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Buckskin86
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Veteran Lions starters suddenly find themselves in backup roles
By Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun
June 7, 2010
In this file photo, B.C. Lions' Brent Johnson chases down Ti-Cats' Kenton Keith.Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann, PNG Merlin Archive
KAMLOOPS, B.C. ? Even before training camp opened, there was hard evidence the B.C. Lions were changing philosophy as well as players.
It was written on the depth chart.
Longtime Canadian starters and fan favourites Angus Reid and Brent Johnson no longer headed their classes.
After a remarkable iron man streak of 142 consecutive starts at centre ended with a foot injury last fall, Reid learned three weeks ago that he?d come to training camp behind Dean Valli.
And Johnson, who arrived in Vancouver in 2001 and is tied with slotback Geroy Simon as the longest-serving Lion, was placed behind Keron Williams at defensive end.
It surprises no one in the organization that Reid and Johnson, 33-year-olds from Richmond, B.C., and Kingston, Ont., respectively, are embracing their new roles without complaint. Almost without complaint.
Read more: Veteran Lions starters suddenly find themselves in backup roles
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Buckskin86
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Lions Pause . . . With Brent Johnson
By Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun September 22, 2010
The B.C. Lions' Brent Johnson.
Photograph by: handout, CFL
Canadians pride themselves on their reputation for politeness. We're the only nation which has discovered "12 ways to say you're sorry", according to the Ferguson brothers, Will and Ian, authors of How To Be A Canadian.
This stereotype is understandable when meeting Lions defensive end Brent Johnson. He practically screams, "I'm Canadian" because of his excessive niceness.
"Nobody in this league would pre-meditate going after Brent Johnson," says Lions centre Angus Reid. "Are you kidding me? I know dirty players who go after dirty players, back and forth. But Brent Johnson? He's the nicest person in the world. Who does something dirty to Brent Johnson?"
Well, apparently you can take issue with a boyish 33-year-old with the saintliness of Santa Claus.
A low hit by former teammate Jason Jimenez to Johnson's back side, well after the whistle blew, forced Johnson into a rare display of pique in Saturday's 35-31 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Even after teammates howled about the "blatantly dirty hit" it took much intense grilling by the media before Johnson was forced to admit it was a "shameless" act.
Jimenez was slapped with a fine under the CFL's restrictive disciplinary process Wednesday, and Johnson is expected to play Saturday in Calgary, despite missing his second straight practice with a knee bruise.
"He's a pro. He'll play, " said Lions head coach Wally Buono.
We sit down for a conflab with the 10-year veteran defensive end who has played 161 straight games, never missed a start and probably has never blown off an interview, as far as we know.
Q: Your Iron Man legacy - 161 games. Did you ever think you've lived a charm life all these years, knowing that four of your defensive line teammates are out with injuries this week?
A: I wish I could romanticize it a bit more for you. But I go out and play football. That's it. There's no secret magic trick. I don't think about the number. I think about what I have to do this week. Obviously, you're fortunate to play that many games. But I don't give it much thought.
Q: You have 80 career sacks, and you're only 2.5 behind James (Quick) Parker, the Lions franchise leader in that department. Did you ever imagine yourself in this position?
A: My wife [Lara] made me aware of it. Obviously, James has been a mentor. He's a man I have a great deal of respect for. He's probably one of the biggest catalysts for my career, to get even the opportunity to touch that record. He made a huge impression on me, not only as an ex-player but as a person. He taught me technique, what works here and doesn't, the tricks of the trade. He taught me a better way to pass rush.
Q: If you weren't playing in the CFL, what would you be doing?
A: I'd probably have to grow up and get a real job. I think I'd have to do what I was going to do coming out of university - financial management. It's something I'm planning to do once I'm through playing. When that is, I don't know. [Ed note: Johnson turns 34 in December].
Q: You played college ball at Ohio State. Do you still follow the Buckeyes? They're second-ranked in the polls behind the Alabama Crimson Tide.
A: Yeah, I still watch them on Saturday afternoons. The Ohio State-Miami game was big [Sept. 11, a 36-24 win for the Buckeyes]. I had money with Sherko [Haji -Rasouli] and [Anthony] Reddick riding on that one. Joe McGrath [another ex-Hurricane] was convinced they were going to win.
Q: What was it like living in Columbus, in a state where football is No. 1 ? Did you ever follow the NHL Blue Jackets?
A: No. I'm a Canucks fan. The Blue Jackets had only been there a couple of years by the time I left. It's a tough go in the Midwest for anything other than football. Cincinnati and Cleveland have NFL teams, Columbus has Ohio State football. That's what they love. And I don't think the allegiance to hockey is going to change that much. They have their fans, but it's not like here.
Q: When you went from your hometown of Kingston, Ont., to Columbus, I imagine there must have been a big adjustment. Where you prepared for it?
A: I don't really think I knew what I was getting myself into. I went down there, after their season ended, on my official recruiting trip. I thought I had an idea of what it was going to be like. But I didn't understand the commitment, or the fact that playing college football was a full-time job. It really was. I didn't understand the demands of playing at Ohio State. But, I wouldn't take that experience away for the world.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Lions+Pause+With+Brent+Johnson/3564804/story.html#ixzz10JOuyj4j
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Buckskin86
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Johnson has faith
Postmedia News October 21, 2010
Lion's Brent Johnson tries to tackle Arkee Whitlock at the Edmonton Eskimos in this file photo.
Lion's Brent Johnson tries to tackle Arkee Whitlock at the Edmonton Eskimos in this file photo.
Photograph by: Bruce Edwards, Edmontpn Journal
The challenge facing the B.C. Lions is daunting, but not insurmountable.
Just ask Lions defensive end Brent Johnson.
?I think we?re up for it,?? Johnson said Thursday. ?The young guys don?t know what?s ahead of them. The vets are battle worn and know what it takes going into playoffs and what has to be done. It?s pretty much laid out; we need to win now, just to build confidence going into the playoffs.??
The Lions (5-10) play the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night, fresh off two overtime defeats, potentially crushing blows to their post-season hopes. As it stands, B.C. is tied for third in the West Division with Edmonton and has Saskatchewan and Hamilton still on its schedule.
?We?ve got to start playing better football,?? Johnson said. ?(Friday night) is a big game, but they?re all big games when you have the record we have.??
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Johnson+faith/3708402/story.html#ixzz135e0GUDO
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Buckskin86
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Perfect ending for Brent Johnson, but is it over?
Defensive co-ordinator wants veteran defender to return
By Lowell Ullrich, The Province November 3, 2010
A framed montage given to Brent Johnson to honour his franchise-record 83 sacks.
Photograph by: Submitted, to The Province
It was a moment for storytellers and scriptwriters across the CFL when Brent Johnson closed out a rare home win in the final game of the regular season schedule Sunday at Empire Field with a sack on Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant.
It was embellished Tuesday when the B.C. Lions recognized the play ? which set a franchise record of 83 career sacks ? by presenting Johnson with a framed montage and giving him a standing ovation in a team meeting.
You know what is supposed to happen next, of course. After 166 straight games over 10 CFL seasons, missing at most only a handful of practices, Johnson was due to respond by announcing he had played at home for the last time. Nice story. Cue the sunset ending. But darned if one of his coaches gave him an assessment that may cause a script change.
"I told him, 'You got 38 more games [or two seasons] left in you.' He said, 'Really? I'll have to tell my wife', " defensive co-ordinator Mike Benevides said.
At 33, Johnson could still take his bows and not feel that he owes anything after a career that has landed him three major individual awards.
It still could end that way, despite the security he bought last year when he signed a contract extension in exchange for a pay cut. Retirement was already an option.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Perfect+ending+Brent+Johnson+over/3768294/story.html#ixzz14PYawhY0
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/sports/2...ohnson+wants/3781460/story.html#ixzz14PYR0Jop
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Buckskin86
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B.C. Lions sign lineman Brent Johnson to extension
Vancouver Sun news services February 15, 2011
Brent Johnson has played 10 seasons with the B.C. Lions, holding the franchise record with 83 career sacks.
Photograph by: Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun files
Veteran defensive lineman Brent Johnson signed a contract extension to keep him with the B.C. Lions through the end of the 2012 season.
Financial terms of the deal were not released.
Johnson, who has played in 168 consecutive games for the Lions, had seven sacks and 29 tackles last season.
?I felt re-energized last season and I can?t help but feel this Lions club, with its blend of young talent and experience, has a legitimate shot at winning a title in 2011,? Johnson said in a news release.
Johnson, from Kingston, Ont., has played 10 seasons with the Lions. He holds the team record with 83 career sacks.
?Brent demonstrated last season that he has plenty of good football left,? Lions general manager and head coach Wally Buono said. ?He continues to be a leader both on the field and in our dressing room and I am pleased to have him back.?
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/...on+extension/4290217/story.html#ixzz1F4NqocUp
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Buckskin86
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Softening the Swaggerville daggers
Odell Willis insists he has respect for 'old man' Johnson despite cocky rhetoric
By Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun August 11, 2011
Defensive end Brent Johnson of the B.C. Lions leads the CFL in quarterback sacks with 85 - one recorded here against Anthony Calvillo of Montreal. The 34-year-old Johnson was the target of some Bombers' shots after his playful comments on a radio show.
Photograph by: Steve Bosch, PNG Files, Vancouver Sun
Ajolting conclusion suggests itself every time Winnipeg's defensive end Odell Willis, the league sack leader, runs into a CFL quarterback. But another sort of shock presented itself when he looked into the background of "old man" Brent Johnson, a player Willis had mocked earlier this week in seemingly playful fashion.
"Who is Brent Johnson?" Willis said of the CFL's current active sacks leader.
"We let old people do all that talking. We're not worried about what he's saying."
Willis took a run at Johnson after the 34-year-old B.C. Lions defensive end suggested to a Vancouver radio audience that the inhabitants of "Swaggerville," the self-declared nickname of the Blue Bomber defence, "should sell some T-shirts while [they can]."
The 5-1 Blue Bombers, who meet the 1-5 Lions Saturday night at Empire Field, are selling $25 "Swaggerville" T-shirts with the proceeds going to charity.
"Jealously. Hater. That's all it is," Willis told reporters, in response to Johnson's dismissive comment. "It ain't our fault we came up with a young idea [another reference to Johnson's advanced playing age]."
But the Odell Willis contacted Wednesday by The Vancouver Sun sounded a much more respectful tone in regard to Johnson, who recorded his 85th career sack last Friday against Saskatchewan, the most of any current player in the CFL.
"Brent Johnson is a great player. And I have great respect for what he's done in this league," Willis said, in an about-face worthy of Tiger Woods' former caddy, Steve Williams.
"People were surprised I took a shot at him. But although I knew who Brent Johnson is, I didn't know what a great track record he has in this league, until I looked into it."
Willis dusted off the league's Dead Sea scrolls, delved deeper and unearthed the fact that Johnson was from Kingston, Ont., where ice hockey originated, although he didn't play a part in its formation. He also saw that Johnson played college football at Ohio State, but not under the late Woody Hayes, a hard-as-nails head coach who conducted postgame interviews in the nude so reporters would ask one question and be gone.
Cont...
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Softening+Swaggerville+daggers/5239712/story.html#ixzz1UidlPyF3
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"He also saw that Johnson played college football at Ohio State, but not under the late Woody Hayes, a hard-as-nails head coach who conducted postgame interviews in the nude so reporters would ask one question and be gone."
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