Brad Johnson Talks Tom Brady, Team Glazer, Turnovers, Darth Vader Effect, Jameis & More

March 24th, 2020

Buccaneers Super Bowl champ quarterback Brad Johnson said he’s holed up at home with his family and “Bubba Burgers,” and like most Tampa Bay fans, he’s pumped up and a little surprised about Tom Brady landing in Tampa.

Johnson loves the “perfect marriage” of Brady and Bucco Bruce Arians and cited his very experienced offensive staff.

“I’m sure they’ll have a deal where they give and take what they want in the system,” Johnson said of the evolving 2020 Bucs offense. “But it has explosive offensive players and just the spike in the ticket sales is just booming. So it’s going to be fun for Tampa, obviously. But it’s going to take some changes for Tom to go through as far as what he’s used to [personally and with football]. I’m excited as a Tampa Bay fan, though.”

Johnson said he judges quarterbacks on accuracy, leadership, third-down success and how they performs in the clutch. The latter category is critical, Johnson said, calling it the Darth Vader Effect held by quarterbacks who know how to win games, rally players and handle pressure.

The baseball analogies were flowing from Johnson, who likened Brady to a pitcher who constantly throws strikes and stays ahead in the county. They way he protects the football puts a lot of pressure on opponents.

“Turnovers is the No. 1 stat in football; people don’t want to hear about managing the game,” Johnson said. “But every stinking quarterback Winning quarterback that every wins a Super Bowl, championship guy or has a winning percentage, they don’t turn the ball over at a high rate. Tom, he just doesn’t do it. He just doesn’t do it. If he does, it’s very seldom. When you play against guys like him, you can’t make mistakes.”

Yes, Brady very much is the anti-Jameis.

Johnson has concerns about how Brady will be able to be at maximum performance with his teammates given the likely shortened offseason because of Coronavirus. That’s an advantage for guys like quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Drew Brees, he said.

When pressed, Johnson said he sees the Bucs as a wild card team right now, not a division winner, but he believes Team Glazer would be eager to make bold moves quickly if that’s what the front office thinks is necessary.

“His story’s not over,” Johnson said of Jameis Winston. But Johnson acknowledged Jameis was a big disappointment in 2019, “It was tough to watch at certain times,” he said.

Johnson suggested Jameis will be a backup this year and it’s important to realize a lot of quarterbacks hit their prime at 29 years old. Johnson said the Bucs being so awful early in Jameis’ career certainly hurt him and likely his decision-making.

The quotes above all come from Johnson’s interview this week with CBS Sports Radio.

27 Responses to “Brad Johnson Talks Tom Brady, Team Glazer, Turnovers, Darth Vader Effect, Jameis & More”

  1. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Thanks for throwing our sad little puppy, ndog, a bone Brad!

  2. D-Rome Says:

    XFL QBs are getting jobs before Jameis. Kyle Allen got a job before Jameis.

  3. Bobby M. Says:

    Turnovers are the #1 stat…..

  4. Mitch Says:

    DoooshLaRue I agree we should have moved on from Jamies this year. However we cannot discount that the team was atrocious at times… we had a running back who cared more about drugs than being great. Tampa’s pass rush was horrible. Our biggest invest on the outside had a bag wing. We couldn’t stop the run because 93 liked to shoot gaps. It was not until JPP came along that the pass rush was even on the map in the past five years. Honestly outside of those five games in 2016 where Keith Tandy looked like an all pro the defense was historically bad because of a terrible culture and a coach who mentally retired while stilling drawing a pay check. All of those things are not on Jamies. However his performance last year is. I believe he was given every opportunity to succeed and he failed.

  5. Buddhaboy19 Says:

    Man, sure miss Brad Johnson, the most underrated asset from the super bowl years.

    The bull, nice guy and a winner.

  6. Nate Says:

    D-Rome,
    Can’t point out facts, you’ll be called a racist on this site!

  7. Bird Says:

    I love it

    Turnovers are a big deal
    Everyone knows that
    Not for a lot of same peeps on here though including one of the joes
    😂

  8. Bird Says:

    Cant wait for Neverdogs comments

    See if he calls “the bull” clueless
    Especially being a fellow Nole

  9. Ndog Says:

    Hey baby I’m happy man we now have the perfect team cause we all know outside of the QB this team was COMPLETE last year, perfect in every way possible. I’m just disgusted Brad said we were a wildcard team not a guaranteed Superbowl Championship cause with the worst QB in the league now gone from our team it should be a cake walk to the chip!!

  10. jmarkbuc Says:

    JW is destined to become Ryan Fitzpatrick… Truth IS stranger than fiction

    Loved The Bull, even if he couldn’t throw it over 30 yds.

  11. AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Interesting Brad Johnson commenting on QB play in Tampa now that Jamyth is gone….he must have been kicking his dog watching Jameis the past 5 years

  12. jmarkbuc Says:

    If there is any justice…it will happen exactly the way Ndog described it above.

    Wouldn’t that be swell?

  13. jmarkbuc Says:

    Altered

    “painful to watch”

  14. stpetebucsfan Says:

    “we all know outside of the QB this team was COMPLETE last year, perfect in every way”

    NDOG….your hyperbole grows weary. NOBODY has ever claimed that!!! ONLY YOU!

    There was more than one problem to repair on last year’s team. ONE of those positions happens to be QB…which is the MOST important position on an NFL team and one that gets far too much credit and far too much blame.

    But really look in the mirror…do you honestly believe that load or are just finishing the need to vent. If it’s the latter hope you heal soon.

  15. Jeebs the Honey Bear Says:

    Ya hear that Joe? Turns out passing yards aren’t as important as not turning the ball over. I guess your theory about the NFL digging up dirt on Jameis can finally be put to rest.

  16. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    Doesn’t that jersey (in the pic) look GORGEOUS????
    Let’s bring it HOME!

  17. bucsfaninoregon Says:

    Ndog, your Jameis fixation is turning you into a troll. He’s gone. Time to adjust or follow him if he signs with anyone. This will be the most interesting team playing the start of the 2021 season.

  18. unbelievable Says:

    Sounds like a pretty spot on analysis from Johnson.

  19. Craig Says:

    Some of us already considered turnovers to be important. Clear thinking on the Bucs chances this coming season.

  20. Ndog Says:

    Adjust to what I am just going with what was said by everyone all year long. Get on board man.

  21. jmarkbuc Says:

    That was then, Ndog.

    This is now.

  22. Jean Lafitte Says:

    Tom Terrific and Bucco Bruce will put on a show this season. They will make the decision to move on from the Human ATM the right one. One thing guaranteed, if we get time on the clock and the last possession for the win, he’s been clutch.

  23. 813bucboi Says:

    why are we still talking about a 2015 BUST?….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  24. Mike Johnson Says:

    Brad Johnson is spot on with this one point. Our Bucs were so awful early in Jameis career, it likely influenced his decision making. That’s a hellava statement there. Jameis came in under mega pressure to turn a loser around with virtually no offensive line. Y’all remember him running for his life just like past Buc QB’s Steve Young, Garcia, testeverde. Parnell Dickinson and a host of others? Our O line has always sucked for a long long time.Bucs expected a lot from Jameis. I think he might have tried to hard. He played from behind a lot during those 1st 3 yrs. Always trying to catch up. People forget, we had a non-existent defense during those time. Enter King Brady and now all the materials will instantly appear……

  25. sincethebeginning Says:

    Worth repeating: “Turnovers is the No. 1 stat in football.”

  26. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Just for a little perspective…uh Brad was the QB for which team? I think it was FSU right. But nobody ever accused FSU guys of sticking together…or UF guys or Alabama guys.

    @Buddhaboy

    I agree totally about Brad. His foray into hoops at FSU diminished their appreciation…he had a choppy career for the Noles and significant competition at QB…Casey Weldon if I’m correct. And in college Casey may have been better than Brad. Nole fans can straighten me out if I’m mistaken.

    Brad taught me a real lesson in the Old Sombrero when he led the Vikes to a win over the Bucs. Typical frustrated home loser at first I thought this dude NEVER seems to hit the targets in the hands and they all seem to be making diving catches. DUH…by the second half I realized while Brad did not possess a major arm he was accurate and VERY smart. He was always putting the ball where only HIS guys could get it…defenders had no chance.

  27. catcard202 Says:

    “Turnovers is the No. 1 stat in football.”

    I think Fran Tarkenton, Kenny Stabler, Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, Dan Fouts, Warren Moon, Jim Kelly might have a thing or two to say about how turnovers don’t always tell the full story. All those guys had low TD/INT rates & high INT yrs, from time to time. All are considered “Greats”.

    Peyton Manning threw 100 Int through hos 1st 5yrs…Colts over came his mistakes – maturing into an MVP…But had benefit of steady K game, stout DEF, 2 HOF worthy RB’s & a slew of good WR’s during those learning yrs.

    JW had a poor DEF, poor run game outside SteriodHamster 2015 & poor K support for vast majority of his tenure…while rewriting record books. (More Good than Bad)

    2019 was an abnormal spike & that isn’t all on JW3. (Though there’s a fair share). To think TB12 can come in & change the culture in ways the coaching/staff changes have not…Is a stretch.

    Let’s see what they look like in week 1-4, before we go crowning TB12 the BayCitySavior.