Tank vows the chase isn't over
MIAMI -- Tank Johnson looked exhausted, like a man who had just endured more than a football game.
His long, controversial and tragic season ended Sunday with the Bears' 29-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI.
His long, controversial and tragic season ended Sunday with the Bears' 29-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI.
''This is the toughest loss I have had to deal with,'' Johnson said. ''You have to go back and look at what you've accomplished, even though this game definitely hurts -- and it's going to hurt for a long time.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
''This is the toughest loss I have had to deal with,'' Johnson said. ''You have to go back and look at what you've accomplished, even though this game definitely hurts -- and it's going to hurt for a long time.
''You go back and look at what we've accomplished as a team, where we have been in the last few years, and our future looks good. This one is going to hurt for a while, but like any good team, we will get back on the horse and we'll be ready to play again.''
There is some thought that the Bears might cut ties with Johnson during the offseason. From his arrest on weapons charges to the murder of his friend at a Chicago nightclub, a P.R. nightmare that resulted in a one-game suspension for Johnson, the relationship between player and team has not been very smooth.
Johnson praised coach Lovie Smith, who stood by the defensive tackle during the rough times.
''He's a great coach, great father, great man,'' Johnson said. ''There is a great deal of disappointment in the whole locker room.
''It's tough. It's always emotional when you lose a game.''
But Johnson didn't want to discuss the controversial side of his season. In fact, he said he's fortunate to have played in the Super Bowl.
''Yes, I'm definitely fortunate,'' he said. ''But at the same time, we just have to rally the troops and get back here again.
''We are a team that is going to come back fighting. We're going to come back hungry to get to this position again.
''We played hard the whole game. It wasn't like we were out there lackluster. We played hard and were flying around. We just missed some tackles, and they made some key plays.''