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| Monday, March 5 By Sean Salisbury Special to ESPN.com | |||
As long as the Bucs can get production from the receivers and they use Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott properly, Brad Johnson gives them the one missing link.
What Tampa Bay has been missing is consistency from its quarterback. Shaun King showed flashes last season, but he didn't make plays when it mattered the most. Johnson, however, is a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback and a consistent performer. The Bucs were one player away, and they just got that player.
I was talking to Dunn, Keyshawn Johnson, Randall McDaniel and John Lynch about the Johnson deal, and they are pumped up. They know what it means to their chances next season. The Bucs have had a one-dimensional offense. With Johnson, the Bucs can make big plays in the passing game and give Dunn and Alstott more leeway to have success on the ground.
I have heard that King became lazy last season. King has potential, but a player can't cut corners in the NFL. Adding Brad Johnson and even Ryan Leaf will force King to work harder and realize what it means to be a pro. If King is the type of competitor I think he is, he will become a much better player.
Getting Johnson shows a great commitment on the Bucs' part to upgrade where they have their biggest need. To get to the Super Bowl, GM Rich McKay, head coach Tony Dungy and offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen know what it takes. The bottom line is, they don't believe King can do it, but that Johnson can.
Sean Salisbury is an NFL analyst for ESPN. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE
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