2nd time around (week 5)

FORMER EAGLES DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JIM JOHNSON DEAD AT 68

Posted Jul 28, 2009 6:08PM By Dan Graziano (RSS feed)

The Philadelphia Eagles announced that longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his fight with skin cancer and died Tuesday afternoon at the age of 68. Johnson was the Eagles defensive coordinator for 10 years under coach Andy Reid, stepping aside officially just last week when it was announced that Sean McDermott would take over the position

"For ten years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being," Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement released by the team. "Jim epitomized the traits of what a great coach should be -- a teacher, a leader and a winner. He positively touched the lives of so many people in and out of the Eagles organization. It was easy to feel close to him. We will miss him greatly."

Johnson was an NFL assistant for a total of 22 years, spending time on the staffs of the Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks prior to joining the Eagles, where he became known as one of the top defensive minds in the game and one of the best defensive coordinators of all time. According to the press release announcing his death, Johnson's defenses ranked second in the NFL in sacks, third-down efficiency and red zone touchdown percentage and fourth in average points allowed per game from 2000-08.

Monday in Bethlehem, Pa., after the Eagles' morning practice session, McDermott was asked how he was getting by without his mentor, Johnson, around to help, and whether he finds himself asking what Johnson would do in certain situations.
"Not so much, 'What would Jim do here,' because I ran through those situations already in my mind, and if I hadn't by now it would have been a big mistake," McDermott said. "But moreso missing him coming out of the locker room, missing him in meetings this morning, just his presence. He had a way about him that you loved just being around the guy."

Under Johnson, 10 different Eagles defensive players made a combined total of 26 Pro Bowls, led by former safety Brian Dawkins' seven. During his 10-year tenure, the Eagles made seven playoff appearances, five NFC Championship Game appearances and one Super Bowl.


Jim Johnson began coaching as the head coach at Missouri Southern from 1967-68 and went on to coach at Drake and Indiana. From 1977-83 he was Notre Dame's defensive coordinator.
As a player, he was an all-conference quarterback at the University of Missouri and played two professional seasons (1963-64) as a tight end for Buffalo.

He is survived by his wife, Vicky, his two children, Scott and Michelle, and four grandchildren.

ARGONAUTS SEND ARLAND BRUCE TO RIVAL TICATS by John Rennision

Argonauts head coach Bart Andrus, who hasn't wanted Arland Bruce in his sight in recent days, will have to look at the player at least three more times this season.

Toronto sent the disgruntled slotback to the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Wednesday, less than a week after the Canadian Football League team left him behind for a road game for disciplinary reasons.

In return, the Ticats sent Toronto the rights to defensive lineman Corey Mace, a third-round pick next year as well as a conditional pick in the 2011 draft, according to the two teams.

'Right now, I do not want him around the team.'—Bart Andrus, Argos head coach

Toronto has reportedly already agreed to terms with Mace, which would make sense given the money the club saved by dealing Bruce. According to one of the sources, Bruce is scheduled to make $180,000 this season, of which $35,000 was paid up front.

With Bruce having already received four game cheques, that left Toronto with about $113,000 to play with in an attempt to sign Mace, who reportedly was looking for somewhere around $95,000 during negotiations with the Ticats.

Bruce, 31, has surpassed the 1,200-yard receiving mark with Toronto three of the past four years but had been fined four times this season for unprofessional behaviour that included leaving his playbook on a plane in Calgary and missing special-teams meetings.

He also made disparaging remarks about Toronto quarterback Kerry Joseph and was fined by the league for his Michael Jackson tribute touchdown celebration at Hamilton on July 1.

Bruce didn't attend an Argos team meeting Tuesday morning and later missed practice.

"He's not here because I don't want him here," Andrus said at the team's practice facility.

"We're looking at a lot of different things, a lot of different ways to bring this to a resolution," the coach added. "But right now, I do not want him around the team."

Toronto doesn't meet Hamilton until the Labour Day Classic at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Sept. 7. The Tiger-Cats visit Rogers Centre four days later, with their final regular-season meeting Oct. 23 at Toronto.