SAN DIEGO – Brad Johnson has heard himself described in unflattering terms so often during a hard-to-define career. He takes the criticism in stride.
“You’re not going to hear me go around saying I’m the best,” Johnson said last night.
He doesn’t have to say it. For one, night, Johnson was by far the best quarterback at Qualcomm Stadium. Rich Gannon came in as the MVP of the league but it was Johnson who exited Super Bowl XXXVII as a champion after his steady performance helped the Buccaneers to a stunning 48-21 mauling of the Raiders.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Johnson said calmly. “I’ve just worked hard all my life. This is one time when you can say we’re the best. It’s an incredible feeling.”
This was a crowning achievement for Johnson, 34, whose career has consisted of a series of starts and stops ever since he arrived in Minnesota in 1992 as something of an afterthought as a ninth-round draft pick out of Florida State. His numbers (18-of-34, 215 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) weren’t gaudy, but he was good enough on a night in which his counterpart wearing Silver and Black tossed a dismal five interceptions.
“Unbelievable,” center Jeff Christy said. “Everything that people say about him, that he shouldn’t be here, that he can’t do this and can’t do that, but all Brad does is make plays.”
Johnson started slowly, misfiring on eight of his first 12 passes and looking a bit jittery in Tampa’s no-huddle attack. His second pass of the night was intercepted by Charles Woodson; Johnson was leveled by defensive end Regan Upshaw just as he released the ball.
The knock on Johnson is that he can get rattled when pressured, but he shook off the early troubles and proceeded to play a steady, effective game. He hit Joe Jurevicius in stride in the first quarter for a 23-yard gain. He found Keyshawn Johnson twice to help set up a Martin Gramatica field goal. He suckered the Raiders with a play-fake and flipped the ball to Mike Alstott for 16 yards.
“After the first quarter it really turned into an incredible day,” Johnson said.
Known as an accurate passer without an exceptionally strong arm, Johnson rifled pass to Keenan McCardell, who was closely defended by Woodson, for a 5-yard touchdown to close out the first half. “Brad gave me a chance to step up and make a play,” McCardell said.
In the third quarter, Johnson expertly threaded a pass to Jurevicius for 33 yards. Moments later, he again found McCardell, who spun past safety Anthony Dorsett for another TD.