Cardinals’ Johnson in the wrong place at the wrong time

By Peter Altman  |   Friday, September 22, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Arizona Cardinals
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Last week at the start of the fourth quarter, for an instant, things went right for the Arizona Cardinals and receiver Bryant Johnson in their 21-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. For an instant the porous Cardinal offensive line managed to protect the battered Kurt Warner. For an instant the Seahawk defense, sitting on a sizable lead, let down its guard. And, for an instant, wide receiver Bryant Johnson was in the right place at the right time as he glided across the field on his way to the end zone.

It was a bright moment for Johnson who, for much of his professional career, has been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When Johnson was selected 17th overall in the 2003 draft, he would never have imagined that, four years into his career, he would be aspiring to be Brandon Stokley. Johnson couldn't have imagined that the 54th overall pick, Anquan Boldin, would have signed a long-term deal and have played in a Pro Bowl, before Johnson had even caught 50 balls in a season.

Johnson's solid rookie season was lost in the huge shadow cast by Boldin, but the former must have been confident that he and the latter would form a great duo. Then in 2004 the Cardinals drafted Larry Fitzgerald, a talented receiver who had dominated at the University of Pittsburgh.

In no time at all, the tandem of Fitzgerald and Boldin became the talk of the league and the cornerstone for the future of the Cardinals franchise. Perhaps Johnson optimistically thought the duo could become a trio, but three receivers is a crowd. Jim Smith never became part of Stallworth and Swann, nor is Mike Sherrard linked to Rice and Taylor in football memory.

All the planets must align for a third receiver to put up big numbers. Brandon Stokley was brilliant in 2004, but last year, when the Colts relied more on the run, he was the first victim of the passing yardage famine. It is unlikely that Johnson will match the 1,000 receiving yards Stokley amassed for the Colts in 2004.

The Cardinals offense, despite its star power, is not good enough for Johnson to have a big season as a third receiver; the offensive line simply doesn't give Kurt Warner enough time to throw. Johnson will contribute to the offense, but the spotlight and the numbers will continue to belong to Boldin and Fitzgerald.

Ever since the day he was drafted, things have not gone Johnson's way. When Boldin was injured last season, Johnson had the opportunity to step up and showcase his abilities. After scoring a touchdown in his first game, the former Penn State star was injured. As Johnson's luck would have it, he healed just in time to find himself the third wheel once again.

With Boldin and Fitzgerald both signed to long-term contracts, Arizona is neither the place nor is now the time for the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Johnson. Unfortunately for Johnson, it seems that no one will know how good he is until he leaves the Cardinals nest. Until then, the Cardinals might be featuring a Stradivarius at third fiddle.
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