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QB earns rightful place

Security and a championship confirm that Brad Johnson belongs among the league's best.

TAMPA - The minute he entered the room at a sports memorabilia show in Atlantic City, N.J., in April, Brad Johnson felt awkwardly out of place.

Staring back at Johnson were five superstars who collectively own more championship rings than he has fingers: Ervin Johnson, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen and Ronnie Lott.

The Bucs quarterback nearly spun on his heels and bounced from the hotel, but instead was rewarded with a Magic moment unlike any he has savored since leading Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory.

"I think about being there with all those guys in that one little room and one part of me says, "Thank God I got a ring,' or I would've turned around and walked out of there," Brad Johnson said. "I'd have felt out of place. But the thing that meant something special to me was this: Magic Johnson came up to me and said, "Way to go, champ. Now you know what it feels like."'

For once in his football career, Johnson didn't have to prove he belongs.

He took care of that by putting the offense on his broken back and carrying the Bucs to a franchise-best 15-4 record, including a 48-21 shellacking of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego.

Winning a world championship should do wonders for the often underappreciated Johnson, who uses his detractors like a refinery to fuel a solid career.

Despite a winning percentage of .646 that is third only to Brett Favre and Joe Montana in NFL history and taking three different teams to the playoffs, Johnson began the 2002 season fending off challengers for his starting job. Sports Illustrated predicted he would surrender his position to now departed backup Rob Johnson by Week8.

But when Johnson reports to his 12th training camp Friday, the 34-year-old will be one of the most secure starters in the league.

"I think what it does, it gives you credence as far as your consistency of play, whether it's winning percentage, completion percentage, or taking three different organizations to the playoffs," Johnson said of his Super Bowl title. "The way you're truly judged as a quarterback is what you do in the playoffs. I do think there's some credibility there."

But Johnson isn't likely to take any bows.

So what if he signed a four-year, $25-million contract that makes him among the 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the league? Never mind that he's coming off a season in which he set team records in touchdown passes (22), completion percentage (62.3) and passer rating (92.9).

Ever the alarmist, Johnson already is examining Raymond James Stadium for quicksand.

"It's a rough league and I saw (Rams quarterback) Kurt Warner go to two of three Super Bowls and saw what he went through last year," Johnson said. "I'm not a dummy heading into any year. My eyes are open."

Johnson's sights are set on finding his place in NFL history by winning another Super Bowl. Without being asked, Johnson readily rattles off the quarterbacks with more than one title.

"Eight quarterbacks have won more than one Super Bowl: Bart Starr, Roger Staubach, Bob Griese, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, John Elway and Jim Plunkett," Johnson said.

Of that list, all but Plunkett is either in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or has a mantle cleared for him there. "There is a difference, being one-time champ and a multiple champ," Johnson said.

But Johnson shouldn't have to flash his Super Bowl ring to get a good seat at the autograph table.

According to Bucs general manager Rich McKay, the mistake people make is measuring Johnson's career by where it began.

"I don't think a Super Bowl does change much for him," McKay said. "Because part of Brad's situation is that he's always going to be measured by where he came from. He wasn't a starter at Florida State, he wasn't a No.1 pick, he was taken in a round (ninth) that doesn't exist anymore. It took him five years to become a starter at Minnesota. He didn't have the hype and he used it as motivation to outwork the other guy.

"What the Super Bowl does is give him an automatic retort to anyone who questions his abilities. But I think he had it before with his winning percentage."

There might be quarterbacks with stronger arms or quicker feet but few are as heady and steady. Nor are many as tough "as a truck-stop steak," as Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of him last season.

"I never had been around a quarterback as big as the one we have in Tampa," Gruden said. "The guy we have is a big guy, man. He's 6-5, he's 240 pounds and thank God he is because he takes some hits. He took a lot of hits. Some of these lighter guys, I don't know how they could've made it through that season last year."

Johnson nearly didn't. He broke his ribs on the second play of a 20-10 loss at Philadelphia, a game in which he was hit 21 times. Then came the back injury against Detroit that forced him to miss the final two regular-season games and nearly the playoffs.

Relying on X-rays, Bucs officials adopted a company line that Johnson's back had not suffered structural damage. But an MRI had revealed a hairline fracture of a vertebra and Johnson felt he had no choice but to dance around the issue to reporters despite being nearly incapacitated.

"I couldn't tie my shoes, couldn't put on my shorts," Johnson said. "I was concerned."

So were the Bucs, who scored just one offensive touchdown in 12 quarters without Johnson last season. During a critical five-game span, after returning from the rib injury against Minnesota and culminating with a victory over Atlanta, Johnson threw 15 touchdowns and just one interception as the Bucs clinched the NFC South title.

He finished first in the NFC and third in the league in passer rating, going 281-for-451 for 3,049 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions. In addition, he threw 187 consecutive passes without an interception.

No team relied on its quarterback to win games more than the Bucs, who rode Johnson's red-hot passing to the Super Bowl. In Johnson's final nine games, the Bucs averaged 29 points.

"The thing he does better than anyone else is get the ball out of his hands," receiver Keyshawn Johnson said. "People say it's not pretty. What's not pretty about it? Pretty gets you nothing except sitting home every year like (Colts quarterback) Peyton Manning."

But even winning the Super Bowl didn't allow the Bucs quarterback to let his guard down. Instead, the Bucs removed a $1.5-million guaranteed bonus during a proposal to restructure his contract less than a month after winning the title.

The matter was resolved June 18 when Johnson announced he had signed a deal increasing his salary by $2.5-million over the next two seasons.

"I think there were misunderstandings that happened, but they cleared themselves up and there are no hard feelings on either side," Johnson said. "I'm happy the way things worked out. Regardless, I am grateful to Rich McKay bringing me down to Tampa two years ago. To make a move this offseason, redoing my contract, that reinforces the way they felt about me and the way I played the last two years. It's a pat on the back."

But as Johnson is fond of saying, the difference between a pat on the back and a slap in your face is only a few inches.

"No coach, no team, no organization is married to a player," Johnson said. "You've got to keep it hot."