Chicago Bears nose tackle Tank Johnson, already facing weapons charges after a raid on his home, is not responsible for the deadly shooting of his friend inside a nightclub, the player's lawyer said yesterday.

Johnson was cooperating with the investigation into Willie B. Posey's death yesterday, but police have asked him not to discuss the shooting, attorney Thomas Briscoe said.

"Tank Johnson has absolutely no responsibility for this tragic shooting," Briscoe said. "He lost a very close friend."

Police talked to Johnson at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where Posey was pronounced dead early yesterday, Police Superintendent Phil Cline said.

The 26-year-old Posey died after a fight inside Ice Bar, a club in the trendy River North neighborhood, Cline said. No one was in custody and the gun was not recovered, Cline added. He said it appears one shot was fired.

The shooting occurred about 12 hours after Johnson offered a public apology to teammates and family for his third arrest in the last 18 months. Briscoe said he did not know why Johnson was at the club.

There was "no information to link him to anything that occurred at the bar at this point in the investigation," police spokesman Monique Bond said.

The Bears said yesterday they were aware of the shooting, but didn't mention Johnson.

"We are currently gathering information to learn more about the situation," a team statement said.

Bears coach Lovie Smith had decided before Posey's death that Johnson would be inactive for today's game against Tampa Bay. Johnson is to appear in court Jan. 9, which would be several days before the NFC North champion Bears play their first postseason game.

ROUNDUP DELHOMME DOUBTFUL: Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme is doubtful for today's game against Pittsburgh because of ligament damage in his right thumb, meaning Chris Weinke most likely will make his second straight start. Delhomme had been listed as questionable and didn't practice all week, although he did throw on the side Friday. He started 66 straight games before missing last Sunday's loss to the New York Giants.

PACKER ON IR: The Green Bay Packers placed defensive end Michael Montgomery on injured reserve yesterday and re-signed wide receiver Chris Francies from its practice squad. Montgomery, the Packers' first of two choices during the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft, sustained a knee injury during practice the week before the team's victory last Sunday at San Francisco. Francies, a rookie from Texas-El Paso, had spent seven weeks on the Green Bay roster before rejoining the practice squad last week, when the team acquired wide receiver Carlyle Holiday.

NO RIDDLE FOR JETS: The Jets released linebacker Ryan Riddle yesterday and signed fullback Stacy Tutt from the practice squad. Riddle, signed as a free agent in September, had two tackles in five games with the Jets after spending his rookie season with Oakland. Tutt was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Richmond, where he started at quarterback for three seasons. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound Tutt's 6,872 career yards of total offense are second in school history, and his 5,318 yards passing rank third. He'll be with the Jets for their game at Minnesota today.

REDSKINS' JANSEN OUT: Washington Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen, who has a torn calf muscle and broken thumb, will miss today's game against the New Orleans Saints. Jansen did not practice this week. He was downgraded from questionable to doubtful on the injury report Friday, and yesterday the Redskins said he would not play against the Saints. He will be replaced by Todd Wade, a seven-year veteran with 85 career starts. Wade will be making his first start of the season.