions last week," general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement. "He compromised the credibility of our organization. We made it clear to him that he had no room for error. Our goal was to help someone through a difficult period in his life, but the effort needs to come from both sides. It didn't, and we have decided to move on."
Police in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert said Johnson was stopped for driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone at 3:30 a.m. Friday and the officer made observations that led him to believe Johnson was impaired.
Sgt. Andrew Duncan, a police spokesman, said Johnson was arrested for "DUI Impaired to the Slightest Degree" but was released without being booked or charged.
Duncan said Johnson was taken to the Gilbert police station, where officials drew blood for a blood-alcohol content test before his release. He described Johnson as "very cooperative."
Test results aren't expected for up to two weeks, and they would be sent to Gilbert town prosecutors for consideration of any charges.
Johnson had called his suspension an "opportunity for me to move forward." NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had said the suspension could be reduced to six games if Johnson had no further involvement with law enforcement and underwent counseling.
"A lot of people within our organization gave extra time and energy to support Tank: players, coaches and our front office," Bears coach Lovie Smith said in a statement. "We did our best to establish an environment for him to move forward. Ultimately, Tank needed to live up to his side of the deal."
Last December, police raided the 300-pound defensive tackle's suburban Chicago home and found six unregistered firearms — a violation of his probation on an earlier gun charge.
That charge stemmed from Johnson's 2005 arrest after a Chicago nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his SUV. He subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
Two days after last December's raid, Willie B. Posey, Johnson's bodyguard, was shot and killed in an early morning fight while he and Johnson were at a Chicago nightclub.
Johnson was suspended by the Bears for one game for being at the club. He played in the Super Bowl as the Bears lost to Indianapolis.
In March, Johnson began his two-month jail stint and during his time he was visited by numerous teammates and members of the Bears staff.
Last month, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons charge stemming from the December raid as part of a deal with prosecutors that kept him from serving more time in jail. He was ordered to serve 45 days, which he served concurrently with the sentence for violating his probation.
GOODELL STRESSES CONDUCT: Roger Goodell briefed all 255 members of this year's draft class Monday on the NFL's stricter conduct rules. Hours later, the Chicago Bears released troubled defensive tackle Tank Johnson in a move that most likely underscored the commissioner's message.
"We're concerned about them as men," Goodell said at the league's rookie symposium in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., shortly before Johnson's release was announced. "How do they become not only great NFL players, but how do they become great men? How do they conduct themselves appropriately for the remainder of their life, not just when they're in the National Football League?"
Goodell spent about 20 minutes with this season's draftees on that topic, mostly in a question-and-answer session.
"I'd be naive to think everyone would be able to understand it," Goodell said. "But I think we're making players more aware of the standards of behavior. We're giving them more tools and resources to make sure they can make those decisions."
VEGAS BOUNCER SUES 'PACMAN': A bouncer who was shot and said his left ankle was bitten by Adam "Pacman" Jones in a strip club melee sued the suspended NFL player and other members of his entourage for damages Monday.
The suit for an unspecified amount was filed with the Clark County District Court on behalf of Aaron Cudworth three days after the Tennessee Titans cornerback surrendered in Las Vegas on two felony charges of coercion and posted $20,000 in bail.
Facts about the Feb. 19 melee and shooting, which paralyzed another strip club bouncer and wounded one other person, were confirmed in charges that the district attorney filed against Jones on Wednesday, said Cudworth's lawyer, Richard Schonfeld.
"When they made their filing, it confirmed what I was looking for," Schonfeld said. The civil case can proceed independently of the criminal trial, he said.
BEARS SIGN VASHER TO NEW DEAL: Chicago defensive back Nathan Vasher signed a five-year contract extension Monday that will keep the Pro Bowler with the Bears through the 2012 season. Details were not disclosed.