It’s Not Just The Bucs
July 2nd, 2016
Haunts Cincinnati, too.
The shadow of Ghost Johnson still casts darkness on the Bucs.
Signed two years ago to an obscene contract, Johnson became Ghost because you heard he was on the roster and heard he was a starting right defensive end, but he was invisible in games.
It wasn’t long before Johnson, enriched by Team Glazer loot, turned homesick and returned to Cincinnati after the Bucs exorcised his spirit from One Buc Palace.
The PFF tribe suggests Ghost also has spooked Mike Brown, the owner of the Bengals. In digging up their list of worst contracts for defensive ends, John Breitenbach sees through the Ghost and notices another con job of an NFL team.
3. Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
Years remaining: Three
Average remaining cap hit (per year): $5.8 million
Year he can realistically be cut: 2017Johnson is not set to make a ton from the Bengals in the remaining years of his contract, but will surely have been expected to contribute more than the 50 combined pressures he managed a year ago. Returning to the team where he made his name after a disastrous season in Tampa, he failed to induce the form of previous years. Johnson managed only a 45.9 pass-rush grade, even if he set the edge well against the run.
He can [be cut this year and] incur $5.4 million in dead money. Even after this year, he has a total of $3.4 million in guarantees remaining in his contract. Run-defending defensive ends are a dime a dozen, and probably not worth around $6 million per season.
Imagine that, the guy stinks. Who could have guessed?
At least Ghost sure knows how to pick an agent. After all, for some players, it is all about the Benjamins.
Two years ago, when Ghost lurked at the Den of Depression, he had a grand total of four sacks. Joe’s willing to lay cash right now that not only will rookie defensive end/outside linebacker Noah Spence have more sacks, defensive end Robert Ayers may double that total.
July 2nd, 2016 at 5:11 am
Michael Johnson had exactly 1 good year (2012) when he got 11.5 sacks during his 7-year career. Take away that 1 good year and he’s racked up 24 sacks over 6 yrs … 4 sacks per year average, and exactly what he got here in Tampa. The Bucs paid him handsomely for that 1 good year, and Cincy did the same to a lesser degree. Michael Johnson is a 4-6 sack per year pony whose agent managed to parlay 1 good year into 2 big paydays. Not bad for a ghost. No idea who PFF’s John Breitenbach is, but it looks like he’s stretching for a story.
July 2nd, 2016 at 6:59 am
I need to see some pff stats. I bet gots a private jet.
July 2nd, 2016 at 8:22 am
He had some pressures in the toilet just like me over the past few years. Sucks getting old
July 2nd, 2016 at 8:37 am
Can’t say I feel bad for the Bengals.
July 2nd, 2016 at 8:40 am
Perfect example of a guy who is just looking to get paid, and not play for the passion of the game like our boy Jamies. We don’t need pl, like that our this franchise anymore. We need more guys like #3, 58 and 54. Guys who LOVE to play the game.
July 2nd, 2016 at 9:01 am
I’m confused Joe. So, When PFF has numbers that fit your narrative it’s okay to reap their football knowledge in one of your thrashing articles against a former player/s. No bigger hypocrites in these interwebs here at JBF. Not saying Johnson wasn’t hot garbage on the football field, but damn get over it! It wasn’t like he was paid with your advertising money. Of which, you still have room on your homepage for a FEW MORE! Further slowing down my computer and locking it up!
July 2nd, 2016 at 11:14 am
@Mahabone
I have wondered the same thing. He speaks against stat geeks, but never hesitates to use them, lol.
July 2nd, 2016 at 2:27 pm
PFF stinks….I thought?
July 2nd, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Joe has always written he tries to keep an open mind about PFF. Sometimes they do decent work (defensive stats). Sometimes they are the biggest joke this side of Lovie Smith’s pass defense (their offensive line and sometimes quarterback grades).
As always, Joe writes what interests Joe. Joe thought it was interesting someone thought Ghost was also stealing cash from Mike Brown.
And, as always, if you don’t like the subject of a story, no one is forcing you to read it. There are thousands of other stories on this site… all for free 24/7.
July 5th, 2016 at 1:14 am
That first free agent class gives me gas!