Is Josh Johnson Sending A Message?
April 10th, 2011
Joe wrote last week about how “career backup” Josh Johnson hardly said he wanted to a be Buccaneer for life during an interview with the Oakland Tribune.
Johnson was and is tight with his former college coach Jim Harbaugh, the new head coach of the quarterback-starved 49ers.
Now Rick Stroud, Bucs beat writer for the St. Pete Times, has tracked down Johnson. And he found the young quarterback longing for a starting job and saying he’s “all for” making a move to the 49ers.
“I hear it all the time,” Johnson said. “But a lot more goes into this than what you think. I understand that. It’s why I try to stay in the middle. If I can’t control the situation, I don’t make any predictions on it.
“If something happens, I’m all for it. But at the same time, I enjoy playing for Raheem (Morris) and the Bucs. It’s hard for any competitor to not be able to get out there, especially for me because I’ve gotten a taste of being a starter.”
Joe can attest that Johnson is a sharp guy — and one who surely knows his best chance to reunite with Harbaugh and get a clean shot at the San Francisco starting job is this offseason.
Joe suspects Johnson knows exactly what he’s doing when he tells the local newspapers in two cities that he’d be just fine with a trade.
Is Johnson trying to guide the hand of Mark Dominik? Maybe Johnson didn’t like Greg Olson’s odd remark about him last year?
With the annoying NFL lockout in place, the Bucs can’t trade Johnson if they wanted to — no deals until the lockout is lifted. But Joe wouldn’t hesitate to move Johnson when/if the opportunity arises.
Might as well get something for him, and the 49ers just might overpay.
April 10th, 2011 at 10:14 am
If he doesn’t want to be here then we might as well get something for him before he becomes a free agent. I’m not a huge fan of The Wildcat or whatever version of it we run anyways.
Joe, the NFL Network has been keeping me in shape. You’re right about everything you’ve said about it and about everything you’ve said about Outhouse. Until I officially make the switch, I’ve been spending more and more time in my apartment complex’s gym just to watch the real man’s network.
April 10th, 2011 at 10:24 am
I really like JJ and think he’s a very good backup. So I’d be disappointed if we traded him just for the sake of trading him. If we’re gonna trade him, we need to get a pick that we think we can replace him with, and another pick on top of that. None of it really matters tho with the lockout. How cool would it be if they lifted the lockout just for the days of the draft tho?
April 10th, 2011 at 11:22 am
I would trade JJ also if he wants to go, but for nothing less than a high 4th or a conditional (if he starts) 3rd next year. I don’t think JJ is a franchise QB. He doesn’t have that “IT” factor. If he goes to SF, he may get to start because of the level of competition there, but he is destined to become a back-up eventually. He may as well stay here and get paid handsomely for light duty.
April 10th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Problem is… as much as I like Josh Johnson and think the world of his talents… I doubt that the 49er fans would embrace him as a franchise QB. So again, he would be a guy filling a hole until the team can draft or get a franchise guy.
At least here, he is guarenteed to go in if something happens to Freeman.
But for his sake, i would hate to see the Bucs hold him back. He deserves a chance to start elsewhere if he can get tht fair shot.
I just dont see the 49ers trading a lofty draft pick for him.
April 10th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Trading JJ would leave a huge hole in the Bucs’ roster. JJ is always one play away, and much better than Rudy. I would only trade him if it involves a high pick(s) or something else that involved Patrick Willis. The Bucs need to make this about the Bucs. To hell with the 49’rs or JJ and what’s best for them. What matters is what is best for the Bucs and not having a capable backup QB can end your season very quickly. All starting QB’s get hurt at some point. I think JJ should be patient and keep his fat mouth shut. Rick Stroud is not a fan of the team and cares more about his own popularity and reporting. Suck it, Stroud, you D-Bag.
April 10th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@BigMacAttack: I agree with you on keeping him, but we also want a capable backup QB who is proud and happy to be where he is….
April 10th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Well, he can’t be worse than Alex Smith.
April 10th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
I don’t have a problem with him wanting to start in this league, that’s like having a part time job with no benefits and a full time job with all benefits opens up and not applying to it because you like your co-workers even when the other job pays more. I hope we can strike a deal with them but if they’re not willing to give a 3rd or at least 2 4th or later round pick(s) I wouldn’t do it. Might as well wait until next year and then try to move him.
April 10th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
I think JJ may have sealed the deal on his time in Tampa. He clearly does not want to be here in Tampa anymore. Plus Doug Williams who wanted him so bad is gone. JJ is a holdover from the Doug Williams era, and Doug sort of left with bad blood for Tampa.
Because of these 2 factors I smell TRADE with the 49ers. Mark will extort as much as he can get for JJ, and I wish him well.
April 10th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
What did we get for Luke McCown again?
April 11th, 2011 at 7:44 am
@Hunter
No backup is “happy” with his position. That’s a myth.
As to a possible trade…I would say it depends on the offer, and I don’t think we will get a good enough offer this year. If he get’s playing time this season and does well, his value will skyrocket.
I would NOT take less than a second rounder or a player worth a second rounder though.
Does he have the skills to become a franchise QB? I think he might with the right coach and system. All it will take is patience and a good guiding hand.
But, truth to tell, I suspect JJ will be a coach himself someday…and a darn good one.
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@espo
He does want to be here. He just also wants to start, and knows he won’t get much of a chance here.
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As far as replacing him…with the evaluation abilities of the Bucs, I have no doubt that they could find a suitable replacement in short order.