Quarterback Johnson

I think the only reason he was released is they had no room and this gives him some options to explore elsewhere.

 

They had no room - AND - he wasn't GOOD ENOUGH!

 

Johnson had some good flashes against players who were not starters or didn't even make the team. The coaches saw him every day in practice so I'll go with their judgment on this one.

 

Johnson was brought in as an insurance policy only. Usually by this time in the preseason we have lost at least one of our glass backup QB's to injury. Since that didn't happen - he had to go.

 

This is what I mean, though - is there evidence that he's actually doing anything 'effective' when he's standing on the sidelines looking like a coach? Remembering as well that there's a difference between a good mentor and a good coach.

Also, is there a precedent for coaches coming out of retirement to fill roster spots? In soccer it happens every so often, but I can't think off the top of my head of someone doing it in the NFL.

I sound like I'm bashing the guy, I know, but I'm actually genuinely interested.

 

I wish Lefty played more just so we could get the injury out of the way sooner, then they would've held onto Johnson . The guy is cool in the pocket and he was nailing the small windows. That has to be a flash of something, not at a special Brees level, but at least better than average skills.

 

I agree totaly, spending a 1 2 or 3 pick on a QB in this next draft could pay big dividends, like the Eagles hit pay dirt with Nick Foles in the 3rd round, he has been named the backup after having a great performance in preseason to beat out the other QB Kafka who they had been grooming for 2 years. Look at Rodgers, he waited 3 years to start, so if we would go QB in 1 of the first 3 rounds next year that isnt too soon in my opinion, and considering it will be Bens 10th year starting, I think it would be about the right time to get the next QB experienced to take the reins, and the older Ben gets the longer it takes for those hits he takes to heal up...

 

As much as I would have liked to get rid of Lefty, and/or keep Johnson on the Practice squad...
They chose to do neither.
I haven`t heard if anyone else signed J.J. at this point.
And as much as I tend to agree with the "One big hit" comment, I dunno... I`m pretty sure they both bounced back up from at least one each, this pre-season, I forget which one, (I`m thinking Leftwich), got right back up after a helmet to helmet from, I think, Cromartie, From Indy(I think... my memory s u c k s ), that got him a fine... I`m also pretty sure the other one took at least one heavy shot, and got up like it was nothing, which impresses me for ANY over 30 yr old qb... ben, Included, we`ve just come to expect that he can shake off a broken nose/foot, etc, and still play.
Just read an article that said he has only missed FOUR games due to injury so far... That`s pretty amazing, when you look at the shots he has taken over the years...
Anyhow, back to the original point...
I can see the wisdom in keeping 2 veterans, and not keeping a 4th qb who gets no reps on the practice squad.
I always hoped Dixon could develop, and on his one or 2 real game chances, didn`t look bad...
I think J.J. could be a good qb... just not a good fit for us, I guess with both Lefty and Batch...
If it`s me, I would get rid of Lefty, but that may just be a personal bias... He HAS proven that he belongs in the league, and even with his long wind-up/ slow release... he has more experience reading NFL defenses from under center than Johnson does...
It`s just a case of that catch 22, where your employer wants someone with "experience", but how do you get that, if you`re not given the chance.
I would give J.J., the chance, IF our first 2 qb`s were hurt.

 

Philly had him in camp last year - didn't take him.
Our Steelers brought him this year - didn't keep him.
Heck - he even had his stint with the Rattlers in the AFL and hasn't been re-signed.
He's an above average Arena League quarterback who just can't crack an NFL roster. Nothing wrong with that - but he's had a couple of chances with some pretty good teams. I'm going to venture a bet that he just doesn't have NFL skills. As good as we've seen him in practice and preseason (with the 3s, 4s and lowers), he hasn't shown enough to make it onto TWO different NFL squads.

 

I won't enter into the Johnson debate....but I will say this......If Ben was UNDRAFTED vs a first round pick....he would have been cut based on his first preseason in the league.....He was horrible those first 4 games.

HACK

 

I just think Lefty is cursed, he always breaking or tearing somebody up, he's unreliable. Johnson looked like he was learning the playbook pretty quick, yeah he was going against the other teams 2nd and 3rd stringers, that's how you build confidence in a QB. Unlike the Poo stains they throw their draft picks right into the fire in their rookie season. I hope nobody picks up Johnson this team is going to need him by week 10.

and it's just not Batch and Lefty we have to worry about, Ben is always getting injured too. What if the ankle goes again, will Haley have the power to sit him, instead of going out there on 1 leg?

 

He won't get picked up by an NFL team, but last year is when he signed on with the Rattlers of the AFL. I wouldn't be surprised to see him surface as an AFL QB again - and that doesn't prohibit him from signing with an NFL team should the call come. That would be his best bet. This way, he keeps training and preparing to play in real, competitive games while crossing his fingers and hoping that someone in the NFL is desperate enough to need a 3rd string QB mid-season.

 

i did see dixon got put on the ravens PS.

 

I don't get this love affair with Johnson, who in my opinion is nothing more than an average to subpar QB. I simply do not get what some of you thought was so great about this guy.

 

I don't think Johnson will be a superstar, just think he could do a better job than Lefty. The guy was throwing darts in preseason, he can move out of the pocket. Lefty is a light post waiting to get knocked over. If Lefty runs out of the pocket, it takes him 10mins to get his breath back lol

 

let's not forget that before his injury in college, he actually beat out what turned out to be this yrs. #8 pick in the 1st rd........... the kid was just getting himself back to form...... pre-injury, he was something special.

 

Here is the list of QBs signed to practice squads, tell me who we are missing out on.

Dennis Dixon
Zac Robinson - Okla. St.
Case Keenum - was good at Houston
John Parker Wilson - Alabama
BJ Coleman - Tenn/Chatt.
Adam Weber - Minnesota
Josh Portis - Fla. then Maryland then Cal U of Penn.
Matt Blanchard - Div. III Wisconsin Whitewater

I wish I could say that we are missing out, but if all 3 of our QBs get hurt we would probably turn to Kafka or Seneca Wallace or Sage Rosenfels or Brian Hoyer.

 

Other than DD, I don`t know any of the rookie qb`s, and I would STILL take my chances with JJ, over Seneca, or Rosenfolds...
Edit... Provided he had time to learn our system...