Dallas Interested in Johnnie Morton?
Johnnie Morton knows what it's like to be on a team that is overstocked with receivers.
More than a decade ago, Morton was part of the overload. When the Lions drafted Morton in the first round out of Southern California in 1994, there were many who thought it was a mistake not to pick a linebacker.
Morton was added to a receiving group that had Herman Moore and Brett Perriman as starters, with Aubrey Matthews in reserve. And there was a guy named Barry Sanders, who ran and caught the ball.
The Lions did not need another offensive player. Or so it was thought.
It turned out Morton played 12 seasons, the first eight with the Lions. He had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons and departed after the 2001 season as a free agent with 469 catches, second most in franchise history.
Morton is not in anyone's camp right now. He was with the San Francisco 49ers last year, after three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
In an exchange of e-mails (yes, BtS has advanced to keep pace with the new age of Internet interviewing), Morton expressed a desire to continue playing.
"There has been interest from a few teams: New England, Atlanta, Seattle and Dallas," Morton said. "I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I'd like to be signed before the season.
"I wouldn't want to come in during the season and play catch-up, unless it's with a team like Detroit, whose offense I already know. I had the same system in Kansas City. I know their system, and it's capable of being very explosive.
"I still train as though I'm going to play, and I'm in outstanding playing shape."
He caught only three passes as a rookie but found a place in the offense in 1995, the year Moore and Perriman set the NFL record for most receptions in a season by teammates. Moore caught 123 passes and Perriman caught 108. Morton caught 44 and had eight touchdowns.
We didn't ask Morton about the Lions' current receiving situation. We didn't have to. Morton had a solution to starting his career as the third or fourth wheel on a well-oiled machine: produce.
More than a decade ago, Morton was part of the overload. When the Lions drafted Morton in the first round out of Southern California in 1994, there were many who thought it was a mistake not to pick a linebacker.
Morton was added to a receiving group that had Herman Moore and Brett Perriman as starters, with Aubrey Matthews in reserve. And there was a guy named Barry Sanders, who ran and caught the ball.
The Lions did not need another offensive player. Or so it was thought.
It turned out Morton played 12 seasons, the first eight with the Lions. He had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons and departed after the 2001 season as a free agent with 469 catches, second most in franchise history.
Morton is not in anyone's camp right now. He was with the San Francisco 49ers last year, after three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
In an exchange of e-mails (yes, BtS has advanced to keep pace with the new age of Internet interviewing), Morton expressed a desire to continue playing.
"There has been interest from a few teams: New England, Atlanta, Seattle and Dallas," Morton said. "I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I'd like to be signed before the season.
"I wouldn't want to come in during the season and play catch-up, unless it's with a team like Detroit, whose offense I already know. I had the same system in Kansas City. I know their system, and it's capable of being very explosive.
"I still train as though I'm going to play, and I'm in outstanding playing shape."
He caught only three passes as a rookie but found a place in the offense in 1995, the year Moore and Perriman set the NFL record for most receptions in a season by teammates. Moore caught 123 passes and Perriman caught 108. Morton caught 44 and had eight touchdowns.
We didn't ask Morton about the Lions' current receiving situation. We didn't have to. Morton had a solution to starting his career as the third or fourth wheel on a well-oiled machine: produce.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:45 PM
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