Johnson eager for new season in Dallas
by Keith Jarrett,
published June 1, 2007 12:15 am
AVERY’S CREEK — At age 38, after 15 NFL seasons, Brad Johnson knows the drill.
As one of the newest members of the Dallas Cowboys, the former Owen High two-sport star and Super Bowl-winning quarterback knows he is the insurance policy behind starter Tony Romo.
And Johnson knows from personal experience — from being on both sides of the starter/backup role — that a policy can be cashed in at anytime in the quick-changing world of the NFL.
In town this week to aid Eblen Charities with the Verizon Wireless Brad Johnson Celebrity Golf Classic and Grove Park Inn Night of the Legends Auction, Johnson talked about his new team after 18 holes at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
“Obviously, I’m not starting, but I’m not sure what my role is going to be,” said Johnson, who signed a three-year deal with the Cowboys after a disappointing 2006 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
“You just never know, but you always have to be ready to go at all times. I was in the same predicament two years ago with Daunte (Culpepper with the Vikings) and the next thing you know I’m in the ball game.”
Johnson is referring to the 2005 season, when the Vikings started 2-5 and lost Culpepper to a season-ending knee injury midway through the schedule.
Taking over as a starter, Johnson led Minnesota to a 7-2 record the rest of the way and was established as the starter with new head coach Brad Childress going into last season.
But after a 4-2 start, Johnson and the team faltered and Childress benched his starting quarterback late season in favor of rookie Tavaris Jackson.
When Childress made it clear Johnson was not in future plans, Johnson arranged to be released and signed with the Cowboys a week later.
“There were good and bad (times in Minnesota),” said Johnson of the franchise that first drafted him in 1992 and where he spent the first seven seasons of a career that also includes leading Washington and Tampa Bay into the playoffs.
“I was 13-10 as a starter and they were 2-7 without me starting (in two seasons), so that kind of tells you where the organization is,” Johnson said.
“They are going through a rebuilding process. I was grateful to play and felt like I proved my worth under some (difficult) circumstances, but I look forward to moving on.”
With a new head coach (Wade Phillips replaced Bill Parcells), a new offensive coordinator (Jason Garrett) and Romo stepping into his first full season as a starter, Johnson calls the Cowboys a “team in transition.”
“This is a talented team that has a chance to win,” said Johnson. “You have (receivers) Terrell Owens on one side of the ball and Terry Glenn on the other and (tight end) Jason Whitten. These guys are Pro Bowlers, and it’s fun to see them run out there.”
Johnson has already attended some mini-camps and practices and still looks forward to the grind of the season at an age where most quarterbacks are on the golf course full-time.
“I still enjoy it; enjoy it a lot,” said Johnson, who recently moved from Tallahassee to Athens, Ga. along with his wife and two sons, close to brother-in-law Mark Richt, the head football coach at the University of Georgia.
“It’s fun to be on a good team; that helps keep me excited.”
published June 1, 2007 12:15 am
AVERY’S CREEK — At age 38, after 15 NFL seasons, Brad Johnson knows the drill.
As one of the newest members of the Dallas Cowboys, the former Owen High two-sport star and Super Bowl-winning quarterback knows he is the insurance policy behind starter Tony Romo.
And Johnson knows from personal experience — from being on both sides of the starter/backup role — that a policy can be cashed in at anytime in the quick-changing world of the NFL.
In town this week to aid Eblen Charities with the Verizon Wireless Brad Johnson Celebrity Golf Classic and Grove Park Inn Night of the Legends Auction, Johnson talked about his new team after 18 holes at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
“Obviously, I’m not starting, but I’m not sure what my role is going to be,” said Johnson, who signed a three-year deal with the Cowboys after a disappointing 2006 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
“You just never know, but you always have to be ready to go at all times. I was in the same predicament two years ago with Daunte (Culpepper with the Vikings) and the next thing you know I’m in the ball game.”
Johnson is referring to the 2005 season, when the Vikings started 2-5 and lost Culpepper to a season-ending knee injury midway through the schedule.
Taking over as a starter, Johnson led Minnesota to a 7-2 record the rest of the way and was established as the starter with new head coach Brad Childress going into last season.
But after a 4-2 start, Johnson and the team faltered and Childress benched his starting quarterback late season in favor of rookie Tavaris Jackson.
When Childress made it clear Johnson was not in future plans, Johnson arranged to be released and signed with the Cowboys a week later.
“There were good and bad (times in Minnesota),” said Johnson of the franchise that first drafted him in 1992 and where he spent the first seven seasons of a career that also includes leading Washington and Tampa Bay into the playoffs.
“I was 13-10 as a starter and they were 2-7 without me starting (in two seasons), so that kind of tells you where the organization is,” Johnson said.
“They are going through a rebuilding process. I was grateful to play and felt like I proved my worth under some (difficult) circumstances, but I look forward to moving on.”
With a new head coach (Wade Phillips replaced Bill Parcells), a new offensive coordinator (Jason Garrett) and Romo stepping into his first full season as a starter, Johnson calls the Cowboys a “team in transition.”
“This is a talented team that has a chance to win,” said Johnson. “You have (receivers) Terrell Owens on one side of the ball and Terry Glenn on the other and (tight end) Jason Whitten. These guys are Pro Bowlers, and it’s fun to see them run out there.”
Johnson has already attended some mini-camps and practices and still looks forward to the grind of the season at an age where most quarterbacks are on the golf course full-time.
“I still enjoy it; enjoy it a lot,” said Johnson, who recently moved from Tallahassee to Athens, Ga. along with his wife and two sons, close to brother-in-law Mark Richt, the head football coach at the University of Georgia.
“It’s fun to be on a good team; that helps keep me excited.”
posted by The Gryphon at 6:58 PM
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