Return to story

BACKUP QB'S STARRING ROLE JUST INJURY AWAY

October 15, 2008 12:15 am

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."

Until Romo returns, Johnson will be asked to do what he does best: run the offense, avoid mistakes and use his teammates' strengths. He's well aware that he has Terrell Owens, Jason Witten and Marion Barber on his side.

The Cowboys are also fortunate that their other two top NFC East rivals (the Redskins and Giants) also lost to lesser rivals over the weekend, keeping Dallas (4-2) firmly in the race.

The Cowboys hope Johnson does for them what veteran Kerry Collins has done in Tennessee. After star Vince Young's knee and ego were simultaneously bruised, Collins stepped in and has the Titans (5-0), sporting the NFL's only perfect record.

Similarly, Tampa Bay (4-2) has been fortunate to have both Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese on its roster. Each has been hurt this season, but not simultaneously.

And Washington fans are thankful that Todd Collins returned as Jason Campbell's backup after leading the Redskins to the playoffs last season.

Compare those situations to the current doldrums in Seattle (1-4), Cincinnati (0-6), Detroit (0-5) and Houston (1-4), where starting QBs have gone down--and so has the level of performance in their absence. Even the Patriots (3-2) look mortal without Tom Brady.

Despite the panic in Dallas, the Cowboys are in good short-term hands. With Owens and Adam "Pacman" Jones (now suspended) in the locker room, Johnson isn't nearly the biggest of their concerns.

UPSET PICK

At 0-5, the Pick needs more help than the woeful Lions. We'll go with the resurgent Saints as 3-point home underdogs against Carolina.

Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
Email: sdeshazo@freelancestar.com