Tank Johnson Pleaded With The Cops

More news has come out regarding Tank Johnson being pulled over in Arizona a few weeks ago, the same incident that was the final straw for the Chicago Bears.

It turns out that Tank may not have been legally drunk, but he couldn't pass any field sobriety tests either. He failed the finger-to-nose test - he couldn't touch his nose - and he couldn't stand with his feet together.

All of which led Tank, whose given name is Terry, to inform the officer Andrew Bates who he was and ask them for some help.

"Terry was very concerned about the effect of his arrest on his career,'' Bates said in the report. ''After the fingerprinting, Terry asked for an opportunity to meet with Police Chief Tim Dorn to discuss the case.

''I provided him with contact information and advised that the Chief typically worked regular business hours. Terry pointed to the blood sample and requested, 'Don't do anything with that until I talk with the Chief.'''

Tank had also told Bates that he hadn't been drinking, but he did take a couple of Valium within the last 24 hours to help him sleep on his flight. Well, last I checked Valium doesn't lead to a .072 BAC. So Tank had been drinking, and the fact that he may have still been feeling the effects of valium really don't help his case.

Still, there is another side to this story that the Nation of Islam Sportsblog points out.

So, from the moment the stop took place, Jones made it clear that he was not drunk. That alcohol was not a factor. That the reason he may have been driving erratically was due to some residual tiredness from him self medicating to get some sleep.

Tank told Bates he was a football player and tried several times to get the officer to let him go. Johnson went from stalling, to panicking, to this: ''Terry was very concerned about the effect of his arrest on his career,'' Bates said in the report. ''After the fingerprinting, Terry asked for an opportunity to meet with Police Chief Tim Dorn to discuss the case. ''I provided him with contact information and advised that the Chief typically worked regular business hours. Terry pointed to the blood sample and requested, 'Don't do anything with that until I talk with the Chief.'''

Again, Johnson proves to be coherent, cooperative and conscientious. Even identifying who he was. And further acknowledging that if the stop was not handled properly and with appropriate attention to detail, it might have an adverse effect on his future.

So far, Johnson seems to have handled the situation with class, dignity and surprising calm.

Here's what the report says happened just before 3:32 a.m., after Bates told Johnson he was failing the field sobriety tests: ''He requested I follow him while he drove to his mother's home.''

Again, Johnson, despite his relaxed state due to his flight, had the good sense to make a reasonable request to ensure that he was able to get home safely. Certainly, it would be foolish of the police to let him drive unsupervised in his current state.

At 3:46: ''Terry stated he did not want to have any problems and requested I release him without completing the investigation.''

Johnson had been forthright and honest with the situation thus far. What was there left to investigate?

Tank may have seemed to have himself under control, but I don't necessarily agree with NOIS on this one. I've had a couple of run-ins with the police myself during my time when I was slightly impaired, and let me tell you, it's amazing how fast you can sober up when you have a cop's flashlight pointed in your face.

Whether Tank was polite and forthcoming with the police or not - which considering his BAC, that doesn't seem to be the case - it doesn't mean Bates shouldn't have subjected him to a blood test. He had all the cause he needed when Tank couldn't pass the field tests.

Of course, no matter which side you want to take, it's ultimately Tank's fault. He was the one who put himself in this situation starting last season, and now he's reaping the rewards of some dumb decisions he's made.