Brad Johnson Could Be the New Jake Plummer in Denver

Lord help the Broncos if they sign newly-unemployed Brad Johnson. I know the team is trying to move Jake Plummer, but Johnson is ... well, awful. The Denver Post reports the team could consider Johnson if Jeff Garcia signs elsewhere.

Since Garcia ostensibly wants to be a starter, I would expect him to sign elsewhere. Like, I don't know, Oakland. Johnson, though, should be at the very bottom of the "Free agents who could help us next season" list. I don't want to disparage the guy – he seems likeable enough – but he's just not very good. Being 38 years old will do that to you.

Last season, head coach Brad Childress waited about six weeks too long to pull the plug on Johnson's Minnesota career and the team finished 6-10. I know that doesn't sound impressive, but when adding the NFC North adjustment, it's like 9-7. And if Childress had gone to rookie Tarvaris Jackson in, say, Week 11 (the Vikings were 4-6 at the time), the organization might have a better idea about their quarterback situation heading into the draft.

If the Broncos don't sign Johnson, another option might be former Steelers/Ravens/Bengals backup Anthony Wright. Wright seems like the obvious choice here – he was successful coming off the bench in Baltimore – but I thought Denver should've never benched Plummer during the 2006 season, so what do I know.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-01-2007 @ 10:42PM

Vikadan11 said...

All of the QB this year were as bad as the OC who just happens to be the HC too ~ Who could anyone hope to look good in Chillys KAO ~ ? Was that a WCO to start with ~ ?

3-01-2007 @ 10:50PM

Please over look my spelling ~ I got so upset reading this post ~ I'm not going to say what I thought of it or they might have me killed ~ None of the QB's that got on the field for the Vikings looked good ~ TJ put up his yards when the games were out of reach ~ Brad couldn't change the plays at the line when he saw how the defense was set ~

What Chilly put out on the field was ~

1st down run left for 2 yards
2nd down run left for 2 yards
3rd down 3 yard pass on 3rd and 6
4th down punt ~

Kind of hard to look good in that KAO ~

3-01-2007 @ 11:14PM

Leslie said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought pulling Jake Plummer was a huge mistake. It wasn't Jake who let LT get 4 touchdowns. I also don't get why they don't keep him as backup, but are willing to get Garcia or Johnson.

arthurhayzlett said...

I agree that Plummer should not have been benched...I still like Jake and his skills. I think Denver should look to resign him to a lesser contract and keep him in Denver. He knows the system and he would be a great help in getting Cutter ready.

3-02-2007 @ 2:40AM

Jamie said...

I think Plummer's move is also about Plummer feeling he should be a starter. When he was benched he didn't have a lot of other options. I don't live in Denver so my information maybe lacking but I thought he handled the situation well. I hope he does well if he goes elsewhere. Only time will tell if Cutler succeeds as I believe Shanahan feels he will. Johnson, Garcia?? Is Denver a new location for senior citizens? Johnson isn't familiar with the West Coast offense. Garcia I would assume thinks that his success in Phillie means he should have a starting job again.........but he is in in 30's and out of football when the Eagles called his number!! Denver certainly will need a backup qb but I don't feel real confident with these options.

3-03-2007 @ 11:29AM

crash said...

Jake wasn't the problem, Cutler isn't the fix. The backup OB doesn't matter, in Denver it's all about the OL and a back who can run downhill. Why do you think Foster and Bell are gone? Fist things first get Lepis (LT) back, fix the OL and let Sapp (GO CSU) or Bell#2 run downhill! As far as back up QB's go the fans loved Van Pelt (GO CSU) and I bet he wouldn't hurt the cap!

3-03-2007 @ 2:27PM

ALECIA said...

Thank god that Jake the big mistake is gone (maybe) as a huge denver fan Cutler made better decisions than plummer and he was only a rookie throws the ball better and is soon to be a top 5 QB in the NFL for a long time to come thanks to all the teams that pass on him last year our line is fine and our backs will pound out yards Now our D is better with Bly And Denver hopes Jake retires (it will just be another mistake added too all of them and theres a lot) because that will free up a tun of cash we are blowing on the mistake and that will give us the money to become even better

3-04-2007 @ 1:15PM

Rich said...

Yeah, Jake is good. Denver's a tough town, man.

But by the same token, Brad Johnson is good, too. He wasn't the chump the blog author is trying to make him to be. Did you see what he was given to work with??

3-06-2007 @ 10:59PM

philip millls said...

vikadan11 ur right no qb looked good and we dont need to draft another, it would be nice to sign spikes from bills, and need a passrusher a wr would be a great help idont know if the vikings know what there doing???