Bears suspend Johnson for one game

CHICAGO -- Troubled Chicago Bears nose tackle Tank Johnson will stay with the team following his third arrest in 18 months, but he will be suspended for this week's game against the Detroit Lions, general manager Jerry Angelo said Tuesday.

"I don't believe the team has to tell me it's my last chance, I know the opportunity that I have in front of me and it's great, it's immense and to squander that opportunity would be a tragedy at this point and that's not gonna happen," Johnson said an afternoon news conference at the Bears' practice facility in Lake Forest.

Johnson was arrested for the third time since the Bears drafted him out of Washington in 2004 after a Thursday raid on his home in north suburban Gurnee in which police found six unregistered firearms.

A day later, Angelo had issued a warning to Johnson and the player publicly apologized. That night, he went to Ice Bar in Chicago's River North area with his friend and bodyguard Willie B. Posey, who was shot to death.

Angelo said Tuesday that the organization felt it was not the right decision to cut Johnson. He said he would be suspended for conduct detrimental to the team by going out on Friday night.

"He crossed the line and we acted on that," Angelo said

He said Johnson would undergo counseling.

"We feel he has taken active steps we feel are good," Angelo said.

-- AP