Minnesota Vikings fans are very glad the team was able to sign WR Charles Johnson away from the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad last season, especially given how bad Cordarrelle Patterson turned out to be in year 2.
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Fans should be doubly-glad knowing how close the Browns came to keeping Johnson away from the Vikings.
According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, the Browns made an earnest effort to keep Johnson from leaving Cleveland but fell short.
The Browns fell short not because of money but because of Johnson’s connection to a former member of the Cleveland coaching staff.
Browns did try to keep him (Matched MIN offer), but familiarity with Norv Turner's offense was the big reason why he chose to sign with MIN.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) July 30, 2015
Keep in mind too that the Vikings may never have pursued Johnson had Jerome Simpson not gone and acted like a complete idiot and been suspended and then cut.
Things like this are enough to make you believe in destiny.
Now the Vikings hope that Johnson can build upon his surprisingly successful 2014 season and become an even more potent weapon in 2015.
Johnson is currently holding down the X receiver spot in Norv Turner’s offense and the early reviews suggest that the former 7th round pick is in line for a true breakout season.
With Johnson and Mike Wallace manning the outside, and maybe rookie phenom Stefon Diggs playing the slot, the Vikings have the makings of a strong receiver corps.
Do I need to mention that they will have Adrian Peterson in the backfield creating 8-man boxes for Teddy Bridgewater to work against?
It’s early but there is plenty of reason to be excited about what Charles Johnson and the Vikings’ offense can do.
Thanks Cleveland Browns for the gift of Charles Johnson.
Next: Bridgewater becoming tight with Wallace
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