Portrait I of II - Brad
Ron Gibson
Security and a championship confirm that Brad Johnson belongs among the
league's best.
By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
St. Petersburg Times
published July 13, 2003
TAMPA - The minute he entered the room at a sports memorabilia show in
Atlantic City, N.J., in April, Brad Johnson felt awkwardly out of place.
Staring back at Johnson were five superstars who collectively own more
championship rings than he has fingers: Ervin Johnson, Jerry Rice,
Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen and Ronnie Lott.
The Bucs quarterback nearly spun on his heels and bounced from the
hotel, but instead was rewarded with a Magic moment unlike any he has
savored since leading Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory.
"I think about being there with all those guys in that one little room
and one part of me says, "Thank God I got a ring,' or I would've turned
around and walked out of there," Brad Johnson said. "I'd have felt out
of place. But the thing that meant something special to me was this:
Magic Johnson came up to me and said, "Way to go, champ. Now you know
what it feels like."'
For once in his football career, Johnson didn't have to prove he belongs.
He took care of that by putting the offense on his broken back and
carrying the Bucs to a franchise-best 15-4 record, including a 48-21
shellacking of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego.
Winning a world championship should do wonders for the often
underappreciated Johnson, who uses his detractors like a refinery to
fuel a solid career.
Despite a winning percentage of .646 that is third only to Brett Favre
and Joe Montana in NFL history and taking three different teams to the
playoffs, Johnson began the 2002 season fending off challengers for his
starting job. Sports Illustrated predicted he would surrender his
position to now departed backup Rob Johnson by Week 8.
But when Johnson reports to his 12th training camp Friday, the
34-year-old will be one of the most secure starters in the league.
"I think what it does, it gives you credence as far as your consistency
of play, whether it's winning percentage, completion percentage, or
taking three different organizations to the playoffs," Johnson said of
his Super Bowl title. "The way you're truly judged as a quarterback is
what you do in the playoffs. I do think there's some credibility there."
But Johnson isn't likely to take any bows.
So what if he signed a four-year, $25-million contract that makes him
among the 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the league? Never mind that
he's coming off a season in which he set team records in touchdown
passes (22), completion percentage (62.3) and passer rating (92.9).
Ever the alarmist, Johnson already is examining Raymond James Stadium
for quicksand.
"It's a rough league and I saw (Rams quarterback) Kurt Warner go to two
of three Super Bowls and saw what he went through last year," Johnson
said. "I'm not a dummy heading into any year. My eyes are open."
Johnson's sights are set on finding his place in NFL history by winning
another Super Bowl. Without being asked, Johnson readily rattles off the
quarterbacks with more than one title.
"Eight quarterbacks have won more than one Super Bowl: Bart Starr, Roger
Staubach, Bob Griese, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, John
Elway and Jim Plunkett," Johnson said.
Of that list, all but Plunkett is either in the Pro Football Hall of
Fame or has a mantle cleared for him there. "There is a difference,
being one-time champ and a multiple champ," Johnson said.
But Johnson shouldn't have to flash his Super Bowl ring to get a good
seat at the autograph table.
According to Bucs general manager Rich McKay, the mistake people make is
measuring Johnson's career by where it began.
"I don't think a Super Bowl does change much for him," McKay said.
"Because part of Brad's situation is that he's always going to be
measured by where he came from. He wasn't a starter at Florida State, he
wasn't a No.1 pick, he was taken in a round (ninth) that doesn't exist
anymore. It took him five years to become a starter at Minnesota. He
didn't have the hype and he used it as motivation to outwork the other guy.
"What the Super Bowl does is give him an automatic retort to anyone who
questions his abilities. But I think he had it before with his winning
percentage."
There might be quarterbacks with stronger arms or quicker feet but few
are as heady and steady. Nor are many as tough "as a truck-stop steak,"
as Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of him last season.
"I never had been around a quarterback as big as the one we have in
Tampa," Gruden said. "The guy we have is a big guy, man. He's 6-5, he's
240 pounds and thank God he is because he takes some hits. He took a lot
of hits. Some of these lighter guys, I don't know how they could've made
it through that season last year."
Johnson nearly didn't. He broke his ribs on the second play of a 20-10
loss at Philadelphia, a game in which he was hit 21 times. Then came the
back injury against Detroit that forced him to miss the final two
regular-season games and nearly the playoffs.
Relying on X-rays, Bucs officials adopted a company line that Johnson's
back had not suffered structural damage. But an MRI had revealed a
hairline fracture of a vertebra and Johnson felt he had no choice but to
dance around the issue to reporters despite being nearly incapacitated.
"I couldn't tie my shoes, couldn't put on my shorts," Johnson said. "I
was concerned."
So were the Bucs, who scored just one offensive touchdown in 12 quarters
without Johnson last season. During a critical five-game span, after
returning from the rib injury against Minnesota and culminating with a
victory over Atlanta, Johnson threw 15 touchdowns and just one
interception as the Bucs clinched the NFC South title.
He finished first in the NFC and third in the league in passer rating,
going 281-for-451 for 3,049 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six
interceptions. In addition, he threw 187 consecutive passes without an
interception.
No team relied on its quarterback to win games more than the Bucs, who
rode Johnson's red-hot passing to the Super Bowl. In Johnson's final
nine games, the Bucs averaged 29 points.
"The thing he does better than anyone else is get the ball out of his
hands," receiver Keyshawn Johnson said. "People say it's not pretty.
What's not pretty about it? Pretty gets you nothing except sitting home
every year like (Colts quarterback) Peyton Manning."
But even winning the Super Bowl didn't allow the Bucs quarterback to let
his guard down. Instead, the Bucs removed a $1.5-million guaranteed
bonus during a proposal to restructure his contract less than a month
after winning the title.
The matter was resolved June 18 when Johnson announced he had signed a
deal increasing his salary by $2.5-million over the next two seasons.
"I think there were misunderstandings that happened, but they cleared
themselves up and there are no hard feelings on either side," Johnson
said. "I'm happy the way things worked out. Regardless, I am grateful to
Rich McKay bringing me down to Tampa two years ago. To make a move this
offseason, redoing my contract, that reinforces the way they felt about
me and the way I played the last two years. It's a pat on the back."
But as Johnson is fond of saying, the difference between a pat on the
back and a slap in your face is only a few inches.
"No coach, no team, no organization is married to a player," Johnson
said. "You've got to keep it hot."
--
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Echo the Wonder Tube
wrote:
>"I think what it does, it gives you credence as far as your consistency
>of play, whether it's winning percentage, completion percentage, or
>taking three different organizations to the playoffs," Johnson said of
>his Super Bowl title. "The way you're truly judged as a quarterback is
>what you do in the playoffs. I do think there's some credibility there."
Added Johnson, "Unless of course you're Trent Dilfer, in which case
you end up warming the bench behind Matt ('Holmgren's Got Something To
Prove') Hasselbeck."