NFL | Bears' Tank Johnson gets jail sentence

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tank Johnson was sentenced to four months in a Cook County, Ill., jail yesterday for violating probation in a 2005 gun case.

Johnson immediately was taken into custody. He could have been sentenced to up to a year behind bars. Johnson, who pleaded guilty to violating his probation, also must pay a $2,500 fine.

He was arrested on misdemeanor weapons charges Dec. 14 after police raided his home in the Lake County town of Gurnee, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago, and found six unregistered firearms.

At the time, he was on probation in a November 2005 Cook County case. In that case, he had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an arrest in which a nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.

Johnson arrived at the courtroom yesterday with coach Lovie Smith and all-pro linebacker Brian Urlacher, who testified on Johnson's behalf.

"Tank knows he's in a situation where he can't get into any other trouble," Smith said, adding that jail time would be "devastating" for the player's career. "And he's let me know there won't be any more."

Before he was sentenced, Johnson pleaded with Cook County Circuit Judge John Moran for leniency.

"Your honor, I don't believe I'm a man who belongs in jail," he said.

But prosecutor Rick Cenar said jail time was appropriate.

"Just because he's a professional football player and plays for the Chicago Bears doesn't put him above the law," Cenar said.

Johnson's bodyguard, Willie B. Posey, was arrested on felony drug charges after the raid on Johnson's home. Posey was shot and killed two days later during an early morning fight while he and Johnson were at a nightclub in Chicago.

Johnson has been under house arrest since the raid, but was permitted to attend practice and travel to Miami for the Super Bowl, where the Indianapolis Colts beat the Bears, 29-17.

Broncos. Where's Big Daddy? Dan Wilkinson has not been heard from since he was traded from Miami to Denver on March 3.

Unless someone locates the 340-pound lineman soon, the trade in which the Broncos acquired the 13-year veteran could be voided.

According to the conditions of the trade, the veteran defensive tackle must report for a physical examination by today. A failure to do so will nullify the trade unless the two teams agree to extend the deadline.

Wilkinson, who acknowledged in the wake of the trade that he had "some issues" to address before reporting, has not arranged a trip to Denver for the physical and has not returned phone calls from either team.