The Right Fit - Backup Johnson
Rob Phillips - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
June 21, 2007 5:52 PM
Brad Johnson guided the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl in 2002.
IRVING, Texas - Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl with the Bucs' trio of Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius. He shared a locker room with Cris Carter and Randy Moss in Minnesota.
But when Brad Johnson glances at the nameplates for Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten, he sees perhaps the best group of receivers he's played with in 15 years of NFL service.
That combination, along with the Cowboys' growing reputation as a rising NFC power, helped Johnson narrow his list of off-season suitors from six to one.
"I thought this was just a winning team," Johnson said. "Very talented team. More than anything I just wanted to be in the right fit. It's so important just being in the right system, being in the right fit with personalities."
Only in Dallas, the 38-year-old quarterback's biggest task is simply to stay ready.
The Cowboys wanted an experienced, capable alternative in case something happened to Tony Romo, so they handed Johnson a three-year, $7.5 million deal laced with a $2.5 million signing bonus.
He'll enter his 16th NFL season in a much different setting than he's used to, having been a starter for much of his career in Washington and Tampa Bay, along with two stints in Minnesota.
"I think Brad has shown he's the veteran quarterback that we were looking for," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said. "He can come in and do things. He's ready to do things. He studies the offense and he's been in a lot of different schemes and he can relate to everything we've done so far."
Johnson is expected to serve as Romo's backup and work closely with new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, his teammate in Tampa for part of the 2004 season. Johnson's familiarity with Garrett helped make Dallas an attractive destination this past spring.
He's also impressed with the Cowboys' offensive balance, saying Witten's versatility "really changes the game" in terms of how Dallas can attack defenses.
But perhaps more than any other team characteristic, Johnson values chemistry in what he calls "the quarterback room."
In his eyes, the quarterbacks and offensive coaches must build a strong relationship on the field and in the meeting rooms. Those pieces must make the "right fit".
"You've got to make sure you've got the right caddy," Johnson said. "That's why Tiger Woods has the right caddy and keeps the same caddy."
Johnson has proven he can produce consistently over the years if called upon. In addition to leading Tampa to a Super Bowl title in 2002, he has a career 83.1 passer rating with 28,548 yards and 164 touchdowns to 117 interceptions.
Johnson and Romo are starting to grasp Garrett's new offense together. Johnson has played in six different systems during his career and doesn't think the 27-year-old Romo will have any trouble adjusting, either.
"It's tough for everyone, but you have to learn," Johnson said. "That's part of adjusting to the NFL. He's a fast learner and he's willing to learn."
While he doesn't view himself as a "mentor", Johnson wants to build a foundation of "trust and respect" with Romo, Garrett and new quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson that will help the group succeed during the season.
Johnson believes the "quarterback room" is a place "where you feed off of each other, where you're open, where it's friendly. But at the same time you're competing, you take care of yourself and you learn and you grow from each other."
Johnson has a group of young quarterbacks fighting for roster spots behind him. Matt Baker spent all of last season on the practice squad, and the Cowboys signed two more rookie free agents following the draft - Oregon State's Matt Moore and Tarleton State's Richard Bartel.
Moore has missed much of the off-season finishing his spring semester at Oregon State, while Bartel has looked impressive in some of the Cowboys' team workouts.
But Johnson is penciled in as the No. 2 quarterback, and according to Phillips, he'll relieve Romo as the "No. 1 holder" on field goals and extra points. Romo kept those duties after replacing Drew Bledsoe as the starter halfway through last season, though his final meaningful hold was botched in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' 21-20 playoff loss to Seattle.
If something should happen to Romo at quarterback this season, Phillips is confident Johnson can still get the job done.
"He knows how to get rid of the football," Phillips said. "I think he can lead a team and I think we'll see him do well once we get into preseason."
And the Cowboys' open, receptive environment at Valley Ranch is a big reason why Johnson landed in Dallas.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
June 21, 2007 5:52 PM
Brad Johnson guided the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl in 2002.
IRVING, Texas - Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl with the Bucs' trio of Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius. He shared a locker room with Cris Carter and Randy Moss in Minnesota.
But when Brad Johnson glances at the nameplates for Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten, he sees perhaps the best group of receivers he's played with in 15 years of NFL service.
That combination, along with the Cowboys' growing reputation as a rising NFC power, helped Johnson narrow his list of off-season suitors from six to one.
"I thought this was just a winning team," Johnson said. "Very talented team. More than anything I just wanted to be in the right fit. It's so important just being in the right system, being in the right fit with personalities."
Only in Dallas, the 38-year-old quarterback's biggest task is simply to stay ready.
The Cowboys wanted an experienced, capable alternative in case something happened to Tony Romo, so they handed Johnson a three-year, $7.5 million deal laced with a $2.5 million signing bonus.
He'll enter his 16th NFL season in a much different setting than he's used to, having been a starter for much of his career in Washington and Tampa Bay, along with two stints in Minnesota.
"I think Brad has shown he's the veteran quarterback that we were looking for," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said. "He can come in and do things. He's ready to do things. He studies the offense and he's been in a lot of different schemes and he can relate to everything we've done so far."
Johnson is expected to serve as Romo's backup and work closely with new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, his teammate in Tampa for part of the 2004 season. Johnson's familiarity with Garrett helped make Dallas an attractive destination this past spring.
He's also impressed with the Cowboys' offensive balance, saying Witten's versatility "really changes the game" in terms of how Dallas can attack defenses.
But perhaps more than any other team characteristic, Johnson values chemistry in what he calls "the quarterback room."
In his eyes, the quarterbacks and offensive coaches must build a strong relationship on the field and in the meeting rooms. Those pieces must make the "right fit".
"You've got to make sure you've got the right caddy," Johnson said. "That's why Tiger Woods has the right caddy and keeps the same caddy."
Johnson has proven he can produce consistently over the years if called upon. In addition to leading Tampa to a Super Bowl title in 2002, he has a career 83.1 passer rating with 28,548 yards and 164 touchdowns to 117 interceptions.
Johnson and Romo are starting to grasp Garrett's new offense together. Johnson has played in six different systems during his career and doesn't think the 27-year-old Romo will have any trouble adjusting, either.
"It's tough for everyone, but you have to learn," Johnson said. "That's part of adjusting to the NFL. He's a fast learner and he's willing to learn."
While he doesn't view himself as a "mentor", Johnson wants to build a foundation of "trust and respect" with Romo, Garrett and new quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson that will help the group succeed during the season.
Johnson believes the "quarterback room" is a place "where you feed off of each other, where you're open, where it's friendly. But at the same time you're competing, you take care of yourself and you learn and you grow from each other."
Johnson has a group of young quarterbacks fighting for roster spots behind him. Matt Baker spent all of last season on the practice squad, and the Cowboys signed two more rookie free agents following the draft - Oregon State's Matt Moore and Tarleton State's Richard Bartel.
Moore has missed much of the off-season finishing his spring semester at Oregon State, while Bartel has looked impressive in some of the Cowboys' team workouts.
But Johnson is penciled in as the No. 2 quarterback, and according to Phillips, he'll relieve Romo as the "No. 1 holder" on field goals and extra points. Romo kept those duties after replacing Drew Bledsoe as the starter halfway through last season, though his final meaningful hold was botched in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' 21-20 playoff loss to Seattle.
If something should happen to Romo at quarterback this season, Phillips is confident Johnson can still get the job done.
"He knows how to get rid of the football," Phillips said. "I think he can lead a team and I think we'll see him do well once we get into preseason."
And the Cowboys' open, receptive environment at Valley Ranch is a big reason why Johnson landed in Dallas.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:27 PM
<< Home