Vikings’ Johnson has right to be angry

By Krupka  |   Friday, July 21, 2006  |  Comments( 13 )

Minnesota Vikings
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When players like Terrell Owens quibble over money, it draws the ire of fans. When nonsensical people like NBA player Latrell Sprewell say they can't feed a family on $7 million a year, it further alienates fans and brings out their anger and frustration. Rarely do outsiders agree that players deserve a raise, or that the said player should be angry about their compensation. However, in the case of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson, he absolutely should be angry about his low salary.

The only argument that holds any weight against Johnson deals with the fact that it was him who signed the contract in the first place. Nobody held a gun to his head. However, the 37-year-old also signed on to what he thought would be a backup role. In Week 8, then starter Daunte Culpepper succumbed to a gruesome knee injury, ending his season. Immediately, Johnson was thrust into the starting role.

After becoming the starter, all the 14-year veteran out of Florida State did was rattle off six consecutive wins en route to a 7-2 record as the starter, nearly bringing the Vikings' sunken ship to the playoffs.

A former Super Bowl winner and Pro Bowler, Johnson has proven over the course of his career that he is a competitor. Although aging, last season did nothing to make anyone think otherwise. As the 36th highest paid--quarterback slated to make $1.2 million this season, Johnson is grossly underpaid. The fact that there are backups and underachievers like Joey Harrington making significantly more is why the Vikings' signalcaller has every right in the world to be upset.

Adding to the problem is the fact that the organization essentially swept the issue under the rug, completely ignoring the situation. For a man who has done nothing but win and display a team-first attitude, he deserves to be a little selfish as his career begins to wind down. Don't let that last statement fool you, though, he has a lot of football left in the tank and should continue to be as solid starter, while young second-round draft pick Tarvaris Jackson matures and learns the offense.

Since joining the league, Johnson has never caused a rift in a clubhouse even when his teams have done him wrong. He is known as a first-rate individual who always carries himself with the utmost class. During his stint in Tampa Bay in which he guided the team to a Super Bowl victory, Johnson bought everyone on the team a plasma television for Christmas.

The team absolutely needs to step up to the plate and make sure that Johnson gets paid what he deserves so that there is no distraction. It will certainly be key for Johnson to be content with his salary during training camp and preseason, so he can properly prepare for the games that actually have meaning, starting in September.

Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

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