He’s a big jolly man with a bright red suit and a sleigh full of loot.

Santa Claus, you might be surprised to learn, lives in Houston.

In spending more than $16,000 for 12 disadvantaged children in his adopted hometown, Andre Johnson, the Houston Texans’ outstanding receiver, discovered that it’s as good to give as it is to receive.

"I don’t feel like Santa Claus, but I get a joy out of seeing those kids happy," Johnson said in a telephone interview. "You really see how much it means to them afterward.

"They come up and give you hugs, and a lot of them just can’t believe that they get a chance to go into the store and get what they want. A lot of those kids have been through so much that that day is probably a day they will never, ever forget."

Johnson is the best receiver you’ve never heard from.

He doesn’t have a touchdown dance or a radio show. He didn’t complain about coach Gary Kubiak or quarterback Matt Schaub after catching only two passes for 19 yards in Sunday’s 27-16 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

He isn’t a self-promoter.

Yet, Johnson leads the NFL with 1,427 receiving yards and is second in receptions with 105.

"And still to be absolutely without trouble," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "He’s just the model player. Everything you look at with him, it’s hard to find any area where you’d say, 'Gee, I’d like for him to do better in this area.’ He’s terrific."

It was almost two years ago, after Johnson signed an eight-year, $60 million extension, that he became Houston’s Santa Claus.

Stephanie Belton, a community development consultant, and Johnson’s uncle, Andre Melton, came up with A.J.’s Shopping Spree.

They joined forces with Child Protective Services, charging case workers with finding 12 of the "neediest of needy" children out of more than 11,000 in the CPS system in the Houston area.

The children, ages 8-16, were given 80 seconds — Johnson’s jersey number — to load a basket at a Toys "R" Us. With "game plans" in hand, the kids left with RipStik, drum sets, keyboards, bicycles, Ipods and Barbies as well as an electronic game system and a game of their choice, which they picked out beforehand.

"A lot of these children have never even been asked, 'What do you want for Christmas,’ let alone get anything they want," said Estella Olguin, a spokeswoman for CPS in Houston. "... They were 12 very lucky children, and I think they know how fortunate they are."

After the shopping spree, the kids were asked seven questions about Johnson: Where did he play college football? What is his hometown? Three made it to the final question: Why does Johnson wear No. 80?

Trey Washington, 11, raised his hand. He had seen a YouTube video of Jerry Rice, whose last NFL season was 2004, and noticed Rice wore No. 80.

Washington guessed Rice was the reason Johnson picked No. 80.

Washington was right, allowing him to load another $1,500 worth of toys for himself and his two younger sisters. Washington, a running back on his sixth-grade football team in Deer Park, called it his "best day ever."

"We’re now the biggest Andre Johnson fans you’d ever meet," said Tressia Finch, Washington’s grandmother. "He’s definitely my grandson’s Santa Claus this year. He is our Santa Claus, too, because my grandson also got gifts for his sisters."

Last week, Johnson was on his way to the Houston Galleria to do his personal Christmas shopping. Asked if he would spend more on his family — his mom, his brother, his girlfriend, his godson and his grandmother — than on the 12 kids he hadn’t met until last week, Johnson laughed.

"I seriously doubt it," he said.

Johnson put $12,000 on his credit card last Christmas, the first year of A.J.’s Shopping Spree. The bill was $4,000 more this year. It was the Christmas that Johnson never had as a kid.

"You never got everything you wanted," said Johnson, whose favorite gift as a kid was a Dan Marino replica uniform. "You had to get what your mom could afford. Some things you wanted, you never, ever got. But you couldn’t say Christmas was bad, because you did get something for Christmas.

"It just depended if family members had the money to get you what you wanted, or if they didn’t."

In Houston, Santa Claus wears cleats with his suit of red.

(star-telegram.com)

I say he is.

Of course, thanks to the unique skills required per position, and the varying duties per team it is impossible to definitively determine the best player in the league.

"There are a lot of people with a lot of talent," Johnson said. "I don't know if you can say there is a best player in the NFL, and just pick one guy."
Yes I can. I'm The King.

(On a side note, what's up with Sean Combs proclaiming he is The King with a new fragrance? Though it is expected to top $100 million in sales next year, The King won't get a cut, and worse, this fragrance reviewer — yeah that's his job — panned the cologne.)

Johnson is big, fast and strong, with excellent hands, the will to go across the middle and he is a superb route runner who positions himself to make throws in his direction easier for his quarterback. He is also a very smart player and a great teammate.

All of that makes him the best receiver in the league.

Is he the best player too?

Johnson has no problem saying he is the best receiver in the league.

There would be something wrong with a top player if he didn't think he was the best at his position, though Johnson said he didn't feel comfortable saying he was the best until his performance matched his confidence.

That has happened this season.

Johnson says Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald are at the top of his "best in the league" list.

ESPN's Chris Carter says Adrian Peterson is the best player in the NFL.

My top 20 NFL players this season (in alphabetical order):
Nnamdi Asomugha, Fitzgerald, Albert Haynesworth, Steve Hutchinson, Walter Jones, Andre Johnson, Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning, Polamalu, Adrian Peterson, Joey Porter, Ed Reed, Shaun Rogers, Bob Sanders, DeMarcus Ware, Brian Westbrook, Wes Welker, Jason Witten, Mario Williams and Patrick Willis.

Just missed the cut: Anquan Boldin, James Harrison, Randy Moss and Reggie Wayne.

Automatics on injured reserve: Tom Brady and Shawne Merriman.

(chron.com)

7 proCanes will be heading to Hawaii in February for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. They are: Clinton Portis, Jon Beason, Jeff Feagles, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed.

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston. At various points this year, I've considered Brandon Marshall or Larry Fitzgerald the best receiver in football. Not the past two or three weeks. In the first 20 minutes of Sunday's game against the best team in the conference, Johnson had five catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 11 for 207 and the TD. In the first meeting between the teams, in Nashville, Johnson dropped two touchdown passes, so he made this game his personal shot at vindication. He succeeded and went over 100 catches for the season in the process. Johnson is big, fast, acrobatic and, though he doesn't have the soft hands of Fitzgerald, his hands are plenty good to be a superstar for a long time.

(cnnsi.com)

When the locker-room door closed, Andre Johnson did something he almost never does. He spoke up.

“When he speaks, everybody listens,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.

This doesn’t happen very often. Andre Johnson is the guy everyone else in your office respects.

He’s the one who works hard, does what he’s told and keeps his mouth shut. He accepts blame and deflects credit.

If you were looking for the perfect wide receiver, if you wanted a blend of size, speed and strength, he’d be your prototype.

If you wanted a good teammate and a caring, humble man, he might also be your prototype.

The Texans have always known he is special, but as long as the team was terrible, he was going to be one of the NFL’s best-kept secrets. Now the Texans are good, and Johnson is showing the world he’s a dominant player.

The Texans won again Sunday, defeating Tennessee 13-12 at Reliant Stadium. That’s not a pretty score, and neither was the game.

Once upon a time, it was games like these the Texans couldn’t win. When the Titans turned it into a street fight, the Texans responded with some fight of their own.

They controlled the ball for 36 minutes and got a relentless defensive effort from Richard Smith’s group to make that 0-4 start a distant memory.

He’s Pro Bowl-bound
Johnson had a huge day, catching 11 balls for 207 yards and a touchdown. He leads the NFL with 102 catches and will be named to his third Pro Bowl this week.

On this day, he muscled balls away from defensive backs, caught slants across the middle and ran under lobs down the field.

Been there, done that. What some of his coaches and teammates may remember about this day is that Johnson felt compelled to speak after the game.

As the final seconds ticked off the game clock, he was a bundle of excitement, bouncing on the balls of his feet one moment, slapping teammates the next.

After all the tough Sundays and all the painful losses, he finally was living the NFL life he hoped to lead.

That’s exactly the message he delivered after the game. That one was simpler.

He wanted his teammates to know that they’d created something special, that there was a bond and that a foundation for long-term success had been laid.

He began by telling of a Thanksgiving chapel service in which several of his teammates were asked to discuss what they were thankful for.

“It was kind of shocking because, other than kids or families, the thing (they were thankful for) was this team,” Johnson said. “I was just telling everybody about it.”

Reaping the fruits
Yes, character counts. Successful teams are made of a complex fabric that includes talent and character. It’s also teammates caring about teammates.

Kubiak and Rick Smith have created a mix that’s working. Perhaps the most impressive thing the Texans have done this season is stick together through the tough times.

If you think character is overblown, if you’re fine with a team composed of thugs, you’re wrong.

The Texans are winning because of Steve Slaton and Matt Schaub, because of Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans. They’re winning because all those solid draft classes are paying off.

They’re also winning because they’ve got a great approach, because they’ve got people willing to put the team in front of individual accomplishments. These aren’t the Dallas Cowboys.

“Guys have given it up for their team,” Johnson said. “It has been shown over the past month. It’s not just one guy. It’s about everybody.”

He appreciates this success more than some of his teammates because he was here for the worst of times. That goes for Chester Pitts, Dunta Robinson and Kris Brown, too.

There were times earlier this season when the losing finally seemed to be getting to Johnson. He was almost distraught after dropping two touchdown passes in Nashville.

He caught just three balls the next week in Jacksonville, and for the first time, he came close to complaining about the way he was being used.

“There was a lot of frustration at the beginning of the season,” he said. “You guys know that. I’ve put that all behind me. I said to myself before that Colts game I’ll do whatever I have to do to help this team win. I was going to put everything that happened in the past behind me, all the frustration and things like that.”

‘Crazy’ work ethic
He caught nine balls for 131 yards the next week against the Colts and has been unstoppable since. He has caught at least 10 passes in five of the last 10 games. He has four 100-yard games and a 200-yarder.

“He’s the best high-caliber player in this league,” Texans cornerback Fred Bennett said. “There’s really not much you can do about it. I go against the guy every day in practice. His work ethic is just crazy.”

Johnson would get a lot more attention if he ran his mouth more, if he questioned his quarterback, if he called attention to himself.

Those things would also diminish his greatness and the regard in which he’s held in his locker room.

“It’s been a long road,” he said. “I didn’t think it would take this long.

“We’ve learned a lot about ourselves. I think right now we’re starting to find our niche.”

(chron.com)

NFL.com reports Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson finished today's win over the Titans with 11 receptions and a career-high 207 receiving yards, a Texans franchise record. His second-quarter score was the only touchdown of the game and gave the Texans a lead they would not relinquish.


(ffmastermind.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson became the first player in the NFL to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the season. It’s the third time in his career he has reached that milestone.

Johnson had 10 catches for 116 yards against the Browns on Sunday. It was the first time in four weeks that he topped 100 yards.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Johnson said. “Everyone wants to go over 1,000 yards and get all the yards and all the catches, but I just want to win. If me getting 1,000 yards helps my team win, so be it. If me getting 500 yards helps us win, I’ll take the 500 yards.”

(chron.com)

HOUSTON—Growing up poor in a tough section of Miami, Andre Johnson decided early on that he wanted to play professional football. He watched the NFL and dreamed of meeting a player.

That never happened for Johnson as a child, so soon after he joined the Houston Texans in 2003 he created a foundation to help underprivileged children and give them the opportunity he never had.

That foundation has grown in the past five years and Johnson has sponsored programs and given time and money to children in both Houston and Miami.

"I really didn't have a professional player come to my neighborhood and do different stuff for the neighborhood," he said. "So I always said if I was to make it one day I just want to give back to the community."

Johnson's uncle Andre Melton, for whom he is named, has always encouraged his nephew to be involved in the community.

"That's how you can reach out and touch people," Melton said. "Sometimes athletes are distant from most people, but I want people to know he's a real person and make sure he understands that he's in a position to do some things and make some things happen. You can't save the world, but you can do your part."

Johnson, who leads the NFL with 955 yards receiving, said when he was first drafted he was struck by how much kids looked up to him.

"I think just me being able to meet kids period is special," he said. "People always say: 'You're a role model.' But we hate to look at ourselves as role models. But you would be surprised at how many kids really watch what you do on Sunday."

Johnson has been honored for his work as one of eight finalists for an award given by Home Depot called the NFL Neighborhood MVP. As a finalist his charity will receive $5,000 and the winner get $25,000 for his work. The winner, which is decided by online voting, will be announced during Super Bowl week.

Other finalists include Atlanta's Keith Brooking, Brian Dawkins of the Eagles, Detroit's Mike Furrey, Steve Smith of Carolina, Amani Toomer of the Giants, the Cardinals' Kurt Warner and Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten.

Johnson, who didn't know he was a finalist until informed by a reporter, was proud to be mentioned as one of the top players in the community.
"Not to just be mentioned as a football player but also for the things you do in the community," he said. "I've never been a person who felt like I really needed any recognition for what I do, but to have that happen though is a great honor."

Johnson isn't slowing down. He spent several hours on his day off earlier this week handing out turkeys and other fixings to needy families for Thanksgiving dinners. He joined teammates Dunta Robinson and DeMeco Ryans with help from a local grocery store chain to feed more than 700 families.

The food pantries in Galveston were depleted during Hurricane Ike so trucks from the island were sent to collect hundreds of Thanksgiving dinners to take back for distribution. Johnson, Ryans and Robinson didn't leave the hard work of loading the trucks to the scores of other volunteers at the event. The trio lugged dozens of bags loaded with two liter drinks and multi-pound turkeys to the truck and didn't sit down for a break until the last bag was done.

Johnson said helping out this year is even more important than in years past because of Ike and the current economic crisis.

"You wish there weren't any needy people," Johnson said. "You really don't like to see people in those situations, but that's life. And any way somebody can help, it's great. We are just very thankful for what we have and it's great just to bless someone else."

(elpasotimes.com)

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Andre Johnson, who had nine catches for 131 yards the first time he played the Colts this season, was held to four catches for 55 yards yesterday against Indianapolis. He hasn't had a 100-yard receiving game since Oct. 26 against Cincinnati. Johnson said the coverage wasn't drastically different from the first time around against the Colts. "They had the safety over the top a little bit more than they did (last time)," Johnson said. "But other than that, it wasn't really a big deal."

(ffmastermind.com)

Houston is developing a nice receiving duo with WR Andre Johnson and TE Owen Daniels. Johnson is an excellent big-play threat and he is almost impossible to cover one-on-one, while Daniels is good on the underneath routes and check downs. Most defenses play a Cover 2 against the Texans to not only take away the deep ball from Johnson, but also to put a safety in place to help the corner over the top.

(espn.com)

After posting four consecutive 100-plus-yard games while making 41 catches in October to take over the NFL’s receiving lead, Andre Johnson has tapered off, with a combined 13 catches for 128 yards against Minnesota and Baltimore.

Johnson’s seven receptions Sunday netted 66 yards, with a long of 20.

(chron.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson put together one of the best months in NFL history in October.

But November started slowly against the Vikings.

With former Longhorn Cedric Griffin constantly on top of Johnson, the Texans’ top receiver finished with just four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

“I guess their coach just told them, ‘Just beat him up,’” Johnson said. “At the line, I got thrown down a couple of times.

“It was one of my more difficult games. I think they did a great job. I think they had a good game plan.

“It kind of got me a bit frustrated. And when you get frustrated, it kind of has an effect on your game a little bit.”

The Vikings often had two players covering Johnson, who didn’t make his first catch until midway through the second quarter.

“They played us in a ton of 2-deep — a very aggressive cover-2,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “They jammed him at the line of scrimmage. We did a little bit of everything, but give them credit. They did a good job and rushed the passer really well.”

(chron.com)

After helping lead the Texans to three straight wins in October, wide receiver Andre Johnson has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Month.

Johnson led the NFL with 41 receptions for 593 yards in four games, and also scored two touchdowns. He had 11 more catches and nearly 150 more yards than the AFC's next-closest receivers. He also led all AFC players in total yards from scrimmage in the month, even without making a single rushing attempt.

During the month, Johnson caught nine or more passes and had at least 130 receiving yards in all four games. He became just the third player in NFL history to catch 10 or more passes in three straight games and the fourth player ever to record 130 or more yards in four consecutive outings.
Johnson's 41 receptions were the second-most in the month of October since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Buffalo WR Eric Moulds had 42 catches in October 2000, but played five games. Johnson's 593 receiving yards were the fifth-most since 1970, surpassed only by St. Louis' Isaac Bruce (650 yards, 1995), Green Bay's James Lofton (606, 1984), Moulds (605, 2000) and Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison (603, 2000).

(chron.com)

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Andre Johnson has two chances to make NFL history Sunday against the Vikings. Johnson can become the first receiver to have at least 130 yards in five consecutive games. He shares the record with Chargers WR Lance Alworth (1968) and Rams WR Harold Jackson (1971-72). Johnson also can set a record if he catches at least 10 passes for the fourth consecutive game. He's tied with the Lions WR Brett Perriman (1995) and the Colts WR Reggie Wayne (2007-08). With considerable help from his teammates on offense, especially QB Matt Schaub, Johnson has lifted the Texans on his shoulders. He's trying to carry them from an 0-4 abyss to respectability.

(ffmastermind.com)

10. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans. It’s hard for a receiver to crack the MVP list, but Johnson is setting a blistering pace and has lifted Houston out of a potential quarterback controversy. Would you believe the Texans are fourth in the NFL in total offense? Believe it. It’s largely because of Johnson, who has 56 catches for 772 yards in seven games. Now, try this on for size: He had nine catches for 131 yards against the Colts on October 5. How does he top it? In the each of the three games since, he has had at least 10 catches and at least 140 yards.

8. Ed Reed, S, Ravens. Always a playmaker of the highest order and someone opponents must locate on every snap, it’s Reed’s outstanding range that allows the creativity defensive coordinator Rex Ryan flashes. He also gets a checkmark in the “guts” category for playing through hamstring and thigh injuries. Every coach who faces the Ravens mentions Reed early and often. Baltimore is second in total defense, third in pass defense and first in run defense. Reed is the primary reason.

6. Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins. Sshhh … Portis is on a pace to rush for nearly 2,000 yards. Somehow, in all the hoopla over Jason Campbell—he’s been outstanding, so he does deserve it—Portis’ career year is getting overshadowed. Portis has 944 yards at 5.0-per clip and 11 catches to boot. The reason he gets the call here over Campbell is because the Redskins’ offensive identity is one of a physical, grinding group that wears out opponents. As a side note: How loaded was that University of Miami title team in 2001? Johnson, Reed and Portis are on this list, and that’s without mentioning Vince Wilfork, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, Bryant McKinnie.

(sports.yahoo.com)

Best player you don't know enough about, offense: Andre Johnson, Houston, WR -- He piled up 103 catches for 1,147 yards as recently as 2006, so Johnson isn't an unknown quantity. But the Texans' relatively low national profile has kept him from getting sufficient pub. The guy has numbers that the other Texas-based No. 1 receiver -- the one and only T.O. -- would kill for. Johnson leads the league in receptions (56), receiving yardage (772), 100-yard games (five), and games with catches of 10 or more (four). In October alone, he caught 41 passes for 593 yards and two touchdowns.

Offensive player of the year: Clinton Portis, Washington, RB -- Though I have my doubts that Portis can continue to carry so much of the load for the Redskins, you can't overlook the contributions of a running back who's leading the league in rushing by a whopping 260 yards, and averages 118.0 yards per game. Portis has scored in five of Washington's eight games, and he has at least 96 yards rushing in six of eight, including 121-plus in his last five.

(cnnsi.com)

Four games and four defeats into the current season, Andre Johnson’s pent-up frustration was boiling over. A Texan since 2003, he was beginning to wonder if there was ever going to be an end to the losing, and he expressed those fears publicly one day before practice.
But that was then. To be sure, Johnson’s mood has brightened considerably.

“It’s a big relief,” Johnson said, having experienced a third victory in a row as a Texan for the first time after Houston’s record 35-6 blowout of the Bengals. “Everyone’s happy. I think all the guys out there are having fun playing. I don’t think that was going on at the beginning of the season. We’re rallying around each other, supporting each other. That’s a big thing.”

Stay just a little bit longer
Johnson, the NFL’s new season leader in both receptions and receiving yards, is having so much fun he flat refused to leave the field in the fourth quarter — never mind that the game was well in hand and his receivers coach, Larry Kirksey, wanted him to sit a spell. So what if he had endured an unduly physical afternoon, twice taking shots that separated his head from his helmet?

“Larry was calling for me to come out, but I was like, ‘I’m all right. Don’t worry about me,’ ” Johnson said. “When you’re in the flow of the game and the adrenalin is flowing, you don’t want to come out. You’re doing something you love. So I just stayed out there.”

Going in, he knew he’d have to shoulder a larger than normal burden because third receiver André Davis was incapacitated with a broken finger. But that was perfectly OK with Johnson, who, in October alone, has 41 catches for 591 yards. The former figure would rank him second to himself in the league standings for the season.

Still, after conspiring with quarterback Matt Schaub last week to help dig the Detroit Lions into a deep hole early, the two-time Pro Bowler was reluctant to pronounce the Texans’ offense fully in sync. Pressed on the same subject Sunday, though, he conceded with a sly smile, “I’d have to agree with you now.

“It seems like everything is working. We’re communicating a lot better. We’re just playing smart as a team. We’re playing some real good football, probably the best football we’ve played in a long time these last two weeks.”

Passing carries the day
Head coach Gary Kubiak will tell you that his offense’s success is predicated upon an effective running attack, but the passing game is suddenly so potent that axiom no longer holds true. The Texans were ineffective on the ground early — gaining only 27 yards in the first half — yet Schaub wound up throwing just one more incompletion (four) than he did touchdown passes (three). Two of those went to Kevin Walter, who might have been the happiest player in a Texans uniform.

After all, he used to be a Bengal. These days, with Cincinnati staggered at 0-8, to be an ex-Bengal is a good thing.

“We have a lot of guys who can make plays,” Johnson said. “I was real excited for Kevin today, going up against his old team and getting two touchdowns. He was pretty pumped before the game and that’s why he had the offsides penalty. ”

The previously little-used David Anderson also stepped up and caught a touchdown pass, finding himself wide open.

Asked how the Texans have evolved from their dismal start, Walter pointed out a conspicuous stat — turnovers. Schaub hasn’t thrown an interception in three of his last four games.

“If we don’t give the ball away,” Walter said, “we have a chance to win every game we play.”

And, lately, they have.

(chron.com)

HOUSTON: One is the spotlight-seeking, trash-talking star of the Cincinnati Bengals. The other is the mild-mannered, soft-spoken leader of the Houston Texans.

Both are Pro Bowl receivers on losing teams, live in Miami and have "Johnson" on the backs of their jerseys. But that's where the similarities end with the Bengals' Chad and the Texans' Andre, who will share the field Sunday when Cincinnati (0-7) visits Houston (2-4).

Technically, they don't even share a last name anymore. Chad legally changed his to "Ocho Cinco" in August, but the NFL is still making him wear "Johnson" on his uniform for now.

The Texans' Johnson would never crave that kind of controversy.

"I am not a guy who likes to be around a lot of commotion," he said.

But the two have been friends for almost a decade through their Miami connection, proof that opposites attract. They work out together in the offseason and have many common acquaintances.

Ocho Cinco said he was going to call Johnson when he arrived in Houston and try to get a free meal out of him. He also said he was going to tell Johnson to relay some brash warnings to Houston's defensive backs.

So typical.

"Every time I play against him, he's always saying something crazy," Johnson said.

But for the most part, the Bengals' wretched start has put a muzzle on Ocho Cinco. He isn't having a great individual season, either, with only 27 catches for 268 yards.

Ocho Cinco said he's tried to tone down his act for the good of the team. So far, it hasn't helped much.

"It's very difficult," he said. "I'm very boisterous, I'm very flashy, flamboyant. I love to pose challenges to opponents. I'm always saying something out of the ordinary, to get myself motivated to play.

"But I have no room for it. I have no room to get myself going. I'm approaching every game quietly, and doing it in a way that I've never done it before. It doesn't seem to be going the way it should — not just for me, but for us as a whole."

The low-key method has always worked for Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler who leads the AFC with 629 yards receiving and the NFL with 104.8 yards receiving per game.

"He's a Johnson," Ocho Cinco said. "What do you expect?"

Unlike Ocho Cinco, Johnson will probably never unleash an outlandish dance in the end zone after a touchdown or call out an opposing cornerback leading up to a game. About the closest thing Johnson did to cause a stir this year was reveal how frustrated he was after Houston's 0-4 start.

"I've never been a person that complains," he said. "If I wasn't able to touch a ball for the rest of the season, I'm not going to go to Kube's (Coach Gary Kubiak) office and complain to him or nothing. If the ball comes my way, it comes; if it don't, it don't."

That's probably not how Ocho Cinco would've handled the same situation in seasons past.

He unsuccessfully lobbied for a trade this offseason and threatened to sit out if he didn't get his way. He also skipped voluntary workouts and missed most of training camp with ankle and shoulder problems, while the Bengals stood their ground and refused to release him.

Since the season started, Ocho Cinco has been on his best behavior — acting more like Johnson always does.

"I haven't complained about the opportunities that have come my way. If the opportunities come, I just make the plays," Ocho Cinco said. "I'm trying to do everything I can to get us out of this funk right now. I've been as positive as possible, with the situation that we're in, despite what I said in the offseason."

Right now, Johnson can relate to what Ocho Cinco is going through better than anyone.

The Texans have been one of the worst teams since entering the league in 2002, and Johnson has endured all but the first season. Houston was 0-6 in 2005 on its way to a 2-14 season.

"I'm pretty sure it's really frustrating for him," Johnson said. "It's a rough time for him. He's probably not even thinking about some of the things he used to think about. He's probably just trying to figure out how he can get his team to win games."

(iht.com)

They rise slowly, like an air bubble. Yes, I, too, am impressed by Andre Johnson's , knock'em dead statistics -- 11 catches for 141 yards in this case. Three straight games over 100 yards receiving. He gets overworked in this offense, however. Takes a beating, then he'll get tired and drop one or two. A solid Pro Bowl player, though.

(cnnsi.com)

The Houston Texans' official website reports Texans HC Gary Kubiak said the team has been moving WR Andre Johnson around more in their formations to prevent against constant double teams.




(ffmastermmind.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak didn’t shy away from putting a little pressure on Andre Johnson earlier this season.

After Johnson failed to make a play on two potential touchdown passes thrown his way against Tennessee on Sept. 21, Kubiak had a talk with his star receiver.

“My message was, ‘You have to make those plays for this team. That’s how much they count on you,’ ” Kubiak said. “Is that asking a lot of a kid? You bet it is.”

Johnson hardly shied from the challenge, and less than a month later he is on the best three-game stretch of his career. In the Texans’ 28-21 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Reliant Stadium, Johnson finished with 11 catches for 141 yards — his third-consecutive 100-yard game.

Leading receiver
Johnson has 450 receiving yards in the past three games, and is a key reason the team has won two straight after starting 0-4.

“He is the heart and soul of this place,” Kubiak said. “He’s a special player in the NFL. When he plays at that level, he raises everybody else.”

Despite his strong play, Johnson said he is trying to catch up after missing so much of the offseason and preseason because of knee surgery.

Johnson said he and quarterback Matt Schaub are trying to make up for all the time they missed, and that they aren’t as comfortable on the field as they were a year ago.

In the first two games of 2007 prior to Johnson’s knee injury, Johnson had 262 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

“I guess when you have a nine-catch game then a 10-catch game and then an 11-catch game, you would think there is some type of rhythm there,” Johnson said. “But I still don’t think there’s the same type of connection that we had when I was here and Matt first got here.”

Clearly, some of that connection is returning, though. In the first three games of the season, Johnson had just 179 receiving yards and no touchdowns. He had 178 receiving yards against the Miami Dolphins alone last week, and he has two touchdowns over the past three games.

Kubiak said they have expanded Johnson’s role because of his talent and his high level of confidence. The Texans move him around constantly to try to keep defenses from taking him out of games.

Having fun at work
And even with the added responsibility and expectations, Johnson said he’s tried to stay relaxed and have fun on the field.

It’s a combination that is proving difficult for opponents to stop.

“I’ve been given a lot of opportunities in these past three games,” Johnson said. “I’m just out there playing and having fun.

“I can say that the first three games, there was a lot of frustration and things like that. I told myself right before the Indy game, no matter what happens, I’m going to put everything behind me.

“I’ve just started to go back out there and have fun, and when I get opportunities just make the play on it. That’s been my attitude since (Indy), and it’s working out well for me.”

(chron.com)

HOUSTON — Somewhere in his life, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson must have missed a memo.

In the evolution of this grand game that occupies so much of our fall weekends, it was determined that the pass catchers are supposed to make a spectacle of themselves every time they make a great play or score a touchdown.

Not Johnson.

He treated Sunday afternoon like just another day at the office, catching 11 passes for 141 yards in Houston's closer-than-it-should-have-been, 28-21 triumph over winless Detroit at Reliant Stadium.

"I've been given a lot of opportunities the last three games and made the best of them," Johnson said after finishing his third consecutive game with more than 100 yards in receptions.

He could have said that it's about time the Texans recognized his vast talents, or that if they want to win, they better give him the ball.

Not Johnson.

"I've never been a person who complains," he said. "Whatever's given to me, I take it and make the best of it. I don't need that attention."

And this guy played in college at the University of Miami, the same school that introduced swagger into the vernacular of college football and produced such demonstrative athletes as Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis.

Cincinnati's Chad Johnson and Dallas' Terrell Owens seem to talk more than they play football. Andre Johnson may be the antithesis of those receivers, but he won't disparage them.

"I think it's just people's personalities," he said. "I'm going to go home and turn on ESPN and see who dances.

"They're just having fun because it's their personalities."

Andre said he and Chad, who also grew up in Miami but are not related, are good friends.

Andre Johnson would prefer to talk about his teammates when the Texans win. Tight end Owen Daniels caught six passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns Sunday.

"Owen is showing he's one of the top tight ends in the league," Johnson said.

The Texans' coaches and players know how much Johnson means to this team.

"He's a special player on his way to a special season," coach Gary Kubiak said of Johnson, who has grabbed 45 passes for 629 yards in six games. "He's got a lot of confidence right now and we've expanded his role."

Kubiak said he talked with Johnson after the second game of the season, when the Texans lost to Tennessee 31-12 and he missed some plays.
Johnson listened and responded.

"I expect a great deal out of him and we're getting it," Kubiak said. "He's the heart and soul of this place."

Johnson is the most effective offensive weapon in franchise history, and defenses still appear clueless about how to stop him.

"They reminded me of the Indianapolis defense," he said of the Lions. "They had holes, but you had to find the spots because they're well disciplined."

"It surprised me how he caught so many balls (today) after the week he had (last Sunday)," Texans guard Chester Pitts said of Johnson, who caught 10 passes for 178 yards the week before against Miami. "When you're that caliber of player, it doesn't matter what they do. He's as good as they come."

(statesman.com)

In their minds, the winless Texans had given away their past two games against Jacksonville and Indianapolis. So it was time, past time really, to steal one back.

Still grumbling to himself and grinding his teeth over an early fumble on a play he knew should have ended with a touchdown, Andre Johnson took it upon his broad shoulders to do just that.

A replay overrule had erased what the officials on the field called a Miami interception, giving the desperate Texans a last-gasp fourth-and-10 at their 36 with 52 seconds left, trailing 28-23. When quarterback Matt Schaub went to Johnson in the left flat, Yeremiah Bell seemed to arrive there first, but over his dead body was Johnson going to be denied that football.

With muscle and grit, Johnson bested Bell in a desperate tug-o’-war that at least made the Texans’ season salvageable.

Not to be denied
“Matt gave me a chance, and I was able to make a play,” Johnson said. “I don’t know how, but I did. I just stuck my hands up, he put his hands up and the ball kind of bounced around. It was both of us competing for the ball, and I wound up with it.”

Asked if he had immediately grasped the significance of that catch, one of 10 on the afternoon for a career-high 178 yards, Johnson smiled weakly.

“To be honest,” he said, “I didn’t even know what down it was. We were in the two-minute drill and that means you’re throwing the ball on almost every play. Most of us (receivers) out there were gassed.”

Their mental exhaustion, after 2½ months of practices and games with nothing positive to show for their efforts, was probably equal to the fatigue their bodies felt.

But, six plays later, Schaub fooled the Dolphins and almost everybody else in Reliant Stadium by scoring on a quarterback keeper up the middle from the shotgun formation. When the two-point conversion failed and the Dolphins couldn’t counter in the few seconds they had left, the Texans were in the win column 29-28.

Never mind how they had followed a script only a masochist would embrace. As owner Bob McNair noted later, you don’t expect to come out on top too often after committing four turnovers.

“Our guys battled their hearts out, and that’s the reason we prevailed,” McNair said. “They just wouldn’t quit. I’m really proud of them.”

Still, he also said: “It’s hard on an old-timer like me.”

It has been hard on everybody.

“We owed ourselves one, the fans one and the whole city of Houston one,” said Kevin Walter, whose markedly less dramatic if no less important grab for a 30-yard gain followed Johnson’s and moved the Texans to the Miami 11.

Overcoming obstacles
Johnson spoke of the palpable frustration on the Texans’ sideline as things kept going wrong, from Schaub’s interceptions of the first two possessions, to the shaky pass protection to repeated glaring defensive breakdowns. Even what should have been a game-clinching play by nickel back Eugene Wilson ended badly with Wilson snaring an interception off a deflection, only to fumble the ball back to the Dolphins, who promptly went 73 yards to reclaim the lead with 1:45 left.

The Texans had been embarrassed early by Patrick Cobbs, who caught touchdown passes of 53 and 80 yards, the first off yet another new wrinkle by Miami’s single-wing wildcat formation. This after they had insisted all week they were prepared for anything.

But, somehow, all that would be overcome this day.

“I think the two-minute drive (at the end of the game) was a big test for us,” Johnson said. “That was the first time we’ve been in that situation, and we answered. It showed what we can do.”

(chron.com)

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Andre Johnson had the break-out game he needed against the Colts, catching nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.




(ffmastermind.com)

If you've got Andre Johnson at wide receiver, you can't settle for fellow wideout Kevin Walter or tight end Owen Daniels. Those two are great, but they need to be second and third options. If defenses are making you go to them instead of Johnson, they are winning.

So as the Texans get ready to face the Colts Sunday at Reliant Stadium, I say force it.

There is no way Walter and running back Steve Slaton should have as many catches (15) as Johnson or that Daniels should be just one off the pace. Sure it's nice to have good distribution. But Johnson needs to be fed.

I chatted with two scouts about Johnson this week, and they offered specific ways to get him the ball early.

One said Johnson has faced bracketed coverage that prompts quarterback Matt Schaub to turn elsewhere, but he added that Johnson is a rhythm receiver who needs to be involved from the start and build on it. He said the Texans should call for five-, six- seven- or eight-yard hitches and quick slants to get Johnson feeling a part of things out of the gate. That way they'll ensure he's feeling alive and coming off the snap the rest of the game wanting the ball and expecting it.

The other scout said he'd like to see smoke routes -- plays where the quarterback can throw to Johnson against off coverage out of what's really a run play, getting the ball in his hands quickly against a corner who's giving a cushion.

Johnson, always a good soldier, has sounded frustrated this week. (If you missed it this morning, here's Richard Justice's account.)
The Texans aren't going to come out and talk about a concerted effort to get Johnson the ball, even if that's the plan. (Have I mentioned I think it should be?)

"If they want to take him away, then other guys are going to make plays," Schaub told Houston reporters. "He understands that, I understand that, our offense understands that. For us to be successful, we need him in the mix. But if other guys step up like they did this last Sunday to make plays then the next team down the road can't necessarily focus on Andre so much because they say, 'Hey, Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels, Steve Slaton; they can all make plays too."

It's a good theory.

What I think those teams will really say is, "Hey, if we put the clamps on Johnson, they may just be willing to go to Walter and Daniels and Slaton, and we'd much rather take our chances against those guys than the guy with 25 touchdown catches and an ability to bull through our defensive backs and get that team feeling super-confident."

(espn.com)

MAYBE it’s the fact that Andre Johnson sees another season going nowhere.

Maybe it’s another year of lousy football and having his talent wasted. Maybe he’s just tired of being part of a doormat franchise that prompted him to speak up Wednesday.

“I think after a while, it kind of takes a toll on you,” he said.

For the first time, he appears to have had enough. It has been reflected in his body language and in his postgame comments.

When he dropped those two touchdown passes in Tennessee, he did what a leader is supposed to do. He stepped up and accepted the blame for the defeat even though there were a dozen other things that went wrong.

So the Texans go to Jacksonville and Johnson touches the ball three times.

“It’s not just me,” he said. “I’m pretty sure it’s that way with a lot of the guys around the locker room. I guess it just bothers me a little bit more because I’ve been going through it since I’ve been here. So, I just have to continue to work.”

For six seasons, he has played the role of good soldier. Never complained. You never heard him say the quarterback was lousy and the coaching even worse.

He could have. He would have been accurate. He just didn’t.

He continued to work hard and play hard and hope the people in charge did the right thing.

Last season when the Texans went 8-8, it appeared they finally would be playing for something this season.

Prime time for Andre
Now he’s 28 and in what should be the prime years of his career. He surely figured things would be different by now.

He had to think the Texans would matter by his sixth year. Can you imagine Terrell Owens keeping his mouth shut this long?

Thirty-six NFL players have more receptions than Johnson. His next touchdown catch will be his first of the year. Ridiculous, right?

“It’s frustrating,” he said. “You want to get involved in the game. You want to go out there and make plays. You just try to do your best when the ball is thrown to you. You know other guys go through it. Other guys on other teams go through it. It’s part of the game. “

He has 15 catches and no touchdowns. Kevin Walter also has 15 catches. Steve Slaton has 15 catches.

“There’s nothing I can do about that,” he said. “That’s not my call. That’s out of my control. I just go out and play. I just go out and do what I can do to help the team win, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

He’s good enough to play for a championship team. He’d make the Patriots or Giants better. Instead, he’s stuck on a team that just keeps losing.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson was taken out of the game by Jacksonville rolling its defense to his side of the field.

That’s silly. If he can’t figure out a way to get the ball to his best offensive player, he should hire someone who can.

When someone asked Johnson about his creating opportunities for Walter, he didn’t buy it.

“If that’s how you guys feel about it,” he said. “I just go out and play. All I care about is winning. Like you said, you can see the frustration. I’m tired of losing. I’m pretty sure everyone else around here is tired of losing.”

It’s always something. If you listen to some of these coaches long enough, you’d think they were designing a nuclear reactor.

There are ways to get a player the ball if there’s a desire to do so. How about a quick screen or a slant? How about a four-wide receiver set? How about attacking instead of reacting?

The Texans appear to be at another turning point of sorts this week as the Indianapolis Colts come to Reliant Stadium. They’re one of four winless teams.

A statement game
There’s winless and there’s winless. The Texans have been blown out in two games. If they can’t at least make a game of it against the Colts, wouldn’t it be time for Bob McNair to start holding some people accountable?

Kubiak and Rick Smith have had three offseasons to overhaul the franchise.

Now, this team is mostly players they picked and coaches they hired. If it’s broken, it’s no longer Charley Casserly’s fault.

“We needed one more play to be made to win that game (against Jacksonville),” Johnson said, “but we just didn’t make that play. So, that’s pretty much been the story week in and week out, not making enough plays or not executing on offense.

“So, hopefully we can get that done Sunday. We’re going to go out and give it our best shot.”

(chron.com)

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Andre Johnson accepted total blame for uncharacteristically dropping two potential touchdown passes in the first half of the Texans' 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on Sunday. "The first one, I was trying to hold the ball and keep my feet in bounds," said Johnson. "I had the ball on my finger tips, trying to bring it in, and didn't bring it in. No excuse about it. For me to be the elite receiver I want to be, I have to make that play. I accept full responsibility for both of them. The other play, I thought I was by myself. Instead of attacking the ball, I let the ball come into my arms. When CB Nick Harper swung at it, he hit my arm and it slipped right out. It's my fault."

(ffmastermind.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is being honored this season as one of the Home Depot’s NFL Neighborhood MVPs. The program will honor 17 players who are making positive impacts in their communities through charitable programs and contributions.

Each of the players honored, including Johnson, will have a playground built in his local community and receive a donation to the charity of his choice. One of those players also will be honored at the Super Bowl as the Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP. The overall winner will receive a $25,000 donation to the charity of his choice.

Fans can log on to www.nfl.com/homeDepot and cast their votes for the most deserving player starting Nov. 1.

(chron.com)

Receiver Andre Johnson has been on every Texans team but the first one. He was asked after practice Monday if this is the best team he’s played for.

“I think so,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent here, a lot of competition. And through camp, it was probably the most competition we’ve had since I’ve been here.

“You can tell the team’s better just by looking at us in practice. If we do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll put ourselves in a good situation.

“Guys expect more from themselves. We don’t want to be in those situations that we were in before. We’re determined to get those things fixed and become a winning team.”

(chron.com)

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Andre Johnson made his preseason debut and played until midway through the second quarter without recording a catch. Johnson and QB Matt Schaub have rarely practiced together over the past few weeks. Johnson admitted the timing was a little off, but on a positive note, he said he had no setbacks with the groin injury that had slowed him the previous three weeks. “I'm glad to be back out, I was excited,” Johnson said. “I wish I could have gotten a catch, but other than that I felt fine and was happy to be back with my teammates.”

(ffmatsermind.com)

(on if WR Andre Johnson will play this week) “I think, as of today, yeah. We are going to count on him playing in the game. I think I said yesterday, he will have to be 110% for me to put him out there. All systems were go today, when we came in here on the turf we pulled him out.”


(texans.com)

Johnson worked out with the Texans on Tuesday for the first time since he pulled his groin Aug. 2, the Texans' official site reports.

Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson would not play this weekend against the Saints. The Texans are in no rush to bring him back, but say Johnson could play if it were a regular season game.

(rotowire.com)

The Houston Texans will be very cautious using WR Andre Johnson in the preseason according to PFW. Johnson, who had offseason knee surgery, has been bothered by a groin injury. The Texans know what Johnson is capable of, and they are not worried about preseason performance.

(ffmastermind.com)

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Andre Johnson was held out of practice Monday and may not make an appearance in the first preseason game against the Broncos. Johnson tweaked his hamstring during practice Saturday. “Andre is doing well,” HC Gary Kubiak said. “I think we're very fortunate with Andre, but I think we're going to take the cautious approach. We're going to make sure we get him 120 percent back before he comes back out here. We'll try to keep his condition level up, but I think we're very fortunate that it wasn't worse.”

(ffmastermind.com)

Anyone who watches the Texans knows how important Andre Johnson is to the team for his receiving skills.

What most probably don't realize is everything else the sixth-year player brings to the Texans.

When Johnson missed Houston's entire offseason practice schedule after arthroscopic knee surgery, coach Gary Kubiak noticed a difference in the practice intensity. Now that he's back on the field for training camp, things are back to normal.

"He's working extremely well," Kubiak said. "He's the heart and soul of this team and that's the way he goes about his business."

Johnson isn't a loud or in your face type of leader. In fact, he's probably the most introverted and soft-spoken player on the team. His performance speaks for itself and players follow his example without him having to say a word.

That's one reason it was so difficult for him to miss seven games last season. Before that he'd sat out just three games in four seasons. Johnson said he felt helpless watching from the sidelines, knowing he couldn't help out.

He's looked good in the first week of training camp, but a scary moment came on Saturday morning. As he was running a route near the end of practice he abruptly pulled up and grabbed the top of his leg. An audible gasp came from the crowd of more than 3,000 as he hobbled off the field.

He was walking normally by the time practice ended a few minutes later and said he felt a tightness in his groin but was OK.

"I just felt it tighten up real tight on me," he said. "When I felt that, I just slowed down. I didn't feel a pop or anything like that afterward. I'll get treatment for a few days and I'll be fine."

It wasn't only the fans who were concerned about Johnson's health. Quarterback Matt Schaub rushed over to check on Johnson the second practice was over. He assured his quarterback he was fine.

Now that he's healthy, he's helping more than just the offense. Kubiak thinks covering Johnson in practice is beneficial for his cornerbacks, especially Antwaun Molden, a rookie from Eastern Kentucky.

"It's a big factor," Kubiak said. "You come from Eastern Kentucky, you don't see many Andre Johnsons. So it's great for that kid to have to line up against him. I think our guys match up well and we get some good work out of them."

Johnson's been with the Texans long enough to know that there aren't many players on the offense people outside of Houston recognize as stars.

"I think we have a lot of talent," he said. "I just think we don't have a bunch of guys with big names. We have a bunch of guys that can go out and make plays and I think that's the big thing. Just because you have big name, I don't really think that matters. If you have guys that make plays for you, that is all that matters."

Johnson had 60 receptions for a team-leading 851 yards with a career-high eight touchdowns in nine games last season. Houston's offense was potent early last season before injuries to Johnson, Schaub and Ahman Green derailed the team's progress.

If he stays healthy this season, Kubiak believes Johnson can flourish in his second year with Schaub.

"I see him getting better," Kubiak said of Johnson. "He's really honed his skills as far as route running ... and what he wants to do. I think he's in a situation with a quarterback that he really has a great relationship with. They work together and they spend extra time and that's the key to being great. There are a lot of good guys, but to be great you have to do a little more."

(dallasnews.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak didn’t try to pretend he wasn’t nervous when he saw Andre Johnson pull up short while running a route. Johnson then bent over and limped off the field.

“That’s the worst nightmare for a coach,” Kubiak said. “(A) guy like him getting hurt, it’s part of football, unfortunately, and there’s not a play that you don’t hold your breath, in all honesty,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep pushing through and hope for the best and hopefully it’s our time to stay healthy. We’ve been pretty fortunate through this camp; we’ve been pretty darn good. Keep our fingers crossed with him and see what happens.”

Johnson said his groin tightened up when he was running the route, but he’s not worried it’s serious. He rejoined his teammates at the post-practice huddle, then signed autographs for fans.

“Normally, when you have a pull or something, you can tell when you’re running by the way it feels,” Johnson said. “I didn’t feel anything pop or anything like that. I just felt it tighten up real tight on me. When I felt that, I just slowed down. I didn’t feel a pop or anything like that afterward, so like I said, I’m fine. I’ll get treatment for a few days and I’ll be fine.”

(chron.com)

Texans WR Andre Johnson said Thursday that he is running at "full speed" on his surgically repaired left knee, and it appears he will be ready to play when the Texans begin training camp on Friday.

"I was out running routes (Wednesday)," Johnson told Houston reporters, "and I haven’t had anything since I have been out running or anything."

Johnson missed seven games because of an injury to the knee last season, and pain in the knee was an issue even after his return. Nonetheless, he caught 60 passes for 851 yards and seven TDs. He had arthroscopic knee surgery in May.

Texans QB Matt Schaub said Johnson looks good to him.

"We have been throwing here for a couple of weeks. He says he is good and feels great, so, you know, it’s great to have everyone back and healthy,” Schaub said.

(pfw.com)

3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts. Wayne could make an argument for being the top receiver on this list. He adjusts well to coverage and can beat you deep or with strong route running underneath. Even with coverage rolled to him last season (with Marvin Harrison out with a knee injury), he still dominated.

4. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans. He is defined by size, speed, and a great set of hands. He needs to stay healthy, but based on pure talent and his physical tools, he deserves to be ranked this high.

(sportingews.com)

PSX reports Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson (knee injury in 2007, arthroscopic surgery in 2008) isn't expected to miss any time in training camp. Johnson is key to the success of the offense. Despite missing seven starts last season, he still led all of the receivers with a team-high eight touchdowns.

(ffmastermind.com)

Meanwhile, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma reached out to freshmen Arthur Brown and Sean Spence, offering his cellphone number and mentoring (Panthers linebacker Jon Beason did, too). Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork reached out to Marcus Forston. Aldarius Johnson said he cultivated a friendship with Andre Johnson and has spoken with Reggie Wayne and Santana Moss.

UM alumni take losing so hard that Beason was ''in tears'' during games last year. Vilma said last winter that what troubled him in recent years is ``guys not improving year to year. You can't say it's all the talent.''

But after working out with Canes players at 7 a.m. this summer and watching several (such as Allen Bailey) improve this spring, Vilma -- like others -- is encouraged: ``You see everyone wanting to improve.''

(miamiherald.com)

Wide out Johnson may slip under the radars of some fantasy leagues because of an injury-interrupted 2007 season, but smart owners will grab him early. He’s Houston’s top offensive threat, is in his prime and is due for a monster season.

The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Johnson missed seven games in 2007 with a knee injury but put up 851 yards and eight scores and had two TDs of longer than 70 yards, big bonuses in some fantasy formats. Those numbers project to 1,513 yards and 14 scores this year. Anything in the neighborhood would thrill fantasy owners who take him. He caught 103 passes for 1,147 yards in 2006.

Another sleeper might be tight end Daniels. Daniels (6-3, 237) is entering his third season and is a sure starter. He doubled his output from his 2006 rookie year (34 catches/352 yards) in 2007 (63/768). He should work his way into the top 10 tight ends in the league in 2008.

And the Texans have two competent quarterbacks in Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels. Resisting David Carr pun. Rosenfels subbed ably when Schaub was injured last year, but Schaub should enter the season as the starter. Schaub (2,241 yards, 9 TDs, 9 INTs in 2007) should have some fantasy value.

The Texans’ situation at running back only bolsters the fantasy value of the receivers. Ron Dayne was the team’s leading rusher with only 773 yards in ’07, and the team scored just 12 rushing TDs. But keep an eye on the progress of rookie burner Steve Slaton, who clocked a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash and ran for 3,923 yards and 50 touchdowns at West Virginia.

Were they not in the same AFC division as three teams that made the playoffs in 2007, the Houston Texans likely would be favored to reach the post-season for the first time in franchise history in 2008. The Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans all made the playoffs last season, and at least Indy and Jacksonville will be favored to advance again in 2008.

But the Texans could pass Tennessee this season, an achievement that would carry no small amount of symbolism. Houston’s original franchise, the Oilers, left for Tennessee, and the Titans helped pour criticism on the Texans in 2006 by drafting Houston area native Vince Young, the QB who led the University of Texas to the national championship.

Houston could’ve taken Young, and the Texans were widely booed when they passed him up for North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, who struggled his rookie season while Young was voted offensive rookie of the year in 2006.

But it was Young who sputtered in ’07, while Williams blossomed and recorded 14.5 sacks for a defense that should be even stronger in ’08.

And a stronger defense will mean more opportunities for Johnson, Daniels and Co.

(fantasyfootball.suite101.com)

Houston Texans and former Miami Hurricane, Andre Johnson hosts his birthday weekend.

Thursday, July 10 - Friday, July 11

On Thursday, it’ll be help at LEVEL which is located at 412 Main. Friday, it’ll be at EPIC which is located on 3030 Travis St. Both parties are from 9pm-2pm. There is a dress code and you know to get there early.

Dre’s pretty cool. Should be a nice get up. He’s also bringing along friends and I’m sure that’s not the entire list (as shown on the flier). Come out, enjoy. Mark your calenders!




(thatsthatish.wordpress.com)

22. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts: When Marvin Harrison was out last season, Wayne emerged as the team's go-to receiver. The guess here is that is that it stays that way. He's a true star now.

23. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens: He is the prototype modern safety: rangy and can still tackle. He is what safeties like Roy Williams wish they could be.

26. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans: Injuries limited him last season, but Johnson is one of the best when he's on the field. The Texans were a different team without him last season.

41. Vince Wilfork, DT, New England Patriots: He was the best front-seven player on the Pats defense last season. He's a load in the middle. Moving him off the ball is tough for any center.

44. Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland Browns: He has emerged as one of the rising stars for a rising team. His ability to stretch the defense is vital to the Cleveland offense.

50. Devin Hester, KR, Chicago Bears: I don't normally put return men on these lists, but this guy has earned it. It will be interesting to see how long he can maintain it.

(cbs.sportsline.com)

The news hit Texans fans and Fantasy owners hard when in mid-May, Houston head coach Gary Kubiak announced that Andre Johnson's left knee needed arthroscopic surgery. The star wide receiver wasn't comfortable with how his knee was feeling during a minicamp session and the club opted to clean it out.

About two weeks later, Johnson stood up in front of fans during the team's All-Access event and proclaimed himself ready for 2008.
"If you are worried about my knee, my knee is doing fine," Johnson said. "But we are really excited about this season and hopefully we have a lot of great things to come."

Everyone from team doctors to coaches say that Johnson won't miss a single snap at training camp this summer, but the knee problem underscores what seems to be the only weakness in Johnson's game.

At 6-foot-3 and over 220 pounds, Johnson is the proverbial prototype NFL wide receiver. He's got incredible hands. He has great speed for a guy his size. He can jump with the best of them. He can play against press coverage just as well as zone schemes. And there isn't a down and distance that Johnson isn't qualified to be on the field for.

The only knock is that when he plays hurt, his stats disappear. Some players can play through significant injuries and not lose a beat. Johnson can't do it. In 2005, for example, Johnson was plagued by shoulder and calf injuries. Though he started 13 games, he posted his worst yards-per-catch average (10.9) with just two touchdowns and a career-low four grabs for 20 or more yards.

The Texans learned their lesson after that. When Johnson went down with the left knee injury (which is still lingering), he sat for seven consecutive games. Once he was deemed healthy, he was back on the field and his numbers were incredible.

In the nine games Johnson played in 2007, he scored in seven of them for eight total touchdowns. Of those nine games, he caught passes from QB Matt Schaub in four of them (Schaub was hurt in a fifth game). In those four games with Schaub, Johnson averaged 5.7 catches for 104.7 yards (three 120-yard games) with four total touchdowns. Though he continued to score with backup QB Sage Rosenfels under center, Johnson's yardage totals dipped (86.4 average in five games).

Like Johnson, Schaub also got nicked up in his first year as the Texans' starting quarterback. A concussion sidelined him for a short stint in the first half of the season and a left shoulder dislocation ended his '07 campaign four games early. And like Johnson, Schaub's numbers were off without him (236.6 yards per in games with 15-plus pass attempts, two touchdowns) than with him (250.3 yards per in four games, seven touchdowns).

Johnson told CBSSports.com in April that he's been working with Schaub to get his timing down with him and that he should be fine.

"He got banged up this past season," Johnson said of his QB. "I was too, but we're all just looking forward to this season and trying to be better than we were last year."

For the Texans to be better than they were in '07, two things need to happen: They need to stay healthy, and they need to make some noise in the ultra-competitive AFC South.

"We're in a tough division with some great teams, and it's going to be a big test for us," Johnson said. "But it was a big test just for us to get to .500. We took that step, and we're just going to try keep taking steps."

The good news for Johnson and the Texans is that none of their three AFC South rivals dramatically improved their secondaries. Drayton Florence signing with Jacksonville was the only significant signing -- none of them even drafted a defensive back high.

So with the division's defenses standing pat against the pass, Johnson knows what people -- fans and Fantasy owners alike -- will expect from him. Thinking he'll top 100 catches and 1,200 yards isn't crazy … so long as you also remember that Johnson could be absent for your lineup due to injuries.

"Expectations are always high. That's how you have to come into the season," Johnson said. "We're just going to do everything we can to achieve our goals."

(fantasynews.sportsline.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is a player who will typically be drafted toward the end of the fourth round (possibly later) in most fantasy drafts. A major reason for that is the fact he’s been bitten by the injury bug on two different occasions during his five-year career. With that said, it’s important to look beyond those injuries as you sort through the various rankings and projections that will be released in the coming months.

In the first two games of 2007-08, he had a combined 14 receptions for 262 yards and three touchdowns. After an unfortunate injury that sidelined Johnson through Week 11, he jumped back on the scene with six catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. In the end, Johnson ended the season with 60 grabs for 800-plus yards and eight scores.

Even though he’s already made a name for himself, this might be the year Johnson goes from being a really good wide receiver to en elite player who could have a tremendous fantasy impact.

With its first pick in April's NFL draft, Houston drafted offensive lineman Duane Brown, a former standout at Virginia Tech. Assuming Brown fares well for the Texans, he'll bolster a line that has historically been prone to allowing sacks; extra time in the pocket for a QB means extra time for a wideout to get open, which would obviously give Johnson a chance to thrive.

Moreover, last season’s signing of Kevin Walter provided an additional threat on the opposite side of the field, meaning it’ll be difficult to consistently double-down on Johnson without being burned by Walter. Tight end Owen Daniels and running back Ahman Green are also viable threats who will prevent defenses from keying in on Johnson.

In short, don't be surprised if 2008 is a banner season for Johnson, who's capable of 1,300-plus receiving yards and double-digit TDs. Crazy as this might sound, one should seriously consider drafting him as early as the end of the second round in fantasy drafts.

(realfootball365.com)

When he’s actually on the field, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is among the best receivers in the league. Last season Johnson averaged 94.6 receiving yards a game, a slightly better per-game average than Reggie Wayne, who led the league in receiving yards.

The only problem for Houston is whether Johnson can stay on the field. Johnson missed seven games with a knee injury last year, and he had arthroscopic knee surgery last month.

But there is good news: Johnson says his knee will be OK for training camp.

“If you are worried about my knee,  my knee’s doing fine,” Johnson told Texans fans at a public event hosted by the team.

While Johnson is out of organized team activities, Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter are working with the first team. When Johnson is healthy he’ll be the unquestioned No. 1 receiver, with Jones, Walter, Andre’ Davis, Tim Carter and David Anderson all competing for playing time.

(profootballtalk.com)

Player, position, injury: Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, arthroscopic right knee surgery.

Rehab status: Winslow had a cleanout procedure this offseason and is rehabbing in his hometown of San Diego. His absence from organized team activities has caused a bigger stir than necessary in Cleveland because Winslow expressed displeasure with his contract at the Pro Bowl. But agent Drew Rosenhaus cleared the air last week, saying Winslow will be in mandatory minicamp beginning June 10.

Next step: When Winslow arrives, he probably will watch from the sideline until training camp. Cleveland has suffered enough injuries as it is this spring (cornerback Daven Holly, receiver Braylon Edwards, tight end Steve Heiden and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker. All were injured during "voluntary" workouts.

Fantasy spin: There's no question Winslow's knee issues figure into his fantasy value, making him a high-risk, high-reward guy for '08. He has 100-catch upside as basically another wide receiver down the middle of the field, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him top last season's five touchdowns. But if Winslow misses significant time, it's hard to say that any other tight end in Cleveland will have much fantasy impact, since Heiden is recovering from disk surgery. In fact, the biggest beneficiaries would probably be Donte' Stallworth and Joe Jurevicius, who would surely see more targets.

Player, Position, Injury: Andre Johnson, WR, injured left knee.

Rehab status: A knee problem forced Johnson to miss seven games last season, but team doctors didn't see a need to perform surgery at first. The injury knee flared up during a recent minicamp and Johnson had arthroscopic surgery to "clean up" the joint in mid-May. The rehab process is just beginning.

Next step: Johnson is missing an entire month of organized team activities, but the team and Johnson remain optimistic he'll be ready for the start of training camp.

Fantasy Spin: The fact that Johnson went ahead and had arthroscopic knee surgery may be a good thing for his '08 value. Maybe it means he'll stay healthy this season. He showed good chemistry with Matt Schaub in the brief period when both men were healthy in '07, and upped his yards per reception by more than three, a great indication that the Texans hope to use him downfield more. Johnson is still a top-five fantasy receiver, but considering his left knee has bugged him for nine months, he's definitely an injury risk. If he gets hurt again, Andre' Davis and Jacoby Jones would be the beneficiaries.

(espn.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson will miss the entire month of OTA sessions after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday.

Johnson was having lingering problems with the knee injury that knocked him out of seven games last season. The Texans were hopeful that surgery wouldn't be necessary this offseason, but when it bothered Johnson during mini-camp two weeks ago, the surgery was scheduled.

"We went back and forth with the knee throughout the offseason," Kubiak said. "It wasn't feeling the way (Andre) wanted it to feel. So we tried to do some things, some rest and those types of things, to get it better.

"He wasn't really comfortable coming out of (mini-)camp, so we said, 'Hey, let's go scope it and see if there are any issues. We want you to feel comfortable.' Everything was fine. They cleaned it up. Now he feels good about it. He's not going to be hurt by missing some of these reps, so we'll just get him back to 100 percent and get him ready to go."

Johnson was on the practice field with his teammates for the start of OTAs Monday. He stood with the receivers and was one of the last players off the field. He had a sleeve covering his knee.

All indications are that he will be back and healthy for the start of training camp.

"I feel good right now," he said. "The knee didn't swell up or anything. It has a little bit of swelling, but nothing major. If you looked at my knee, you wouldn't really even be able to tell anything is wrong with it. Other than that, I am feeling fine, just rehabbing every day, doing what I need to do to get back on the field."

(chron.com)

Johnson ordered 750 bicycles to be given to underprivileged kids at an event sponsored by the Andre Johnson Non Profit Foundation. In return for the purchase, Wal-Mart agreed to donate water and ice for the May 3 event. But there was a problem. Johnson had ordered the bikes in various sizes for both older and younger kids. But the bikes didn't comes as ordered (more small than large), so Johnson only purchased 677 -- at full retail price, mind you. Well, Wal-Mart didn't take too kindly to this, so on the day of the event (it was 84 degrees out) they wouldn't fork over the water or the ice. AJ's people were told that Wal-Mart would not be donating the ice because they hadn't purchased the 73 remaining bikes. That's cold!

(battleredblog.com)

4. Andre Johnson
Houston Texans
Johnson is big (6-3, 219), physical, runs solid routes and makes plays. In terms of physical tools, he is every bit as good as the three guys in front of him. He may have been overlooked in the past because of poor quarterback play (see David Carr 2003-06) but should improve as he works more with Matt Schaub. Johnson's numbers last season (60 catches, 851 yards) would have been more impressive if he had not missed seven games with an injury.

5. Reggie Wayne
Indianapolis Colts
The only real knock on Wayne is that he has always been 1B to Marvin Harrison, who was 1A. That's no longer the case as he is Peyton Manning's top option now. Wayne has sneaky speed, which can catch a corner off guard. He has a great feel for Indianapolis' system and the ability to find holes in a defense.

33. Santana Moss
Washington Redskins
Moss is small (5-10, 200), but few players in the league can rival his deep speed. He gets pushed around too much, can wear down and has trouble staying healthy. Also, he was tied for third in the league with 10 drops last season, according to Stats LLC. However, with new coach Jim Zorn expected to throw more often than the Redskins did in the past, Moss could have a resurgence. It is clear he will never be a top red zone option or a No. 1 wideout who can consistently handle double-teams, but Moss can be a difference-maker as a complementary option. Zorn will get the ball in his hands.

51. Roscoe Parrish
Buffalo Bills
Parrish has been a versatile player for the Bills. He is a No. 3 receiver who is best in the slot and using his quickness and run-after-catch ability in space. His biggest contribution, however, may come on special teams handling punts and kickoffs.

Click here to see the rest of the list...

HOUSTON, TX — In what he later described as “one of the greatest moments of my life,” Andre Johnson was recognized Thursday during a seemingly routine trip to a Houston-area Gap store.

“I’m just standing there, and some kid says, ‘Hey, you’re Andre Johnson, from the Texans, right?’” Johnson told SSNN. “I was floored. Stunned. It was right then I knew that I’d made it.”

The encounter took place at the sweaters display, where Johnson was intently considering whether or not he could pull off an argyle vest. It was an interesting moment as well for 14-year-old Danny Templin, who spotted Johnson.

“I look over, and there’s this dude who looks like Andre Johnson in the Gap,” Templin said. “But he was wearing an Andre Johnson jersey, which I thought was a little weird and maybe meant it wasn’t him. So I wasn’t going to ask him, because I didn’t want to be the guy who thinks that every black guy in a jersey is an athlete. But DreJay saw me eying him, I guess, and called me over; so that’s sort of how it went down. He seemed pretty excited to meet me.”

According to Johnson, this is only the second time in his career that he has been recognized at a mall, in spite of the fact that he visits them frequently to “polish interpersonal skills.”

“Yeah, you don’t get recognized that much as a pro athlete,” Johnson said. “It’s weird. These dudes like A-Rod and Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady – you know, guys who say they can’t go outside of their house? Those guys are probably exaggerating. That sort of public awareness runs counter to my experience.”

In spite of it all, Johnson was touched by the encounter.

“It was really cute, he was really nervous,” Johnson said of Templin. “He was so nervous that he didn’t even remember to ask me for my autograph, and when I reminded him, he said ‘don’t worry about it.’ To be that nervous and scared, he must be a huge fan. I was touched.”

(seriousportsnewsnetwork.com)