Perennial Pro Bowler Andre Johnson was on course toward his fourth 100-catch season when he sustained a hamstring injury against the Steelers on October 2. After missing six weeks, he returned against the Falcons on December 4 before a second hamstring injury cost him three more games. Johnson did return in time for the playoffs and pulled in 13 catches for 201 yards and a score.


(cbssports.com)

Frank Gore, Vince Wilfork, Ray Lewis, Jimmy Graham and Ed Reed all made the 2012 Pro Bowl, this being Graham’s first Pro Bowl selection of his career. This will be Gore’s 4th Pro Bowl (2nd consecutive), Wilfork’s 5th Pro Bowl (4th consecutive), Ray Lewis’ 14 Pro Bowl (7th consecutive) and Ed Reed’s 9th Pro Bowl (7th consecutive).

Chris Myers and Andre Johnson have been named alternates. Stay tuned for a couple of more players to be named alternates soon.

By the way: The Florida State Seminoles have ONE Pro Bowler and the Florida Gators also have only ONE Pro Bowler.

Since the 1959 Pro Bowl a proCane has been on a Pro Bowl roster 51 out of 52 seasons. Since the 1984 Pro Bowl, a proCane has been named to the Pro Bowl for 28 straight years. Check out the full history of every single proCane in a Pro Bowl below.

Wide receiver Andre Johnson is expected to be back in the Houston Texans' lineup Sunday when they face the Tennessee Titans, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“When they tell me he can go, he’s going,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “It’s been a process. They’ve been working with him off the field, trying to get him ready to turn him over to me and put him on the field. … If it happens, it’ll be early next week.”

Johnson has had hamstring injuries on each leg this season and has played in only six games for the Texans with 31 receptions. The Texans need to incorporate Johnson back into their offense and give rookie QB T.J. Yates another good weapon.

While Sunday's game means nothing to the Texans in terms of playoff standings (and means everything to the Titans), Houston does not want to enter its first postseason backwards on a three-game slide.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said that Andre Johnson (hamstring) has a chance to play in Week 17 against the Titans.

"I’m hoping (Johnson) is back out there this week," said Kubiak. ''It’s my understanding that we’re real, real close. We’ll see what happens, but he’d be a nice addition to get back." Johnson has missed the last three games with a left hamstring injury and is expected to return for a ''tune-up'' in the season finale. In six starts this season, he's averaging five catches and 78.5 receiving yards per game.


(rotoworld.com)

Andre Johnson needs to play as soon as he is ready to go so that he will be at or near top speed for the playoffs.

So imagine my surprise that he will not play tomorrow night in Indianapolis, despite his being healthy and ready to go.

It’s an interesting decision Gary Kubiak made to hold Johnson out of the game. While I disagree with it, I can accept that he has a different opinion. But his explanation confused me.

“I would love for Andre to get some playing time before we head into (playoffs),” Kubiak said. “He’s very close to coming back out here with his teammates, but, obviously, with the quick turnaround, it’s not very smart. We’ll get him some time to rest over the weekend.”

Huh? Quick turnaround? From what, exactly?

Johnson didn’t play in Sunday’s game, so he isn’t under a quick turnaround.

I wasn’t there when Kubiak said this, so I don’t get the context and don’t know if a follow-up question was asked, but it sounds like off reasoning. Maybe Kubiak was talking about the turnaround from Johnson’s workout on Tuesday. If so, then I would question whether he should have been put through a strenuous workout only two days before a game.

Typically, on Fridays, NFL teams have little more than a walk-through practice.

“I feel alright,” Johnson said. “Coach Kubiak has the final say. I’d like to play, but we’re going to do what’s best for the team and whatever we feel is best for me.”

No, you shouldn’t rush Johnson back. It would be worse for him to be hurt and have to miss a playoff game than to play it at about 80 percent of his standard when he is in top football game shape.

But he has a better chance of getting into top football game shape if he plays parts of two regular-season games than if he plays in only one. Johnson could have at least gotten a few snaps in on Thursday to get the juices flowing. Perhaps you let him sit the second half so he doesn’t have to go through a shutdown where his hamstring could tighten up on him.

Then he gets 10 days to prepare for the next week against Tennessee. In that one, you let him play even more snaps, and into the second half. That seems smarter to me than holding him out of this game.

Of course, all of this is moot if Johnson wasn’t at 100 percent on Sunday or Monday (but I am told by someone who knows, that he was good to go). Why wasn’t the thinking to give him a solid practice-type workout on one of those days and not on Tuesday, with the idea that he would then be able to get enough rest to play on Thursday?

As is, it is possible that Johnson will step into a playoff game having played only 2 3/4 games in the previous three months. If you saw his return against Jacksonville (two catches for 22 yards), you know he didn’t come back playing anywhere near his norm.

“He played too much,” Kubiak said at the time. “Dang it, I had him in there too many plays. He got tired on me. He took a step forward. It’s going to take a few weeks for him to get back to himself, but for the progress he’s made to play (against the Jaguars) and come out of the game okay, I feel good about that. I just wish I would’ve had 10 or 12 less snaps than I did. I think I left him out there too long.”

That is probably what we can expect from Johnson when he returns. A player not in football shape who has to play limited snaps. It would have been good for that limited game to have been tomorrow, more snaps the next week against the Titans, then (hopefully) full speed for the playoffs.
I’m still riding my preseason prediction of an AFC championship game. But I would feel a heck of a lot better about it if Johnson were on the field tomorrow night.


(chron.com)

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle expects Andre Johnson (hamstring, out) to play in Week 17 against the Titans.

It sounds like it'd be a tuneup kind of appearance, getting Johnson "ready for his first playoff appearance." Johnson insists he could play in Week 16 if the Texans allowed him, but they're shutting him down for one more week.


(rotoworld.com)

Even through the tough patches, WR Andre Johnson's faith in making the playoffs with the Texans never wavered. "I've had people ask me why didn't I leave or why did I stay," said Johnson. "I just wanted to be a part of something special. I wanted to be here when the Texans made their first playoff game. I was here to do that, so hopefully, I can be here when we win our first Super Bowl."



(cbssports.com)

Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday, Dec. 12, that even though the team has clinched the AFC South Division title, he would like to use WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) in Week 15. "We've got to push. If I could, I'd have Andre back this next week," Kubiak said. "I think he needs to play. I think he needs to get back in the flow of things before we do get to January, but we've got to be smart here."



(kffl.com)

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Dozens of lucky students at Bastian Elementary School in southeast Houston got their Christmas presents early, and you'll never guess who was there to help out.

Santa's little helper was none other than Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and he did not go there empty handed.

Christmas came early for the students at Bastian Elementary. First, a surprise visit from some Houston Texans cheerleaders, followed by the moment they have all been waiting for -- a visit from Texans WR Andre Johnson.

"I told you guys that when I came back that I was going to have a surprise for you guys," Johnson said to the students.

He had two surprises actually. Up first were Christmas presents courtesy of HPD's Blue Santa program. The second was for a select group of students -- 60 brand new bikes and helmets. It's all part of Academy Sports and Outdoors 10th Annual Bike Donation Program.

"These 60 kids were picked based on good grades, good attendance, good citizenship and need," said Bruce Goffney, Bastian Elementary School principal.

Johnson was compelled to get involved because growing up he saw too many of his friends go without during the holidays.

"I always said once I was in a position where I was able to give back that I would," said Johnson.

For a lot of these kids, this may be all that they get this Christmas.

"I think that Andre Johnson is, like, the best," said student Arayna Garcia.

To say they are grateful would be an understatement.

"He's the best thing that ever happened to my life because I never had a bike this cute, ever, in my life. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me," said student Grace Rodriguez.

"This is the best bike I've ever had. This is a Christmas to remember for me," said student Keiddrick Fizer.

Johnson comes to Bastian about three times a year just to spend time with the kids. He says the fact that the Texans made it to the playoffs for the first time ever made today even better. Students seemed to be a bit more energized.

The Texans wide receiver has been working with Bastian since his second year in the league after someone in his foundation hooked him up with the school.

And Johnson had a busy day. He started bright and early at a toy store for his annual shopping spree at Toys R Us. Child Protective Services selects children to take part in the event.

Johnson coaches them on their shopping skills and then they have 80 seconds to grab anything and everything they can. At the end of the excitement, Johnson foots the bill.

Of all the events he takes part in, Johnson says this is one of his favorites.



(abclocal.go.com)

One person who is not surprised about being inactive is Houston's Johnson. The All-Pro receiver missed six games earlier this season before returning for last week's game against Atlanta when he suffered another setback. In four games against the Bengals, Johnson was averaging 13.8 yards per catch.

Johnson told Houston reporters: "I knew I wouldn't be able to play this week, so that's pretty much it. You work your butt off to get back after missing six games and then to have something like this to happen again is very frustrating. But at the same time, the team's in a great position and I'm just trying to do everything I can to get back."



(cincinnati.com)

Texans receiver Andre Johnson strained his left hamstring on Sunday.  On Monday, owner Bob McNair suggests that Johnson could miss a couple of games.  Later that day, coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson had a mild strain, and that his status will be day-to-day.

As of Thursday, Johnson still isn’t practicing.

Kubiak said Thursday that Johnson worked out in the pool, and that the team has a general plan for handling Johnson on Friday.

“I would say we probably have a pretty good idea,” Kubiak said, via comments distributed by the team.  “We’ll see.  It’s a touchy situation because we are very fortunate.  We came out of it a lot better than we thought.  At the same time, how quick do we go back and that type of thing?  He has gotten good work inside in the last two days.  Whether we bring him out here tomorrow probably will be a big deciding point on where we go in the game, so we’ll see.”

The 9-3 Texans face the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday.  On one hand, the Texans need to keep pace with the other 9-3 teams in the conference.  On the other hand, they need Johnson at 100 percent for the postseason.



(profootballtalk.com)

Coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Wednesday that the Texans will play it smart and safe with Andre Johnson's latest hamstring injury.

The Texans are a run-based team with a 9-3 record, so they can afford to sit their top wideout until he's 100 percent. They don't want to risk setbacks. "The key here right now is that when we get him back, we need to make sure we get him back for the long haul," said Kubiak. Johnson didn't practice Wednesday and is highly unlikely to dress for Sunday's game against the Bengals.



(rotoworld.com)

Andre Johnson has a mild left hamstring injury, though Houston coach Gary Kubiak says it’s too early to know if his star receiver will play at Cincinnati this weekend.

Houston (9-3) has taken command of the AFC South with a franchise-record six straight wins, most of it without their five-time Pro Bowler.

Johnson pulled up in the third quarter of Sunday’s 17-10 win over Atlanta as he was chasing down a deep pass from rookie T.J. Yates, who was making his first NFL start. Johnson was playing his second game after missing the previous six with a right hamstring injury that required minor surgery.

An MRI exam showed that Johnson’s latest hamstring issue was far less severe than the last one.

“We’re very fortunate,” Kubiak said. “He’s day to day. I’ll probably give you a better answer once we give him a couple of days here, and get to Wednesday. But we do expect him back, hopefully sooner than later.”

(washingtonpost.com)

For the second time this season, receiver Andre Johnson went down on the Reliant Stadium grass surface as if he’d been shot.

The first time was against Pittsburgh, and the injury to his right hamstring required surgery and caused him to miss six games.

In Sunday’s 17-10 victory over Atlanta, Johnson was running a deep route, and he went down without being touched again, this time suffering an injury to his left hamstring.

“I’ve got an MRI scheduled in the morning, and we’ll find out exactly what it is,” Johnson said after the game. “I know it’s not as bad as the last injury, but I’m definitely worried about it.

“If I came back from the one earlier in the season, I can definitely come back from this one.”

There was a high school playoff game at Reliant Stadium on Saturday night between LaPorte and Port Arthur Memorial. Whether the high school game had anything to do with the grass field not being up to standard remains to be seen, but Johnson wasn’t the only player injured without being touched.

Inside linebacker Brian Cushing and punter Brett Hartmann suffered knee injuries. Cushing was able to return. Hartmann is probably gone for the season.

“I was a little nervous, especially with the way it (right knee) got caught under me,” said Cushing, who was chasing tight end Tony Gonzalez when he was injured. “It just felt awkward. I think it was more of a scare than anything going down like that. How I feel right now, I know I’ll be OK.”

After the injuries, expect the Texans to be checking the field carefully before the next home game against Carolina.

“It’s put together different than most fields, but since I’ve been here, I’ve thought it’s pretty darn good,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “I haven’t noticed that it’s any different from any other place we play.”


(chron.com)

For six seasons, receiver Andre Johnson and cornerback Dunta Robinson went at it during practice.

On Sunday, Robinson, who plays for the Atlanta Falcons, will cover Johnson.

“As you guys know, me and him are good friends,” Johnson said. “I talked to him Saturday. It’ll be different, but it’ll be fun. It’ll be different because I’m used to having him as a teammate.
“At at the same time, we both have a goal we’re trying to achieve, and that’s to help our team win. The friendship will go out the window.”


(chron.com)

Andre Johnson — Johnson finally has been given the all-clear to return from the hamstring injury that he sustained in Week Four, but you'll have to forgive his fantasy owners if their feeling of relief is mixed with a dose of trepidation. Given that Johnson's long-awaited return was delayed by minor setbacks along the way, concerns about how his surgically repaired hammy will hold up are justified. Then there's the matter of his new quarterback. While Johnson was in the homestretch of the healing process, Matt Schaub went down with a season-ending foot injury. Matt Leinart, a former golden boy to USC fans and a former pariah to Arizona Cardinals fans, will make his first start for the Texans in Jacksonville this weekend. Will the Texans' offense sail along as smoothly with the left-hander at the rudder? Or will the drop-off from Schaub to Leinart be significant enough to lower Johnson's statistical output from the elite level to merely good (or worse)?

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballweekly.com)

Andre Johnson confirms today he will be back for the Texans game in Jacksonville this Sunday.  Johnson tells SportsRadio 610 his surgically repaired hamstring feels good and now he’s just working on his conditioning.

Johnson has missed the Texans last six games after suffering a hamstring injury against the Steelers on Oct. 2.  The Texans went 4-2 in his absence.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(houston.cbslocal.com)

HOUSTON — The ball arrived on time, and the route, as usual, was precise.

On most days at Methodist Training Center, such a sequence is routine and, therefore, forgettable. But when it occurred Monday, it was memorable.

Under the watchful eyes of Texans owner Bob McNair and coach Gary Kubiak, freshly anointed starting quarterback Matt Leinart uncorked a tight spiral on an in-route to Andre Johnson, who plucked the ball out of the air and turned upfield, seemingly all in one motion.

Cue the whistles and catcalls.

“No. 80 is back!” shouted running back Arian Foster.

Johnson rejoined his teammates Monday, back at full speed after what will likely amount to a six-game layoff from a hamstring injury incurred Oct. 2 against Pittsburgh. The All-Pro wide receiver is expected to start Sunday in Jacksonville.

“Andre was fine,” Kubiak said. “He took all his reps with the team. We will monitor his reps in practice and probably going into the game, but all systems should be go this weekend.”

Johnson was engaged in rehabilitation following practice and did not speak to the media.

As for the other end of the connection, Leinart is engaged in his own form of rehab, but it's nothing from the physical standpoint. Well, perhaps rust — the former first-round pick hasn't started a game since 2009 — but preparing for his first significant action in two seasons has meant not only regaining trust in himself but of those around him.

“(My teammates) know I've been through a lot in my career, and I've been up and down, and ever since I got here, I've ... been surrounded by a lot of positivity,” he said. “(I've) gotten my confidence back over the last 18 months, and I just feel good. I feel good, ready for this opportunity, and it's great to have a great group of guys on this team — not just on our side of the ball, but on this team.

“I know the guys have my back, and for me, it's just a matter of just going out there and just leading the team and just managing the game, and we've got a great group of guys around me.”

Left tackle Duane Brown liked what he saw.

“He looked pretty sharp out there today,” he said of Leinart. “On point, strong arm, good in our audibles, things like that, getting us into the right plays, so we're excited going forward.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(mysanantonio.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson practiced with the team today and head coach Gary Kubiak said that he should be available to play this weekend, according to the team’s official Twitter account.

According to Kubiak, the 30-year-old receiver took all reps with the team today and “all systems should be go this weekend” for the injured receiver. The Pro Bowler has missed the team’s previous five games while recovering from a hamstring injury. In his first four games of the season, Johnson hauled in 25 receptions for a total of 352 yards and two touchdowns.

It had been originally estimated that Johnson would miss only two-to-three weeks due to the injury. After losing their first two games without the talented wide receiver, the Texans have won their last three games in a row.

The former first round pick has played his entire nine-year career with the Texans. The 6’3” receiver has recorded 100-or-more receptions in three separate seasons in his career, and has amassed 52 touchdowns total.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(tracking.si.com)

Andre Johnson believes he will return from a hamstring injury in Week 12 against the Jaguars, following the Texans upcoming bye. The Texans wide receiver has not played since undergoing surgery after he was forced off the field in Week 4 against the Steelers.

On Tuesday, he seemed confident that he would be ready to return to the field, via HoustonTexans.com's Nick Scurfield. "I feel like I'm ready. Right now, I don't have any doubt that I'll be back on the field next Sunday," Johnson said.

The Texans could use Johnson on the field to help out quarterback Matt Leinart, who will take over for the injured Matt Schaub.

Click here to order AndreJohnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

After weeks and weeks of progressively optimistic updates on injured wide receiver Andre Johnson, Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak broke out a new adjective on Thursday.

"He was impressive today," Kubiak said of Johnson's work with head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan, according to the team's official site. "He was very good, full speed."

As for what that means in terms of Johnson's return from a strained right hamstring, which has kept him sidelined five straight games, Kubiak said the decision will probably be made Friday. If he is able to practice, Kubiak indicated Johnson would be a game-time decision Sunday when the Texans travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Johnson addressed reporters following Thursday's workout and said that his leg felt good but no decision has been made for Sunday's game.
“I’m almost close to full speed,” Johnson said Thursday. “Everything’s been going very positive, so I’m pretty excited about that. ... We’ll come out and run again tomorrow, see how it feels, just make sure that I’m comfortable and we’ll go from there.”

Johnson said his last remaining hurdle was to feel no tugging in the hamstring while running.

“That was the main thing that was holding me back,” Johnson said. “I haven’t been feeling it the past couple days that I’ve been running. I guess the main thing now is just me getting confidence back in my leg. Sometimes when I’m running, I’m so used to feeling it that sometimes I’m waiting on it to happen.”

It's all a similar tone to last week, when the Texans expected Johnson to play against the Cleveland Browns before the receiver suffered a setback and was ruled out on Friday.

Kubiak has been adamant that Johnson, who did not practice Wednesday, won't return until he is able to run and cut at full speed.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said receiver Andre Johnson worked out with the team today but that his status is still "day-to-day" for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Johnson has missed the last five games while recovering from surgery on his hamstring. He said last week he'd suffered a setback. Kubiak said today that Johnson is back on track.

"He worked out today, and it went well," Kubiak said, "but does that mean he'll make it on the practice field Wednesday? I don't know. He went through a tough few days, but he's getting closer."

Kubiak said when Johnson tells him he's 100 percent and ready to play, he'll be back in the lineup, no matter when it is. There's a chance Johnson won't play against the Buccaneers, which would give him the bye week before returning Nov. 27 at Jacksonville.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak hasn't ruled out wide receiver Andre Johnson for Sunday's game against Cleveland after the star wide receiver missed his second straight day of practice Thursday.

Kubiak said Johnson, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, was feeling better but the Texans didn't feel he was ready to practice. The receiver went through an intense workout Monday that left him sore and caused him to miss the practices. Kubiak expects Johnson to return to practice on Friday.

"I'm not scared to play Andre if he doesn't practice," Kubiak said. "He knows what's going on. This is strictly about his health and how he's feeling."
Johnson was injured Oct. 2 against Pittsburgh and had a minor procedure to repair the right hamstring injury early the next week. He has missed four straight games and the Texans dropped the first two without him before winning their last two.

With Johnson out, the Texans have just four healthy receivers on their roster. Jacoby Jones has been starting opposite Kevin Walter while Johnson recovers, and the Texans also have Derrick Mason and Bryant Johnson.

Walter led the group with five receptions for 70 yards in Sunday's win over Jacksonville, which improved the Texans to 5-3 and 3-0 in the AFC South. Tight end Owen Daniels also pitched in, snagging four passes for 60 yards.

Kubiak has been impressed with their work while Johnson sits on the bench.

"Andre is our big gun. He's a great player, a tremendous player and when you lose a guy like that for four games in a season it's very tough," Kubiak said. "It's tough on the quarterback, tough on the group, tough on the receivers. I think they've all kind of responded in their own way. They've all made plays and it's been a grind for them."

Running back Arian Foster had just one reception for 12 yards against Jacksonville, but his 299 yards receiving in the last four games have led the team with Johnson out.

"That's always been a part of what we do," Kubiak said. "He's excellent with his hands. He's a three down player and we're going to always make sure that people have to worry about him doing that as well as running the ball. It's just another way of him touching the ball."

Foster's receiving yards have been helpful to the team with Johnson out, but it has been his running that has helped them get back on track in the last two games. Foster has 227 yards rushing combined in the last two games. He is the ninth leading rusher in the NFL with 532 yards despite missing two games.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

According to the Houston Chronicle's John McClain, the Texans really "don't have a clue right now" whether Andre Johnson (hamstring) will be able to play against the Browns in Week 9.

“Last week, he was very down," said McClain in an interview with the Akron Beacon Journal. "... Usually he’s very upbeat. He was more upbeat right when he had his surgery than he was last week when he practiced, and he said he felt a tugging on his hamstring where they operated. ... They’ll rely on him heavily to tell them the truth. He said the other day he wouldn’t jeopardize the future, and he’s usually smart about being hurt."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak acknowledged Monday that Andre Johnson has continued to battle through "some tightness, some stiffness" in his recovery from hamstring surgery.
Kubiak did say the team is "very encouraged by the progress that (Johnson) has made," but he's clearly not yet 100 percent. "We will put Andre back out there when he’s totally ready to go, and hopefully that’s this week," added Kubiak. We don't expect to know Johnson's Week 9 status until Friday at the soonest.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

His head coach and position coach both thought Andre Johnson looked fine during practice Wednesday.

Apparently, the Texans' All-Pro wide receiver didn't feel as good as he looked.

Johnson was skeptical when asked whether he'd return Sunday against Jacksonville from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the last three games.

"I just went out and did a little bit in practice today to see how I feel," Johnson said. "I wouldn't say I felt great. I didn't feel how I expected I would feel, but I was able to go out and make a few plays. We just keep taking it one day at a time."

Johnson said the problem is that he still encounters "tugging and stuff on my leg" when he runs. Cutting or running routes isn't an issue. Instead, it's a lack of explosion that concerns Johnson. Until that resurfaces, he said, he will not be ready to go.

"If I feel the way I feel today, I probably won't play Sunday, but today is not Sunday," Johnson said. "We still have some days ahead of us that we have to work through."

Head coach Gary Kubiak said the decision would ultimately be left to Johnson.

"It's hard for me just to watch a player practice, so I'll go back and sit down and watch it," Kubiak said. "But I'm going to listen probably more than anything. He looked good running to me. But we've got to see … like he wakes up (Thursday) - how sore is he? Those types of things.

"So I'm going to listen to him, and we've got a long way to go this season, and we need to make sure we do the right thing here. We've got a long week. We'll see what happens."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

The Texans are hoping to get back receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring) and fullback James Casey (chest) for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

"I think there's definitely a possibility with both of them," coach Gary Kubiak said. "James should be back at practice on Wednesday if there's no setbacks. The plan is for Andre to practice this week."

Johnson and Casey have to practice before they can be cleared to play.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak refuses to rule Andre Johnson out for Sunday's game at Tennessee, even though the wide receiver hasn't practiced since undergoing a minor procedure on Oct. 6 to repair his injured right hamstring.

On Tuesday, Johnson mentioned to a local radio station that he was told his absence might total six weeks - although he was skeptical of being out that long. On Wednesday, Kubiak said the recovery is "right on schedule."

"He's running," Kubiak said. "He ran some routes and caught the ball. There is still progress to make before Andre is going to be on the field. It may be that he gets on the field and practices a little bit before the week's out. I don't know right now.

"He continues to progress, and what are we - two weeks and a couple of days into this thing? There have been no setbacks. Everything has been positive, so we'll keep going."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Texans Pro bowl receiver Andre Johnson underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair an injured hamstring. He told SportsRadio 610 Tuesday morning that he’s ahead of the typical rehabilitation schedule for this procedure.

“I’m headed in the right direction,” Johnson said. “I just want it to heal faster. Right now it’s still weak; it’s not as strong as it use to be.”

The Texans (3-3) have lost two in a row without Johnson and would like to see him back on the field soon, but the long-term goal for Johnson is to prevent this injury from being something he deals with in the future. Since he’s unable to run at full speed, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to play during Sunday’s game against the Titans in Tennessee.

“They say it could take up to six weeks at the most,” Johnson said. ”But I don’t think it will take me that long.”

Johnson says this injury might have stemmed from an old injury he’s dealt with for a long time. He suffered pain behind his knee, but he says the recent surgery to his hamstring has even cured him of that knee pain.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak suggested Monday that Andre Johnson (hamstring surgery) could get in some practice time this week.

Johnson's most likely return date remains Week 8, but he's making progress. "He made a lot of improvement last week," said Kubiak. "We’ll increase his work. I have a hard time saying right now (if he'll play at Tennessee). Maybe there’s a chance he sees the practice field before the end of the week." Fantasy owners shouldn't be counting on Johnson to play in Week 7.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Without Andre Johnson to double-team, Texans opponents are committing an extra defender to stop the run. The Texans are 0-2 without Johnson this season. They were 2-1 without him last season.

"We're getting played different," coach Gary Kubiak said. "There's a level of consistency when Andre's on the field with what people try to do.

"I don't think it has affected where Matt (Schaub) goes with the ball. (Sunday) we went toe-to-toe with a dang good team, and we needed a new hero. Until Andre gets back, someone has got to assume that responsibility."

(chron.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak conceded Wednesday that Andre Johnson (hamstring) is "unlikely" to play in Week 6.

Kubiak did indicate that he's been impressed with Johnson's progress, saying "it amazes you just how far he’s come so quickly." Speculation that Johnson's recovery was behind schedule appears unwarranted. The Texans' game-day wide receivers against the Ravens are likely to be Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones, KR Trindon Holliday, and either Derrick Mason or Bryant Johnson.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Coach Gary Kubiak said Andre Johnson's hamstring "soreness has gone away, and his rehab has picked up."
"We'll see where he's at each week," Kubiak said Monday. Johnson won't play against the Ravens Sunday, but the Texans aren't yet ruling him out for Week 7 at Tennessee. Still, the most likely return date remains Week 8 against the Jaguars. Remember that the Texans held Arian Foster out an extra week earlier this season to protect his hamstring from aggravation.

The Texans are expected to sign free agent WR Juaquin Iglesias to their practice squad on Wednesday.
It could mean nothing, or it could mean something. On the heels of Tuesday night's Derrick Mason acquisition, CBS Sports' Mike Freeman is speculating that the receiver additions suggest Johnson's recovery from hamstring surgery is going slower than anticipated. The Texans insist otherwise, but it's a situation to monitor. The Iglesias signing would put three wideouts on Houston's practice squad, joining Dominique Edison and Jeff Maehl.

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(rotoworld.com)

Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak was non-committal Monday about wide receiver Andre Johnson playing this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens following a minor procedure to repair his right hamstring injury.

Kubiak said the soreness in Johnson's leg has been alleviated and his rehabilitation has been accelerated.

"His rehab has picked up, so we'll see where he's at each day, Kubiak said.

Johnson, who was injured Oct. 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn't play in Sunday's 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders, said last week that he was targeting a return this Sunday against the Ravens.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans star receiver Andre Johnson said he expects to be out a couple of weeks after a minor procedure to repair a right hamstring injury.

Johnson said he is scheduled to get the stitches from two incisions removed early this week.

"I wish I could go out there and try to run around today to see how it feels," he said Friday. "But I have to just wait until I get the stitches out and then I'll go all out."

The five-time Pro Bowl selection says he has felt great since Tuesday's procedure and is confident he will be back soon. He described himself as a fast healer.

"I haven't felt any pain with any of the exercises I've been doing ... so I'm pretty pumped," he said. "I've been bending my leg and everything. The only thing that really bothers me a little bit is where I have the stitches. So I think once I can get those out and the cuts close up I'll be fine."

The Texans (3-1) host Oakland (2-2) on Sunday and then play at Baltimore on Oct. 16.

Johnson was injured Sunday in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He recounted his thoughts when he was hurt after catching a pass in the second quarter without being touched.

"I was scared," he said. "I really couldn't explain what it was, I just felt pain. You see I was grabbing my leg when I was on the ground."

Johnson isn't walking with any sort of a limp, a fact that has caused several coaches to comment on the "pep in his step" this week. He said an old injury led to a "pretty big lump" of scar tissue that had been causing pain behind his knee off and on for some time.

"I had a lot of scarring around my tendon and that was the irritation that everything was coming from, so they had to go in and clean it up," he said.

Johnson has 25 catches for 352 yards this season to lead the team. Jacoby Jones will fill in for Johnson this week and the Texans can also go to tight end Owen Daniels, who has 14 receptions for 182 yards and three scores.

"We're being challenged right now from a numbers standpoint as a football team," coach Gary Kubiak said. "That's what this league is about -- trying to find a way each week to regroup and put your best group on the field to win another game. We've got to pass the test."

Johnson hates sitting out when the Texans are playing so well. But he believes the team is better equipped to deal with his absence than in the past when he was injured.

"The whole attitude of the team is totally different than it used to be," he said. "Of course you don't want to lose anybody, but at the same time we know what's at stake for the team. Guys are going to go out and get the job done."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cbssports.com)

The Houston Texans will be without wide receiver Andre Johnson(notes) when they host the Oakland Raiders on October 9. That is a huge loss for the Texans as they continue their drive toward a division title and the first playoff berth in franchise history. Houston still has a lot of talent on offense. However, it won't be easy to play without one of the three best wide receivers in the league.

Johnson was knocked out of the October 2 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hamstring injury. The team confirmed that he had a minor procedure on his right hamstring. The team said that Johnson will miss the Oakland game and could be out longer. They didn't offer a specific time frame for his return but based on the procedure the Texans could be facing the prospect of losing Johnson for several weeks. The team doesn't have a bye week until Week 11. That means that Johnson won't get a free week of rest. He won't be out that long but Houston will likely have to handle the situation carefully each week.

The good news is that Johnson didn't have major surgery. He might be out a few games but he doesn't have to worry about long term recovery. That is good for both him and the team. Johnson is the leading receiver on the team in terms of yards and catches. Only tight end Owen Daniels(notes) has caught more touchdown passes. Kevin Walter(notes) and Jacoby Jones(notes) are decent receivers but they don't scare defenses the same way that Johnson does. Houston also has a strong running game. However, there is a real possibility that the lack of Johnson could encourage defenses to focus more on that instead of the passing attack.

I don't expect Houston to fall apart without Johnson. However, I don't think they will be able to count on the passing attack being as strong. Houston is strong in other areas and should be able to weather the loss of Johnson. If this really is a playoff team they can afford a short term loss even if it is a player of that caliber. But Houston is going to need to game plan a little differently. They won't get Johnson's production from another receiver. That means they will have to be creative in terms of putting points on the board.


(sports.yahoo.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson did have a surgical procedure on the distal tendon of his hamstring and not Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy. Surgery done by someone very familiar with doing it. This is not confirmed with anyone from the Texans nor his agent as they do not publicly wish to talk about it. I was told that the procedure went well, and like what others have been hearing, that the anticipated recovery time is three weeks.

Don’t ask me to tell you what surgical procedures on the distal hamstring tendon result in a three week recovery time based on what information you can find on the interwebs, because I can’t find it. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist however. I am not a doctor, nor should I play one on the interweb.

As my last post demonstrates, it is hard to find details on subjects that people don’t want you to have information about.

In today’s news, Texans coach Gary Kubiak provided a few additional details about his injury and said his procedure went well:

All the information that we’re getting moving forward is very positive, so that’s a good thing. He did have the procedure done yesterday. We’re not putting any timeline on anything right now. We just know that everything went well. The doctor feels good about it. Andre feels good about it. He should be back here sometime maybe this afternoon and we start our rehab and move forward. We’re going to miss him for a period of time. We’re going to have to have some guys step up and play well.

(on if there’s a timetable that usually goes with the procedure that WR Andre Johnson had) “No, Kap (Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer Geoff Kaplan) could probably give you more information on that. I just know that we had it done yesterday. Obviously, I’m in game-plan and stuff on Tuesdays. The biggest thing for me and for the team, me talking to the team is just how positive everybody feels about moving forward. I’m listening to the doctors, listening to Kap, listening to Andre. I had a great talk with Andre yesterday. We know we’re going to get our captain back and that’s a great thing. We’ve just got to go to work on getting that done.”

(on what happened with WR Andre Johnson’s injury) “I’m going to let Kap (Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer Geoff Kaplan) tell you. I really don’t know. It’s my understanding it has something to do with the tendon. That’s all I know.” (my emphasis).
That’s a lot of words to say wait and see.


(chron.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson sat out Wednesday's practice while dealing with a sore knee. Johnson said he was fine and would be back at practice tomorrow.

As long as Johnson participates in Thursday and Friday practices, there is no real need to get concerned about this. Rather, this post is more just to make sure you've got this on your radar. For guys like Johnson, it's easy to stick them in your lineup and only make an adjustment when their bye week comes around. You'll want to keep an eye out for Thursday and Friday injury reports.

As long as Johnson practices before the end of the week, he's good to go for this Sunday, which means you'll keep him in your starting lineup. The Texans are facing a struggling Pittsburgh Steelers squad and Johnson could be in line for a particularly strong day. Not that you wouldn't start him if you were worried about a strong secondary.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

Andre Johnson reeled off 128 yards on seven catches as the Texans fell to the Saints in Week 3.

Johnson has at least 93 yards in each of Houston's first three games. Dominant over the middle and deep down the field Sunday, Johnson had 104 yards by the midway point in the first half. The Saints then took steps to slow Johnson down, and Houston's entire offense sputtered in the final two quarters. Johnson will continue to be an elite WR1 play in Week 4 against Pittsburgh.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

MIAMI - It turns out Andre Johnson isn't that much different than the rest of us.

When he lined up early in the fourth quarter Sunday at the Dolphins' 23, facing a 2nd-and-6 with a reserve cornerback named Nolan Carroll shading him with little help, he thought what the rest of us thought.

"The way he was playing me, I knew that it was six," Johnson said. "When I came off the line and saw the way he was playing me, I knew that it would be a touchdown."

The rest of us simply identified a mismatch - Carroll replaced Dolphins starting cornerback Vontae Davis, who suffered a hamstring injury - and with Johnson being who he is, it was a predictable outcome. For the Texans, however, it was a much-needed play, a strike that provided a cushion and the final advantage on the scoreboard - and who better than their All-Pro?

"I said, 'I'm going to be real aggressive here and we're going to throw the ball and give No. 80 a chance to make some plays and No. 80 did," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.

Added quarterback Matt Schaub: "Andre was our No. 1 option on that play. He ran a great route, was able to get behind the corner and the safety hung on the inside so we had a good play in the back of the end zone. Dre's always going to be in the mix."

While Johnson may have received some help - "We had double coverage and we blew the coverage," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said - the play was hardly surprising. Heck, it wasn't to Bryant Johnson, the wide receiver who joined the Texans less than three weeks ago.

What he has seen in practice since then from Johnson is amazing - not only catches like the one against Carroll but also catches similar in style to the spectacular 43-yarder just before halftime.

In Arizona, Bryant Johnson played alongside one of the league's greats at the position in Larry Fitzgerald, and he admits there are a lot of similarities in how both approach the craft. But because both Johnsons came out of college in the same year (2003), Bryant Johnson has always followed his new teammate's career.

"A guy like Dre, who puts in the work, you expect him to play like he did today," Bryant Johnson said. "He makes spectacular plays in practice, so you expect him to make those plays on days like today, too."

He did, of course. It was another ho-hum afternoon, the remarkable made routine. Or so said his coach.

"Andre had his usual - seven or eight catches for 90-something yards again," Kubiak said.

And a touchdown, too.

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(chron.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson (80) makes a University of Miami sign after scoring a touch down in the fourth quarter of a NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Sun Life Stadium in Miami. The Texans won 23-13. Photo: Houston Chronicle, Nick De La Torre / © 2011 Houston Chronicle



This photo was courtesy of proCanes twitter follower @tp8888.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson is wearing a clear visor on his facemask thisyear. "The helmet I wear, my facemask is more open," Johnson said. "Sometimes, guys' hands get in your face and stuff like that, so that's why I've been wearing it." He tried out the visor in training camp and is trying it during games.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(kffl.com)

Andre Johnson may be the most humble athlete. I say that after hearing him dispel the notion that he’s the best wide receiver in the NFL. If Johnson was watching Tom Brady carve up the Dolphins’ secondary to the tune of 517 yards on Monday night, he had to have been licking his chops thinking about what he might be able to do against Miami’s secondary this coming Sunday. In the Texans’  Week 1 drubbing of the Indianapolis Colts, Johnson had 7 receptions for 95 yards and 1 touchdown. Just another day at the office for one of, if not the best WR in the league.

In addition to his thoughts on the Miami Dolphins secondary, Johnson comments on several other big topics in this must listen interview with 790 The Ticket in Miami. By the way how about Dan LeBatard Is Highly Questionable? A very interesting idea for a program to have LeBatard and his dad (Papi) bring a family like atmosphere to sports talk. You either love it or hate it.  The brand new television program hasn’t taken away from LeBatard radio game one bit.

Andre Johnson joined 790 The Ticket on The Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz to discuss how he doesn’t consider himself to be the best wide receiver in football, how he might put himself somewhere in the top five wideouts in the game,  crushing the Indianapolis Colts without Peyton Manning, his reluctance to comment on the mess going on at the University of Miami (his alma mater) stemming from Nevin Shapiro’s association with the program, his initial feelings when he saw the coverage devoted to the University of Miami scandal a few weeks ago, going against a Miami Dolphins secondary that allowed 517 yard passing to Tom Brady on Monday night, and having nothing to say about Cortland Finnegan (the CB he whooped up on during an in-game altercation last year).

Are you the best wide receiver in football?
“No. I’m not the best [laughs]. [Dan LeBatard: Come on who is better?] There’s a lot of great guys out there man. I’m a fan of the game. You look at…I’m a big fan of Calvin. Calvin Johnson. Right now I would probably say he is the best. [Dan LeBatard: He's taller than you?] He’s a pretty big guy. He’s a very talented guy. He’s my favorite guy from a fan perspective from the outside looking in.”

Are you a top five wide receiver?
“I’m somewhere in there.”

Did you enjoy crushing the Colts with Peyton Manning or do you prefer him being in that game?
“You would like to have Peyton Manning out there. The situation happened and we went out there and approached the game just as if he was out there. We went out there and got the W.”

I’m going to play word association with you. I’m going to throw out a name and you tell me what you think about the person. Nevin Shapiro?
“I would rather not comment on that [while laughing]. [Dan LeBatard: That's not how you play the game! That's not a fun game!] I would just rather not comment on that man. It’s just bad. You hate to see something like that especially at the ‘U.’ You hate to see something like that going on. I just feel bad for the guys that had to suffer consequences due to that.”

When you saw the coverage going on about what was happening at the University Miami you first thought was what?
“I kinda just thought a lot of times the NCAA do their investigations and things like that. I just think a lot of these boosters that they have around the school need to be investigated and find out what they are actually doing because you have guys that are around players at banquets and things like that and who knew all of that was going on. You know what I am saying? That’s the thing that needs to happen. It would be a hard thing to do, but somehow they need to figure out a way to investigate the boosters and stuff like to find out what they have going on.”

What did you really think when you saw Tom Brady throw for 517 yards against the Dolphins secondary when the Patriots don’t have a receiver like Andre Johnson? Andre Johnson thought to himself what?
“I just thought that the Dolphins were having a tough time. You seeing the guys cramping up and things like that. I just thought they were having a rough time. You can’t really go off what another team did. You can use that to game plan and things like that. It’s different week-to-week. You have to come to play every week. You can’t win the game on paper, so we are doing everything we can do to be ready on Sunday. We are going to try to go out and execute our offense and try to get the W.”

Is Cortland Finnegan a top corner you do not want to face?
“I don’t talk about that guy. [Dan LeBatard: Haha] [Stugotz: Now that's a guy you don't want to comment on!] [Dan LeBatard: That was an ass kicking you administered Andre] I guess so.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sportsradiointerviews.com)

Andre Johnson caught seven passes for 95 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's blowout of the Colts.

Johnson had a high pass deflect off his hands which led to an interception in the first quarter, but he quickly redeemed himself. The Colts' tiny corners had no prayer of containing Johnson, who did anything he wanted for the entire first half. The Texans took a 34-0 lead into the half and then just ran the clock out. If the game was close, Johnson would have pushed for 200 yards receiving.

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(rotoworld.com)

Thank to proCane fan @gumavirg for sending us this video!

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

HOUSTON -- Numbers mean almost nothing to Andre Johnson. Or so he says -- and I truly do believe him.

I recently tried to flatter him with an amazing statistic I dug up about his career, one in which he exceeds even Jerry Rice, the man I consider the greatest football player of all time.

Johnson has averaged at least 90 yards receiving per game in each of the past four seasons for the Houston Texans. Rice never did that; his best run was three consecutive years. The only player in the top 50 receivers to do it more than four times consecutively is Lance Alworth, who did it five times with the San Diego Chargers from 1964-68.

So what did Johnson have to say about it?

"I don't get caught up into that stat thing," Johnson said.

That's Jerry Rice, Andre.

"It's [an] amazing accomplishment when you look at the guys who played the position, but I have a lot more to offer," Johnson said. "I just like to know everything when I finish playing. I don't get caught up in stats. I just do whatever I need to do to help this team to win a Super Bowl."

Even nudging Johnson to extol his virtues won't work. He is the anti-diva receiver. At a time when you have guys quitting on routes, self-promoting themselves with reality shows and Twitter and calling out their quarterbacks, Johnson just works, plays, catches passes and can do something that none of the others can do.

Stand tall as the best receiver in football.

To truly put into perspective Johnson's four consecutive seasons of 90-plus yards per game, take a look at some of the other contemporary receivers and how many seasons they've gone past 90 for a season in their entire careers.

Terrell Owens: Four times. Marvin Harrison: Three times. Torry Holt: Three times. Randy Moss: Twice. Larry Fitzgerald: Once. Reggie Wayne: Once. Chad Ochocinco: Once

Johnson's four-season average of 96.2 yards per game is higher than any four-season run Rice had in his career. The only players among the all-time leading receivers to have better four-year averages are Alworth and Marvin Harrison (1999-2002).

That's why Johnson tops the list of players with a per-game average of 79.7 yards in his career. That's over 2 yards more than Holt, who is second at 77.4 yards per game. Rice finished his career at 75.6 per game.

Johnson also has 673 catches in eight seasons. If he somehow were to play 20 seasons -- hey, Rice played 21 -- and kept up his average, he would break Rice's all-time record for catches of 1,549. That's a long way off, but it's possible.

"That's not anything I am worrying about," Johnson said.

Of course it isn't. That's not Andre Johnson's way. He keeps a low profile for sure. This is a player who could walk into a grocery story in any other city except Miami -- his home and college town -- and Houston and most people wouldn't know who he was. That's the opposite of Ochocinco, his cousin, who is everywhere and even had his own reality show.

The fact Johnson is quiet and isn't in the tabloids or all over the papers could be the reason he doesn't get his due.

"I don't think that's it," Johnson said. "If you hear people talking about top receivers, look at their teams. They're successful. When people talk about Larry [Fitzgerald], it's because of what he did in the playoffs and the Super Bowl. That elevated him. I've never been on that stage."

Johnson, who has never played in a playoff game in his eight seasons with the Texans, played the 2010 season on an ankle that required offseason surgery. The coaching staff and his teammates were truly impressed by his dedication. Mondays were brutal, yet he missed just the final three games.

"It was really tough on him, but he found a way," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's one of those players who will fight to stay in there. He really had to battle through it each week."

"It was tough," Johnson said. "At the end of the season, the only thing that kept me out was the ankle specialist told me it wasn't worth playing because my ankle was getting worse."

Johnsons said he is pain-free in the ankle now, which is bad news for opposing defensive backs. He's also about to get some national exposure -- courtesy of Michael Jordan, one of the most recognizable athletes ever. He is one of the few football players featured as part of Jordan's "Jumpman" Nike line. Johnson is also featured in a Men's Fitness pictorial in September.

"I've been doing a lot of photo shoots," he said.

Johnson has just one national commercial on his résumé, for Nike gloves. What's wrong here? Why can't the best receiver in football get some love?

Maybe it's because he doesn't crave it -- or even really seem to want it. Hate to tell you, Andre. Keep it up on the field, and it's coming your way.

You just might be the next Jerry Rice, which is saying something in my book.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cbssports.com)

Johnson brings a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism. He is a good route runner who has the speed to challenge the secondary down the seam yet can run combination routes with excellent foot quickness, agility and acceleration.

Johnson can get in and out of his breaks with foot quickness and a burst to separate from defenders and has a wide receiving radius that allows him to extend to make difficult catches. He can go up and high point the ball in a crowd and has the strength to overpower most cornerbacks when challenged.

Ed Reed was No. 21, Ray Lewis No. 67.
Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Three Texans starters who played at the University of Miami — receiver Andre Johnson, center Chris Myers and offensive tackle Eric Winston — were critical of the former Hurricanes booster who is at the center of a scandal that could bring down one of college football’s most successful programs.

Johnson accepted drinks and VIP accommodations at Miami-area clubs, according to Nevin Shapiro, a former Hurricanes booster who told Yahoo! Sports he lavished as many as 72 Miami players and coaches with cash, prostitutes, jewelry, travel and parties at his mansions, on his yacht and at local nightclubs.

Johnson didn’t deny knowing Shapiro, who was one of Miami’s most prominent boosters.

“I wasn’t in the clubs too much when I was in college, so I don’t know about that,” Johnson said about Shapiro claiming he hosted Johnson in VIP sections and bought him drinks, a violation of NFL rules. “He knows what happened, and I know what happened. I’m not really worried about it.”

Shapiro, who is in a New Jersey prison for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme, also told Yahoo! Sports that between 2002 through 2010 he paid players to attend Miami and, on one occasion, paid for an abortion.

“I don’t know about everybody else,” Johnson said. “I can only speak for myself. The guy’s in trouble, and he’s trying to take everybody down with him. You kind of get upset about it, but at the same time, you can’t control what anybody says.

“It’s over. It’s done with. The NCAA is handling it, and we’ll just move on.”

Johnson said no one connected to the scandal has contacted him. He made it clear, though, he doesn’t like what Shapiro is doing to his college, where he expects to earn his degree next summer.

“I think that’s bad,” he said. “It’s something you don’t want to see.

“Being down there this offseason and working out with so many guys and seeing the team improve and seeing that team on the rise, you hate to see something like this happen.”

Yahoo! Sports had a picture of Johnson posing with Shapiro at the Hurricanes’ 2002 all-sports banquet. Johnson said he took a lot of pictures with a lot of fans while he played at Miami and doesn’t remember that one.

Shapiro also said Texans second-year linebacker Darryl Sharpton partied at one of his mansions and accepted VIP access at clubs, where he also was bought drinks.

Counting veteran defensive lineman Damione Lewis and rookie cornerback Brandon Harris, the Texans have seven players who played for the Hurricanes.

Myers, Winston and backup tackle Rashad Butler played on the same offensive line at Miami. Myers left for the NFL after the 2004 season and was drafted by Denver in 2005.

“To be honest with you, it was a surprise to me,” Myers said about Shapiro’s allegations. “I was there five years. I knew the guy was around, but I didn’t know all that stuff was going on.

“Every story I read is new stuff to me. It’s a shame, but it’s a one-sided story right now. I’m anxious to see how it all pans out. He’s in prison. He can say anything he wants to say. It’s a real shame, dragging down a program right now. There’s always two sides to every story.”

Winston earned All-American recognition with the Hurricanes before the Texans drafted him in the third round in 2006.

“I heard the name (Shapiro), but I didn’t know him, and I couldn’t pick him out of a lineup,” Winston said. “Anytime you have a guy who, obviously, has the character he has and gets that close to the program it’s worrisome.

“Sure, you’re surprised when something like this comes out. It’s unfortunate that a guy like that got as close as he did with the program, but, a lot of colleges are dealing with the same kind of thing.

“It’s unfortunate, but we have to deal with it as a program, as a family and keep pushing forward.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

HOUSTON (AP) — On his 30th birthday last month, Andre Johnson didn't spend much time thinking about football or the fact that he has yet to reach the playoffs.

Still, the Houston Texans' star receiver said he never thought he'd reach the milestone birthday before making the postseason.

"Like I said before, that's something I think about every day," Johnson said of making the playoffs. "I'm just trying to do whatever I can to hopefully stand up on that podium one day and hold that trophy. That's my goal."

Johnson has long been considered one of the top receivers in the NFL. He's had more than 1,000 yards receiving in five of his eight seasons in the league, including the last three straight.

But as the Texans prepare for their 10th season and Johnson for his ninth, he's prepared to do even more to help Houston reach the playoffs for the first time.

"You just have to turn your play up another notch," he said. "That's just the way I look at it so hopefully, the way I've been playing, I can just take it and turn it up a whole other level. That's what I'm going to try to do."

It would be difficult for Johnson to do much more for this team. He followed up two straight 1,500 yard-plus receiving seasons by catching 86 passes for 1,216 yards in just 13 games last year.

"He means everything," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I was just telling the guys a while ago that I was putting pressure on him. When he practices good, we practice good as an offensive football team; same thing with the quarterback. Andre goes all day, works all day. You don't find many guys that are nine-year pros and work like that. That's why he's a great player."

Johnson missed four days of camp with a dislocated left index finger, but has looked good since returning on Sunday. He's not 100 percent, but knows it's important to practice as much as possible with the first preseason game with the Jets coming up on Monday.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "The finger is still sore. I just keep it wrapped up with a splint ... just trying to see how fast it can heal up, but I've been getting treatment and stuff on it every day just trying to get it fully healed."

Johnson doesn't talk publicly about personal goals and says he doesn't care where people rank him among the top receivers. The only goal he shares with the media before each season is the one he hasn't reached, but he's grown weary of talking about that one, too.

"It's like beating something dead," Johnson said of talking about the playoffs. "We hear it over and over so we know what we have to do to get to where we want to go."

Texans owner Bob McNair said he isn't even considering the possibility of not making the postseason.

"It's the playoffs," he said. "That's what we expect and have no reason to believe we won't be there. We're going to do whatever we have to do to win, period. Of course, that means you're going to be in the playoffs ... but it's all about winning and we've had adequate time to get there and we've been very close. We just need to make that determination that we're going to make it happen."

As one of the longest tenured players on this team, Johnson's leadership is something McNair believes will be key in helping the Texans reach their goal. Johnson signed a contract extension before last season that should keep him in Houston for his entire career.

"You just couldn't ask for anybody to be a better teammate than Andre because not only is he a great player but he goes out there and plays as hard or harder than anybody, he never complains, he does his job, he's willing to sacrifice and he doesn't complain about how many balls you've thrown to him," McNair said. "That's what you're looking for. This is a team sport and a lot of what happens depends upon the chemistry of that team. Andre helps set the right chemistry for us."

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(ap.com)

HOUSTON — Andre Johnson awoke in Dallas on Super Bowl Sunday after spending a festive weekend with friends in February. By kickoff, he was nearly 250 miles away, not a party bowl of guacamole within reach, lollygagging alone at home in his annual playoff funk.

Voted by peers as pro football's consummate pass catcher, not even Johnson's phenomenal exploits have been able to steer the Houston Texans to the playoffs. After slumping to a 6-10 record in 2010, Houston remains the only NFL franchise not to have advanced to the postseason since beginning play in 2002.

"This is what eats at me every day," says the soft-spoken wide receiver in a baritone voice. "I knew when I was drafted (in 2003) I was coming to an (expansion) organization. I knew it would not happen overnight. But I did not think it would take this long. I think about it every day. When I say every day, I mean … every … single … day."

That makes eight interminably long years for one of the NFL's most highly accomplished — yet underappreciated and understated — assets. Johnson is no diva, tweeter or brand builder, just "hands-down the best receiver in the league," says cornerback Melvin Bullitt of the rival Indianapolis Colts.

The highest-paid receiver in history "has done everything for the (Texans) franchise; no one knows his name," says Baltimore Ravens fullback Vonta Leach, a former teammate.

Defenses do. Johnson, 30, is a fearless playmaker with freakish athletic ability, including a high tolerance for pain. Johnson is not the least bit queasy regarding the real possibility of violent, rush-hour-like collisions in the secondary. As he reasons, "You are going to get hit anyway. So you might as well catch it."

Johnson played with a high-ankle sprain most of last season and was voted to his fifth Pro Bowl and fourth all-pro honor. Injured in Week 2, he finished with 86 catches for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing three games — including the last two when doctors advised him to shut it down.

"Putting up those numbers, on one foot, tells (you) what he is all about; he is a phenomenal player," Texans coach Gary Kubiak says.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub says there were many occasions when Johnson's ankle "was tweaked, and he would get a (pain-numbing) shot and go back out. Andre is a tough guy who sells out for his team."

The reason: His determination to be the greatest. Ever.

Maybe that's one reason, as a prep player at Miami Senior High, his first tattoo was of a lion with a football in his mouth underscored by “Hungry.”

"(Hall of Fame receiver) Jerry Rice has set a plateau that probably never, ever will be duplicated," Johnson says. "But when I walk away from this game, I want people to say that Andre Johnson was the best receiver to ever have played."

Big numbers, low profile
Only Rice and Johnson have led the league in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons since 1960. This summer, NFL players voted the big Texan the league's seventh-best player overall.

Respected? Unquestionably. Chad Ochocinco-like, over-the-top personality? Sorry, wrong dude.

In 2010, sales for Johnson's No. 80 jersey ranked 44th among NFL players and, incredibly, No. 8 among receivers. The Texans' playoff drought is one reason. So is Johnson's indifference to personal outlandishness and a lack of self-promotion. He'd rather attend a high school football game or spend time with daughter, Kylie, 2.

"I don't think the guy even has a touchdown dance," marvels Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton of CBS Radio.

He sometimes spikes the ball, but mostly hugs his teammates and beelines for the sideline. Not that he is anti-flamboyant.

"Sometimes," he says, "I look forward to going home and watching ESPN to see what someone does (outrageously), so I can laugh. But it isn't me."

It was his shocking slugfest with Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan in 2010 that earned him unwanted notoriety. The players were kicked out of the game and each fined $25,000. Johnson apologized.

"More people know him more for the Finnegan fight than the play of Andre Johnson," Leach says. "He doesn't say much. He just goes about his business, a true professional. He chooses to make noise with his play."

Johnson is a rare, defense-sapping combination of a powerful, 6-2, 228-pound receiver who, Bullitt says, "has the size of a (pass-rushing) defensive end, the speed of a cornerback and the hands of a wide receiver."

The Atlanta Falcons' Roddy White, the NFL's leader in catches in 2010, jokingly says Johnson is "so big, so strong and runs so fast, that it's kind of unfair."

Johnson's 79.7-yard per-game career average is best in NFL history among players with at least 100 games. The only player in league history with 60 or more catches in each of his first eight seasons, Johnson often confronts sticky double coverage and brutal hits. His toughness and explosiveness enable him to turn routine catches into wide swaths of real estate.

Texans receivers coach Larry Kirksey, who coached Rice and Terrell Owens in San Francisco, calls Johnson a mixture of them.

"He is smart, and he understands the game. And he plays the game the way it is meant to be played," by playing all-out.

A prime example came in Week 13 at the Philadelphia Eagles. Four days after the Finnegan fiasco, Johnson displayed the right kind of playoff fight for a desperate team. With Houston trailing before halftime, he reinjured his ankle, telling trainers, "I think I'm done for the season." Johnson got a painkilling injection at halftime.

"He came out (because he) knew we needed him; it was do-or-die for us," Schaub says.

With the Texans trailing 20-10, Johnson returned in the second half and finished the game with six catches for 149 yards. The Texans rallied to take a 24-20 lead but lost 34-24.

"Yeah, I hate to say it, but there are some guys who (play just for money)," Johnson says. "They really don't care if they win or they lose. They just want to collect a check. If I ever got to that point, I would retire."

Keeping his head high
While he appears years from that eventuality, the injury bug stung Johnson in training camp. Leaping for a pass, the ball deflected off his left hand and dislocated the index finger.

"When I looked at it, it was kind of ugly, so I popped it back into place," he said. "But when I took my glove off, the blood started running out," because the bone broke the skin. "If I were able to play on a bum ankle, there is no way a finger is going to keep me down."

A day after the injury, Johnson found humor in his plight. As he strolled down a hallway, his tender, heavily bandaged finger was caught up in a pair of sandals carried by third-year running back Chris Ogbonnaya.

"He started pulling me along, and I was like, 'Whoa, whoa!' " Johnson says. "He said, 'Sorry, man, my bad.' We just laughed."
Johnson has had too few days to smile about since the Texans drafted the ex-Miami (Fla.) star with the third overall pick. At Miami, Johnson was accustomed to playing after the regular season. He was a Rose Bowl MVP. But it would take until 2009 before Johnson played on another winner: the 9-7 Texans.

Last summer, the Texans rewarded Johnson with a two-year, $23.5 million contract extension, including a guaranteed $13 million that keeps him in Houston until 2016. But at what price to a very determined man?

"I hate watching the postseason," he says. "I think, 'Man, when is our time coming?' "

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(usatoday.com)

It's been a little over a week since Andre Johnson left practice with a dislocation to his left index finger. Fans of the Houston Texans were relieved to learn that the injury wasn't too serious -- as in no surgery would be required. But that doesn't mean the five-time Pro Bowler isn't dealing with the effects of the painful injury since returning to practice this week. Johnson gave KILT in Houston an update on his finger injury during a Tuesday interview, and from the sound of it, Johnson is still in quite a bit of pain and is in an adjustment period as he tries to put the injury out of his mind while catching balls.

How his finger feels:
“It’s a little sore. It’s in a splint for most of the day. The only time it’s not in a splint is when I’m out here. We’re still waiting for the wounds to close up but it’s not stopping me from practicing so that’s a good thing.”

Whether or not he was scared to try and catch a ball with his finger at first:
“I wasn’t scared. I think the biggest thing was I looked at my finger and said ‘wow that looks kinda ugly.’ I popped it back into place and once I popped it back into place I really didn’t think nothing of it. I just went to get buddy tape and when I went to take my glove off blood was just running down my hand.”

How tough it has been to gain back his confidence in that finger:
"At times you’re kinda hesitant about sticking your hands up there rather than body catch it. That’s just part of it because you have to gain the confidence back. My first day at practice I caught myself doing that at times and actually one of the balls popped off my facemask. One of the first few passes I tried to catch I was just getting that confidence back and getting used to catching the ball. You know I wear a splint now on my finger so I have to get used to catching the ball with that on also. It’s been a little different. Like I said I’m just excited to be back out here.”

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(sbnation.com)

Andre Johnson, ever the warrior, returned to practice Sunday and made a number of difficult catches, no matter that he's still dealing with a compound dislocation of his left index finger. Most impressive was a ball he pulled in despite solid coverage by new free safety Danieal Manning.

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(chron.com)

Texans WR Andre Johnson's dislocated finger was a little more serious than originally revealed.

Johnson, widely considered the NFL's premier wide receiver, was taken to a Houston hospital Tuesday morning after the bone of his left index finger busted through the skin and caused blood to spurt from the wound, he told USA TODAY on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Pro Bowler said he jumped in the air for a pass during a drill and the football hit the tip of his finger, dislocating the digit.

"I had a glove on and when I made a fist, my index finger didn't feel right. When I looked at it, it was kind of ugly, so I popped it back into place,'' he said. "I was fine, wasn't in any pain or anything. But the sweat from my glove got in the cut where the bone broke the skin. It started burning. When I took my glove off, that's when the blood started running out.''

Johnson said he went to his receivers coach, Larry Kirksey. "He said, 'What's wrong?' He saw the blood running out and was like, 'Oh, hell, no.' ''
The receiver said he did not need stitches but was told by doctors that the cuts he sustained would need about three days to heal. The finger, resting on a small splint, is heavily bandaged.

"Once the cuts close, I can start practicing again. They say, hopefully, sometime this weekend,'' Johnson said.

The veteran, who was hobbled virtually all of last season with a high ankle sprain, did find some humor in the situation a day later after the accident.

"I was walking by (Texans' running back) Chris Ogbonnaya and he was carrying his sandals,'' Johnson said. "Somehow, his sandal got hooked up with my (injured) finger) and he started pulling me (down the hallway). I was like, 'Whoa, whoa…'' He said, 'Sorry, man, my bad!' We just both laughed about it.''

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(usatoday.com)

In jest, he referred to himself as "the old vet," but the tag does fit. This is Andre Johnson's ninth training camp, all with the Texans. Among teammates, only Neil Rackers (11 seasons), Damione Lewis (10) and Brad Maynard (14) have been in the NFL longer, while fellow wide receiver Kevin Walter and guard Wade Smith have stuck just as long.

One of Johnson's discoveries is that the nicks not only last longer now but they also occur more frequently than before. On Tuesday, he dislocated his left index finger during a one-on-one drill with rookie Roc Carmichael, but the injury isn't major.

It won't linger into the regular season, during which Johnson — at 30 and after a nearly decade-long playoff drought — insists he's maintaining a singular focus.

"There's nothing else," Johnson said. "I've been All-Pro, been to Pro Bowls and had 1,500-yard seasons. All it's about now is winning Super Bowls. That's the reason why I play. That's my goal.

"I'm going to do everything to help this organization get there."

This is a serious matter because Johnson, beyond his excellence on Sundays, is noted for his silence. He is quiet by nature, not loud with anything besides his statistics. He is not a self-promoter, which makes sense because he's arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL — and aren't actions supposed to speak louder than words?

Has anyone adhered to that axiom/cliché more than Johnson? Well, not anymore. He's speaking up. Johnson revealed Sunday he chatted with free-agent acquisition Johnathan Joseph in the offseason at a wedding for Fred Bennett, a former Texan and South Carolina alumnus (like Joseph).

"He just told me what a great organization it was here and how much I would like it here, the city and fans and that's what you want to be part of in this league," Joseph said.

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(chron.com)

HOUSTON -- WR Andre Johnson was forced from the Texans' Tuesday morning practice after what appeared to be a dislocated left index finger.
The finger, injured in a one-on-one drill, was put back into place and wrapped before Johnson was taken off the field on a cart. The five-time Pro Bowler was not expected to participate in the afternoon session.

"We'll have to wait and see,'' said coach Gary Kubiak, hopeful the injury was merely a dislocation. "I have a big lump in my throat like everybody else, but hopefully he'll be fine.''

Johnson, 30, played through a high ankle sprain for most of last season but still caught 86 passes for 1,216 yards and eight TDs. He has led the NFL in receiving yards per game three of the past four years.

In an offseason survey of players conducted by the NFL Network, the highest-paid receiver in history was voted the league's seventh-best player, regardless of position, and its No. 1 wideout.

Since the merger, Johnson is the only receiver other than Hall of Famer Jerry Rice to lead the NFL in receiving yardage in back-to-back seasons (2008-09). Johnson and former Colt Marvin Harrison are the only players to ever post consecutive 1,500-yard receiving seasons.

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(usatoday.com)

(hurricanesports.com)

Here was the NFL Network’s top 10 (with fan ranking in parentheses):
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England (No. 3) 2. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis (No. 1) 3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota (No. 7) 4. Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens (No. 4) 5. Ed Reed, S, Ravens (No. 8) 6. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh (No. 6) 7. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston (No. 10) 8. Darrelle Revis, CB, N.Y. Jets (No. 14) 9. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (No. 9) 10. Julius Peppers, DE, Chicago (No. 18)

Do you see any Seminoles or Gators? We don’t....

"There will be football this year. There will be football this year. There will be football this year." You know those self-help gurus who say that you can will stuff into existence? Yeah, we're not sure if they're all they're cracked up to be either, but just in case, repeat the aforementioned mantra a few times today to be sure.

The lockout has to end soon, and when (not if!) it does, Andre Johnson will be ready. In eight seasons with the Houston Texans, the University of Miami product has solidified his spot as the top wide receiver in the game, including three straight All Pro selections. He's spent much of the lockout working out with fellow alums at The U, but he took a few minutes out of his schedule to talk to us about Halle Berry, the most famous person in his cell phone, and why Rick Ross's "I'm Not a Star" perfectly sums up his own life.

---
What’s your favorite song of the moment? Andre Johnson: The thing I listen to the most right now is Rick Ross - “I’m Not A Star.”

What about that song in particular? Andre Johnson: I think the title pretty much describes itself. I’m not a star. I just look at it just like I’m a normal person. That's the way I approach things. By being an elite athlete a lot of people think that you can go away or go places and get away with things. I’m more of the laid-back person. I don’t have to go and skip the line. I don’t have a problem waiting.

And obviously Rick Ross is a Miami dude, so that has some resonance, right? Andre Johnson: Yeah, definitely. You know, you always support guys from your hometown. And I had the chance to meet him out in L.A. during [NBA] All-Star Weekend. He’s a real good dude.

If you had to pick one pair of Jordans, which would it be? Andre Johnson: I like the 9’s, black and gray.

What’s the most money you ever spent on an item of a clothing? Andre Johnson: Probably like three grand on a leather jacket.

When did you pick that up? Andre Johnson: About four months ago.

And you mentioned not being the dude that has to get in the front of the line. Was there a time where you first came in to the league where that was something you wanted to do? Andre Johnson: I’ve never been that kind of person. I’ve always been the more laid-back more humble guy. I don’t have to be in the limelight, you know? If I’m in club I’m gonna be in the corner. I don’t have to have all the sparkles on the bottles and all that stuff.

What celebrity is in your Wifey Hall of Fame? Andre Johnson: Halle Berry.

Is there a particular era of Halle Berry that you’re fond of, or just her overall? Andre Johnson: Nah, just her period. Her and Paula Patton.

Favorite alcoholic drink? Andre Johnson: Ciroc, coconut on the rocks.

Current video game obsession? Andre Johnson: Two games – either Madden or NBA 2K11.

Whom do you play with in Madden? Andre Johnson: I play with anybody—I don’t play with myself. I always tell people I’m a fan of the game also. So, I play with anybody.

Dream ride? Andre Johnson: I’ve had a lot of cars. [Laughs.] Probably the Drophead Phantom, the convertible Rolls Royce. That’s probably the top of the line besides the Bugatti. I’m not spending a million dollars for a car. [Laughs.]

Coveted tech product? Andre Johnson: My laptop.

What do you use? Andre Johnson: A Mac.

So you just kind of carry that around with you all of the time? Andre Johnson: Majority of the time. I’m not on it a lot. I just make sure it’s with me.

What's your favorite city to visit? Andre Johnson: I spend most of my time in Miami, but I’m from there so… Other than that I don’t really have one to be honest.

Who’s the most famous person in your cellphone? Andre Johnson: Probably Michael Irvin.

You’ve known him from since when you first were in school at Miami right? Andre Johnson: I think I met him my freshman year and it’s been all love since then.

What have you been doing during the lockout? Andre Johnson: Just back in Miami training, working out down at The U. Trying to make sure I’m ready for when everything gets worked out.

That’s probably not that much different than your normal offseason routine, right? Andre Johnson: It was different this year because we didn’t have any offseason training and stuff with the team. But, I prefer to be in Miami training anyway. I feel that’s where I get what I need to get done. When I leave there I know that I’m ready.

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(complex.com)

Chad Ocho Cinco tweeted: Just finished working out with @Johnson80 @eighttodanine @antonionbrown84 and @bothetrainer



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(twitter.com)

One of the curiosities to develop during the locked-out NFL offseason is star players lobbying for other players who will eventually become free agents to join their teams. The latest such campaign came from Andre Johnson, who reportedly has lobbied Nnamdi Asomugha to join the Texans.

Asomugha, as you are likely well aware given all the conjecture, is the consensus top player available in what will be the free-agent market. So while Texans coach Gary Kubiak isn’t allowed to comment on free agents, he indicated during an interview with NFL Network’s Rich Eisen he’s appreciative of Johnson’s networking skills.

“We obviously have to continue to get our football team better. I’m glad Andre has some great friends out there, so we’ll see what happens,” Kubiak said with a laugh.

While it’s difficult to handicap the Houston’s chances of landing Asomugha, it’s worth noting both Vic Carucci (story here) and Jason La Canfora (report here) have suggested the Texans will be legitimate suitors. But Johnson might have his work cut out for him.

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(nfl.com)

Normally this time of May Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is busy with OTA's along with his annual 1st and Ten football camp. The NFL lockout however has opened some extra time for Andre as he was able to return to town to host his camp Saturday afternoon.

"This is fun, I always enjoy helping to teach the kids," Johnson told KPRC-TV in Houston Saturday at the camp site in Sugar Land. "It's a little hot our here but we've had a nice turnout and are having a great time."

While Johnson was joined by Texans teammates David Anderson and Vonta Leach and former Texan Travis Johnson, the subject of football and state of the NFL quickly came up as it seems it always does according to Johnson.

"I hope that it gets done because we all love this game of football," Johnson said.

The lockout has been in place since March and currently both sides are not scheduled to resume talks until early June. While players aren't complaining one bit about missing OTA's or Mini-camps, they would like the business of football to be resolved.

"I answer that question just about every day. No one wants to go home without football. It's a game that everyone loves so hopefully we can get it done."

Johnson admitted to KPRC-TV Saturday, questions are coming from all directions.

"My family, friends, you can just be in a restaurant or something and somebody is going to come to you and ask you if football is going to be played next year. Everybody wants it so hopefully we'll have something done."

Texans fullback Vonta Leach was a guest instructor at Johnson's camp. He remains uncertain if he'll remain with the Texans.

"It's tough because as long as this lockout goes on, there's no decision," Leach said. "I definitely want to be here but it's a business and as soon as an agreement is done, the pace is going to be fast."

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(click2houston.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson played through most of the 2010 season with a high-ankle sprain in his right foot. That injury is now officially a thing of the past.

Johnson told the Miami Hurricane, the campus newspaper at his former school, that he recently received medical clearance after having arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 12.

“I started (training) a little later this year because of a little ankle surgery that I had,” Johnson said. “That’s pretty much it, but (the lockout) hasn’t changed anything as far as me training. I just got cleared by the doctor, but that’s the only thing that has held me back a little bit.”

Johnson was injured last season in Week 2 at Washington. He wound up missing three games but still finished sixth in the league with 86 catches and 1,216 yards. But the five-time Pro Bowler isn’t resting on his laurels as he approaches his ninth NFL season.

“Every year I just try to come in and work harder than I worked the year before,” he said. “I come back here and do the same things I’ve done to get me to the point where I made it into the NFL. That’s why I come back here, that’s why I bust my butt every day that I’m in here so that I can stay on top of my game. I’m not getting any younger, and there are a lot of talented guys coming in every year. You have to compete at a high level every year, so I just try to maintain what I’ve been doing.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(houstontexans.com)

The "Madden NFL 12" cover athlete will be unveiled live on SportsNation on ESPN2!
Your votes will determine who graces the cover of Madden 12. Join hosts Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle on "SportsNation" throughout the voting period for interviews with the candidates and more!
SportsNation, weekdays at 4 ET on ESPN2!

Voting dates:
Opening Round: March 21-27
Second Round: March 28-April 3
Third Round: April 4-10
Semifinals: April 11-17
Finals: April 18-26

Click here to vote if you don’t believe in the Madden curse, or if anything vote for someone you want to be cursed!

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

The Texans might be a perennially mediocre team but Johnson is a spectacular talent and currently holds the league’s career record for receiving yards per game, a superstar status that’s cemented by his allegiance with Jordan Brand.  JB’s latest football star joins the colorful Terrell Owens among others under the Jumpman umbrella and we can’t wait to see all the different Air Jordan cleats he’ll break out, if the two sides ever come to an agreement.  Click through to see Johnson rocking the Air Jordan Alpha Trunner along with some new JB receiver gloves and stick with Sneaker News for more on Jordan Brand’s NFL contingent.









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John and Lance threw the topic out this morning and not in a particularly positive sense. Once upon a time, we had big-name professional athletes: Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Roger Clemens, Craig Biggio, Andy Pettitte, Jeff Bagwell, Earl Campbell, etc.

Now? We've got almost no one who raises an eyebrow around the country. Andre Johnson is held in high regard by opponents, but he doesn't get the respect he deserves because the franchise has been run so poorly. Come to think of it, who do we have?

Here's my Top 10:

1. Andre Johnson. I have no idea what his national profile is, but he's great on the field and off. It's a crying shame his best years have so far been on a terrible team.

2. Mario Williams. He has yet to become the game-wrecking defensive player he was supposed to be, but he's still one of the few Texans virtually every NFL fan knows.

3. Matt Schaub. I don't know of anyone on the Rockets or Astros who is more well known around America. He didn't have his best year in 2010, but if the Texans ever got really good, he might shoot to No. 1.

4. Arian Foster. This is where things got tough. I couldn't think of an Astro or Rocket with a higher profile. Fantasy leaguers love Arian Foster and serious NFL fans came to appreciate his greatness in 2010. As with the first three, he could be a really big star if the Texans started to win.

5. Brett Myers. I thought about putting Kevin Kolb No. 1 overall, but since he doesn't play for the Astros, Texans or Rockets, he's not eligible. He was a big deal in Philly, which raises his presence around the country. I think.

6. Aaron Brooks. I told you this wasn't going to be easy.

7. Shane Battier. Once upon a time, he was a household name. That was back when he was a Blue Devil. Since then, he has disappeared into the black hole of Houston sports.

8. Brittney Griner. Sure, I said she wasn't eligible. I changed my mind.

9. Kevin Kolb. See above.

10.Clutch.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

Andre Johnson underwent what he called successful ankle surgery Wednesday, the same day he was named first-team Sporting News All-Pro.

Johnson, a wide receiver for the Houston Texans, missed the final two games of the regular season after playing through a high-ankle sprain throughout all but one game of the regular season.

Johnson said via Twitter he underwent surgery Wednesday.

"Thanks everyone for your support," Johnson tweeted Wednesday afternoon. "The procedure on my ankle went very well."

Johnson, a five-time Pro Bowl selection who pulled out of this year's game Monday, was one of two Texans players named Sporting News first-team All-Pro Monday.

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(nfl.fanhouse.com)

Need some more proof of the greatness (on one side of the ball) the Texans had last season? They are the only team in the NFL with two All-Pros on offense as the Sporting News’ team was unveiled today.

Running back Arian Foster led the NFL in rushing and was probably a sure bet to take home this honor. But Andre Johnson also turned the trick, this despite playing in only 13 games. The Texans as a whole can keep playing the ‘no respect’ card, but it’s clear that Johnson has plenty of it.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sbnation.com)

Tim Graham of the AFC East Blog and Buffalo chapter of the Jar Jar Binks Fan Club reports that Wes Welker is into the Pro Bowl as a replacement for Andre Johnson.

It’s hardly a surprise that Johnson won’t head to Hawaii. He played through an ankle injury for the majority of the season before missing the Texans’ final three games.

He still finished sixth in the NFL with 1,216 receiving yards.

Johnson’s continued presence, quite frankly, did a excellent bit of work in saving Gary Kubiak’s job. Bob McNair likes the offense so much, he couldn’t bear to take away the guy who constructed it and called its plays.

With Matt Schaub throwing to Johnson, and perhaps to an upgraded No. 2 receiver, and with Arian Foster carrying the ball and contributing to the passing game, the Texans should be a potent offense next year, particularly if they can figure out how not to start so slowly.

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(espn.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson disclosed today that he will have arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle next week. Johnson will miss Sunday's regular-season finale against Jacksonville with what has been described as a high ankle sprain he suffered in the second game of the season in Washington. Johnson, who was just named to his fifth Pro Bowl, finishes the season with 86 catches for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns. Dr. Kevin Varner the director of Director of Orthopedic Services at The Methodist Hospital, will perform the surgery. Varner is recognized as one of the foremost foot specialists in the country.

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(gridironfans.com)

HOUSTON – Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson said after Sunday’s season finale he doesn’t think he’ll play in the upcoming Pro Bowl.

"I don’t think I’ll be able to play," said Johnson. "I’ll be getting my scope done next Wednesday and I don’t think I’ll be ready to go."

Johnson has missed the last two games because of an ankle injury he sustained during Week 2 against the Washington Redskins.

"Even if I was ready to go, I don’t think I would risk it," said the now 6-time Pro Bowler. "Just having that procedure done you wouldn’t want to go out there and do anything crazy on it."

Johnson had 86 receptions for 1,216 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2010.

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(khou.com)

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson will undergo surgery on his ailing right ankle some time next week.

The Chronicle reported on Friday that Johnson will have the arthroscopic procedure done at the Methodist Hospital by Dr. Keith Varner -- one of the foremost foot and ankle specialists in the country.

Johnson suffered what was termed a high ankle sprain back in Week 2 against Washington but played through the pain for most of the year. However, he will sit out Sunday's season-finale against Jacksonville.

The eighth-year pro out of Miami-Florida racked up 86 catches for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns over 13 games in 2010, and earned his fifth career Pro Bowl selection with the effort.

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(slam.canoe.com)

Texans receiver Andre Johnson did not practice last week, but he and coach Gary Kubiak said he had hoped to be able to play on Sunday against the Broncos. Inactive for the game because of a high ankle sprain, Johnson was unable to make any on-field contributions or work toward a particular NFL record.

Johnson has had more than 1,500 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. No player in NFL history has ever 1,500 or more receiving yards in three consecutive seasons. So far this season, Johnson has 1,216 yards receiving, 284 yards shy of 1,500.

He would have needed to average 142 yards per game against the Broncos and the Jaguars before the end of the season. Now, Johnson would need to astonish everyone and get that total during the final game of the season against Jacksonville, but he might not play during that game either.

Johnson has emphasized repeatedly that records aren’t that important to him and that he’s more concerned with the success of the team.

“I hope he taps me on the shoulder and says he’s ready to go,” Kubiak said about Johnson’s status for Sunday. “If he tells me Friday that he feels good enough to play, then he’s going to play.”

Fourth-year receiver Jacoby Jones started last Sunday in place of Johnson and finished the game with five catches for 115 yards.

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(foxsportshouston.com)

Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson(notes) needs 284 more receiving yards this season to become the first player in NFL history to have 1,500 yards receiving or more for three straight years.

It certainly didn't help him that he missed Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos due to a high ankle sprain that also kept him out of practice all last week. Now he has one more game, this time against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

According to the Texans, it isn't clear if Johnson will play in that one, either. The site reports that Coach Gary Kubiak is going to let Johnson decide on Sunday whether he can give it a go or not.

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(yahoosports.com)

Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan says fans should get their popcorn ready for his rematch with Texans receiver Andre Johnson, but not because he’s out for revenge.

“Retaliation is for the birds,” Finnegan said. “Regardless if I’m right or wrong, I’m going to apologize to get this off my heart.”

After fighting three weeks ago in the Texans’ 20-0 victory at Reliant Stadium, the NFL fined both players $25,000. Johnson has expressed deep regret over the situation and said he’ll observe better self-control even if Finnegan doesn’t follow through on his pregame apology.

“I know what type of player he is — he’s a feisty guy who plays very hard,” Johnson said. “If you look at other games he’s been in, he gets guys out of their games, and last time he got me out of mine.

“That’s just something that you, as a player, have to control, and I’ll do that on Sunday.”

Johnson and Finnegan have developed a bitter rivalry that has escalated over the years, but Finnegan carries the reputation of being an instigator. Texans tight end Owen Daniels called him “annoying,” and right tackle Eric Winston said he wouldn’t want him on his team because he’s a “dirty player.”

The league has fined Finnegan four times this season for separate altercations. But the veteran cornerback speculated Wednesday that he might be victim to a changing culture and how the NFL deals with physical players.

“I don’t want to cross any lines here,” Finnegan said. “I know the NFL is changing and I have to adapt. But as far as playing the way I play, I’m going to continue to do that.”

Regardless of how Finnegan sees his unorthodox style, Titans coach Jeff Fisher defended the way he plays.

“In my opinion, I don’t think Cort did anything to deserve to be suspended or ejected from that game,” Fisher said. “He plays with a short memory and he fights, scratches and claws every down. For the most part, he plays within the rules.”

But members of the Texans secondary disagree. Cornerback Glover Quin said Finnegan’s style reflects desperation and a means of survival against talented receivers. In seven games against Finnegan over the last four seasons, Johnson has dominated, averaging 90.7 yards per game, catching 45 passes and scoring six touchdowns.

“He’s such a great receiver,” Finnegan said. “I’m just thrilled for the opportunity to get to match up against him again.”

Finnegan likes to jam receivers at the line, and he precipitated the brawl by hitting Johnson in the face instead of the chest. Though Finnegan said he would try not to do it on Sunday, Johnson is prepared to shrug it off this time around.

“That’s part of the game, so if he does it, he does it,” Johnson said. “I’m just going to play football.”

Texans coach Gary Kubiak went a step further by saying that the physical play is what makes both Johnson and Finnegan Pro Bowlers, as they represented the AFC together two seasons ago. Despite the fact that their rematch has been a hot topic since they were escorted off the field three weeks ago, Johnson is ready to put the drama behind him. And even if Finnegan employs his nagging playing style, Johnson vows to keep his cool.

“I’ll probably just laugh it off,” Johnson said. “I’m not going out on the field trying to start a fight or anything like that.”

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(chron.com)

Andre Johnson caught nine passes for 140 yards with two touchdowns in Monday night's overtime loss to the Ravens.

Johnson's ankle was a minor issue as it is every week. He hobbles around, misses a couple snaps, and then lights up defenses. Johnson routinely got behind the Ravens defense and somehow found himself wide open in the back of the end zone to pull the Texans within two points at the end of regulation. With 289 yards in his last two games, the game's best wideout is peaking at the right time.

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(rotoworld.com)

On Monday night, the Ravens will have their hands full with Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, who for my money -- I'm a journalist, so there isn't much of it -- is the best receiver in the NFL (with due respect to guys like Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne and Roddy White).

The 29-year-old receiver is fourth in the league with 1,018 receiving yards and he has five touchdown catches in 2010 despite playing through an ankle injury for much of the season.

Also, Johnson leads the league in punches landed on Cortland Finnegan.

“It doesn’t look like he’s playing on a bad ankle to me, and he’s very effective," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "He’s just a premiere, elite wide receiver in this league -- size, speed, hands, tough, he’ll block you. High-character guy. ... He’s just a really top-notch threat.”

Ravens cornerback Chris Carr said he won't try to get under the skin of the 6-foot-3, 225-pound wideout like Finnegan, a cornerback for the Titans, did two weeks ago. Both players were ejected after their on-field brouhaha.

"No, I mean I just play my game. It doesn’t matter. If somebody gets mad, they get mad," Carr said. "I’m not Cortland that likes to talk and hit people after the play. That’s not my game, and I’ve heard [Johnson’s] not that type of player as well. He just wants to go out there and play."

But hey, getting Johnson ejected Monday is one way to remove him from the game plan, right?

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(baltimoresun.com)

Running back Arian Foster and wide receiver Andre Johnson are the AFC's leading vote getters at their positions in balloting for the Pro Bowl at nfl.com.

Foster, who leads the league in rushing, yards from scrimmage, total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and first downs, has 414,033 votes. Johnson, who is trying to become the first receiver with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, has 340,996 votes.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick leads all players with 729,838 votes.

Voting continues online and on web-enabled mobile phones by going to www.nfl.com/probowl. Fans also can vote by visiting www.facebook.com/nfl and clicking the Pro Bowl tab.

Voting ends Dec. 20, and players chosen for the all-star will be announced on Dec. 28 on the NFL Network's Pro Bowl Selection Show.
The Pro Bowl will be held on Jan. 30 in Honolulu.

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(chron.com)

Coach Gary Kubiak emphasized Tuesday how much pain Andre Johnson plays with, and he's still got 71 catches for 1,018 yards.

"I think he's been absolutely amazing," Kubiak said. "I think it's kind of flown under the radar. This guy has played with a hurt ankle all year long, except for opening day. He's missed a game and a half, really played limping around for almost a month, and yet he's sitting there in the top four or five guys in the league at receiver.

"I'm surprised more people haven't said things about it. For him to give it up for his team has been incredible. He knows if he gets himself to game day and takes his shot that he can make it through the game, first team.

"Those high ankle sprains are very difficult to deal with; they take a long time to recover from. They're just nagging as they can be. Some players can play with them, (players) you don't notice like linemen. But with receivers, it's much more difficult to deal with, so for him to be able to do that is pretty special."

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(chron.com)

PHILADELPHIA -- Texans all-pro WR Andre Johnson showed plenty of fight Thursday night, even if he wasn't throwing haymakers.

In his first game since drawing a $25,000 fine and ejection for brawling with Titans CB Cortland Finnegan last Sunday, Johnson caught six passes for 149 yards in the Texans' 34-24 loss at the Eagles.

However the star receiver couldn't avoid more bad news. He had to endure a pain-killing injection after re-aggravating an ankle injury that's plagued him most of the season.

"Played for his team, played big, played very big in the game," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said of his star player.

The Texans' next game is a Monday night contest vs. the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, and Johnson expects to play.

"I really do not know how bad it is right now because it is numb after I got a shot in it," he said. "Right now I have an MRI set up for tomorrow for them to look to see how bad it might be.

"But I am not really worried that it is anything bad. I think I just aggravated my old injury, and I will get better."

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(usatoday.com)

Texans receiver Andre Johnson can make NFL history against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Johnson, who has 56 catches for 813 yards (14.5 average) and four touchdowns, needs four receptions to become the first player with at least 60 in each of his first eight seasons.

"It's a tremendous honor, but I don't really keep up with things like that," Johnson, 29, said after practice Friday. "If I'm able to do it, it would be a great accomplishment. Considering our situation (four-game losing streak), if we could win and I did it, that would be great."

Johnson and Keyshawn Johnson are the only players to have 60 or more catches in their first seven seasons.

The ankle injury that caused Andre Johnson to miss the Oakland game probably will keep him from becoming the first receiver in history with 1,500 yards in three consecutive seasons.

There's a record Johnson should own at some point. Johnson, who has played in 110 games, has 14 games in which he has at least 10 catches and 100 yards, tying him for second place in NFL history with Marvin Harrison (190 games) — one behind Jerry Rice (303 games).

"Jerry Rice set milestones that'll probably never be reached," Johnson (6-3, 225) said. "When I came into this game, I said that when I finished playing, I wanted to be mentioned as one of the best to ever play. So far, based on what you guys have been telling me, it seems like I'm headed in the right direction."

Epic battles
The Texans have a 4-6 record, and occupy last place in the AFC South. The Titans (5-5) have a three-game losing streak, but they're one game behind Indianapolis (6-4) and Jacksonville (6-4).

Johnson, who has had some epic battles with Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, has played some of his best games against Tennessee. He has seven touchdowns against the Titans, more than any opponent.

In his past three games against Tennessee, Johnson averaged 144.7 yards receiving.

"We've just been fortunate to have some opportunities to make some big plays," Johnson said. "I don't approach any game or any team different. I don't do anything special against them that I don't try to do against Indianapolis or (Jacksonville)."

At Reliant Stadium in 2008, Johnson helped the Texans end a seven-game losing streak against the Titans by catching 11 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown.

In the 2009 game at Tennessee, Johnson helped the Texans win a second consecutive game over the Titans by catching 10 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

Losing leaves 'nasty taste'
"They've always had a great defense," Johnson said. "It's a very physical and tough game, and guys get after each other. We don't expect anything different.

"What we see on film is some of the same things we've seen every other time we've played them. We expect for it to be a physical game."
Like his teammates, Johnson is tired of losing. So far, the exasperating defeats haven't taken a toll on the Texans because they continue to play hard.

"Of course, we're upset about the things that have happened, but guys are working to get it fixed," said Johnson, who was held to a relatively quiet four catches for 32 yards in last week's loss to the New York Jets. "It's very discouraging because we know we're a much better team than we've shown. The only way to get this nasty taste out of our mouths is by winning."

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(chron.com)

It's been a frustrating season for Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson, a trend that may continue Sunday when he pairs up with New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis, who limited him to four catches for 35 yards last year.

"I look forward to playing against him," says Johnson. "He's the best cornerback in the game, and people say that I'm the best wide receiver, so people look forward to matchups like that. When you play sports, you want to play against the best. I just look forward to the challenge."

Johnson, a Pro Bowler in four of the last six years, is nursing an ankle injury that's cost him one game, and he'll need a strong finish to become the first man to post three consecutive 1,500-yard receiving seasons while driving the suddenly flagging Texans to their first playoff birth.

Still, the two-time first-team all-pro ranks No. 1 in NFL history with 79.4 receiving yards per game (Anquan Boldin is a somewhat surprising second at 78.0 ypg), has a strong claim as the game's top wideout and has quickly built an impressive case to be the first member of the Texans worthy of a ticket to Canton.

In seven-plus seasons, Johnson has 639 grabs for 8,729 yards, leaving him 10th among current players in both categories. He also has 46 TD receptions.

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(usatoday.com)

His nickname, his brand and his new identity hadn't come to light yet. Darrelle Revis didn't grasp the magnitude of it all when he turned Texans star Andre Johnson into the first captive of Revis Island in last season's opener. The Jets cornerback held arguably the league's best wide receiver to four catches for 35 yards, turning him into an afterthought in Rex Ryan's first win.

Johnson soon had plenty of company as Revis routinely marginalized one star wideout after another in a season for the ages that helped him land a four-year, $46 million contract extension.

Despite that eye-opening performance, Revis maintains he never sensed the magical season he was about to have.

"You don't think about things like that," Revis told the Daily News. "You try to focus on your job and compete."

But his coaches knew.

"Sometimes in games like that, you don't realize it until it's over," defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. "In the locker room, you walk up to Revis and say, 'Did Andre Johnson even play today?'"

When Johnson gets another crack at Revis on Sunday, will he be facing the same dominating presence that shut him down a year ago?

After a nagging hamstring injury forced Revis to miss 2-1/2 games, the staple of Ryan's defense appears to be returning to his old self. According to profootballfocus.com, quarterbacks have thrown less into Revis' coverage this season. Excluding last Sunday's Browns game, opponents had thrown at Revis 4.9 times per game, which was down from 6.7 last season.

A Daily News game tape review of the OT win in Cleveland revealed that Colt McCoy threw into Revis' coverage just three times.

Although quarterbacks are roughly completing the same percentage of passes against Revis (37.8% in 2009 and 37.5% this year), the Jets cornerback has given up bigger plays than he did during his dominating 2009 campaign. His average yards per catch allowed has jumped from 10.5 to 18.8, according to ProFootballFocus. On a per-game basis, he's on pace to match his 27 pass breakups from a year ago. In a bottom line business, Revis has given up three touchdowns this season after surrendering just two in 2009.

Revis, of course, has looked much more like his dominating self since the Jets' bye week. The two-time Pro Bowler has allowed just four catches for 54 yards in the past three games, which included shutting down Calvin Johnson two weeks ago and handling Greg Jennings in the second half three weeks ago.

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(nydailynews.com)

Neither Andre Johnson nor Owen Daniels practiced with the team Wednesday or Thursday. Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com reported that Johnson underwent another MRI on Monday as a follow-up measure for his right ankle. Johnson's high ankle sprain has continued to nag at him intermittently, and his explanation for that was perfectly reasonable. "I still have a little swelling in my joint, so that's what's causing the little pain I have at times," Johnson said. "The biggest thing now is just trying to just get that swelling out of there." This explains why the team is limiting his activity during the week. Less running and less pounding means a better chance of getting the swelling down. Less swelling translates to better joint mobility and less pain. Johnson said his ankle was "feeling pretty good" Wednesday. This cycle is likely to continue throughout the remainder of the season.

Although Johnson's nonpractice routine to protect his ankle is somewhat expected by now, Daniels has yet to get past a recent aggravation of a hamstring injury. Head coach Gary Kubiak says that Daniels is improving but will be a game-time decision, according to the Texans' official Twitter page. Daniels has had only one solid performance this season

Schaub was limited Wednesday because of a rib injury but will play Sunday when the Texans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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(espn.com)

Receiver Andre Johnson, who sat out the last part of Monday's 30-17 loss at Indianapolis because he aggravated his ankle injury, should be able to play against San Diego on Sunday.

Johnson had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. He aggravated the sprain of his right ankle on his 28-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. He continued to play until the last series when he was tackle and was forced to limp off.

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(chron.com)

ESPN’s E:60 Goes Deep with Texans’ Andre Johnson

ESPN’s award-winning primetime newsmagazine E:60 will feature an in-depth profile of Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans in the episode airing Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. ET.

Johnson is considered by many as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and definitely the best wide receiver in the NFL that most fans know nothing about. Johnson is a man of few words, but now, for E:60 reporter Michael Smith and cameras, Johnson is ready to make some noise.

Johnson lost three important men in his life in just three years, including his father who was found dead from gunshot wounds in August 2002. Another of those men was his best friend, Cyril Jones, who was shot to death in December 2001. Jones left behind a son – Cyril Jr – Johnson’s godson, who is now 10 years old. Johnson has taken Cyril Jr. under his wing – even been a father figure – providing for him and often visiting Cyril Jr in his hometown, Miami. This quiet, mentor-like, fatherly relationship Johnson has with Cyril Jr resembles his role on the Texans.

A five-time pro bowler, Johnson is unquestionably the Texans’ leader, according to his teammates. Unlike many at his position around the NFL, Johnson is not boisterous or flaunting. He does not perform celebratory dances after touchdowns. Like his relationship with his godson, he leads by example.

Launched in October 2007, ESPN’s E:60 combines investigative reporting, in-depth profiles of intriguing sports personalities and features on emerging star athletes. These stories are presented in a fresh and innovative format that incorporates producer/correspondent meetings.

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(espn.com)

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson (ankle) said he is not sure when his ankle will be 100 percent healthy but it is feeling better than it did a few weeks ago, reports Nick Scurfield, of HoustonTexans.com. "I'm feeling pretty good – got 10 games left to gut out," Johnson said. "I still wear my (ankle) brace when I practice and whatnot. I'll continue to wear it until I feel comfortable not wearing it… But now I'm used to it. It doesn't limit me in any kind of way."

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(kffl.com)

With anticipation running high for the Houston Texans' Andre Johnson's impending visit, instructional coordinator Jearine Jordan tried to calm down the children at Mamie Sue Bastian Elementary as they cheered out the All-Pro wide receiver's named in excitement. Johnson was joined by the Houston Texan Cheerleaders and H.E.B. mascot H. E. Buddy in his third year to come to Bastian, and ESPN was on hand to cover the events. Johnson gave out several autographed prizes including an autographed football and two mini helmets; the cheerleaders wore pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Muscle milk gave out free drinks to the children and staff.





Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' Week 6 win over the Chiefs.

He's, um, over his ankle injury. Johnson was an absolute terror down the sidelines and over the middle, torching Chiefs RCB Brandon Carr on a regular basis. Look for another explosive effort against Indianapolis in Week 7.

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(rotoworld.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak was pleased with the way Andre Johnson (ankle) looked off to the side of Wednesday's practice.

"Andre actually ran pretty good here today," said Kubiak. "I watched him. ... I liked the way he ran around and we’re hoping tomorrow he takes some of his normal routes." A limited practice, as Kubiak anticipates, would be a good sign for A.J.'s progress. For now, he's considered questionable for Week 5.

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(rotoworld.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson missed Wednesday's practice due to a lingering ankle injury.

In three games this season, Johnson has caught 19 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown.

Head coach Gary Kubiak said Wednesday that WR Andre Johnson's playing status for Sunday's game at Oakland will be a "game-time decision," according to the club. Johnson did not practice Wednesday.

Johnson suffered a right ankle injury Week Two at Washington and re-injured the ankle on Sunday vs. Dallas. Johnson returned to both games. According to the team's Web site, the injury is a high ankle sprain.

Johnson, 29, has caught 19 passes for 255 yards and one TD this season.

The way we see it

The Raiders have largely held Johnson in check in the past three games he has played against them, though he did have a 62-yard reception in a win vs. the Raiders a season ago. Take out that 62-yard catch, and Johnsn has just four receptions for 32 yards in three games against Oakland since 2006.

However, there is no doubting the importance of Johnson's impact on the Texans' offense, even if he's playing on an injured ankle and he is facing a top competitor like Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha. Johnson is one of the game's best receivers, and he must be accounted for at all times.

In short, if he's out, the Texans' offense loses its most important receiver, and the attack, while still strong, becomes easier to defend.

Wide receiver Darryl Sharpton (ankle) and safety Eugene Wilson (hamstring) also missed practice.

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(profootballweekly.com)

For the second game in a row, Texans receiver Andre Johnson was sidelined because of an ankle injury.

Last week at Washington, Johnson suffered a mild ankle sprain. He left Sunday's game but returned and finished with four receptions for 64 yards.

"I re-aggravated my ankle sprain," he said. "We're going to do the same thing we did last week as far as treating it."

Johnson isn't worried about making the injury worse.

"I'm not worried about that," he said. "I'm not worried about my ankle when I'm out there. I'm trying to help the team win a game. That's my focus.

"I felt pain when I got tackled today. That's the only reason I came off the field. Doctor checked it out and told me I hadn't done anything worse to it. I'm going to feel pain every time I get hit on it if I continue to play. I have to come out for a few plays until it goes away. That's what I'm going to continue to do until it gets better."

Johnson told 1500 The Game in Houston Monday that he is "confident" he'll play in Week 4 against the Raiders.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak isn't ruling out the possibility of giving Johnson a week off.

“I’ll evaluate it," said Kubiak. "Obviously, he’s not feeling good today, but we don’t think there was a big setback or anything. He will be day-to-day and we will be smart with Andre Johnson. We’ve got a long way to go." The Texans head to Oakland for Week 4. Look for A.J. to again be listed as questionable.

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(rotoworld.com)

Lying on his back after being driven to the turf, Matt Schaub never saw the completion of his game-tying 34-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson during the Texans' 30-27 overtime victory Sunday in Washington.

But from the right side of FedEx Field, Jacoby Jones did. And the fourth-year wide receiver said Wednesday it didn't take long to reach a conclusion on how it would unfold.

"Schaub was scrambling a little bit, and I saw him chuck that thing," he said. "I looked up, saw the ball, and I saw Dre. And when I saw Dre box (the safety) out, I put my hands up."

"I knew it was a catch. I knew it was six (points)."

That sentiment was echoed Wednesday, when Johnson was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. No one was stunned the catch was made, and perhaps the only one surprised by the accolades was Johnson, who thought Schaub was more deserving.

As for how dynamic the catch was, the quarterback and the star receiver have differing opinions. Johnson said the grab against the Redskins was probably the best of his career because it came on fourth down; Schaub, who finally saw the play, disagreed.

"I don't want to downplay it at all, but to be honest with you, that was pretty routine for him," he said. "I've seen him make that catch with three guys around him."

The target was hardly a shock, and neither was the result.

With the game at stake, the Texans turned to Johnson, 29, whose abundant physical gifts humble his teammates.

"He's 6-3, 225 pounds, moves like a cat, almost as fast as me and he's got those stickies- he's a freak of nature," Jones said.
Practice advocate

Texans receiver David Anderson sees it every day. He admired the catch, too, but he also appreciated what it illustrated.

"You have to put those little drills you do every day to work," he said. "Catch the ball at the high point, catch it with your hands, tuck it away when you catch it — if you watch the catch, he jumps up, catches it with his hands, and puts it away from the defender.

"It's stuff you practice so much it becomes second nature, and I think it's something he did at that time."

That's the message Dorin Dickerson absorbed Sunday. A rookie wide receiver making the transition from H-back to tight end at Pitt, Dickerson admits he was wide-eyed around the All-Pro at first.

Good relationship
Neither said much to the other in the beginning, but then the eight-year veteran offered a few words of encouragement to his backup - "He told me to get my motor going because sometimes as a rookie I'll have lulls," Dickerson said - in addition to providing the standard for excellence.

Although he has not recorded a reception, the arrangement has been a success - enough so that Dickerson can dare to dream of being as great as Johnson one day. Until then, though, the learning continues.

"Our receivers coach (Larry Kirksey) warms up with Andre before every game," said Dickerson, whose locker is next to Johnson's. "He said, 'Andre, you're going to have to go get the ball today.'

"They were working on that - him going up and snatching the ball out of the air, and then he did that in the game, at a crucial point."

Just reward
Such plays are indicative of why Texans owner Bob McNair broke precedent in the preseason and renegotiated his receiver's contract, resulting in Johnson being the highest-paid player at his position.

"That's Andre for you," Anderson said. "That's why he's here, that's why we pay him to stay here and why we want him here."
Anderson respects Johnson.

He'd like to think he would have made the same play in the same situation, but he realizes he'll never know.

Not like what everyone knows about Johnson, or should know.

"It's hard making it look easy," Jones said. "It hurts to make it look easy."

(chron.com)

For the second consecutive week, a Texans player has been honored as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Receiver Andre Johnson, who caught 12 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in the 30-27 overtime victory at Washington, won the award this week. Running back Arian Foster won it last week.

This is only the second time in his eight-year career that Johnson has won the award. The other time was in 2006.

The award could easily have gone to quarterback Matt Schaub, who threw for a career-high 497 yards and three touchdowns against the Redskins.

Johnson participated in the team’s walk-through before practice on Wednesday and should be doing a little bit more on Thursday, according to Nick Scurfield of the team’s official site (via Twitter). Johnson told Scurfeld that he “felt pretty good today.”

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(nfl.com)

Size : 6-3, 223
Position: Wide receiver
Season : 8th
College : Miami

Strengths: Johnson has prototypical size, speed and strength, making him the most physically gifted receiver in the NFL. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and had a 35-inch vertical jump when he was tested coming out of college. As he showed Sunday in out-jumping Washington Redskins safety Reed Doughty in the end zone, Johnson has the ability to get to the ball at its highest point. He also has great hands and is a good route runner. He can run all the routes and will make the tough catch in traffic. He finished fourth in receptions of 20-plus yards last season with 20. Johnson is a physical player, and he buys separation because of that.

Weaknesses : Johnson has a sprained ankle that makes him day-to-day this week. He has had some injuries in his career, having missed 10 games. Johnson could make better use of head and shoulder fakes. He occasionally has had timing issues with his quarterback during his career.

Last week : Johnson caught 12 passes for 158 yards and had a clutch fourth-down, fourth-quarter touchdown over Redskins safety Reed Doughty to tie the score. Houston rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Washington 30-27 in overtime.

Who has to stop him? The Cowboys have had Terence Newman shadow Carolina's Steve Smith in the past. But generally, Newman and Mike Jenkins remain on their respective sides -- Jenkins on the right and Newman on the left -- with Orlando Scandrick covering the slot. The Texans will line up Johnson everywhere. Jenkins injured his knee against the Chicago Bears, but coach Wade Phillips said Monday he expects Jenkins to practice this week and start Sunday.

Notable: Johnson was the No. 3 overall pick in 2003.... In 26 career games against NFC teams, Johnson has caught 176 passes for 2,453 yards and 17 touchdowns. ... Texans receivers led the NFL in fewest dropped passes last season, according to STATS, Inc. They dropped 20 of 409 catchable passes. That 4.8 percent led the New Orleans Saints' 5.3.... Johnson is trying to become the first receiver in history to reach 1,500 yards in three consecutive seasons.... Since the merger in 1970, Johnson is tied with Marvin Harrison with 14 games of at least 10 catches and 100 yards. Jerry Rice had 15.

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(star-telegram.com)

Coach Gary Kubiak found out Monday he'll have his best player, receiver Andre Johnson, available against the Cowboys. The MRI on Johnson's right ankle showed a mild sprain.

"We feel better about it today than we did coming out of the game," Kubiak said about Johnson, who had 12 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown Sunday. "He'll be day-to-day as we head into the weekend."

Expect Johnson to play against the Cowboys.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

An MRI showed Monday morning that Andre Johnson has only a "mild right ankle sprain," and he is considered day to day.

Coach Gary Kubiak indicated that Johnson was feeling much better Monday than he did Sunday night. The Texans figure to scale back A.J.'s practice reps to make sure he's 100 percent against Dallas. Look for Johnson to start.

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(nbcsports.com)

Earlier in the Texans-Redskins game, Andre Johnson crossed the 8,000 yard threshold for his career. Then he injured his ankle and left the game, only to return a short while later. Just in time, it turns out, to pick up his 600th career catch on a 29-yard pass across the middle from Matt Schaub. Five plays later, Johnson picked up No. 601, which he'll probably consider more important, because it was a game-tying 34-yard touchdown pass from Schaub.

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(gridironfans.com)

LANDOVER, Md. — The name on the back of the white No. 80 jersey was Johnson. It might as well have been "Amazing."

The name on the back of the burgundy No. 37 jersey was Doughty. It might as well have been "Helpless."

In a day filled with spectacular plays, the most memorable one was Amazing outjumping Helpless to make the touchdown catch that kept the Texans' hopes alive.

The Texans took advantage of it, claiming a 30-27 overtime victory over the Redskins to start this season of promise 2-0. The Texans also took sole possession of first place in the AFC South for the first time in franchise history.

Afterward almost everyone talked about the remarkable catch made by the world's best wide receiver. Andre Johnson. No. 80. Amazing.

Johnson's catch over Washington safety Reed Doughty, a leaping grab on a fourth-and-10 play from the Redskins' 34-yard line, tied the score at 27 with 2:03 left in the game.

"I didn't know he had that in him," an excited Texans owner Bob McNair said. "That would have been a magnificent dunk if it was a basketball game. He just wanted that ball. He just literally soared up the air and made a magnificent catch.

"If he hadn't caught that ball, we were out of it. It was over."

If it is left up to Johnson to make a play, the Texans would almost never lose a game. He is that good. That much better than most of the people who try to cover him. Too Big. Too Fast. Too Strong.

That is why McNair went against the norm and renegotiated Johnson contract this offseason, despite the five years remaining on a Texans-friendly deal.

In a wild offensive shootout with over 900 passing yards, the best offensive player on the field was Johnson.

The Redskins had Johnson double-covered on the play, but cornerback Phillip Buchanon, Johnson's college teammate at Miami, inexplicably peeled off. By the time Matt Schaub launched the throw, it was Johnson against Doughty in the South end zone at FedEx Field.

"In that situation, I put my money on Andre 10 out of 10 times," Texans safety Eugene Wilson said. "That was just one of the most, no that was the most clutch play I've ever seen."

Wilson, a former Patriot, has played on two Super Bowl championship teams.

"Unbelievable," said fellow receiver Kevin Walter, who had an impressive game with 11 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown. But his performance wasn't quite Johnsonesque.

Johnson, who this season could become the first player to lead the league in receiving yards for three straight years, finished with 12 catches for 158 yards, and, of course, that wondrous game-saving scoring grab.

Not that the story needed additional flavor, but Johnson had left the game late in the third quarter, with the Texans in a 17-point hole, due to a badly sprained ankle.

Team doctors told coach Gary Kubiak that Johnson was done for the day. Johnson wasn't so sure about that.

"I was a little discouraged," Johnson said. "I was running around on the sideline, and wasn't feeling too good at first. (I) came inside, came back out, started feeling a little better and I was able to make some plays."

Johnson laughed when he said that. He didn't want to talk openly about having to take a shot to numb the ankle; dull the pain.

Relying on a painkiller isn't typical for Johnson. He is blessed with a rock solid frame that generally holds up to the punishment of football.

He is one of the league's best-conditioned athletes and works hard preparing for the season with a grueling offseason training regimen.

Though he typically dishes out more punishment than he takes, injuries are a part of the sport. He landed with a catch with his foot turned the wrong way and the ankle got twisted up in a little pile.

He tried to walk it off. He tried to run it off. He tried a new tape job. Even after the shot, medical staff wasn't too sure that he could give it a go.

But he tapped Kubiak on the shoulder anyway.

"He walked over to me and said, 'I'm playing,'" Kubiak said. "He tells me he's playing, he's playing."

On Johnson's first play back, the Texans didn't look his way, but he realized that he could run at near full speed, which meant the Redskins were in trouble.

On the Texans' next possession Johnson had a 29-yard catch on third-and-10, to keep the drive moving, then made the catch that he says was the biggest of his career, topping a miraculous fourth-down catch on a game-winning drive against the Dolphins two years ago.

"I just knew that we needed a play to win, and that's pretty much it," Johnson said. "I was given the opportunity and I was able to make it."

Simply Amazing.

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(chron.com)

Devin Hester had a great one-handed grab for a TD in the Bears’ win over the Cowboys, but with the game on the line, I don't care what team you root for, Andre Johnson's game-tying jump-ball touchdown catch while covered man-plus-man-on-man was ridiculous. "A great athlete making a play," was how Mike Shanahan described it.

This was after Johnson returned in the fourth quarter after injuring his right ankle during Houston's game at the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Johnson limped off the field late in the third quarter, and he had his ankle taped heavily.

He was back in the lineup with about 6½ minutes left in the game.

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When Phillip Buchanon showed up at the 1998 Nike Football Camp in Miami, he wasn't having the greatest day. "I was actually mad because I was late," he says, "and I wanted to play receiver but they made me play defensive back." Buchanon played just about every position at some point or another during his time at Lehigh Senior High School in Florida and excelled at most of them, but it was a guy he lined up across from at that Miami camp who got him locked into the cornerback position for the rest of his career -- a tall wide receiver from Miami Senior High School who was considered one of the best in the country.

The guy's name was Andre Johnson, and the coaches not only wanted Buchanon to play defensive back, they wanted him to cover Johnson.

"The first time I was guarding Andre," Buchanon says, "I noticed that he was a big receiver but I did not know he was that fast. He ran a go ball on me, and I was like, 'Aw, man, he's big AND fast,' so he kept me on my P's and Q's. That was the biggest memory from that camp."

That memory makes it sound like Buchanon was beaten soundly, but that wasn't really the case. In fact, the stories that came out of that camp are what brought him to the attention of the University of Miami and put him firmly on the path to being a pro player.

It also gave him, oddly enough, a new friend in Johnson. "You gotta think," Buchanon explains, "we played at Nike camp together; I was the top DB, he was the top receiver, so we were matched up the whole day, the whole dang camp. So it's been ever since then. His mom and my mom talked about it, and I went to Miami, he went to Miami, and we became friends. We were always around each other."

Which means that -- given that the Redskins are lining up against Johnson's Houston Texans this Sunday -- that Buchanon has some knowledge that could be useful to the guys in his defensive backfield. "Maybe," he says. "If Carlos (Rogers) and DeAngelo (Hall) wanna ask me I'll definitely tell them some of his moves and stuff that he does."

It's not something that Buchanon considers out of bounds, in the culture of football -- "I mean, I'm not ratting him out," he says, in response to reporter's question, "I'm just trying to help the team here," -- but he's also not sure how much good it does to know a few of Johnson's moves.

"Whether you know it or not what he's doing, he can still make things happen," Buchanon says. He explains Johnson's skills like this:

"His numbers speak for themselves," Buchanon says."Like they say, numbers don't lie. 1,500 yards back-to-back years, he's a Hall of Famer, a Pro Bowler, he does it all. He's been doin' it since high school. And he's a hell of a guy. He doesn't cause any confusion with the coaches and players, he's very quiet, very low-key, and he just plays football."

Asked how to stop him, Buchanon falls back on an oldie-but-goodie: "We hope to contain him, you know?"

The duo's friendship might make Buchanon's knowledge more valuable, but it doesn't make him any more excited for the game. "Man, I'm excited to play ANY game so I can make some plays," he says eagerly. "I'm just hungry to make some plays right now."

Going against one of the top offenses in the league last year, he should have his chance.

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(redskins.com)

The texting was hot and heavy between two close friends who also happen to be two of the NFL's top receivers.

Through the early portion of the preseason, the electronic dialogue connecting the Indianapolis Colts' Reggie Wayne and Houston's Andre Johnson -- former University of Miami teammates and four-time Pro Bowl selections -- focused on what Johnson ultimately would receive and Wayne was seeking.

That would be a contract extension.

"It's kind of weird,'' Wayne said. "This offseason we were talking about that. Once he got his contract done, I texted him, 'Congratulations.' First thing he asked me was, 'So, what's up with yours?' ''

Wayne's reply to Johnson was short and not-so-sweet.

"Absolutely nothing.''

Wayne paused, then continued his conversation with local media.

"At least somebody's getting paid,'' he said. "I'd like to send a congratulations out to Miles Austin. He got paid.''

Even though Johnson had five years remaining on his contract, Houston responded to his demands and gave him a two-year extension that could be worth as much as $38.5 million if he hits every trigger and included $13 million in guarantees. He's tied to the Texans through 2016 and could earn up to $73.5 million over the next seven seasons.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones reached deep and gave Austin a six-year, $57 million contract.

Wayne boycotted all Colts activities during the offseason as he sought an extension that never materialized. He's under contract through 2011 and will earn $5.47 million this season and $5.95 million in '11.

In July, during the absence of Wayne and defensive end Robert Mathis, team president Bill Polian said the Colts didn't have the ability to consider extensions for either, in part due to the NFL's labor uncertainty.

"I've got two years left,'' Wayne said. "I'm going to do my time and see where I go from there.''

So, he's come to terms with the Colts' no-extension stance?

"I ain't got no choice,'' he said. "I can read between the lines. I know what's going on. I'm not going to let that affect my production.''

No one should question Wayne's commitment or dependability. Among receivers over the past six seasons, he ranks No. 1 in receptions (532) and yards (7,494), and is No. 5 in touchdowns (52).

The problem with Wayne is timing. Johnson is 29 and Austin 26. Wayne will be entering his 12th season and will be 33 when his current contract is up.

"In two years, I'll worry about that,'' he said.

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(indystar.com)

2. Andre Johnson - Houston Texans
Comment: Johnson has provided an explosive threat on the perimeter and has put up elite numbers. He has a rare combination of size, speed, athleticism and receiving skills. He has the speed to stretch the secondary deep as well as the route-running skills and size to be a threat on underneath routes across the middle or to the sidelines. He is explosive off the line and can overpower or avoid cornerbacks trying to jam him at the line of scrimmage. Johnson can sink his hips to get in and out of his breaks with a burst to separate and shows a second gear to pull away from most defenders once he gains a step on them.

14. Ed Reed - Baltimore Ravens
Comment: Reed was banged up some in 2009 and missed four regular-season games. Reed has rare instincts that enable him to be around the ball often. He has elite range and is one of the few backend defenders whom quarterbacks truly fear. Reed is a game-changer from his deep center-field position and allows the Ravens to be very aggressive with their schemes. Not only is he a supreme ball hawk with rare anticipation and ball skills, he is an extremely dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands and is an immediate threat to score. He is also a superb kick- and punt-blocker when used in that capacity. Reed has been a mainstay in the Ravens’ secondary and there is a noticeable drop-off when he is not in the lineup.

32. Reggie Wayne - Indianapolis Colts
Comment: With the departure of Marvin Harrison before the 2009 season, Wayne became the Colts’ No. 1 receiver and responded with a big year. He has good size for the position with excellent deep speed, quickness, agility and body control. He can sink his hips to get in and out of breaks with a burst to separate from defenders and has the extra gear to maintain the separation. He does a good job of reading coverages and finding the soft spots in zone to provide a good target for the quarterback. He is effective after the catch and shows vision as well as elusiveness in the open field.

36. Vince Wilfork - New England Patriots
Comment: Wilfork is coming off his sixth year in the league where he had another solid season before sustaining a foot injury late in the season. He has the size, strength and natural leverage to be productive versus double-team blocks as well as penetrate gaps when in a stunting mode. He can locate the ball after contact quickly and feels pad pressure well to restrict running lanes. Wilfork is a very good athlete for his size showing lateral agility between the tackles. He can push the pocket with a bull rush technique from the inside, but his production as pass-rusher is average at best. Wilfork is a good football player who continues to be the centerpiece for the Patriots 3-4 defensive front.

42. Jon Beason - Carolina Panthers
Comment: Beason has started all 16 games for three consecutive seasons and led the team in tackles in 2009 with 141. He has arguably become the face of the Panthers’ defense and provides leadership both on the field as well as in the locker room. He is a tackling machine
who brings instincts, effort and competitiveness. He is not the biggest linebacker, but does bring a lot of pop and explosion to his tackles.
He is more effective when protected by a big defensive line, but flashes the ability to step up and shed blocks in time to make the play. He gets good depth in his drops and is quick to pull the trigger both against the run and when closing on the pass.

58. Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers
Comment: Gore has been a quality back who has consistently produced over the five years he has been in the league. He has gained in excess of 1,000 yards in each of the past four years, including 1,120 yards in 2009 with an average of 4.9 yards per carry. He is a compact runner who does an excellent job of running behind his pads and has the kind of balance that consistently gains yards after contact. Gore fights for yards and does a good job of finishing runs off but lacks the premier top end speed that makes him a big home-run threat. He is a good receiver out of the backfield as well as on downfield routes and knows how to read coverages and adjust his routes. He is a patient runner who does a good job of letting his offensive line create run lanes.

72. DJ Williams - Denver Broncos
Comment: Williams rebounded in 2009 after missing five games during the 2008 season due to injuries. He is an extremely gifted athlete who possesses great lateral range and the kind of quickness, agility and body control to be a factor in coverage. He can come off the edge with an explosive burst of speed or can slip through small creases when blitzing the quarterback. Williams has enough upper-body strength to take on and shed blockers and shows the ability to unload with a good pop when making the tackle in the hole. He lacks the top bulk and power to squeeze blocks down and force the ball carrier to bounce it to the outside. He has improved on his route recognition and can close on the ball with a good burst once he pulls the trigger when in zone coverage. He is still improving and appears to be on the verge of becoming an elite linebacker.

91. Kellen Winslow - Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Comment: Winslow is a former first-round draft pick who can be a franchise tight end when healthy. He is a big matchup problem as he is generally too fast and too athletic for linebackers to cover and can overpower most safeties. He can stretch the secondary down the middle and will often line up wide to match up against smaller cornerbacks. He is a willing blocker who shows effort and tenacity, but lacks the size and power to be a dominating inline blocker.

111. Vernon Carey - Miami Dolphins
Comment: He is the most versatile offensive lineman on the Dolphins roster because he has played four positions at one point or another. Carey has settled in well at the right tackle spot. He possesses a nice combination of size and strength for the position. He is a good overall athlete. He has left tackle-quality feet and athleticism. He does a good job of protecting the edges in pass protection and adjusts well versus double moves. Carey will ride the defender wide and allow the QB to move up into the pocket. He plays with good leverage in the run game. He is a solid player on an underrated offensive line.

119. Ray Lewis - Baltimore Ravens
Comment: Lewis, entering his 15th year, is coming off another extremely productive season. He has diminishing skills, but his experience, toughness and instincts enable him to be a force in the middle of the Ravens’ defense. He is a powerfully built player with outstanding tackling power between the tackles. His ability to wrap up and tackle with jolting force is still evident. He has excellent instincts and vision to react quickly to the run and pass. He has outstanding football intelligence and is able to make all the checks and adjustments needed in the complex Ravens scheme. He uses his hands to work through trash and has natural power to run through blockers. Lewis is a crafty veteran who takes great angles in pursuit and maintains leverage on the ball carrier. He is a solid pass defender primarily because of excellent anticipation and route recognition. Lewis has been remarkably durable over his career, but he clearly is on the backside of his career.

140. Eric Winston - Houston Texans
Comment: Winston has been the Texans’ starting right tackle for the past four years and has done a good job of solidifying his side of the line. He has excellent dimensions for the position with good initial quickness, body control and balance. He has a good understanding of blocking schemes and angles and is quick to engage and work his blocks. He shows good recognition of games up front like twists and stunts, and he plays the game smart. Winston is a good knee-bender who can keep his pad level down to leverage blocks and does a good job of keeping his feet moving to sustain and finish blocks off. He will overextend and let his weight get too far forward when in space and struggles to react and adjust to counter moves by the pass-rusher. Overall, he is a solid right tackle who still has potential to grow in technique and strength.

148. Jonathan Vilma - New Orleans Saints
Comment: Vilma is a slightly undersized middle linebacker who can be a disruptive playmaker thanks to rare speed, agility and a very good nose for the ball. He is a student of the game who understands blocking angles, defensive schemes and how to leverage his way to the ball. He has excellent range laterally and shows a good burst to close on the ball. He pretty much needs to stay protected by the defensive front as he lacks the size and power to take on blockers and squeeze the play down. He gets very good depth in his drops and shows good route recognition as well as the ability to read the quarterback to get a jump on the ball.

162. Brandon Meriweather - New England Patriots
Comment: Meriweather had another productive season in 2009 and has settled in as the Patriots’ starting safety. Meriweather has adequate size with very good athletic skills for the position. He displays good instincts, speed and range. He shows good versatility as he is used in a variety of alignments. Meriweather still has some inconsistencies in coverage. He struggles to maintain leverage on wide receivers and has taken poor angles out of breaks. He’s aggressive and active in run support and has been one of the most consistent players on the New England roster.

196. Calais Campbell - Arizona Cardinals
Comment: After spending his rookie season as a situational backup with the Cardinals, Campbell earned a starting position and played in all 16 games, starting 15 and finishing with 48 tackles and seven sacks in 2009. He has rare size for the position, and he is quicker and shows better speed than you’d expect for someone with his length. He shows a good feel for the position as he recognizes blocking schemes and will fight through pressure with good hand use. He must work on keeping his pad level down to leverage blocks and could use more upper-body strength to control and disengage. He has a lot of potential and has become a quality starter.

200. Devin Hester - Chicago Bears
Comment: Hester has become a larger part of the Bears’ air attack and was utilized less as a pure return specialist in 2009. He is an excellent athlete with outstanding speed, burst and quickness. He has developed as a route-runner and has made marked improvement in this area. Hester can eat up a defender’s cushion quickly with deceptive push off the line of scrimmage and can stretch deep zones with a second gear downfield. Hester is an explosive player with the ball in his hands because he can distort angles in the open field. He has average size, struggles to break tackles downfield and can get rerouted at times versus press man coverage. Hester continues to be utilized as a punt and kick returner but has lost some of his edge in this area.

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The Texans signed four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson to a contract extension through the 2016 season on Thursday. The move, as general manager Rick Smith put it, essentially makes Johnson "a Texan for life."

Smith did not disclose contract terms, but John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that the extension makes Johnson the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL with an average salary of $10.5 million per year.

Johnson previously was under contract through 2014 after signing an eight-year extension in 2007. Normally, that would make re-negotiation out of the question. The Texans were willing to make an exception for Johnson, who is one of two players in NFL history along with Jerry Rice to lead the league in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons.

"Andre is in a class by himself," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "It's important to us that Andre have one home, and that's with the Texans. He's a future Hall of Famer and will probably be our first Hall of Fame player, and we wanted to make sure that he went in as a Texan."

On the first day of training camp last Friday, McNair said that he wanted to get a new deal done with Johnson within two weeks. Six days later, Smith and vice president of football administration Chris Olsen finalized the extension with Johnson's agent, Kennard McGuire.

"With having five years left on my contact, for them to do something like this for me and my family, I don't think words can really describe it," Johnson said. "All I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart… I'm very happy that we were able to get everything settled and I can move forward with football."

The third overall pick out of Miami (Fla.) in 2003, Johnson joined the Texans one season after the franchise began play in 2002. He has led the team in receiving yards in each of his seven seasons and holds 14 different team records.

"To be able to play for the Houston Texans for the rest of my career, it's a tremendous honor," he said. "I always said I wanted to be a part of something special, and I knew that coming to a new organization that things were going to be a little rough in the beginning. Now, I feel like things are taking that turn for us, so I'm very excited for this upcoming season. I know the fans are excited, the whole city of Houston's excited. We're going to give them something this year to be excited about."

Johnson, 29, said that his new contract will not change the way he approaches the game.

"I do know where this organization wants to be and I know where I want the organization to be, and if it's up to me, I'll tote it on my back to hopefully be playing in Cowboys Stadium (site of Super Bowl XLV) at the end of this season," he said. "When you watch me play on Sundays, you're going to see all that I have. I'm going to lay it all on the line, so that's what you can expect from me."

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(houstontexans.com)

The Texans are close to signing Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson to a new contract that could make him the highest-paid player in the NFL at his position.

Johnson has five years remaining on his current contract. He's scheduled to make a base salary of $5.8 million this season. He said at the start of training camp last week that he wanted to be the highest-paid receiver in the league.

Owner Bob McNair said he expected to have the deal wrapped up in two weeks, but it's not going to take that long, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday night.

No specifics of the deal were given.

General manager Rick Smith and agent Kennard McGuire have been negotiating the deal, and neither returned calls Wednesday night.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Texans owner Bob McNair says he hopes to sign Andre Johnson to a new contract within "a couple weeks" and keep the star receiver in Houston for his entire career.

Johnson participated in the team's first training camp workout on Friday, setting aside his still unresolved contract situation. He wants a new deal, even though he has five years left on his current $60 million contract, but he also said he didn't want to become a team distraction by holding out. Raheel Ramzanali, live from training camp, reports via Twitter that Andre Johnson says he wants to be the highest paid receiver in the NFL and is confident a deal will get done soon.

"Texans owner Bob McNair made it clear he's going to reward Andre Johnson w a huge contract soon. I'd say by preseason opener Aug. 14." 

Johnson briefly sat out of OTAs this summer, but quickly returned for work after hiring a new agent.  He also quietly showed up for training camp on time and didn't express serious concern about his contract.

Now we know why.

You can argue that the Texans are setting a bad business precedent for the the team, but we don't fully buy it.  There just aren't other players like Andre Johnson.

Still, other NFL owners won't love the concept behind this deal.  While other front offices hide behind "labor uncertainty," McNair appears ready to reward a player signed through 2014 out of the goodness in his heart.

Johnson led the NFL with 1,569 receiving yards in 2009 and topped 100 catches for the third time in four years. He says he's not worried about his contract, though he conceded he would like to become the league's highest-paid receiver.

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(profootballtalk.com)

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain hinted in a blog post Saturday that the Texans aren't necessarily out of the woods in regard to Andre Johnson's contract situation.

"I'm not convinced the Andre Johnson contract situation couldn't get ugly," wrote McClain. "When I see Johnson on the field on Friday, I'll be convinced." While GM Rick Smith is working on getting Johnson a new deal, it doesn't sound like A.J. is a lock to report on time for training camp. Of course, Johnson would risk hefty daily fines by skipping practices.

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(rotoworld.com)

I've been adamant about starting the season with Jenrry Mejia in Binghamton and Ike Davis in Buffalo, and I'm sticking to it.

You can throw Fernando Martinez into that category too.

Even if they continue to be the three most exciting players in camp.

But when it comes to promoting Ruben Tejada to fill in for Jose Reyes while he recovers from his thyroid condition, I'm willing to look the other way for a month.

The situation at shortstop is different.

Look, it would be cruel and inhumane to subject sinker-ball pitcher Mike Pelfrey (not to mention the rest of the staff) to the utterly rangeless double-play combo of Alex Cora and Luis Castillo.

There's got to be some type of correlation between angst over a grounder up the middle and the fact that Big Pelf started feverishly licking himself on the mound after Jose Reyes went down last year.

Tejada is 20... he hit .289 despite being a pup in Double-A last season. It's impressive. Still, offensively, he's going to be in over his head at the big-league level. That's OK.

His real game -- his defense and his speed on the base paths -- are big-league ready right now now and won't be damaged by a month or so at the Show.

So give me the kid for six weeks until Reyes gets back.

Then he goes back to the farm so we can find out if he's the second baseman of the future, the utility infielder of the future, something more or something less.



(blog.slive.com)

CORPUS CHRISTI — When it comes to who is the all-time best receiver in Houston’s 50-year pro football history, fans may be watching him right now.

Andre Johnson has been on the shortlist of top receivers in the NFL for the past few years and is the most likely current Houston Texans to beat the past Houston Oilers on our list.

But it will be up to the voters to decide.

Help select the all-time Houston pro football team’s wide receivers (pick 2) at Caller.com. Here are the candidates (Statistics, honors and years played are from time spent only with Houston pro franchises; seasons spent with Houston pro franchises are listed in parentheses).

Kenny Burrough (1971-1981)
Third on the Oilers in career receiving yards (6,907), sixth in receptions (408) and tied for second in touchdown catches (47). Led NFL with 1,063 receiving yards in 1975. Led team in receptions seven times. Made two Pro Bowls.

Curtis Duncan (1987-1993)
Seventh in Oilers career receptions (322) and yards (3,935), with 20 touchdowns. Had 82 receptions for 954 yards in 1992 to earn Pro Bowl appearance.

Ernest Givins (1986-1994)
Oilers’ all-time leader in receptions (542) and yardage (7,935). His 46 touchdowns are fourth in franchise history. Passed 1,000 yards receiving only in rookie season. Two-time Pro Bowler. UPI All-AFC in 1990.

Bill Groman (1960-1962)
His 1,473 receiving yards in 1960 are third all-time for the Oilers. Twice, he went over 1,000 yards in a season, and twice he averaged more than 20 yards a catch. Two-time All-AFL.

Charley Hennigan (1960-1966)
Led team in receptions four times, passing the 1,000-yard mark three times. His 1,746 receiving yards in 1961 are franchise best, while 1,546 in 1964 are second-best. His 101 receptions in 1964 are most in a season for Oilers. Most receiving touchdowns in Oilers career (51) and fourth in yards (6,823). Played in five AFL All-Star games. Named All-AFL twice.

Drew Hill (1985-1991)
Cleared 1,000 yards five times and led team in receptions four times. Second on the Oilers in career receiving yards (7,477) and touchdowns (47) and third in receptions (480). Two-time Pro Bowler.

Haywood Jeffires (1987-1995)
Led team in receptions five times, including grabbing 100 in 1991. Twice cracked the 1,000-yard barrier. Second among Oilers in receptions (512) and touchdowns (47) and fifth in yards (6,119). Made three Pro Bowls and named all-pro in 1991.

Andre Johnson (2003-present)
Has caught at least 50 passes every season for the Texans, twice catching more than 100, including a franchise-high 115 in 2008. Has 7,883 receiving yards for his career and twice has surpassed 1,500 in a season. Has 42 career touchdown catches. Four-time Pro Bowler and twice all-pro.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR ANDRE JOHNSON.

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(caller.com)

When Paul Kuharsky is not giving Peyton Manning haters a savage beatdown, he's talking to Texans receiver Andre Johnson about Reggie Wayne.

They both played in college for Miami and live there for much of the offseason. Wayne’s working out at home more often, but the two have still spent time together, Johnson said.

"We talk about it; we’ve talked about it," Johnson said. "And we understand that it’s part of the business. That’s just part of it. It’s a violent game, probably the most physical game in the world. And it’s the most cut-throat game in the world. But we all understand that.

"I think he’ll be there [when the Colts open training camp]. I know Reggie; I know what kind of guy Reggie is and I’m pretty sure things will work out for him."

Like Andre Johnson, I too think that Reggie will show up for camp. However, if he doesn't, he should expect a fairly strong fan backlash. His botched route (which led to a pick six) in Super Bowl 44 had more to do with the Colts losing than Hank Baskett's muff on the onside kick that started the third quarter. So, for Reggie to demand more money now is very bad timing.

Camp opens August 1st at Anderson University.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s or Reggie Wayne’s proCane Rookie Card.



(stampedeblue.com)

Speaking to ESPN AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky, Texans G.M. Rick Smith made it clear that the team has a deadline for negotiations about a restructured contract for wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Week One.

"Our policy's been that we'll look at deals and we'll try to get things done during the offseason," explained Smith.  "But once the season starts, our entire focus as an organization goes to football and playing games."

Smith acknowledged that the Texans have been in discussions with Johnson's new agent, Kennard McGuire, though no new deal seems imminent.

"It's pretty well known that he's hired Kennard and we've been in contact," Smith confirmed.  "So I'll just leave it there."

Though Johnson has outplayed the eight-year, $60 million extension he signed in 2007 relative to other top NFL receivers, his camp is in a difficult position.  The Texans have Johnson under control through the 2014 season, with impending salaries of $5.8 million (2010), $6.8 million (2011), $7.3 million (2012), $7 million (2013), and $7.3 million (2014).

The sides will have to get creative to get something done before Smith's deadline.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

HOUSTON – An adage in the legal profession is that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.

Sadly, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson(notes) is learning the NFL version of that saying the hard way. Even after he recently hired agent Kennard McGuire to represent him, the lesson will likely cost him around $20 million over the course of his career.

Until hiring McGuire, Johnson essentially represented himself, using uncle Andre Melton as an advisor. The result of that decision has been a costly mistake for a player who is perfect in so many other ways. Aside from being a great player, Johnson is extremely classy and is roundly praised as a helpful and generous teammate.

Those would be wonderful points to make in a contract negotiation … if Johnson didn’t have five years left on his current deal. He could even use those points to counter the negativity of a holdout if Johnson was playing serious hardball with the Texans by not showing up for offseason work at all. However, Johnson has been far from disruptive. Instead, he missed three days of workouts this offseason, showed up to tell management he wasn’t happy and then went back to work with his teammates.

He did that even after Melton hinted to the media that Johnson was going to play rough with the Texans.

“My uncle may have said some things about what he thought I should do, but that didn’t come from me,” said Johnson, who led the league with 1,569 receiving yards last season.

Johnson’s body language demonstrated that he was clearly uncomfortable with the idea of holding out. The idea goes against his very nature. But Johnson, 28, is also frustrated with his contract, a deal which likely will cover the rest of his most productive seasons. By the time it expires after the 2014 season, Johnson will likely be playing out the string of his career if he’s even able to do that.

“When I missed the first days [of offseason work], everybody has their own opinion like, ‘He’s greedy and this and that.’ They don’t know the whole story, they haven’t been here, so it’s something you just have to understand,” said Johnson, the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. “The crazy thing about it – and this is why I say people don’t know what was going on – when I signed the contract [extension in 2007], all you heard is, ‘He’s a great guy, he’s a team player, he restructured his deal to bring other people in.’

“But now, when I ask for a restructured contract, ‘He’s greedy, he’s a diva, he’s this.’ Everybody flips on me.”

For the Texans, this is clearly an uncomfortable subject. They have a great player who is dissatisfied. Criticizing Johnson in any way would come off as bad PR.

“I want to make something clear, this is not me against Andre Johnson,” Houston general manager Rick Smith said. “Andre is a great player and person in every way.”

But …

“We didn’t give Andre a new contract [in 2007] to create cap space so we could sign free agents. We did it because he wanted more money,” Smith said.

OK, the problem is that Johnson didn’t really get a lot more than if he had played out the old deal – certainly not enough to make up for the risk of playing out his first contract.

Here’s the breakdown: As a rookie, Johnson signed a six-year, $39 million deal, which was pretty much in line with the market at the time. Then again, most rookie contracts are essentially slotted deals and the Texans were aggressive about giving Johnson a deal to get him signed on time for camp.

Where things went wrong was after the first four years of that deal in the 2007 offseason. By that time, according to NFL Players Association figures, Johnson had earned $21.71 million and had two years left on his rookie deal. He would have made $8.35 million in 2007 and again in 2008 for a total of $38.41 million over the first six years of his contract.

That also would have made Johnson a free agent or franchise player in the 2009 offseason. By then, fellow wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald(notes) (four years, $40 million) and Roy Williams (six years, $54 million) had already signed lucrative extensions.

But instead of playing out the final two years and getting leverage that comes with being a free agent or franchise player, Johnson signed a new deal in March 2007, adding six years to his original contract.

The result was basically an eight-year deal worth $60 million. If all goes well, Johnson, who is the only other receiver under 30 who ranks with Fitzgerald, will earn a total of $81.71 million over 12 years, which is basically his whole career.

Now, there’s nothing terribly wrong with that sum, but here’s the problem: Based on what Fitzgerald and Williams signed for, it’s not absurd to believe that Johnson easily could have made more than $10 million per year if he had waited. A six-year, $66 million contract, including $32 million or so guaranteed, could easily have been had.

“Andre Johnson is the one guy who could have [gotten more per year] than Larry Fitzgerald at that point,” a prominent agent said, referring to what could have happened if Johnson had waited. “The funny part is we actually had his contract used against us in one negotiation. The team said, ‘Your guy isn’t as good as Andre Johnson and look at his contract.’ ”

The bottom line is this, if Johnson had been patient, he could have hauled in more than $104 million over the same 12 years where he stands to make $81.71 million. And that’s if he stays healthy all the way through. Under the more patient scenario, nearly $70 million of that would have been guaranteed.

Some people might argue that Johnson needed to take the new deal for more security. After all, the Texans gave him $16 million in March 2007 and he has made more than $23 million total over the past three years.

OK, but Johnson was going to get at least $8.35 million in 2007 no matter and he could have easily purchased an insurance policy to cover the other $15 million he made with that extension.

And don’t expect McGuire, a talented and experienced agent, to have much luck getting a lot out of the Texans unless Johnson is willing to really play tough and hold out. Although McGuire is friendly with Smith, the Texans likely won’t do much more than add some incentives to the contract.

In other words, it would have paid for Johnson to wait.

If only he had someone who could have explained that to him.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(sports.yahoo.com)

The official team website for the Texans reports Monday that WR Andre Johnson isn't going to let his potential negotiations for a contract extension interfere with his play. "When the time comes for it, it'll come," said Johnson, who sat out the first three days of OTA workouts in an apparent contract dispute. "I'm not pressing anything or anything like that. Hopefully, it'll all work out." Johnson hired Houston-based agent Kennard McGuire on Friday, prompting speculation that he might be ready to play hardball with the Texans. But Johnson, who has five years left on an eight-year extension signed in 2007, said he does not have a timetable set for working out a new deal with the team. "I'm not really worried about it," he said. "I'm out here just trying to work and doing what I need to do to help win a Super Bowl around here. That's what I'm going to continue to do, and like I said before, if that happens, it'll happen and it will take care of itself."

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(gridironfans.com)

The Texans' Andre Johnson skipped the first three days of OTA's. And he was miserable. He knew where he wanted to be. He also knows he's grossly underpaid by just about anyone's standards, considering what he's accomplished on the field, and what he means to the Texans' success going forward.

Andre Johnson isn't just a world class wide receiver. He's a world class person. Yeah there are those that can argue that he's been paid pretty well. And then there's the whole "he's got 5 years left on his contract" argument. But he's out-performed his contract by a ton.
Let's look at some comparisons:
(All dollar amounts are estimated from several sources and are for illustrative purposes only!)

Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald signed a 4 year deal in 2008 worth an estimated $40MM. In the first two years, with bonuses, he's earned about $32MM. During those two years he recorded 193 receptions. That comes out to about $165,803.10 per catch.

The Texans' own Andre Davis inked a 4 year deal in 2008 worth about $16MM, of which he has earned about $10.1MM in the first two years. During that span he's caught 19 receptions, on which he's earned a whopping $531,578.95 each.

Then there's poor Andre Johnson. Now you find out why he's not happy. Maybe not with the Texans organization. Maybe just with his uncle...er...his "agent," that is. More on that in a sec. AJ inked an 8 year deal in 2007 worth $60MM. That's 20 million and 4 years more than Fitzgerald's deal. In the first 3 seasons of AJ's deal he's earned a total of about $26MM. In that same span he's recorded 276 receptions. Ok, all you math geniuses know where I'm going with this. For AJ's 276 receptions, he's earned a paltry $94,202.90 per catch. I know that's still a lot of money, but not by pro-football standards. And every catch AJ makes is vital to the Texans' success.

Yet, instead of throwing a temper tantrum, instead of sitting on the couch in the nice A/C playing his X-Box, he still comes out to voluntary practices. Yeah he skipped the first 3 while he thought about it. But that nagging desire to be there kept eating away at him. So he did the right thing and came to practice.

To me, that shows what a true professional Andre Johnson is. Since day one of his career with the Texans, he's continually shown, on and off the field, what a professional athlete, what a role model, is supposed to look like. He's shown how they should work, how they should perform, and how they should act.

Johnson hired Houston-based agent Kennard McGuire on Friday. The same agent that inked Andre Davis' deal. The same agent that represents Brandon Marshall, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Torry Holt. That tells me maybe AJ was unhappy with his agent more than the organization. We may never know, but one thing is certain. It's now time for the Texans, as an organization, to reward his performance, his leadership, his professionalism, and pay him what he is worth.

Like Craig Biggio was for the Astros. Like Hakeem Olajuwon was for the Rockets. Like Earl Campbell of the Oilers. Andre Johnson is professionalism defined. And I'm glad he's a Texan.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

Andre Johnson spoke on Monday about the process of hiring Houston-based agent Kennard McGuire to represent him. He had been previously advised by his uncle, Andre Melton, but Johnson said Melton helped him decide to hire McGuire.

“I really just felt comfortable with him,” Johnson said. “He's right here in the city of Houston, and when we're practicing, he's (sometimes) out here watching.”

As for any changes in his contract, Johnson said he doesn't have a timetable and that he's focused on football.

“I'm not really worried about that right now,” Johnson said. “When the time comes for it, it'll come.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

Texans WR Andre Johnson said Monday he isn't concerned about the status of his contract and isn't pushing the team to renegotiate his long-term deal.

Johnson participated in his second straight OTA workout after sitting out the first three last week. He hired Kennard McGuire as his new agent on Friday, but said Monday it shouldn't necessarily be considered a sign he is making a play for a new contract.

"When the time comes for it, it'll come," Johnson of contract talks. "I'm not pressing anything or anything like that. Hopefully, it'll all work out."
Johnson is due to make less than $6 million next season and has five years left on his deal. Other comparable receivers, such as Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Miami's Brandon Marshall, have contracts with average values more than $10 million per year.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Johnson said last week he wants to retire with the Texans.

"Like I said, I'm not really worried about it," Johnson said Monday. "I'm out here just trying to work and doing what I need to do to help win a Super Bowl around here. That's what I'm going to continue to do, and like I said before, if that happens, it'll happen and it will take care of itself."

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(usatoday.com)

Andre Johnson is showing the Texans he’s ready to play hardball by hiring Houston-based agent Kennard McGuire to represent him, according to a person close to the Pro Bowl wide receiver.

Johnson, 28, had been advised by his uncle, Andre Melton, in his first two negotiations with the Texans — a six-year, $39 million contract ($12.5 million guaranteed) in July 2003 and an eight-year, $60 million extension ($15 million guaranteed) in March 2007.

Johnson, who missed the first three days of organized team activities before reporting Thursday, is unhappy with his contract that has five years remaining and calls for him to make a $5.8 million base salary this year.

After working out with his teammates for the first time Thursday, Johnson said he was there to stay. Johnson (6-3, 225 pounds) will focus on football and allow McGuire to see if he can convince general manager Rick Smith to give his new client a better deal.

McGuire represents NFL receivers Brandon Marshall, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Torry Holt.

He recently negotiated Marshall’s four-year, $47.5 million extension with Miami that included $23 million guaranteed.

McGuire negotiated Texans receiver Andre Davis’ four-year, $16 million contract that included $8 million guaranteed.

Among McGuire’s other clients are defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, defensive end Cory Redding and defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.

Johnson, who has earned about $27 million in the first three years of his extension, has been voted to the Pro Bowl in three of the past four years. He led the NFL in yards receiving in each of the past two seasons with 1,575 in 2008 and 1,569 in 2009. He had 115 and 101 receptions over the past two seasons.

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(chron.com)

Saying his absence from the team's first three voluntary practices over a contract dispute was "out of character", Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson told KRIV-TV in Houston that he was eager to rejoin his teammates.

"My big thing is I just want to be out there with my teammates and help us accomplish our goals," Johnson told KRIV. "Me sitting out is not going to help, so I chose to come back."

As expected, Johnson was on the practice field with his Texans teammates Thursday.

Johnson has five years left on an eight-year contract worth $60 million that included $15 million in guarantees. He is considered one of the top receivers in the NFL, but his contract doesn't place him among the highest-paid players at his position with Larry Fitzgerald and Brandon Marshall earning significantly more.

The Texans reworked his original contract three years ago when it had two years remaining.

"Me not showing up is out of my character and that's why I'm here. I just hope things will work out," Johnson told KRIV.

"I feel like the team understands my situation and I know theirs and we can meet at a certain point and get it done and have a successful season," he told KRIV.

Johnson's uncle and agent Andre Melton told The Associated Press that a meeting Wednesday with the team's front office went "extremely well."

Johnson's return is a smart move in dealing with a team that has had a policy under general manager Rick Smith to negotiate only with players who are participating in team activities. Melton seemed encouraged by his talk with team officials on Wednesday.

"I'm pretty sure it will be a win-win for everybody," he said when asked if he believes the two sides can agree to a deal that will make Johnson happy.

Johnson, the third overall pick in 2003, is entering his eighth season. He has led the league in receiving in each of the last two seasons.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Star wide receiver Andre Johnson returned to the Texans’ fold Thursday, sounding chastened after missing the team’s first three voluntary organized team activities and seemingly suggesting he wouldn’t skip future off-season workouts as a way of showing dissatisfaction with his contract.

“I didn’t feel right being at home,” Johnson said. “That’s not me. I never miss OTAs. I’ve always been here, so I came in. I’m man enough to say that it was (out of character for him to be a no-show). I’m disappointed about it. I talked to everybody (in Texans’ management). There are no grudges and I don’t have any grudges toward them. We’re just going to move on.

“You can’t really win against the organization. When you’re under contract, they can hold you to it. It’s up to them to re-do it, give you an extension or whatever. They really don’t have to do anything. But I’m past all that now. I’m here working and I’m going to continue to work and hopefully we can achieve our goal of getting to the playoffs and winning the super Bowl.

“Hopefully everything works out. That’s it. I plan on being a Texan until the day I retire.”

The 28-year-old Johnson was the Texans’ first draft choice in 2003 and has made the Pro Bowl three of the last four seasons. But, before he posted back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons with 226 receptions in 2008-09, he signed an eight-year, $60 million extension in March of 2007 that included $15 million in guaranteed money. He stands to earn $5.8 million in 2010 base salary.

In an arrangement that’s rare among high-profile NFL players, Johnson has always been represented by his uncle, Andre Melton, who isn’t an officially certified agent.

Asked if he had “outperformed his contract,” Johnson said: “Well, you know, everybody has certain feelings, but I’d rather not talk about it.”

Owner Bob McNair also met with the press  to discuss the situation. He said the team was willing to hear Johnson out. They spoke for the first time Wednesday.

“Andre came to see me and wanted to assure me that he loved being a Texan and that he’s a team player, that nothing has changed,” McNair said. “I told him we just missed having him out here and that we wanted him out here.

“With any of our players, if they’ve got something they want to talk about, we’re always willing to sit down and review their situation . . . help them understand what the team’s obligations and parameters are. There are some things we can do and some things we can’t.

“Andre’s a special player so, of course, we’ll listen. We’ll see what’s bothering him, where he’s coming from, and then see if something can be done.”

McNair said he wouldn’t personally participate in any process that might lead to a re-structuring of Johnson’s deal.

“I don’t do any negotiations,” he said. “(General manager) Rick Smith handles that.”

Smith didn’t make himself available for comment. There’s no word yet on when Smith and Johnson might sit down together.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak admitted he felt a measure of relief seeing No. 80 in the mix, even if the OTAs aren’t mandatory.

“It’s great to have him back,” Kubiak said. “Andre’s been the heart and soul of this football team for a long time. I’m not worried about Andre. He’ll be ready to play. Nobody works harder than him. “But you’ve got to understand there’s about 30 new faces out here who know who he is but didn’t see him in the locker room the last few days That’s really important. (Everybody’s) energy just picked up today.”  

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

So Andre Johnson is back, just as most figured he would be and a few days earlier than we predicted.

Did you get over your little panic attack, Houston?

Many of you took the news that Johnson didn't show up for voluntary meetings earlier this week with the right attitude: Real practice begins in July, games in September. Others of you took it as evidence that the Texans won't make the playoffs.

The worst among you took it as another slap in the face from a rich athlete whining about not making enough money.

Amazing, since Johnson, who will be on the field with the Texans at today's voluntary workout, hasn't whined, complained or otherwise said a word about money.

If you wonder why athletes sometimes don't seem to care about what fans think, check out what some fans have said about Johnson the last few days.

We're talking about a hard-working wide receiver who has done just about everything right in his seven-year career. He has done more for the Texans than the Texans have done for him.

What's fair really isn't
Other than pay him quite well to do a job — and for the past couple of years he has done it better than anybody else on the planet — what have the Texans really done for Johnson? They've stuck him with a group of co-workers who weren't good enough to make the playoffs.
So why wouldn't he just leave and go play somewhere else? Well, he can't because he has five years left on a contract. Ah, the NFL contract.
NFL contracts are like marriages in which only one person has to make vows.

Unlike those in professional baseball, basketball and hockey, NFL contracts are largely non-guaranteed.

Judging from some of the nasty correspondence I've received on Johnson, many of you don't know that if the Texans were unhappy with Johnson they could send him on his way without having to pay him another dime.

The money he is due per the contract in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 will go to Johnson only if the Texans decide to give it to him.
Yeah, that's a fair contract all right.

So if Bob McNair can rip up the contract whenever he likes, why can't Johnson request it be modified to his liking? Never hurts to ask.
Some of you even claimed it is immoral for Johnson to ask for a raise, as if his position in the saintly occupation of pass catcher precludes him from seeking a bump in pay on occasion. How un-American is that?

If lazy Lisa, three cubicles over, made more than your hard-working self, wouldn't you ask for a raise?

Have you ever sought a better interest rate on a loan? A better cellular phone deal? Why would you do such an immoral thing? Didn't you sign a contract? Please.

No offense taken
It is only smart that an NFL player should use leverage on those rare occasions he accidentally has some. One day the Texans will tell Johnson he can no longer work for them, and it won't matter how many years he has left on his contract then.

This is a good spot for a side note: Johnson hasn't broken any of the terms of his contract.

Missing three days of these unofficial practices is viewed by the league as a milder transgression than wearing the wrong color shoestrings in a game. A player would be fined for the latter.

With participating media pushing fans to attack players for doing nothing more than conducting solid business, NFL management doesn't even have to do its own dirty work when it comes to these types of contract discussions.

Johnson isn't a bad guy or poor leader because of what he did this week.

Know this: If the Texans had a few more Andre Johnsons, the words Super Bowl and Texans wouldn't draw laughter when they showed up in the same sentence. But there are only a few Johnson-level players in the NFL.

One e-mailer thought a painter signing a contract to do work at his house was an apt comparison to Johnson's situation with the Texans.
Ludicrous.

Johnson isn't some house painter easily replaced by thumbing through the Yellow Pages. He's Picasso.

Use leverage when can
There are roughly 250 people who do what Johnson does in the NFL, perhaps five who do it anywhere near as well as he does.

Does that make him special? Well, yes, for the brief period in his life when he will be the best in the world at what he does.

Better that he asks for a raise now, while he is the best, than wait for the Texans to take money off the table when he no longer is. (And one day that will happen.)

I don't understand why any of you would see that as a slap in your face.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

Houston Texans' Andre Johnson(notes) was one of the league's top receivers last year, if not the best, and he would like to be paid more than the $5.8 million he's owed in his current contract for the coming season. So he used a little leverage and didn't bother showing up for a few Organized Team Activities.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Johnson is ending his little "holdout" today but that is likely because his agent brother Andre Mellon was promised a meeting on Friday with GM Rick Smith.

If things don't go the way Mellon likes tomorrow, don't be surprised if Johnson saves his holdout power for another period of time closer to the start of the season.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(sports.yahoo.com)

It was bad enough for the Houston Texans when they were dealing with Brian Cushing, the ramifications of what he did or did not take, and the resulting four-game suspension that will kick off Cushing's 2010 season. Now, receiver Andre Johnson(notes), the team's best player, is making noise about his contract. He's not happy about an eight-year, $60 million contract extension that he signed in March of 2007 that will pay him a base salary of $5.8 million this season. That base jumps to $6.8 million in 2011 and $7.3 million in 2012, narrows off to $7 million in 2013, and goes back up to $7.3 million in 2014. Add in $15 million in guaranteed money, and it sounds like a lot of scratch ... until you compare Johnson's contract with other recent receiver deals.

Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald(notes) signed a new deal in March of 2008, a four-year, $40 million contract that gave him $30 million guaranteed and $12.1 million in option and roster bonuses alone in 2009. Fitzgerald's base is $6.3 million in 2010 -- just half a million over Johnson's -- but it's the way in which the contract is structured that gives the advantage to Fitzgerald. Three-quarters of Fitzgerald's contract is guaranteed, while Johnson's guaranteed money comprises just one-fourth of his total deal. When Roy Williams signed a six-year, $54 million deal with the Cowboys upon his trade from the Lions in October 2008, he got more than $26 million guaranteed, including a $10 million option bonus in the second year. He has a couple of years in which the deal is voidable -- 2013 and 2014 have base salaries of over $8 million -- but Williams will earn far more than his on-field production has been worth.

And that's where Johnson is in the right. As great as Fitzgerald has been, there's little doubt that Johnson has been the NFL's most productive receiver over the last few years. Last season, Johnson was targeted 172 times to Fitzgerald's 153 and Williams' 86. As Houston's offense has gone extremely pass-heavy, Johnson has been the focus of every defense playing the Texans, and he's still been able to put up ridiculous numbers -- his 1,569 receiving yards led the league by more than 200 yards over New England's Wes Welker(notes). No receiver had more plays of 20 yards or more last season than Johnson's 22. In 2008, Johnson led the league in catches (115) and receiving yards (1,575). And Houston's overall game plan isn't going to change anytime soon, which means that Johnson will continue to be the pointman in that offense.

Johnson is currently absent from the Texans' OTAs, and General Manager Rick Smith has said that the team has a strict policy of refusing to negotiate with players who aren't present. Johnson negotiated that extension with the help of Andre Melton, his uncle and agent, and Melton was quoted as saying last season that he had an "exit strategy" for Johnson if the Texans didn't pony up. Johnson went on the record and disagreed with that notion, but he's got a point when it comes to his compensation. Perhaps step one is to hire a more experienced advisor to help him through the process.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(yahoosports.com)

Just as the story of Brian Cushing's suspension is due to quiet down some, the Houston Texans are faced with a new drama.

John McClain and Mark Berman report that Andre Johnson was not a part of Monday’s opening organized training activities session because he’s dissatisfied with his deal.

Johnson has five years remaining on his contract and will make a base salary of $5.8 million in 2010. When he still had two years remaining on his original deal, the Texans redid it in March of 2007. He got an eight-year, $60 million package with $15 million guaranteed.

Berman talked to GM Rick Smith about Johnson’s absence Monday.

"I'm not real worried about that," said Rick Smith. "We re-did him with two years left on his original deal and that was three years ago.

"And over the first three years of that deal, I think if you even ask him, he's been well compensated.

"He's got five years left on that deal. We're willing to sit down and talk with him and he knows that."

Smith acknowledges that re-doing a contract with five years left is unusual.

"It's very difficult," said Smith. "It's something that's not customary, but we've got a relationship with him and he knows we are willing to sit down and talk with him."

If Johnson wanted to get management’s attention more publicly, so be it. But he’s rated as a true pro and saw how Dunta Robinson’s contract dispute was unhealthy for the team last year.

Johnson has a tremendous amount invested in the Texans. With Houston believing it’s ready to make the jump into the playoffs, I have a hard time imagining Johnson would create an extended scenario where he or his contract is an issue.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

HOUSTON -- Andre Johnson has five years remaining on a $60 million contract he signed with the Texans in 2007. The star receiver feels that he's already outplayed that contract, however, and was missing from the start of Houston's voluntary organized team activities on Monday.

Johnson, who led the NFL in receiving yards last season (1,569 yards), is scheduled to make $5.8 million this season.

Texans general manager Rick Smith said Monday that Johnson was missing because he was unhappy with his current contract.

Since Johnson signed his contract, the Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald received a four-year, $40 million deal and new Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall agreed to a four-year, $47 million contract after he was traded from the Denver Broncos.

Smith said that he was "not real worried" about the four-time Pro Bowler's absence.

"He's got five years left on [the deal he signed in 2007]. We're willing to sit down and talk with him and he knows that," Smith said.

Still, Smith said that redoing a contract with five years remaining will be challenging.

"It's very difficult," Smith said. "It's something that's not customary, but we've got a relationship with him and he knows we are willing to sit down and talk with him."

The team's policy under Smith has been to negotiate only with players who are participating in team activities. Smith pointed to what star middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans did last offseason when he was unhappy with his contract.

"One of the things that was real smart on his part was the fact that he was upset that we had not been able to come to terms with an agreement, but he came back and was a part of the offseason workout and he was with his teammates, he was a leader and he did things the right way," Smith said. "He played his contract out and he was rewarded."

Johnson's absence is another distraction for a team that has been dealing with Brian Cushing's upcoming four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. The 2010 season could be a pivotal one for the team, which is coming off its first winning record but has never reached the playoffs.

"You'd like to have all your people out here working, especially when we're trying to go do something we never have done," Smith said. "So the ideal situation is to have everybody working together, but as we talked about last week, you've got to be able to deal with distractions."
Smith said he has spoken to the receiver but wouldn't divulge details about their conversations.

"Obviously we want Andre here," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I know he and Rick are talking, so we'll get it worked out. We're not worried about Andre. He'll do his job."

Johnson has 587 receptions for 7,948 yards and 42 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons -- all with Houston.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Andre Johnson has four years left on the six-year, $60-million extension, including $15 million guaranteed, he signed in 2007.

Last week, Johnson took notice of the contract receiver Brandon Marshall got from Miami — four-years, $47.5 million, including $24.5 million guaranteed.

Marshall's contract was negotiated by Houston agent Kennard McGuire, who's been on a roll that began with New England's Vince Wilfork (five years, $40 million, $25 million guaranteed) and Green Bay's Ryan Pickett (four years, $28 million, $14 million guaranteed).

“Since Brandon signed that big contract, I've been getting a lot of text messages and phone calls,” Johnson said. “Everybody's like, ‘Hey, what are you going to do?'

“I can't worry about that. All I can do is to talk to people (general manager Rick Smith) upstairs. If it works out, it works out. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Anything's possible, though.

“I think it depends on the way you go about it. A lot of guys say harsh things in the media, and sometimes that takes them out of position. I think if you go about it in a respectable way, it can be done. It's important to me. It's not something out of the norm. It's just part of the business.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson's proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

Check out photos of proCanes all around Miami during Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Week. We'd like to thank fellow Cane Katrina Campins for sending us the photos.


Alice Vilma, Ken Dorsey and fellow UM Alum and The Campins Company Founder & Owner Katrina Campins at Movie Director Michael Bay's house for the BIG GAME BIG GIVE during SUPERBOWL Week.

DJ Williams and and Katrina Campins at the Paparazzi Pool Party hosted by Terrell Owens, Chad Ochcocinco, Ludacris and Campins.

Tavares Gooden and Katrina Campins at the Paparazzi Pool Party hosted by Terrell Owens, Chad Ochcocinco, Ludacris and Campins.

Willis McGahee and fellow UM Alum and The Campins Company Founder & Owner Katrina Campins at Movie Director Michael Bay's house for the BIG GAME BIG GIVE during SUPERBOWL Week.

The Campins Company Sports & Entertainment real estate client Chicago Bears NFL Tight End Greg Olsen,  The Campins Company Founder & Owner Katrina Campins & Campins Chicago Luxury Real Estate Specialist Kara Olsen with Emily & Brett Romberg during SUPERBOWL Week at the Evening with UM Football Greats event.

Kenny Phillips and Tavares Gooden at the Evening with UM Football Greats event.

Edgerrin James and Clinton Portis at the Evening with UM Football Greats event.

Ed Reed, Edgerrin James, Santana Moss, Andre Johnson and many more proCanes at the Evening with UM Football Greats event.

The Campins Company Sports & Entertainment real estate client Carolina Panthers NFL linebacker Jon Beason & Chicago Bears NFL Tight End Greg Olsen,  The Campins Company Founder & Owner Katrina Campins & Campins Chicago Luxury Real Estate Specialist Kara Olsen during SUPERBOWL Week at the Evening with UM Football Greats event.

The Campins Company Sports & Entertainment real estate client Carolina Panthers NFL linebacker Jon Beason ,The Campins Company Founder & Owner Katrina Campins & Campins Chicago Luxury Real Estate Specialist Kara Olsen during during SUPERBOWL Week at the Evening with UM Football Greats event.

Antrel Rolle being interviewed at the Evening with UM Football Greats event.

MIAMI -- C.J. is vocal.

New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson is known for pushing his players relentlessly.

"He's a screamer, " New Orleans Saints receiver Robert Meachem said.

C.J. is a comic.

"We can mess up, run the wrong route in practice, and we'll tell him, 'We got it. We kind of messed up on this one, ' " Meachem said. "We get back in the film room, he already knows you messed up, but he'll get onto you again in front of everybody -- and make a joke out of it, have everybody laughing at you."

C.J. is among the nittiest of pickers to pick a nit.

"He's definitely on us all the time, " receiver Marques Colston said. "The thing with him is, he doesn't allow you to take anything off -- even the break periods. Everyone else is on a knee getting a drink, and we're over there catching footballs."

But Curtis Johnson -- a New Orleans-born, St. Charles High graduate who has been the wide receivers coach for the Saints since 2006 -- is a master at what he does, with his work highlighted along the way as the Saints prepare for the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday in Miami.

The receivers he tutors are better after having worked with him. Each one he has come into contact with as a Saint, and the ones he tutored as receivers coach at the University of Miami, is better for having had the experience.

Colston, a seventh-round pick in 2006 who had as bad a rookie minicamp as could be imagined, has been a 1,000-yard receiver in three of his four seasons. Devery Henderson averaged 23.3, 20.5 and 24.8 yards per catch from 2006-08 before dipping to 15.8 yards per catch this season, but he caught a career-high 51 passes and became more of a complete threat.

And Meachem, a first-round pick and target of scorn that entered this season with 12 catches in his first two seasons, hauled in 45 passes for 722 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season.

Sure, some of that's owed to maturity and improved work habits and self-evaluation -- and it's not like Saints receivers are void of talent.
The three mentioned all were draft picks (Henderson a second-rounder), and while New Orleans got lucky with Colston, there still had to be a reason for picking him.

And some is owed to the excellence of quarterback Drew Brees, who's on a run of efficiency that's unmatched in franchise history.
But some of their development can be attributed to Johnson's relentless pushing.

"He makes you 10 times better, " Meachem said. "Our receiver corps is like a family, and we don't want to let each other down. And with C.J., we really don't want to let him down."

Said Colston: "Even during break periods, we're doing something, still working. At first it irritates you at times, but you see the end result. He has made us so much better as players and as a group. The end result has made us that much better as players, and we appreciate it at the end of the day."

There's no better illustration of that than this: "He's taught me a lot, " Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said. "He's pretty much taught me everything I know, and I'll do my best to not let him down."

Johnson coached Wayne at Miami, where Wayne set a school record with 173 receptions.

These days, Wayne is a two-time All-Pro who is one of the most dangerous receivers in the league.

So it's no small thing when he, and receivers like Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans and Santana Moss of the Washington Redskins, give props to their mentor.

"That means a lot to me, " Johnson said. "Reggie was a young man I recruited. Very, very sharp guy and understands the game and understands his situation. I'm just very proud of him.

"All of those guys (from Miami), I'm proud of but especially him, doing what he's doing in the NFL. I never thought it would be that good for him, but he's worked his tail off. He's something special."

The same might be said of Johnson.

True, none of his Saints receivers have received a Pro Bowl invite while Brees finished second in the voting for MVP this season, had the second-highest single-season total for passing yards (5,069) last season and has led the NFL in passing yards since 2006.

But Colston has averaged 71 catches for 1,018 yards and eight touchdowns per season, Henderson and Meachem have become much more than decoys, and Lance Moore -- injured and in and out of the lineup for New Orleans this season -- caught 10 touchdowns last season.
Neither is the player he was before he met Johnson.

"I love my receiving corps, " Brees said. "As a group, they are the best in the league. When you talk about what each one of them brings to the field and to our offense, each one of them has some very unique strengths. They all work so well together.

"They understand that throughout the course of a game, 'Today might be my day. I might be able to catch 10 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. While other days I might only catch one pass, my role is still just as important because I'm creating opportunities for other guys. It might be another guy's big catch today.' "

They're ready because Johnson makes sure they're ready.

"I try not to let any stones go unturned, " Johnson said. "I just try to make sure, even the little things, I stay on it -- stay on them. I know I aggravate 'em a lot, and I know I'm on 'em a LOT.

"But the bottom line is if you're a professional, and you want to be professional. You want to put your product on the field every time. I just love seeing those guys perform, and I love seeing them play. But they do work hard, and they do respond. Sometimes, I'm a little bit unreasonable, but it's working out good for them."

Said Meachem: "C.J. knows we've got an opportunity to be great and be special. All he tries to do is get us to be special. As a receiver, you've got to have high standards for yourself. Your coach's goals can't be higher than yours.

"He asks you, 'What kind of player do you want to be when you leave this game?' If you say you want to be one of the best, then he's going to push you to be one of the best. A lot of times coaches see things in you that you really don't see in yourself at times, and he just pushes you to a level where you can only perform to be good."

He screams, he jokes, he picks the nits -- and the Saints are better for it.



(nola.com)

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. - Since 2002, and for the past 122 weeks in which an NFL game has been played, a player from the University of Miami has scored a touchdown.

For 14 consecutive years, at least one Hurricanes player has been a first-round NFL draft choice.

Sunday evening in Super Bowl XLIV, a handful of former Hurricanes, from Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and tight end Jeremy Shockey will participate in the NFL championship game, a destination most who pass through the football program at the Coral Gables, Fla., school come to expect from the moment they arrive on the palm tree-lined campus through the time their name is called by the NFL commissioner on draft night.

"Those kids who go there expect to be at this level, " said Saints wide receiver coach Curtis Johnson, who held the same position on the Hurricanes' staff when Wayne played there. Johnson coached there from 1996 to 2005. "A lot of places I've seen, just going to different colleges, guys don't have that same expectation. At Miami that is the expectation. That is what Miami is.

"They say, 'We're supposed to go here and win a national championship' then they're supposed to go to the NFL and play for 10 years."

And along the way, pick up a Super Bowl ring or two to supplement the jewelry they won at "the U," to which the university is lovingly referred.
The list of alumni who've prospered in the NFL is long and glittering, from Michael Irvin to Ray Lewis, from Ed Reed to Russell Maryland, from Vinny Testaverde to Bernie Kosar, from Santana Moss to Andre Johnson, from Warren Sapp to the late Jerome Brown, from Ted Hendricks to Edgerrin James.

"There are a bunch of us, a lot of products of the University of Miami here, " said Shockey, who, as his college teammate Vilma, makes his Super Bowl debut Sunday, the next line of succession after the pair won a national championship in the Rose Bowl against Nebraska in 2001, one of five the school has claimed.

"And all I can say to those who do play for the University of Miami now is to enjoy your moment in college. It was the best time of my life. It was a great feeling to win the national championship and be a part of that college."

For Vilma, the return to the area as a member of the Saints' first Super Bowl team also is engendering fond memories.

"We talked about that a little bit at the beginning, " Vilma said of a conversation he shared with Shockey, "and we said, 'We're back at it again.' This is our first time, obviously his first Super Bowl (Shockey was injured as a member of the Giants for Super Bowl XLII), my first Super Bowl, and this is an exciting moment for us. But it only becomes a special moment if you win.

"We felt that way when we were playing in the Rose Bowl against a good Nebraska team. We felt like it was a special moment for us, but it's only special if you go out there and you take care of business."

That has been a mantra that has followed most Miami players into the NFL.

"Everybody who comes to that school works hard, " said Wayne, a native New Orleanian who played at Ehret and counts Johnson as his mentor. "Hard work pays off. This is an opportunity to show what (Miami alums) have been working toward, with hard work and dedication. I just want to go out there and represent the school on a good note and hopefully come out on top.

"My mentor at UM, my receiver coach in college was Curtis Johnson. He has taught me a lot. He's pretty much taught me everything I know. And I'll do my best to not let him down."

At the conclusion of last Sunday's Pro Bowl, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and most of the other former Hurricanes who'd been selected to play in the game, a total of 10, gathered near midfield for a group photo.

"It was like being with your brothers, " Johnson said that night. "A lot of those guys I have played with and went through a lot of blood, sweat and tears with and won a national championship with them, so it was just a lot of fun. We have something that I don't think any other school has. A camaraderie that I can't really explain. We're always together in the offseason, training together back at the school. So just to be out here with all these guys is just a lot of fun."

Andre Johnson said he believes the bond between former Miami players is stronger than at other schools.

"Sometimes you hear other guys talk about it that went to different colleges, " he said. "Evidently it's something that they see. Most of the time, when you see a guy from the U, he has another guy with him that he played with. That's just something that we do."

Curtis Johnson said he believes Miami's regimented program better prepares athletes for the challenges they'll face in the NFL.

"The coaches are no-nonsense, " Johnson said. "Guys get to the NFL and sometimes you've almost got to de-recruit them. Miami doesn't do that. I think you just continue to teach there. They have this progression that they do, starting them off as freshmen. They get them up early in the morning doing the things that's going to make them successful in life. Those guys do a great job.

"It's very much like a professional program. The demands are the same, similar to what we have (in the NFL). It's very much a structured program. In the NFL, you tell them what to do. You don't have options. Miami is the same way. They tell them how it's going to be done. And you've just got to do it."

Such uniformity, Vilma said, made his transition into pro football somewhat seamles, s and the competition he faced in college prepared him for the challenges of the NFL.

"I definitely noticed the similarities, " Vilma said. "And another thing was the talent level. You had guys where you couldn't afford to take a play off, not because you were tired or didn't feel like it. It was because if you stepped out, the next guy was coming in and he was going to probably take your job. It was just that way. It really created a good atmosphere, a very competitive atmosphere, when we played."
The pro-type offenses and defenses to which players at Miami are exposed, said Curtis Johnson and Shockey, also are advantageous.

"Ultimately, " Shockey said, "being a part of the University of Miami helps you once you get to the NFL. Unlike some kids who go to some schools, we had a complex offense and we were already polished when we got to the pros.

"That's why you see so many University of Miami guys in big games like this and the Pro Bowl. You see them drafted high because they're prepared. A lot of other college guys aren't. At Miami, you're there to take the next step."



(nola.com)

Check out our exclusive photos from Saturday Morning's AFC and NFC Pro Bowl Practices. Six of the record 11 proCane Pro Bowlers were on hand, including Warren Sapp of the NFL Network. Click here or above on the proCanes Gallery link to view the photos.

As the years passed, Andre Johnson never forgot the promise he made his mom.

That's why he's back at the University of Miami this semester. Working toward a degree. Making good on a promise.

“I told my mom I'd finish,” he said Saturday morning from South Florida. “I just never said when.”

He laughs when he thinks about how much time has passed. Has it really been seven years? Will he really celebrate his 29th birthday this summer?

“I was sitting around one day this season thinking about what I'd told my mom,” he said. “Why not do it now? I've been out seven years and just felt it was time.”

He's 30 hours away from a liberal arts degree and is taking three sociology classes worth 12 hours this spring. To be back in a classroom setting after so long is, well, a shock to the system.

“It's different,” he said. “Like I said, it has been 6½ years since I'd taken a class. The thing that helped me is I did know what to expect. It's just that I hadn't done it in so long.”

Has he enjoyed it?

“Yes,” he said. “It's so different, but I'm dedicated to doing this. Hopefully, I can finish.”

Big men on campus
He's thinking of switching to sociology as he looks ahead to life after football. He has made millions and established himself as one of the NFL's best players, a rare combination of size and strength, speed and smarts.

Rookies Brian Cushing and James Casey are also back in school this semester. But they're less than a year removed from school, so it surely is easier.

“Your world gets flipped,” Casey said. “In a week, you go from playing the New England Patriots in front of 70,000 to sitting in a classroom discussing King Lear.”

Johnson is the Texan against whom every other is measured in terms of production, character, work ethic, you name it. He'll play in his fourth Pro Bowl tonight after a season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards (1,569) for a second straight season and was third with 101 catches.

He's 15th among active receivers in catches and yardage, but every player in front of him is older. He and Jerry Rice are the only receivers to lead the NFL in yardage in back-to-back seasons.

But he believes he has a more substantive contribution to make and thinks his second career will be coaching high school football. Thus another reason to get a degree.

“These kids are going through a lot of the same things I went through,” he said. “I think someone that has been down the road might help others avoid the same mistake. Maybe I can make things easier for them.”

Hurricanes pride
This has been a week of celebrating a great career where it started. He attended Miami High before The U., and if the Pro Bowl was going to be any place other than Hawaii, it's in the right place for Johnson and 10 other former Hurricanes in the game.

“I've been here two weeks taking classes,” he said, “so I've had some time to visit with families and coaches. It's great being here this week. I'm getting a lot of love.

“I think guys look forward to Hawaii, but it's the Pro Bowl and guys are having fun.”

Eleven former Hurricanes in this Pro Bowl is a record for players from one school, breaking the mark of nine by USC in the 1986 game.
“It's a tremendous honor,” Johnson said. “It shows what we represent.”

Which will come first?

He represents what every professional athlete should represent. All that's missing on his résumé is a trip to the playoffs … and a degree.

For a time, it seemed his magnificent talents might be wasted because the Texans didn't put enough other good players around him. They're coming off their first winning season and missed the playoffs by the thinnest of margins. They'll begin 2010 cautiously confident their time is now.

“I feel good about where we're at,” he said. “I'm disappointed we didn't make it, but we‘re headed in the right direction. I truly believe that.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

Frank Gore and Andre Johnson head into their first meeting of the 2010 Pro Bowl.

Click here to order Andre Johnson's or Frank Gore's proCane Rookie Card.



(twitter.com)

The NFL 2010 Pro Bowlers were announced with 11 proCanes named on the AFC and NFC rosters.

AFC:
- Andre Johnson - WR - Houston Texans - Starter
- Brandon Meriweather - S - New England Patriots - Starter
- Reggie Wayne - WR - Indianapolis Colts - Starter
- Vince Wilfork - DL - New England Patriots
- Ray Lewis - MLB - Baltimore Ravens - Starter
- Ed Reed - S - Baltimore Ravens - Starter
- DJ Williams - OLB - Denver Broncos - Alternate

NFC:
- Bryant McKinnie - OL - Minnesota Vikings - Starter
- Jonathan Vilma - MLB - New Orleans Saints
- Antrel Rolle - S - Arizona Cardinals - Starter
- Frank Gore - RB - San Francisco 49ers - Starter

*Updated 1/25/10

proCanes Ray Lewis and Andre Johnson were named to the 2009 NFL AP All- Pro Team. This is the 7th time in his career Ray Lewis has been named to the AP All-Pro team and it is Andre Johnson's 2nd time. Congrats to both!

proCanes Jon Beason, Reggie Wayne, and Ed Reed were named to the 2009 NFL AP All- Pro 2nd Team.

Click here to order Any proCane Rookie Card.

(allstargrind.com)

Andre Johnson has been voted as the NFL Alumni Wide Receiver of the Year for the third time.

Johnson, who caught 101 passes for 1,569 yards, won the award for the second consecutive season.

The only other Texans to win the award were kickoff returner Jerome Mathis (2005) and defensive end Mario Williams (2007).

Johnson will receive the award during the NFL Alumni banquet during the week of the Super Bowl.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)