Eddie Johnson (punter)

Last updated

Eddie Johnson
Eddie Johnson (punter).jpg
Johnson with the Toronto Argonauts in 2009
Personal information
Born: (1981-03-02) March 2, 1981 (age 43)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school: Newport Beach (CA) Harbor
College: Idaho State
Position: Punter
NFL draft: 2003  / round: 6 / pick: 180
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
CFL status:Import
Career NFL statistics
Punts:56
Punting yards:2,191
Longest punt:55
Player stats at PFR  ·  CFL.ca (archive)

Edward Lynn Johnson [1] (born March 2, 1981) is an American former professional football punter. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at Idaho State.

Contents

Johnson was also a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Early life

Attended Newport Harbor High School in Newport, California. There he became a three-year letter-winner, averaging 42.3 yards per kick as a senior, and earning all-state, all-county, and All-Sea View honors.

College career

Began his college career at Orange Coast College, where he lettered as a kicker and backup quarterback for two seasons. Averaged 38 yards per punt as a freshman (1999) and over 40 yards per kick as a sophomore (2000). Had one of the finest NCAA seasons by a punter, earning first-team All-America in 2001, as he led the nation with a 46.3-yard gross average with a net of 44.3. Posted a 45.7-yard average in 2002 with a long of 80 yards, adding eight touchbacks and 15 punts inside the 20. Also handled kickoff duties for the Bengals and recorded touchbacks on nearly 75 percent of his kickoffs. He also majored in sports medicine.

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 180th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. [2] Johnson showed a lot of promise after showing exceptional leg strength and posting good results throughout mini-camp, training camp, and the pre-season. Once the regular season began, however, Johnson's play became very inconsistent and erratic as he struggled getting the ball away like he had in college. After 14 games, he was benched in favor of veteran Leo Araguz.

After an inconsistent rookie season, Johnson was put into a competition for the punting job against veteran Darren Bennett the following off-season. He was noted for developing a funky hitch in his step during mini-camp, something neither he nor his coaches knows how he developed the bad habit. Though he posted good numbers, Johnson lost the battle and was subsequently released July 23, days before training camp started.

Cincinnati Bengals

He was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals on July 26, but suffered an undisclosed injury a week into training camp and was waived August 23. He then had a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs on August 30, but did not impress the coaches and wasn't signed.

New York Giants

Was signed by the New York Giants on January 21. He was then allocated to NFL Europa for the 2005 season. Johnson was released March 23 from the Giants.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Johnson was signed to a 1-year deal by the Jacksonville Jaguars on July 17 and competed for the job against Chris Hanson. He was released August 30.

Washington Redskins

On August 29, Johnson signed a contract with the Washington Redskins. He was suddenly released from the team later that same day after one practice.

Denver Broncos

He signed a contract with the Denver Broncos on January 2. After Todd Sauerbrun signed a contract to rejoin the team, Johnson was waived.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions signed Johnson to a contract on July 30 to compete with Nick Harris for the job. He made the final 53-man roster, but was waived after week 1.

Toronto Argonauts

On May 29, 2009, Johnson was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and competed with fellow new import kicker Justin Medlock for the kicking spot vacated by the retirement of Mike Vanderjagt. At the end of training camp, the Argos elected to keep both kickers and coach Bart Andrus elected to start Johnson for game one and placed Medlock on the practice roster. Johnson, however, was injured on the opening kickoff when he separated his shoulder when tackling the return man and Medlock was slated to kick for game two of the 2009 Toronto Argonauts season. [3]

On May 11, 2010, Johnson was released by the Argonauts.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

On July 22, 2010, Johnson was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League to compete with incumbent punter, import Louie Sakoda for the kicking spot after Sakoda's poor performance in the previous week's game against the Edmonton Eskimos. Johnson was awarded the start against the Calgary Stampeders for the July 24, 2010 matchup. Late in the 2010 season, Johnson became a popular personality in rider nation owing to his sense of humour in interviews and the novelty he built up around his moustache; during Grey Cup week, fans were seen sporting fake moustaches and custom-made jerseys bearing Johnson's number 11 and the name "Slick Eddie", the punter's popular nickname, on the back. [4] He played in six games in 2011 before being sidelined with a nagging injury. He was eventually placed on the nine-game injured list and sat out the rest of the season. Johnson was released on December 13, 2011. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Owens</span> American gridiron football player (born 1982)

Chad Owens Sr. is an American former professional football wide receiver and kick returner who played for three years in the National Football League (NFL) and nine years in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. Owens played college football at Hawaii. He spent six seasons playing for the Toronto Argonauts, and has also been a member of the Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Owen's is also a professional bodybuilder who competes in the IFBB Men's Physique Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Rayner</span> American football player (born 1982)

Dave Rayner is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Michigan State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damon Duval</span> American gridiron football player (born 1980)

Damon Duval is an American former professional football placekicker and punter. Duval played college football for Auburn University, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL), and the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luca Congi</span> Canadian football player

Luca Congi is a former professional Canadian football punter/placekicker. He was drafted 12th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2006 CFL Draft. He played CIS football at Simon Fraser University for the Simon Fraser Clan.

Zenon Andrusyshyn was a German-born Canadian punter and kicker in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1971–1977 and 1979–1982, primarily for the Toronto Argonauts. He also was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL) and the Tampa Bay Bandits in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at UCLA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Medlock</span> American football player (born 1983)

Justin Charles Medlock is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning consensus All-American honors in 2006. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. Medlock also played in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers, as well as the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Boreham</span>

Jamie Boreham is a former professional Canadian football punter and placekicker and is the head coach of the Prince George Kodiaks of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). He played for eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and was a member of the 95th Grey Cup championship team with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He also played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Schmitt</span> American gridiron football player (born 1985)

Ricky William Schmitt is a former gridiron football punter and place kicker. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Shepherd University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louie Sakoda</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Louie Sakoda is an American former college and professional football player who was kicker and punter in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for two seasons. He played college football for the Utah Utes, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2008. Sakoda played professionally for the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Eric Wilbur is an American former college and professional football player who was a punter in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for two seasons. Wilbur played college football for the University of Florida. He was signed by the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2007, and has also played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Thigpen</span> American football player (born 1986)

Marcus Arnette Thigpen is an American former professional gridiron football player who was a running back and kick returner in the National Football League and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers, earning first-team All-American honors in 2006. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Thigpen was also a member of the Denver Broncos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinn Sharp</span> American football player (born 1989)

Quinn Sharp is a former American football placekicker. He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Justin Palardy is a Canadian former professional football placekicker. He was drafted 36th overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2010 CFL Draft and was used as a punter. After being released by the Tiger-Cats, he was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as their placekicker, where he played for four seasons. Palardy also spent some time on the Ottawa Redblacks roster. In the 2010 season, he set the Blue Bombers single season record for place-kicking accuracy with 86.7%, a feat he would equal in 2012. He played CIS football for the Saint Mary's Huskies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Maher (gridiron football)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Brett Maher is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Since turning professional in 2013, Maher has been a member of nine different National Football League (NFL) teams, and three Canadian Football League (CFL) teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Lauther</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1990)

Brett Lauther is a Canadian professional football placekicker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was named a CFL West Division All-Star in 2018 and holds the Roughriders franchise record for highest career field goal percentage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Alford</span> American gridiron football player (born 1992)

Mario Alford is an American professional football wide receiver and Return specialist for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, earning first-team All-American honors in 2014.

Christion Jones is an American former college and professional football kick returner and running back. He played college football at Alabama, and professionally for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Kaare VedvikCORE-ee VED-vick; is a Norwegian professional gridiron football placekicker and punter who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Marshall and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has also been a member of several other National Football League (NFL) teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papi White</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1996)

Papi White is an American professional football wide receiver and kick returner who is a free agent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremiah Haydel</span> American gridiron football player (born 1999)

Jeremiah Haydel is an American professional football wide receiver and kick returner who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas State.

References

  1. ↑ "Eddie Johnson Stats, News, Bio".
  2. ↑ "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  3. ↑ Hornby, Lance (July 6, 2009). "Argos have depth with kickers". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ↑ Bucholtz, Andrew (November 10, 2010). "The most interesting punter in the world: Eddie Johnson goes from Laguna Beach sushi bar to Regina snow and Movember". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Saskatchewan Roughriders". www.riderville.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.