Bears' Tank Johnson Gets Four Months In Jail

Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson is headed to the slammer. A judge sentenced Johnson to 120 days in jail today for a violation of his 2005 probation.

Johnson was immediately taken into custody and will serve the time at Cook County Jail. He'll get out in mid-July, just a couple weeks before the start of training camp, having missed the Bears' entire off-season program. There's a good chance that this could keep Johnson from making the team at all, as Bears officials have said publicly that their patience with Johnson is wearing thin and that they wouldn't hesitate to release him.

If the Bears do cut him, he'd become a free agent at the start of training camp, but with the NFL trying hard to clean up its image, it's hard to imagine he'd be highly sought.

UPDATE: NFL Network reports that the Bears say Johnson will stay with the team. The same report says Bears coach Lovie Smith testified as a character witness for Johnson.

SECOND UPDATE: Thanks to commenter Tim for pointing out this Chicago Tribune article saying Johnson will likely serve just 60 days, as he is eligible for one day off for each day of good behavior, and he'll be in protective custody in a single cell, making it unlikely he'll engage in any bad behavior.

Previously at FanHouse:
Tank Johnson Could Be Headed to Jail
Tank Johnson Pleads Guilty: Days Numbered in Chicago?
Tank Johnson Can Go to the Super Bowl
Apparently, Tank Johnson Isn't Just Another Defendant
Tank Johnson Pleads Not Guilty; Whose Guns Were They?