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The Cincinnati Bengals announced this morning that they had released defensive tackle Tank Johnson. Joe Goodberry brought my attention a Tweet from Johnson last night that sounded like this might happen. Johnson's Tweet said:
Left my momma 11 years ago and said momma I'm goin to play football! Been gone every since. Momma I'm comin home #awesome
We didn't necessarily think that this Tweet was enough to go by, but we had our suspicions. The Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy confirmed those suspicions today. Johnson is going home and he's not coming back.
In Johnson's two years as a Bengal, he's played in 21 games and made 39 tackles and two sacks. His release opens the door for Geno Atkins and Clinton McDonald to fight for a spot next to Domata Peko on the starting defensive line. As of right now, Atkins is first on the depth chart.
Also released today was tight end Garrett Mills. Mills was claimed off waivers by the Bengals in December of 2010 but has never made it to the field. The Bengals will likely take only Jermaine Gresham, Chase Coffman and Bo Scaife into the season as part of the 53-man roster. That would leave John Nalbone and Colin Cochart on the practice squad.