Brad Johnson is a mild-mannered, Opie Taylor-looking little bugger – not the sort of guy you normally associate with pissy statements. But, Brad did unleash one this week – and it was directed at his former team the Vikings. Speaking to his hometown newspaper, the Asheville Citizen-Times , Brad said this about his second stint with the Purple, which ended with him being benched and finally let go:
"I was 13-10 as a starter and they were 2-7 without me starting [in two seasons], so that kind of tells you where the organization is."
That tells us where the organization is? What do you mean by that Brad? You’re not trying to suggest that they made a mistake not bringing you back as the starter, are you Brad?
Let’s see Brad – the Vikings were 13-10 with you and 2-7 without you. Well, I can’t argue with that – those are accurate numbers. But let’s consider some of those victories, shall we? Like that 6-game winning streak you orchestrated in 2005 after Daunte went out. Four wins against Detroit (twice), Green Bay and Cleveland – woeful teams all. One against a mediocre, uninspired Rams club. And one, the Giants game, a flukey affair in which Eli Manning played like he didn’t have a clue. You’re making your argument based on wins like those Brad? You’re pointing to those games and saying – “Yup, the Vikings were idiots for letting me go?”
I’m willing to concede this much – you did play okay in 2005. You certainly earned the chance to come back in 2006 and be the starter. Which is exactly what happened. And how did that go Brad? Oh, it was nice at first – a 4-2 start, everything humming along, sunshine and smiling kittens. But then it sort of went south, didn’t it Brad? Not entirely your fault, I admit. The line did a crap job protecting you, you had no receivers to throw to, and Childress’s play-calling was worse than Jessica Simpson playing Madden. But you didn’t do much to help that situation, did you Brad? It didn’t make things easier that your arm resembled a wet noodle, you were about as mobile as Kirstie Alley with a gut full of cheesecake and you made throws so dumb even Mike McMahon was laughing at you. And you forgot you had a tight end. In other words, you sucked.
Even at your best, Brad, you were nothing more than a caretaker – and at your worst you set back the art of quarterbacking at least fifteen years. So, don’t start getting on your high horse, acting like the organization somehow screwed you, and it was a dumb decision to let you go. Maybe – maybe – you can argue that they should’ve kept you as a back-up, but a starter? Someone they could count on to win games consistently? Are you joking Brad?
My goodness, has Opie ever developed a high opinion of himself. Like he’s Joe Montana or something. What’s next I wonder? Barney Fife turning into J. Edgar Hoover? Aunt Bea suddenly morphing into Alessandra Ambrosio?