Looks Like Josh Johnson Is Here To Stay
March 26th, 2011
When the 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh to run the team back in January, many Bucs fans began to connect the dots that the 49ers would trade for Bucs backup quarterback Josh Johnson because Johnson started for Harbaugh when the two were at San Diego.
That notion flew in the face of Raheem Morris’ contention that Johnson is a “career backup.”
But it seems Raheem likes Johnson so much that there’s no chance of Johnson getting traded or being usurped by another backup, so claims Disney blogger Pat Yasinskas.
Typing for the Leninites at BSPN.com, Yasinskas claims the Bucs have no interest in acquiring a QB to replace Johnson of the depth chart.
Dylan (Las Vegas)
Pat, any chance the Bucs try to get a verteran [sic] QB as a backup to Freeman?Pat Yasinskas
I’d like to see that. But my impression is that Raheem likes Josh Johnson a lot, so I don’t think anything will happen.
Could it be that Raheem, in an effort to quash any interest from other teams in Johnson, called Johnson a “career backup” last year on purpose? Joe thinks it is a possibility.
But Joe can’t believe rock star general manager Mark Dominik wouldn’t want to get a veteran backup — you know, a guy who may have played a handful of games — to at least be a No. 3 signal caller.
No one wants to see the Bucs third string quarterback on the field unless it’s special teams. But if a game ever came down to that, who would you have more faith in, Rudy Carpenter or, say, Brady Quinn or (shudder) Kyle Boller or (gasp) J.P. Losman?
March 26th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
JJ lacks the alpha dog mentality to lead an NFL team as starting QB. He is a career back up. Hopefully he realizes that and resigns with the Bucs next year instead of trying to go somewhere where he can compete for the starting gig. I love him as our back up and I’d love to see him stay here as our #2 for as long as possible. He’s better than most people think and he has a dimension that no other back up QBs in the league offer. His speed and versatility make him useful while Freeman is on the field as well and that is rare.
March 26th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
What are you talking about Joe? Of course I would rather see Rudy Carpenter than any of the three guys you named. Rudy Carpenter hasn’t had a chance to prove himself one way or the other. Quinn, Boller, and Lose-man have all well proven how spectacularly they suck.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
I’d pick Rudy over any of the guys you mentioned.
RUDY RUDY RUDY RUDY RUDY RUDY RUDY
March 26th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@JDouble
Joe Webb, Mike Vick (started out as the backup last year), Seneca Wallace are just a few of the guys that also possess what Josh Johnson has…
March 26th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
I think you need to read between the lines on this one, Joe. And so does Pat.
It’s not because Raheem likes JJ so much that he doesn’t want to trade him and bring in a vet…it’s because if he brings in a vet and Freeman has 2-3 bad games, he may be forced to replace him with the backup.
Right now, starting quarterback is the only spot on this team where there is no…and should be no…competition.
March 26th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
@Pete Dutcher: I don’t care if Freeman has a “bad” season and Kurt Warner is the backup. Freeman is our QB, we will absolutely not sit him for 2-3 bad games…
March 26th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Do anyone think Freeman will crumble under pressure or learn from it?
March 26th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Pete Dutcher,
if u honestly think the Bucs would sit Freeman for 2 or 3 bad games, u clearly know nothing about football. Freeman is the franchise QB, and he proved that with a great year last year. when u have a guy like that, u dont just sit him because of a couple of bad performances. u let him work through it, and get back into a rhythm. Baltimore had Marc Bulger as their backup last year. he is a guy who is still widely regarded as an asset in this league, and has even been discussed as a potential target for one of the many QB needy teams this year. when Flacco had some shaky games, do u think anyone even considered sitting him and replacing him with Bulger? and that’s a rhetorical question by the way, because anyone with half a brain knows the answer is NO.
March 26th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Big Marlon B +1
Pete, sometimes you’re way off-base, bud…
March 26th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Nobody’s replacing Freeman short of a career ending injury. He is a unique combination of skill and character that not easily replaced. The Bucs have never before had such a gem. Johnson is fine as a backup. He knows the system and he has some skills of his own. I wouldn’t doubt that some of Freeman’s leadership is rubbing off on him as well. Carpenter can stay too. I’d rather have a third stringer who has shown good potential than a veteran who has proven mediocrity. They will probably bring in another quarterback to compete with Carp for the third spot and be camp fodder, but I think a change in any of them is unlikely.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Josh Johnson is a good QB. He can throw the ball. Running it is his bonus. He is a very acurate passer too. JJ is perfect for our backup QB.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
I like Josh but if they could get a 4th round pick or higher for him………………………… DO IT
March 26th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Tampa will keep Josh Johnson, but to compare him to Michael Vick is like comparing a Pit Bull Terrier to a Jack Russell. Josh not only lacks Vicks speed, but he also lacks his arm strength and deep ball accuracy. We are blessed to have Josh as a backup in Tampa.
March 27th, 2011 at 8:53 am
“But Joe can’t believe rock star general manager Mark Dominik wouldn’t want to get a veteran backup — you know, a guy who may have played a handful of games….”
But hasn’t Josh played in “a handful” of games?
March 27th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
I agree with Gitarlvr.
JJ plays now occasionally and plays pretty well. The only way I’d trade JJ is for that SF top pick and maybe throw in our 3’rd, but not second. Then the Bucs could pick at 7 & 20. The other option would be to trade for Patrick Willis and give up a pick too with JJ. These are unreasonable requests, but I view JJ as a valuable player and a far better option than any QB’s in the draft or any on the 49’rs roster.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Joe won’t come out and say it , but we all know this is his round-a-bout way of calling for Byron Leftwich again.
LOL.
The answer is no , Joe . We still don’t want your hero Fatwich back .
March 28th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Rudy all the way. He’s our 3rd stringer anyways. How many teams really get to # 3 QB in a season? Not many. So we have Josh the freakin’ man Johnson holding the fort down until Free gets healthy. I’ll take that. JJ has tremendous skill set and is constantly improving. Rudy has potential and has shown he can ball. QB position is set in my mind. Unless Brett Favre wants back in….kiddng.