LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The NFL on Monday suspended Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson without pay for the first eight games of the regular season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

In a letter to Johnson, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that he would be prepared to reduce the suspension to the first six regular season games if Johnson meets certain conditions.

Defensive tackle Tank Johnson could return to action as early as Oct. 21 when the Bears visit the Eagles.

“We obviously knew that there was a sanction coming and we prepared ourselves for it,” Johnson said. “It’s here now and now it’s time that we can move forward.”

Listening to a contrite and resolute Johnson speak to reporters Monday, it didn’t sound as if the 2004 second-round draft pick intended to appeal the suspension.

“My focus at this point now is just getting through it, making sure that my body’s fresh for when it’s time for me to play football,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot and I think the more important thing to look at now is that I’m at the end of the road with all of this stuff and it’s time for a new beginning.”

Johnson is eligible to participate in the Bears’ offseason workout program, training camp and preseason games before the suspension begins after the team’s final preseason contest Aug. 30 against the Browns.

“Right now Tank can do everything he’s been doing,” said coach Lovie Smith. “It’s business as usual for us. So what we’re going to do right now is just continue with our same program of getting Tank as good as we possibly can getting ready for the season.

“We know exactly when he’ll play and we are looking at it as a six-game suspension because we know that Tank will do all the things he needs to do. For the most part, he needs to stay out of trouble, which he’ll do.”

The conditions that Johnson must meet to reduce the suspension to six games include:

-- No further adverse involvement with law enforcement and full compliance with any requirements imposed by a court.

-- Compliance with all league requirements, including counseling.

-- No participation in any practices or other organized team activities during the period of the suspension. He may, however, be present at the Bears' facility during the suspension for counseling sessions and other approved activities such as physical treatment or individual workout sessions.

The commissioner indicated that he would review the matter no later than Oct. 1 to assess Johnson’s progress and determine whether the suspension should be reduced.

Johnson, who met with Goodell May 13 in New York, said Monday that he is very appreciative the commissioner gave him the opportunity to trim two games off of his suspension.

“By him doing that, it shows what kind of man he is and the direction he’s showing the rest of the players in the league,” Johnson said. “I am looking at it like a six-game suspension because I definitely am very confident that I’m capable of doing everything that he’s asked me to do and more.”

Johnson’s meeting with the commissioner came three days after the Bears defensive tackle was released from Cook County Jail, where he served 60 days for a probation violation stemming from a gun charge. Johnson’s 120-day sentence was cut in half because of good behavior.

Asked whether he felt the suspension was fair, Johnson said: “It’s not my call to say whether it’s fair or unfair. But Roger Goodell’s a fair man. I know that. He took everything into consideration that he and I talked about, and what he came up with is what he came up with. If it’s in the best interest of the NFL, then I’m all for it too.”

With an eight-game suspension, Johnson would be permitted to return for the Bears’ Nov. 11 contest against the Raiders in Oakland. A six-game suspension would end in time for the defensive tackle to face the Eagles Oct. 21 in Philadelphia.

The six games that Johnson is assured of missing are home contests against the Chiefs, Cowboys and Vikings and road games versus the Chargers, Lions and Packers.

"The bottom line is that I'm a professional and anytime you're a professional you have to deal with adverse situations, and I firmly believe that having to sit out for six games is going to only give me time to get better," Johnson said.

"I'm really looking forward to continuing my effort of being the Man of the Year in the NFL and during those six games I’m going to just do everything I can to be a better man."