It's good to be the champ

Brad Johnson enjoying new contract, new son and title

Less than six months after the close of his triumphant 2002 season, which culminated in Tampa Bay winning the first NFL championship in its mostly star-crossed 27-year franchise history, Brad Johnson and the rest of the Bucs are just days away from reporting back to work at training camp. Embarking upon his 12th NFL season, Johnson, 34, has a new contract, a new son, and owns a shiny new Super Bowl ring.

In an interview this week, Johnson touched on topics as varied as Tampa Bay's chances to repeat, the looming specter of running back Michael Pittman's legal troubles, where he hopes to some day fit in Super Bowl history, and even head coach Jon Gruden's new book.

SI.com: Not many Super Bowl champions successfully defend these days. What gives you reason to believe the Bucs will be different?

Brad Johnson: I think for one we all know what it is to be a champion now. We had all been a part of playoff teams in the past, but there is a difference between being the Super Bowl champs and being a playoff contender. All our minicamps and everything in the offseason went great this year, especially offensively as we go into the second year of this system. So I feel like we're light years ahead of where we were last year. And what's neat about us is we haven't changed our themes, our mottos, and our work ethic after winning the Super Bowl.

We know that Denver was the last team to win back to back (in 1998-99), and that Green Bay went two straight years but lost the second time, and St. Louis got there twice in three years but lost the second time. So it can be done as far as getting back. But it's a long season and really our focus is just gearing up for training camp and then getting ready for the first game at Philadelphia. And really the rest will take care of it from there.

SI.com: You're not an underdog any more. How will things change for you and the Bucs this season, being the lead dogs with everyone gunning for you?

Brad Johnson: I feel like I'm always the underdog personally, and I think our team will still feel that way. If you're looking at Vegas these days, it's Philadelphia and St. Louis. But that's Vegas and we have our own deal. We always talk about that it's not about the other team, it's about our scheme, our system, our players, and that is it. I just know how hard it was for us last year to accomplish what we did and it'll be even tougher this year.

The difference will obviously be the media attention and people's expectations, but we're just trying to stay healthy and make it through the season. First off, you've got to give yourself a chance to make it to the playoffs, and then you've got to get hot at the right time. We're a long ways away from January and we'll deal with that when it comes time.

SI.com: Does it feel like you were just in San Diego winning the Super Bowl the other day? Has this offseason flown by?

Brad Johnson: It's been real quick. After the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl, we had our baby April 1, but even before that I was back in quarterback orientation March 24. It was like five and a half weeks after the Pro Bowl and I was back in quarterback orientation. There wasn't a lot of down time this offseason. I felt like the first vacation I really had has been between July 1 and now. And I leave for training camp in another week, on July 17.

SI.com: Have you taken time to savor what you accomplished last year, both individually and as a team?

Brad Johnson: For me the whole thing was kind of surreal. There was a big letdown for me after it was all over. The first time I really realized we had won it and what it meant to me and a lot of other people was when they did a parade for me in my hometown (Black Mountain, N.C.) and named the high school field after me. That was the first time I realized what kind of came along with winning a Super Bowl, and how many people are cheering for you and behind you.

That's when it really hit home as far as what it meant to me to kind of go down in history, as a Super Bowl winning quarterback. It's hard to get there. Not many guys have ever reached that level. You've got to be pretty lucky and be on a good team, but to be a part of that is pretty awesome.

SI.com: What about the challenge of joining the ranks of two-time Super Bowl winning quarterbacks. Does that become your motivating force?

Brad Johnson: I think it has to. I still feel like I've got to win another one. Because to me there's 37 Super Bowl champions, and there's 24 quarterbacks who have won it. But only eight of those guys have won it more than once. There's Bart Starr, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, Roger Staubach, Jim Plunkett, Troy Aikman and John Elway. And then there's guys who have come close, like Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Joe Theismann. They were there twice and won it once and lost it once. I think to set yourself apart you have to win it twice. That's the elite class among Super Bowl quarterbacks. To separate yourself I think you have to win it twice. That's my goal, to become the ninth guy to do it.

But it's not just about me as a quarterback. I think about what another Super Bowl win would mean for guys like Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks and John Lynch, and what it would mean for Jon Gruden. You think about Mike Holmgren getting there and losing the second Super Bowl and you think about the Rams getting there and losing the second time. So there's a lot at stake for a lot of people around here. But we'll have fun with it, work hard and see what happens.

SI.com: With an offense that finished so strong last year and that defensive strength still in place, do the Bucs have as good a chance to repeat as anyone in recent history?

Brad Johnson: I think we do. But it's obviously an open race. And there's a lot of teams that can win it. I think we're probably one of 15 teams that have a legitimate chance of winning it in the end. But obviously it goes back to injuries and making the playoffs and getting a homefield advantage. There are so many things that kind of have to fall into place, like getting hot at the right time of the year.

But for us the biggest challenge is just to focus on what we're going to do against our defense the next five weeks in training camp. That's the way we perform around here. Some of our greatest moments were two-minute drives back in April and May. It got pretty steamy out there on the field with people's pride on the line in mini-camp. That's were the real competition is for us for the next five weeks, getting ready for the first game.

SI.com: Somewhat unexpectedly, your contract turned into an offseason issue this year, before getting resolved a few weeks ago. How important was it that the Bucs organization stepped up and seemingly did right by you with an extension?

Brad Johnson: For one I was very thankful to even come to the Bucs two years ago. I feel like it was the perfect place for me to have a chance to win it all, in a place where no quarterback had ever won it before, in Tampa. And to do it in our second year was pretty awesome.

What took place at the beginning of the offseason (in regards to my contract) was kind of stunning for a lot of people. But the way things worked out, I think it showed the appreciation of what I've accomplished over the last two years and the ability that I have to play over the next four or five years.

SI.com: Did the whole contract process detract at all from what you and the team had just accomplished?

Brad Johnson: You just have to deal with every situation as is. I dealt with it on a personal matter with the help of my agent, Phil Williams. The whole thing was resolved. I didn't miss any quarterback orientation work, any practice time or minicamp drills. Felt like I had a great spring personally. So now everything's resolved and it worked out great on both sides.

SI.com: So you're convinced that finally an organization values and respects you as much as you feel you deserve?

Brad Johnson: Completely. But I've been around this league long enough to know that everything's on a day to day and year to year basis. That's just the way the NFL is. It really has nothing to do with me. It's just the way the NFL is for a player. I think you always have to watch your back as a player and with your contract situation. You always have to be ready to move on in the NFL. But that said, I'm completely happy with my contract situation now.

SI.com: Your head coach, Jon Gruden, has a hot new book out. Given it a read?

Brad Johnson: No. I'm with him every day. I don't really need to read it. But hopefully he'll give it to me free.

SI.com: Heard any reviews?

Brad Johnson: No. It's not really a big issue to me. I've got my own thoughts about Jon, and I rave about the guy. Maybe later this year I'll sit down and read the book or something. But I'm kind of waiting for the free copy.

SI.com: How much will running back Michael Pittman's legal situation loom over training camp, and how much could it impact how far this team can go this season?

Brad Johnson: Well it could have great impact. And hopefully his situation is resolved, but that's on a course of its own. If he's with us, it's awesome. And if not, then I don't know if it'll be a running back by committee type of deal or what. I know last year we split up the reps between him, Mike Alstott and Aaron Stecker, but Pittman is pretty much our primary back, especially in third down situations.

I think part of this will come down to what Thomas Jones brings to the table also with the trade we just made with Arizona for Marquise Walker. So it'll be interesting. But I think we just have to kind of let it take its course and see what happens over training camp.

SI.com: Gruden made it clear this offseason that he would have preferred to go after guys like Junior Seau and Emmitt Smith. Were the Bucs as pro-active on the personnel front as you would have liked?

Brad Johnson: It's not my position to say anything. I think they made some moves and tried to beef up the front a little bit. They tried to replace guys like Dexter Jackson and Al Singleton on the defense with guys who have started in the league. We only lost four guys, so that's pretty good compared to a lot of other teams. I'm happy with the guys we brought in, for sure.

SI.com: Is it the next season after a Super Bowl title when you're really accorded the respect and status around the league that goes with that victory?

Brad Johnson: We were into our offseason work so fast, and into our minicamps so fast that there really hasn't been much talk about being the defending Super Bowl champion. I mean, the first time we really talked about it and celebrated as a team was at our ring ceremony June 14. Besides that, there hasn't been talk about "We've got to repeat." There hasn't been talk about things like. It's been more like, "Hey, the train keeps moving."

It's how's the offense going to beat the defense today and how's the defense going to stop the offense? That's all the talk has been all spring long. Hopefully that serves us well. That's the way it was last year and that's the way it is this year. It's a Monte Kiffin versus Jon Gruden thing every day, offense versus defense. It seems like we're game-planning for each other, but that's what brings great intensity to our practices and that's what makes us both better.

SI.com: Are you braced for even more of a circus atmosphere in training camp at Disney World now that you're Super Bowl champs?

Brad Johnson: It doesn't matter. Yeah, it probably will be. There will probably be a few more stories in the newspaper. They'll probably be more TV cameras, but the work will be done on the field and really has no bearing on what we have to get accomplished. It wasn't like Disney was a fun place last year. No one was at Blizzard Beach and no one rode on Space Mountain. It's hot as fire down there.

I remember the first day of camp last year, 15 guys had IVs. That tells you what you're getting ready to go through, especially with us having to play a fifth preseason game, in Japan, and practicing 14 more practices than any team in the league besides the Jets. So the focus will be to survive and thrive. That's our theme for training camp.

SI.com: So how much have you let yourself wear that piece of jewelry you got in June?

Brad Johnson: I haven't worn it yet besides the night I got it. For one, I have to get it sized. But even when I do get it back, I'll probably just keep it hidden.

SI.com: You won't even slip it on for big occasions?

Brad Johnson: Maybe one day, but probably not until I'm done playing. I don't want to.

SI.com: Was it great to at least wear it for one night?

Brad Johnson: It was awesome. That whole night was incredible. The ring ceremony was a black tie affair. The dinner. The presentation of giving out the rings. It was five months after the Super Bowl, but it was a great reminder of what he had accomplished. It was really the first time we had celebrated as a team what had been accomplished. Because after the Super Bowl we all went our separate ways and no one really got us all together. So it was a tremendous experience for everyone.

SI.com: So are you raring to go in defense of your Super Bowl title?

Brad Johnson: It's not even about defending. It's about another chance to go through a great year. It's a chance to win another one, but I don't look at it like we're defending. Last year does the team and me no good. It doesn't help me. It doesn't hurt me. It's done. We accomplished it. And it's over. Now there's another chance for some team out there to win it. And I think it's an open race for everyone.

SI.com: Was the highlight of your offseason April 1, with the birth of your second son, Jake?

Brad Johnson: Without a doubt. Jake's arrival kind of put things into perspective, because if you win or lose the game, so be it. That's just one moment compared to a whole new life.

SI.com: We heard that word of your fainting episode in the delivery room has leaked out. So now everybody knows that one of the NFL's toughest quarterbacks wound up needing a little medical attention himself that day?

Brad Johnson: Yeah, that story's out there. But it happens to a lot of people. So someone needs to hold the Daddy.

Don Banks covers pro football for SI.com.

 

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