Travis Johnson is a bum, and more stellar insights

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 12:44 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 47 comments

Travis Johnson, total schmuck-tard.

Now that we've reached the bye week, we can reflect back a bit on the start of the season. Where does the team stand? How does it look? Have pre-season questions been answered? Has the team accomplished the things they need to do in order to repeat? I'll be asking, answering as best I can, these questions all week. However, before we get to that, let's recap some things seen during Week Five in the NFL:

Regarding the possible Atlanta trade: The only reason I can think of for Polian getting someone like DeAngelo Hall is he thinks Hall can help Indy attack New England's spread WR formations. Don't get me wrong. I think, right now, that if New England spreads the field on the Colts that Tom Brady is a dead duck. The Colts have an excellent secondary already, and if the Pats go 4 WRs, that's cool. The Colts can zone up and pressure Brady with their front four. However, if you add Hall to that mix, you add a talented veteran to an already explosive and fast secondary. Dungy has shown he can work with "problem" players. The key is Hall understanding that he is not a shutdown corner. In Indy, he'd play in a Cover 2 defending a zone. He'll also need to tackle, something he doesn't like doing. So, I still don't see Hall as a good fit, but should Polian agree to this trade, I think New England is the reason why.
Tony Romo just chokes in the spotlight. I think he's a quality QB, but for some reason he gets way too caught up in hype. The lights, the cameras, the pretty cheerleaders, Tony Kornheiser massaging his ego: All these things seem to distract Romo form his real job. He was Rex Grossman bad last night, maybe worse. And no Terry, he did not gut it out at the end. He sucked from start to finish, and the Cowboys won anyway in spite of him. Until Romo shows me that he can consistently play great football, it's hard to call him (or the Cowboys) elite. 6 turnovers in one game is just pathetic. That said, I will root for Dallas next Sunday, though I feel the Patriots will completely blow them away.
Houston's Travis Johnson is a bum. There was nothing cheap, dirty, malicious, or wrong about Trent Green's block. Anyone who says otherwise is either a Texans fan (whose opinions on this should be dismissed because they are just trying to protect their own regardless of morality) or an idiot like Johnson. Taunting a man so OBVIOUSLY unconscious is Leon Lett-stupid, and apologizing the next day (after going off in the locker room after the game) means nothing. Johnson = classless punk who better watch out. Lots of o-linemen saw his little bitch job, and they do not take kindly to punks like Johnson acting that way. Oh, and if "God don't like ugly," then you Travis ain't gotta prayer. He also don't like stupid either. The lion wanted courage, not the friggin' scarecrow. Schmuck.
Again, Texans fans defending Johnson on this in any way are just wrong. Pure and simple. I understand defending your own, but there is a limit. Green's hit was clean and not malicious at all. Why the hell would he try and hurt someone like Johnson. He's a 200 pound QB trying to block a 325 DT. WTF is he supposed to do? Spit on him as he runs by? Johnson's taunting of an unconscious Green cannot be defended in any logical, sane way. Also, I don't want to hear d-linemen bitching about "cheap blocks." When an INT it thrown, the very first thing a d-lineman does is look for the players and level them with cheap shots. But none of that is important. The whole "cheap shot" thing distracts from the real issue.
Taunting Green while he was unconscious suggests Johnson is borderline retarded. Insulting Green after he was carried off on a stretcher PROVES Johnson is indeed retarded. Continuing to bash an injured player long after the game was over simply tells me Johnson is both retarded and a punk.
What is Brett Favre doing with those underhanded shovel passes?
All the teams in the AFC South are above .500. All have good defenses.
Vince Young continues to stink it up in Tennessee, throwing horrible interceptions and fumbling Kurt Warner-style. Yet, the Titans defense continues to dominate and win games for them. It's amazing how defensive Titans fan get about Young. They get so angry they forget that I'm complimenting the rest of the team. This team would be undefeated right now if it had a real QB and not this poser. Their defense is playing excellent.
Pittsburgh's new offense is solid. I gotta admit, I'm starting to look wrong about Ben. He looks good in this Colts-style offense. He taking too many shots though.
The Colts are #1 in third down efficiency. New left tackle. New running backs. Same result.

I realize I may take heat for some of my Travis Johnson comments, but what's right is right and what's wrong should be called out. That's just how I feel about things.

0 recs | Comment 47 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

well

Technically, he apologized later on after the game was over not the next day. Also, if someone dove at my knees, I'd be pissed too. QB's shouldn't be throwing themselves at anyone like that, defensive lineman or kickers. Was a stupid move on Trent Green's part for sure. I don't think he should been taunting him or whatever, but I've got an attitude problem sometimes, and when someone does something that could have hurt me or I thought was wrong I probably would have ran my mouth too haha.

Go Colts!

by KingRichard on Oct 9, 2007 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

This is the way I look at it. There are 2 sides to everything. D linemen like Mike Golic from M&M in the Morning think Trent Green got what was comming to him for the cheap shot and QBs like Steve Young on the Monday Night postgame think Johnson's a bum. It just depends whose shoes you're in. No one but Trent Green knows his intentions, for us its all about perception. I think most players try to play within the rules and not take food off another man's plate. If someone came into your job trying to sabotage you how would you react? Sure it was crude but so is the game folks. We want players to be ruthless between the whisles but its not always that easy just to turn it off.

by bicepbob21 on Oct 9, 2007 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good points

Here's where I think the answers lie: When has Trent Green EVER been called a dirty player? If Rodney Harrison had blocked Travis Johnson this way, I'd see Travis' point. Rodney is known as a punky bitch who tries to hurt people rather than play football.

This Trent Green. A QB for godsakes. Why the Hell would he try to hurt Travis Johnson? Simple, he wouldn't.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

I agree that Trent Green may not have been TRYING to hurt Johnson. However, if I get a girl pregnant, regardless of whether I meant to, I've still got a baby. We can't judge people by their intentions, for better or worse, because when it comes down to it, only they know what they were. I think the crux of it for Johnson is that we're judged by our actions, and Trent played irresponsibly, malicious or not. Thus warranting the taunting?? I think not, but perhaps rightfully unapologetic (we all know that postgame stuff was PR)

Hasbro's Bob Sanders edition of Clue was recalled because the answer always turned out to be Bob, in the backfield, with a spear-tackle.

by bicepbob21 on Oct 9, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Context

I think this is a little bit different than impregnating someone "accidentally." I know what you mean, but I think the context is off.

I think intent DOES factor into this. Most of the time I agree, it doesn't. But this time around it does for the simple reason that Green probably just did what he thought was best give his limited knowledge on how to block a 325 pound lineman.

Again, the taunting and the badmouthing after the game are my main beefs with Travis Johnson. It was just a classless thing for him to do, and there is no defense for it.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree and disagree

I'm gonna take a waffling stance and say I both agree and disagree. I agree that Johnson was taunting to a degree while Green was down and obviously unconscious. That's really just uncalled for no matter what the hurt player did to you. And his reaction afterwards even after knowing that Green was hurt pretty much proves he was taunting. HIs post-rant apology doesn't hold much water for me.

BUUUUT.... Green's hit, while maybe technically legal, was a cheap shot. you don't cut a player from the side like that especially leading with your helmet towards the guy's knee. You just don't do that.

Does that excuse Johnson's antics? Hell no. But Green is hardly without blame here.

Charlie Weis Ate My Baby

by jdb on Oct 9, 2007 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Again

I ask: What was Green supposed to do? Let him run by? Try and block him straight up?

He did his job and there was nothing "dirty" or "cheap" about it.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

For one, he could have used his shoulder. I think even the smallest guys in the league could knock someone off their path with a blindside hit to the chest.

It was dirty and cheap man come on. How many ACL tears have we seen this season alone from people getting their knees hit or rolled on. Most of them weren't even really violent collisons, this could have been horrible for Johnson.

Go Colts!

by KingRichard on Oct 9, 2007 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His shoulder?

Where the hell is he going to tackle Travis with his shoulder? Would you like it if Peyton tried to block Travis Johnson with his shoulder? No. You'd say "take out his legs" Peyton!

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ummm

actually no, I wouldn't want peyton to dive at the legs of a charging lineman. for exactly the reason that trent green proved.

Put a body on him, at least try to check him off his path. that's as much as a QB should do, IMO. You're a QB for heaven's sake. don't go diving and putting you and your team at risk taking on a charging man-beast like that. that was just STUPID. Not to mention leading with your helmet towards the side of a player's knee IS dirty, whether you are an outsized QB going up against a massive lineman or not.

Charlie Weis Ate My Baby

by jdb on Oct 9, 2007 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

A better question is, why do you think Trent Green should be tackling Travis in the first place? If he tackled Travis, he would have had a holding call against him, which would negate the entire play anyways.

The whole idea behind what Trent Green did, was to slow down Johnson so he couldn't cut off the guy he was chasing. You wouldn't even really have to hit him that hard, just a nice bump with your shoulderPAD would suffice. You don't necessarily have to kill the guy to impliment a nice block. Which is all that Trent had to do.

And yes, if Peyton had a chance to land a glancing blow on someone to assist us in gaining another 10+ yards on a play, why the hell not? People aren't that fragile.

Go Colts!

by KingRichard on Oct 9, 2007 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And that's just it

I don't think Green was trying to "kill the guy." I think he was trying to block the dude the best way he knew how while also (ironically) trying to protect his head. That's why I take exception to calling his play a "cheat shot" or "dirty." When you use those words, malicious intent is inferred. Johnson himself said Green did it maliciously. THAT is what I think is stupid. There's nothing in Green's character that would lead me, or anyone, to believe it was insidious.

It was the best block he could think of while trying to run a stupid play.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Green was Wrong BBS

First of all the play was stupid. Ted Ginn (what a waste of a draft pick huh) fumbles on a reverse and then tries to pick it up and go Alllll the way across the field. Trent Green throws a low, dirty and stupid block that could have really hurt Travis Johnson.

Johnson in turn got way too emotional and was rightly flagged. The whole thing was just dumb: dumb play, dumb block and dumb reaction.

by MasterRWayne on Oct 9, 2007 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The playcall

I agree that the play call was stupid. Cam Cameron is a moron, and anyone who watched IU games from 2000-2002 knows that. But that is not the issue here.

A "dirty" hit has a malicious intent. Green's block was not that. Johnson's initial taunting was ugly, and probably flagged. The issue here is he continued to taunt and berate Green well after the game, well after Green was carted off the field Kevin Everett-style.

THAT is why Travis Johnson's a bum.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyway...

Where is this DeAngelo Hall talk coming from? I haven't heard anything about it and there's nothing on the Internets.

by BSanders37 on Oct 9, 2007 2:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hall

I think there's some truth to McKay reaching out to Polian for the trade. Atlanta's running game is awful and they really want to unload Hall. K2 is a good back that's cheap, and Atlanta wanted him this past off-season.

I don't think Polian will take it though.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

vince

didn't fumble. thanks for your thoughts, though.

by longtitan on Oct 9, 2007 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No

He just threw 3 picks and stunk up the home field against a putrid Atlanta team. The fumble reference was a more general statement about Vince. He's got 2 this year already and 14 for his career, which is 17 games). That's almost a fumble a game.

Quality QB, indeed.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right

a general statement. you sure made that clear.

by longtitan on Oct 9, 2007 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think

most non-Vince Young apologists got my gist.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 9, 2007 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

INT's happen

To every QB! But thanks for bringing it up. I seem to remember The best in the NFL ( that is no joke ) Throwing 3 in one game to the same person against The Pats. So does that mean that he was "Stinking it up" also? I dont mind the criticisim cause the wins are what matter and except for the game against you guys Vince and the boys are winning. Call him a bad passer, call him a fumbler, I call him a winner, and I will take him all day long! Go Titans!!!

Go Titans!

by TitansFan10 on Oct 9, 2007 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Winner?

Winner is the term people use for a below average player that puts up crappy stats and his TEAM wins the game for him. Craig Krenzel was once called a "winner."

Again no wonder you guys drafted Pacman.

by MasterRWayne on Oct 9, 2007 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on the rest of his game ...

but yeah, in general, I'd say throwing 3 picks in one game is stinking it up. Even if it's Manning. We do realize he is human here, you know.

by PaytonMenning on Oct 10, 2007 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everybody Does It

I love the excuse of, "Well gosh everybody does it!" Thank you for that great red herring argument!

Of course everybody that plays QB throws interceptions! The issue here is that Vince Young throws A LOT of interceptions, has a low completion percentage and does not throw for a lot of yards. Yet you people STILL defend him. No wonder you guys drafted Pacman!

by MasterRWayne on Oct 9, 2007 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and that's why there are rules....

green's hit was legal by nfl rules and, if you have watched football beyond that game, i think you would be hard pressed to find any malicious intent behind anything green does. whether you like it or not, that kind of hit is what people are told to deliver to tackle players that are damn near twice their size; it isn't pure instinct. they learn to hit that way. is it dangerous for both players? yes. is it legal? yes. is trent "concussion" green stupid for delivering it? of course. maybe they'll change the rules in the offseason, who knows; evidently coaches complain about this every offseason but they can never muster enough votes to change it. but as it is, green's hit WAS legal. you can ramble all you want about what is dirty or dangerous, but the rules decide what can and cannot happen on the field, not an individual's interpretation of those rules (i refer to case 3259, non-patriots fans and sane human beings vs. bill bellicheck). what the rules allow and enable and what you think should happen are two different things. those are the hard facts.

now, in regards to judging malicious intent, a messy thing considering none of us have mutant genes that allow us to decipher another human's thought process, you can proceed by comparison. go have a look at wilfork's hit on losman's knee. he is staring at his knee the whole damn time. THAT provides reason for declaring malicious intent.

as for taunting, the lineman is an idiot. pure and simple. i'd be a little hesitant to side with some brain dead moron that can't remember the difference between the lion and the scarecrow. just sayin'...

by tenyardfight on Oct 9, 2007 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Speaking as someone who never liked cut blocks...

Isn't it kinda funny that a Gary Kubiak team is angry about a cut block, when he never had a problem with it happening in Denver?

And way to stir the pot BBS on a bye week... you piss off not one, but two of our division rivals. What, you couldn't find something to say about the Jags? :D

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Oct 9, 2007 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as usual Big Blue

you're talking out of your ass about stuff you know nothing about.

Its so obvious you didn't watch the Cowboys/Bills game Monday night, and just concluded Romo totally sucked from start to finish and hearing he threw for 5 INT.

If you watched the entire game, you would have seen him play very well in the last 2 minutes of the game when the game was still on the line.

If he was a chocker like you seem to believe, the Cowboys never win that game, period.

by Terry on Oct 10, 2007 1:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

actually

this blogger from BTB says it the best.

by Terry on Oct 10, 2007 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whatever

Thank you Terry. If you're so blind that a 6 turnover performance by your QB is OK by you, then all I can say is whatever. Elite QBs don't have those kinds of games.

Tony Romo is certainly NOT an elite QB, and he chokes under pressure.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 10, 2007 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I never said 5 INTs is okay

but all young qbs have games like that including your boy Manning when he was young.

Romo doesn't choke under pressure, how would he have pressure going against the Bills, you make absolutely no sense Big Blue.

Romo is as clutch as they come and obviously much more clutch than Manning as evidenced by his "choke" record.

by Terry on Oct 10, 2007 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Romo

Is a good QB. He can become a very good QB. Yet, he was worse than shit against the Bills. Still, he did step up when the game was in the end. But he wouldn't have needed to without some of those stupid INTs.

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

by MerryGoByeBye on Oct 10, 2007 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, thats true Merry

by Terry on Oct 11, 2007 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Romo doesn't choke?

He hasn't even played a single full year yet and in the games that have high media coverage, playoffs, and a MNF game, he had the two worst games of his short career. (I don't know the stats for that playoff game, but that bobbled snap made that game his worse game)

And you ask how would he have pressure going against the Bills, well, he really shouldn't! That is the problem. It is the Bills but yet he still had 5 INTs.

And you cannot claim that Romo is as clutch as they come. How many 4th quarter come backs does he have? Not more than 5? I Don't call that the definition of "clutch"

by MarkV0327 on Oct 10, 2007 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like how you choose to forget

the Sunday night games that draw just as much media attention as the MNF games where Romo had two of the best games of any qb this season, so your argument and BBS's is shot to hell.

Also, Brady has had five 4 INT games the last 5 years in a row, many coming on nationally televised games, so I guess you're saying he chokes too.

To say Romo chokes under pressure is absolutely complete BS and the game this week will prove I'm right because no game will be filled with more pressure than this one and he's going to play just fine.

by Terry on Oct 11, 2007 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm suprized

that Colts fans would call any QB a choker after having to deal with Manning being labeled one. I've never bought into players acting/play differently when a game is on Monday or Sunday night football. The playoffs are different only in that the opponents are better and you don't hold back any players, plays, strategies because a loss ends your season.

Really, you guys believe that a QB that's made it to the level of an NFL starter can't handle the pressure of a high profile game.

When things are going badly a QB may start forcing things, I missed most of Romo's MNF game but I expect that was a factor, but Peyton did a similar thing one drive against the Bucs:
1-10 Kenton Keith wasn't where Peyton expected. Incomplete pass
2-10 Manning tries to fit it in a tight window, over the LB, under the safety to Dallas Clark. It has a little too much under it and Clark gets leveled.
3-10 Peyton throws downfield to a double covered Wayne, it's underthrown for a pick.

I see QBs get frustrated and force things but that's different than the "choking" in big games that Manning was and now Romo is accused of.

by shake n bake on Oct 11, 2007 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

great point

by Terry on Oct 12, 2007 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please don't say stupid stuff

like the choking. I'm uncomfortable agreeing with Terry. It doesn't feel right.

by shake n bake on Oct 13, 2007 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His "choke" record?

Well, I'd say after his first postseason appearance Romo is well on his way to matching Manning "choke for choke," whatever that means. Go back and look up how Manning played in every Colts postseason loss. That choker label was always a lazy and convenient story for the media because it was easy to sell. The fact that it wasn't ever really true is besides the point.

And I'll admit, I was impressed by the way Romo gathered himself Monday night. The Bills defensive coaches gave the game away, but Romo was right there to collect it from them. He still has a ways to go, but he's no Grossman. He can't do that against a decent team and expect to get away with it. Hopefully for him, that was his one bugga boo game for the season.

by BSanders37 on Oct 10, 2007 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeap

Agreed.

Go Colts!

by KingRichard on Oct 10, 2007 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the only time Romo has ever choked

was as a holder, not as a qb.

I agree with you that he was lucky it was the Bills that he played awful against, most other teams we would have lost for sure and he never gets a chance to clutch up very late in the game.

by Terry on Oct 10, 2007 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

5 picks and a lost fumble ...

is what if not choking?

by PaytonMenning on Oct 12, 2007 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Playing like total crap

by shake n bake on Oct 12, 2007 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

an abberation

or is that too big of a word for your tiny brain?

by Terry on Oct 13, 2007 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've stayed out of this

and don't really have anything substantive about the choking vs. no choking to say. But I will say this:

Terry, if you're going to pull out the big boy words and insinuate that your debate opponents have "tiny brains," it would help if you spelled the word correctly. It's "aberration."

And I wouldn't have bothered saying anything about it if you hadn't gloated about it. Just sayin'.

by ctnyc on Oct 14, 2007 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you should look that word up yourself ...

It means an unusual instance. An instance of what? Of choking.

Thanks for proving my point. Be careful when you play with "big words", Terry.

by PaytonMenning on Oct 14, 2007 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no pea brain

the unsual instance was the 5 INTs so as usual yuou didn't prove anything except that you're an idiot.

by Terry on Oct 14, 2007 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Read the thread Algernon ...

It's a wonder a brainiac like you can even type. It's all there, clear as day.

by PaytonMenning on Oct 15, 2007 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just pointing out

Algernon was the mouse not the retard.

by shake n bake on Oct 15, 2007 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks ...

s n' b, I did read the book.

Which is Terry, man or mouse?

by PaytonMenning on Oct 15, 2007 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clever reference

if you were going for the writing skills breaking down over time angle. If you were just calling him retarded there are better ways.

by shake n bake on Oct 16, 2007 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

learning from the bills

what comes out of this games is how teams learn to deal with romo. if others can replicate the type of things that caused those 5 picks ... dallas could be in serious trouble.. or was is just one of those flukie bad games a young QB has.. only time will tell and certainly he better be tied on for the pats defense. they aren't that young and quick, but they will know how to confuse a an inexperienced QB...

that is what happened to the chargers... people learned.. stop LT and their run game and throw at them, and they can't deal with it.. broncos can't stop the run or throw the ball so the chargers ripped them a new one... I don't see this as the chargers getting back on track, only matching up well against the broncos..

by bluegirl on Oct 10, 2007 1:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs