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PACKERS UPGRADE DEFENSIVE LINE, SIGN JOE JOHNSON TO MULTI-YEAR PACT
posted 03/26/02
 | | Joe Johnson |
Significantly upgrading their defensive line, the Green Bay Packers have signed two-time Pro Bowler Joe Johnson to a multi-year contract as an unrestricted free agent, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced today.
The former New Orleans Saint, a Pro Bowl selection in both 1998 and 2000, is a seven-year starter who plays the run and the pass equally well.
"I am excited to finally announce the signing of Joe Johnson," said Sherman. "Joe brings with him a dimension of experience, toughness and savvy. I feel he is the most dominant defensive player in free agency this year and believe he will immediately impact our defense as a player and impact our team as a leader."
The author of 21 quarterback sacks over the past two seasons, the 6-4, 280-pound former Louisville Cardinal has registered a total of 50.5 sacks during his NFL career and ranks fifth on the Saints' all-time list.
In the past 2001 season, the 29-year-old Johnson tied with three others for 10th place in the NFC with 9.0 sacks while also leading his Saints defensive line in total tackles with 65, including 49 unassisted stops.
Overall, the highly productive St. Louis native - a first-round selection in 1994 when he was the 13th player chosen in the NFL draft - has amassed 400 career tackles, among them a career-high 70 in 1998, the year he was named to the National Football Conference Pro Bowl squad for the first time.
Johnson also has been credited with career totals of 16 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries and 5 passes defensed.
Although he missed the 1999 season with a knee injury, he has been generally durable, playing in 106 of a possible 112 games over his seven playing seasons and in all 16 games in four different seasons, including each of the last two.
Johnson rebounded from the '99 setback with an outstanding 2000 season, setting career highs in sacks (12.5), forced fumbles (6) and fumble recoveries (2), becoming a Pro Bowl selection for the second time - as a starter - and earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors in the process.
He also was accorded All-NFC first team recognition by Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association and Football News. Additionally, Johnson was named to the All-Madden Team and was the Saints' recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award by vote of his teammates.
Subsequently voted the Saints' defensive co-captain for the 2001 season by his teammates, Johnson launched his personal year in resounding fashion, posting six tackles and three sacks for a minus-17 yards at Buffalo (Sept. 9) and followed that impressive effort by registering 4 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in his second game of the season, at the New York Giants (September 30).
Johnson suffered a strain of the left triceps against Minnesota the following week (October 7), a painful, nagging injury, but one with which he played for the balance of the season, not missing a game.
Coming into the NFL, Johnson had established himself early. Opening his initial season as a reserve, he was starting at right end by Week Two and, at season's end, was named to the Pro Football Writers Association's all-rookie team.
In three years at Louisville - he left school with one year of eligibility remaining - Johnson recorded 138 tackles, including 16 for loss, 25 quarterback sacks and 8 forced fumbles.
As a prep, Johnson was an all-state (Missouri), all-conference and all-district selection as an offensive tackle and defensive end at Jennings High School in St. Louis.
Off the field, he hosted a football camp for New Orleans youth in 2001, as well as a celebrity basketball tournament to benefit area charities.
The newcomer has been assigned jersey number 91.
Career Statistics
| Year |
|
G/S |
UT |
AT |
Sacks |
Yds |
INT |
PD |
FR |
FF |
| 1994 | New Orleans | 15/14 | 36 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 | New Orleans | 14/14 | 36 | 14 | 5.5 | 32.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | New Orleans | 13/13 | 50 | 9 | 7.5 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1997 | New Orleans | 16/16 | 39 | 7 | 8.5 | 65 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | New Orleans | 16/16 | 54 | 16 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | New Orleans | (did not play/injured reserve) |
| 2000 | New Orleans | 16/15 | 46 | 20 | 12 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 2001 | New Orleans | 16/16 | 49 | 16 | 9 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals | 106/104 | 310 | 90 | 50.5 | 281.5 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 16 |
| Playoffs | 2/2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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