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QB Johnson Using Bucs' Minicamp To Make His Case

By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 1, 2009

What area of the Bucs' offense concerns you the most?

TAMPA - While many are ready to anoint Luke McCown as Tampa Bay's starting quarterback, Josh Johnson is working hard to make sure it does not happen.

Johnson is a second-year player who was inactive every game last season as the fourth option behind Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese and McCown.

However, Johnson and McCown are the only quarterbacks competing at Tampa Bay's voluntary minicamp (Griese has been excused) and believes a strong showing will give him a chance to battle for a starting position this season.

"This is what we [McCown and Johnson] wanted. This is what we asked for," Johnson said. "We wanted the opportunity to compete and we wanted the opportunity to get our chance, and that's what we're getting right now.

"Brian is not here, but he will be here. Right now, Luke and I have to take advantage of the opportunity we're getting because eventually there will be more quarterbacks here, so we have to take advantage of all the opportunities we get because you never know when they will come back around."

Johnson's performance this offseason likely will determine if he remains on Tampa Bay's roster.

Tampa Bay already has shown an interest in obtaining disgruntled Denver Pro Bowler Jay Cutler, plus there is a possibility the Bucs might draft Kansas State's Josh Freeman. If the Buccaneers pull off either move, Johnson could become expendable.

But Johnson, a fifth-round pick from San Diego last year, is not worried about his future in Tampa Bay.

"You've got to understand that this is a business, and the NFL is a competitive business," Johnson said. "You've got to understand that if there is someone out there who probably can help the team, you never know what is going to happen. You can't worry about things you can't control."

Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said Johnson is learning how to process all of the new plays and schemes and spoke optimistically about the quarterback. Johnson, who is working with his second head coach in two years, is enthusiastic because he no longer feels like a rookie.

"It's been a process, but it hasn't been as hard as when I was first coming in and trying to pick up everything on the fly with three veterans who knew everything already," Johnson said. "Just the fact I was able to (get started) from day one, it's not as bad as last year.

"Other guys might mess up sometimes like you might mess up, but we're all learning. We're all learning at full speed, and we're learning while we're competing, and that's the good thing about it."

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