NFL suspends Tank Johnson for eight games this season

Tank Johnson of the Chicago Bears was suspended by the NFL for the first eight games of the US football season later this year for violating the league's new personal conduct policy.

The defensive tackle served two months in jail for violating his probation on gun-related charges.

Johnson not go hungry while in jail. Jailhouse records show he spent US$700 on junk food, including 35 bags of barbecue crips, 40 honey bun sweet rolls and 162 beef sticks.

He's the third player to be suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in little more than a month for off-field behavior.

`Pacman'

In April, Goodell suspended Tennessee Titans defensive back Adam "Pacman" Jones for the entire upcoming season and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry for eight games.

Jones is now appealing his suspension.

Goodell Johnson's suspension could be reduced to six games if he has no further involvement with law enforcement and undergoes counseling.

After meeting with Goodell upon his release last month, Johnson said he was ready to accept whatever punishment Goodell handed down.

Johnson said that he wants to become the NFL's "Man of the Year," the player honored for being its best citizen.

There was no statement from the league other than the short announcement of the suspension.

Status review

It said Goodell would review Johnson's status before Oct. 1 to determine whether to reduce his suspension by two games.

Last December, police raided the defensive tackle's suburban Chicago home and found six unregistered firearms -- a violation of his probation on an earlier gun charge.

That charge stemmed from Johnson's 2005 arrest after a Chicago nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his motor vehicle.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

Two after the raid, Willie Posey, Johnson's bodyguard who had been arrested after the raid, was shot and killed in an early-morning fight while he and Johnson were at a Chicago nightclub.

Johnson suspended by the Bears for one game for being at the club.

Johnson special permission to travel out of state to play in the Super Bowl in Miami on Feb. 4.