This is not the first time Cowboys QB Brad Johnson has had to strap up his helmet and bail out a team in trouble. Doug Pensinger/GETTY IMAGES Visit the Photo Place

BACKUP QB'S STARRING ROLE JUST INJURY AWAY

NFL report

Date published: 10/15/2008

By Steve DeShazo

BY STEVE DeSHAZO

No position in sports gets more credit, blame or scrutiny than an NFL quarterback. And no roster spot may be more important than the backup at that position.

History shows the virtue of having quality QB insurance. In 1972, both Super Bowl participants got there with backups under center (Miami's Earl Morrall, Washington's Billy Kilmer).

More recently, the 1987 Redskins (Doug Williams), 1991 Giants (Jeff Hostetler), 2000 Rams (Kurt Warner), 2001 Ravens (Trent Dilfer) and 2002 Patriots (Tom Brady) all won Super Bowls with QBs who started the season as backups.

The Dallas Cowboys have entrusted their title hopes for the next month to 40-year-old Brad Johnson after losing both a game (30-24 in overtime) and Tony Romo (broken right pinkie) Sunday in Arizona.

Johnson is almost the ideal backup. He may be long in the tooth at age 40. But he's an established player with a Super Bowl ring (won in Tampa after the 2002 season), a 71-51 career record as a starter and a 62 percent career completion average.

After 17 NFL seasons with four teams, he's familiar with almost every offensive system. He has had two years to digest Dallas' game plan.

And best of all, Johnson knows two things: his place and how to handle controversy.

Johnson has come off the bench in a pinch before. He led the Minnesota Vikings to a 5-3 record in relief of an injured Warren Moon in 1996 and a 7-2 mark after Daunte Culpepper went down in 2005.

He also understands he's not a star. After quietly leading the Washington Redskins to their only NFC East title in the past 17 years in 1999, he lost his job to the stronger-armed Jeff George a year later. George was later cut, and Johnson landed in Tampa Bay, where his accuracy and strong decisions helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl.

The low-maintenance Johnson knows he's simply keeping the seat warm.

"When I came here, I wanted to be a part of a great team and a team that works hard and has a chance to win. I knew the circumstances," Johnson told reporters Monday. "[Romo] means a lot to this team."

1. Titans (5-0) Rested, healthy after bye 2. Steelers (4-1) Upcoming schedule brutal 3. Bills (4-1) They need Edwards healthy 4. Giants (4-1) Where's the pass defense? 5. Buccaneers (4-2) Garcia has some juice left 6. Redskins (4-2) Here come red-hot Browns 7. Cardinals (4-2) Two weeks to savor big win 8. Cowboys (4-2) No Romo, no mojo? 9. Panthers (4-2) Passing game is faltering 10. Colts (3-2) Starting to find a groove 11. Falcons (4-2) NFL's '08 feel-good story 12. Chargers (3-3) Play 3 of next 4 on road 13. Jaguars (3-3) Running game returns 14. Patriots (3-2) Questions re-emerge 15. Broncos (4-2) Penalties were costly in loss 16. Eagles (3-3) McNabb backed up talk 17. Jets (3-2) Ugly uniforms may stay 18. Vikings (3-3) Childress wins under fire 19. Packers (3-3) Rodgers plays through pain 20. Saints (3-3) Few mistakes vs. Raiders 21. Browns (2-3) Start of bigger things? 22. Bears (3-3) Secondary is hurting 23. Texans (1-4) Two winless foes are next 23. Dolphins (2-3) Foes catch on to 'Wildcat' 25. Ravens (2-3) Flacco's inexperience shows 26. 49ers (2-4) Can't afford turnovers 27. Rams (1-4) Offense still needs work 28. Raiders (1-4) New coach, same result 29. Seahawks (1-4) Hasselbeck sorely missed 30. Chiefs (1-4) Gonzalez forced to stay 31. Bengals (0-6) No Palmer against Steelers 32. Lions (0-5) Best effort not good enough

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Date published: 10/15/2008