Michael Johnson Signing Official
March 11th, 2014
His believed payday of $24 million guaranteed eclipses what Michael Bennett got from Seattle
The first step to making opposing quarterbacks sweat is now official, as the Bucs have made it public. Defensive end Michael Johnson is now a member of your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It will be interesting to see how Johnson pans out.
Now Joe thinks it is fair when people question h0w during a contract year Johnson, a former double-digit sack guy (11.5), dropped to single-digit sacks (3.5) last year. Also, it’s fair to be concerned Johnson has but one season with double-digit sacks.
Now if Adrian Clayborn’s 5.5 sack season last year was “solid,” but solid will get you 4-12, what does that say about Johnson?
Yes, Joe knows sacks are overrated at times and disruption can be more important. Disruption leads to turnovers.
It was but a couple of weeks ago, Joe was told by Bucs officials that Darrelle Revis was a key cog in the Bucs defense. Now, he’s as wanted as a banana peel. So frankly, Joe doesn’t know what to believe — if single digit sacks are great or just “solid,” which gets you 12 losses.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
In his one good year next to a healthy Atkins, he put up 11.5 sacks (while Atkins put up 12.5).
As long as McCoy can stay healthy, I can see these 2 being a force.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:08 pm
I like the signing.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Pressures matter more when you have a good secondary. Leonard Johnson, Johnthan Banks and Danny Gorrer sounds like a bad CFL secondary let alone a NFL one. Our secondary is still going to be way too awful to matter at all.
And now that Revis is definitely going to an FA, corners are going to wait to sign until he does so he can set the market. Gonna be hefty to get a corner this year.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:11 pm
It eclipses Bennett’s, Joe, cause he is a better player. At least he’s broken 10 before. Bennett hasn’t. Ever. And they’re equal in run support. I’d much rather have Johnson. It’s not even close.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:11 pm
Joe from the signing so far what are your thoughts?
March 11th, 2014 at 5:12 pm
“In his only good year”
That’s a comfort.
Playing on a line with some really talented D linemen, he has averaged less than 4 sucks a year- with the exception of one year, when he had 11
That’s a pass rush specialist, I guess.
Guess one mans cast off, is another mans fools gold.
We’ll see.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:23 pm
The Teflon Dom still haunts OBP. The Bucs are still overpaying for average players. Just hope that Johnson doesn’t flop like the others. He’s an upgrade over Daniel and Bowers but c’mon 24 mil GUARANTEED?
March 11th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
maybe they know something we dont.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Don’t forget, not only did our DE get upgraded with Johnson but our DT did as well with McDonald who actually had 5.5 sacks last year in a part-time role. Now we have two players next to McCoy who are upgrades. Our d-line got a whole lot better today. I am NOT complaining…not one bit. Unlike the usual whiny bitches who seem to populate JBF.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Sweet Jesus guys. Revis is not being sent away in a vacuum. The guys at cb on the roster are not who will be on the field art the start of the season. This is the first hour of the season and you’re writing it off already. Professionals are behind the wheel now. Let’s see this thing play out
March 11th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
The appeal is that Johnson is quick off the snap. He’ll be playing next to McCoy who will always draw the double team. This is the exact reason why Clayborn doesn’t have a starting job now. Clayborn had a good motor but and can finish but is lacking that explosive first step.
Time will tell.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
I’m guessing that Lovies’ philosophy is that if you can get enough pressure on the QB, you don’t a ‘Revis’. I can’t argue that idea, but I’d sure like to see the pressure AND Revis.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
And as evidence from Vontae Davis and Sam Shields, any CB we get, unless we wanna go bargain hunting, its $10 million a year at least. This is why ridding Revis is dumb, relatively speaking he’s worth $16 million a year.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:38 pm
I think the McDonald signing is huge. From what I hear e is one of the most underrated signings so far. We paid out a lot for Johnson but 8.5 million a year for a pass rusher isn’t that bad. So far we have sogned Johnson, McDonald, and Myers which should equal around 13 million total against the cap next year…all possible starters, I think te new GM and Lovie are doing just fine. Also pretty much a lock that we are going to get Charles Tillman, guy was an All Pro in 2012 and was on pace for 80 plus tackles 6 int last year before he got hurt. He has plenty left in the tank.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:40 pm
And yet, Jared Allen- a PROVEN QB sacker, is still unsigned
We signed a 3 sack a year”Sackmaster”, a backup DT, A backup TE.
That would be fine. You could have picked up better talent, if we had waited for the post draft roster cuts.
Still ok,
Unless you trade or release the number one rated CB in the NFL.
I don’t believe it. But we’ll all see together
March 11th, 2014 at 5:40 pm
With other corners getting 10 million a season any thoughts out there that the Bucs will just keep Revis and realize what he is worth.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:44 pm
Lovie get this little house cleaning done tomorrow, there are some old Titans of the sack world looking for a home. Peppers, Allen, Ware all for the taking with another 16mil credit card!
March 11th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
I like MJ. He is a really nice addition to the team, and IMO an upgrade to either side of the line.
Please please please keep Revis. Idc about the 16m, he is worth it! We need him to make this defense legit. You can’t be a top 10 defense without any starting cornerbacks. And at this point Talib is the only great cb left and he wants Revis money, and probably wouldn’t step foot in one Buc place if we were the highest bidder. Drafting a rookie would be good, but to start him next to second yr banks would be a huge mistake. We need Revis.
March 11th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
Love it. Solid signing next to McDonald as well. Better not let McCown leave town. Great competition for Glennon if no QB is selected at 7
March 11th, 2014 at 5:53 pm
“Just in case you thought Darrelle Revis had a Down year, his +18.2 grade @PFF led all cornerbacks in 2013”
-Pete Damilatis- PFF March 2013
March 11th, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Capt. Tim Says:
March 11th, 2014 at 5:53 pm
“Just in case you thought Darrelle Revis had a Down year, his +18.2 grade @PFF led all cornerbacks in 2013″
-Pete Damilatis- PFF March 2013
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Yup, so lets go sign a guy who’s 30% as good for 70% of the cost instead!
March 11th, 2014 at 5:59 pm
The round table on NFL Network seems to think Johnson is a great match for the Bucs.
March 11th, 2014 at 6:03 pm
I agree Celly , Johnson and McCoy are going to cause offensive line problems . Look for both to increase those numbers .
March 11th, 2014 at 6:16 pm
I think Myers will be our starting TE, with 47 catches last year and 79 the year before he is light years ahead of Stocker or Crabtree in that department. Maneri at 280 is sure to be our blocking TE. Could they be thinking of converting T. Wright to WR, his more natural position? We’ll see.
March 11th, 2014 at 6:17 pm
MJ is an every down player, not just a pass rusher. McDonald is solid too. And we still have AC and Bowers, plus Spence and Gholston. That’s depth, provided they keep all of them; otherwise, it’s just pretense and hope.
As for Revis, have Bucs actually commented publicly? They cannot possibly cut him now. There’s simply no reason to. They can pay him the $1.5 million and buy another month. If they cut him without a great trade then we can all conclude the Glazers are in charge because it will be about saving money. Period.
March 11th, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Try and Go all in for clowney, we would have a monster dline. Next to McCoy Johnson will do fine, very athletic 6’7 lovie will get the most out of him
March 11th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Cincinnati got to the playoffs because of their defense and MJ was one of their best defensive players….that should be enough said.
March 11th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Sorry so many of you, including Joe, don’t understand how truly talented Michael Johnson is and how truly important it is to build a defense on the backs of their pass rush and not the defensive backs. Johnson is supremely talented and though he may not have gotten sacks, his pressures, tackles for loss, tackles were very good. Considering what the Vikings gave Everson Griffen, Johnson is a great bargain.