<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Vikings let veteran QB Brad Johnson go Click here to find out more!NFL.com wire reportsMINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 28, 2007) -- In a long-expected move, the Minnesota Vikings released quarterback Brad Johnson and made the 15-year veteran an unrestricted free agent.Tarvaris Jackson, who started the final two games of last season as a rookie, and Brooks Bollinger are the only quarterbacks remaining on the roster.After the Vikings had recurring problems on offense and finished 6-10, coach Brad Childress ruled Johnson out of the running for the job in 2007 and declared the position an open competition between Jackson and Bollinger. At the time, Childress indicated he was confident in finding a starter between them.At the NFL's scouting combine last week, however, Childress acknowledged he spoke with Jackson about the chance Minnesota could use the seventh overall draft pick on a quarterback -- or perhaps in a later round. Notre Dame's Brady Quinn might be available when the Vikings are up at No. 7.The league's free-agent signing period will open March 2, but the team has all but eliminated -- at least publicly -- the possibility of pursuing a quarterback through that avenue. They have plenty of other positions in need of an upgrade.When the season ended, Childress indicated that Johnson would be welcomed back in a mentoring role, but the 38-year-old -- who has a fierce competitive drive that belies his easygoing demeanor -- said that he still believes he can be a starter.A ninth-round draft pick by Minnesota in 1992 out of Florida State who spent nine years with the team spanning two stints, Johnson revived his career in 2005 when he took over as the starter following a season-ending injury to Daunte Culpepper's knee.Helped by an improved defense, the Vikings went 7-2 with Johnson under center and barely missed the playoffs at 9-7. Johnson looked like the ideal player to run the low-risk, grind-it-out offense Childress installed when he was named head coach in 2006.But he made uncharacteristic mistakes -- 15 interceptions against only nine touchdown passes -- and drew criticism from Childress after more than one bad game.Johnson, who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay during the 2002 season, is fifth in franchise history with 11,093 yards passing behind Fran Tarkenton, Tommy Kramer, Culpepper and Wade Wilson."Brad has been a true pro throughout his career, and we wish him the best as he moves forward," Childress said in a prepared statement released by the club. "Brad was an important part of the team and a guy who led by example on and off the field. He's a class act and a guy younger players could learn a lot from about what it takes to play in the NFL."</div>http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/MIN/10029010
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jon_Vilma @ Feb 28 2007, 09:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No surprise there.</div>Yup. I'm not really sure why Brad Johnson still thinks he can start for somebody. At best he might get it for a year while someone drafts a young QB to groom for the future, but that's the only thing he has a chance to get. He was probably best off staying in Minnesota and trying to outplay Jackson and Bollinger.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Mar 1 2007, 12:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jon_Vilma @ Feb 28 2007, 09:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No surprise there.</div>Yup. I'm not really sure why Brad Johnson still thinks he can start for somebody. At best he might get it for a year while someone drafts a young QB to groom for the future, but that's the only thing he has a chance to get. He was probably best off staying in Minnesota and trying to outplay Jackson and Bollinger.</div>Impossible and you know it.
