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There's something I have to get off my chest...
Look, I don't like Rob Johnson. He was a bust, we blew several seasons hoping he'd pan out. He didn't. He had some flashes of brilliance in the games where he came in off the bench, etc. and looked like he'd be great, only to get sacked a million times, injured, and overall lose games when he was anointed the starter. In retrospect, Flutie should definitely have been the unequivocal starter during that time.
However, one thing bugs me... why does everyone blame the Music City Miracle on Rob Johnson? Dude... if the guy ever stepped up to the plate and played a tough, hard-nosed game where he got the job done, it was that game. Sure, maybe it was peculiar that Wilson pushed Phillips into making the switch at QB going into the playoffs, but make no mistake about it, Rob Johnson did not lose that game for the Buffalo Bills. If you recall, the Bills were coming from behind the whole game, and Johnson led them to the game winning field goal in the final seconds! How is that his fault? How did he lose that game? He did his job! He played a Super Bowl defense, one of the absolute best in the league at that time, stood tall even though there were major offensive line problems that game (Robert Hicks anyone?) and let the Bills back in the final minute to win! The special teams blew that game with crappy kick coverage and getting faked out of their collective jock straps (even though of course it was a forward lateral anyway).
So, please, feel free to criticize Rob Johnson for his overall lack of production with the Bills, but don't blame him for the Music City Miracle. If you're going to blame someone, blame the coaching staff for not having the special teams prepared adequately. If Bobby April was the special teams coach that year, do you think that play would've happened? Instead, we'd be applauding Johnson for bringing the Bills back to win that game and celebrating a playoff win, as well as who knows where they could've gone that year?
Anyway, just had to get that out...
Jon
Look, I don't like Rob Johnson. He was a bust, we blew several seasons hoping he'd pan out. He didn't. He had some flashes of brilliance in the games where he came in off the bench, etc. and looked like he'd be great, only to get sacked a million times, injured, and overall lose games when he was anointed the starter. In retrospect, Flutie should definitely have been the unequivocal starter during that time.
However, one thing bugs me... why does everyone blame the Music City Miracle on Rob Johnson? Dude... if the guy ever stepped up to the plate and played a tough, hard-nosed game where he got the job done, it was that game. Sure, maybe it was peculiar that Wilson pushed Phillips into making the switch at QB going into the playoffs, but make no mistake about it, Rob Johnson did not lose that game for the Buffalo Bills. If you recall, the Bills were coming from behind the whole game, and Johnson led them to the game winning field goal in the final seconds! How is that his fault? How did he lose that game? He did his job! He played a Super Bowl defense, one of the absolute best in the league at that time, stood tall even though there were major offensive line problems that game (Robert Hicks anyone?) and let the Bills back in the final minute to win! The special teams blew that game with crappy kick coverage and getting faked out of their collective jock straps (even though of course it was a forward lateral anyway).
So, please, feel free to criticize Rob Johnson for his overall lack of production with the Bills, but don't blame him for the Music City Miracle. If you're going to blame someone, blame the coaching staff for not having the special teams prepared adequately. If Bobby April was the special teams coach that year, do you think that play would've happened? Instead, we'd be applauding Johnson for bringing the Bills back to win that game and celebrating a playoff win, as well as who knows where they could've gone that year?
Anyway, just had to get that out...
Jon
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