My Friends,

 

Bless me father, for I have sinned. My last confession was last Friday, but I didn’t really mean it, and you’ll know whether this one is genuine later. But please, please, PLEASE believe me now, because I want to play in the Big Game.

 

The funniest part of the Tank Johnson press conference – Part II came when Jerry Angelo told us with a straight face that the subject of the playoffs was never brought up in his discussions with the team, the coaches, Ted Phillips or Michael McCaskey. Maybe it wasn’t, but it sure was the 800-pound gorilla in the room. When my dad was alive he’d repeat a saying he said used to go around in his Navy days whenever the room knew somebody was telling a tall tale. In a low voice he’d start counting, “47…48…49…50! All together and not too loud…Some Shit!” Somewhere, bless him, dad was counting again today. And maybe some of the older guys in the Bears press room?

 

So now the team knows that flirting with the “lines” will result in several days of hand wringing, including discussions with the league about appropriate sanctions, followed by a one game unpaid suspension for disobeying the boss, but only if it’s ok with the player. Because that’s the only way this plays out as it did. Without consulting with the league the Bears could have deactivated Johnson for the season, but they would have had to pay him to sit home, or they could have cut him and saved the cash (I think, or do players get their entire year’s salary if they’re on the roster after a certain date?), but that would have meant getting nothing in return. The truth is the Bears suddenly found themselves thin at defensive tackle as the playoffs approached, and Terry wanted his chance to play for a title. So we have a solution born of convenience, as the Bears and Johnson are banking that a month from now, as we’re pondering the result of the Bears first playoff game, all we’ll care about is whether they won or lost. And they’re probably right.

 

I found it interesting that once again Johnson’s family either came last or not at all when the ‘I’m sorrys’ were said. “The organization” was always front and center, with his teammates a close second whenever he was doling out the mea culpas. Heck, even the fans rated above his home life in the opening sentence. But I wonder what he’s sorry for? Come Sunday, when he’s sitting at home watching his guys battle it out in Detroit with two squirming kids on his lap, my guess is that he’s sorry he’s not going clubbing after the team flight lands. To me, Terry looked more angry than remorseful as he said his piece today, upset that he was made to bow down to keep his shot at the brass ring alive. It felt like something was boiling just beneath the surface. After all, it wasn’t his fault that things spiraled out of control at the Ice Bar, was it?

 

I have little doubt that Terry will be spending his nights at his Gurnee home for the foreseeable future. The real test, however, will come during the offseason, especially if the Bears win it all. He’ll get the itch, and he’ll head out to scratch it, and there will be more hangers on, more people who want a piece of him. And his past will only elevate his profile. If he has any sense he’ll hire a real bodyguard, one who would have led him out of that bar on Friday before it got bad.

 

But if he’s really smart, he’ll sign up for Peapod, have Oberweis deliver the ice cream, get himself a Netflix subscription and just stay home. And for him, that will truly be the hard part. Unless that family he keeps forgetting to acknowledge moves up the list.

 

LBF

12/19/2006