The Browns today announced that they have signed QB Doug Johnson and released a
number of undrafted rookie free agents signed late in April. There were no
major surprises among the players released, although Adimchinobe Echemandu, a
seventh-round selection a year ago, was thought to have an outside chance to
make the club.
The team's move to acquire a veteran quarterback has been anticipated for
well over a month. Below is the team's press release.
See also:
Updated Active Roster
Updated
(and speculative) Depth Chart
June 20, 2005
For Immediate
Release
BROWNS SIGN QB DOUG JOHNSON TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT; WAIVE SIX OTHERS FROM ROSTER
The Cleveland Browns have signed QB Doug Johnson to a
one-year contract and have waived DL Larry Burt, DB Charles Byrd, WR Bradley
Chavez, RB Adimchinobe Echemandu, WR Bill Flowers and DB Justin Fraley, the
club announced today.
Johnson, 6-2 and 225 lbs., played in the final two games
of the regular season with Tennessee in 2004 and was six-of 12 passing for 68
yards and a QB rating of 68.4.
During his five year NFL career with Atlanta and
Tennessee, Johnson has played in 25 games, with 11 starts and has completed
218-of-384 for 2,600 yards with 13 TDs and 18 interceptions with a career QB
rating of 69.4.
A native of Gainsville, Fla., Johnson had his most
experience in 2003 with Atlanta as he appeared in 10 games, including eight
starts and completed 136-of-243 passes for 1,655 yards and 8 TDs and 12
interceptions for a QB rating of 67.5.
DOUG JOHNSON
Quarterback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 225
College: Florida
Birthdate: Oct. 27, 1977
How Acquired: FA – ‘05
Year with Browns: 1st
Year in NFL: 6th
Games Played/Started: 2000 (4/2); 2001 (3/0); 2002 (6/1,
1/0); 2003 (10/8); 2004 (2/0).
Career Games:25 games, 11 starts.
Postseason Games:1 game, 0 starts.
Career Transactions:Originally
signed by Atlanta as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 17, 2000…Signed
by Jacksonville as an unrestricted free agent on April 28, 2004…Waived by
Jacksonville on Aug. 30, 2004…Signed by Tennessee as an unrestricted free
agent on Sept. 7, 2004…Signed by Cleveland as a free agent on June 20, 2005.
Fun Facts:Drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the
second round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft and played infield in
their minor league system during the summers of 1996 and 1997.
Seasonal Reviews:
2004: Signed with Jacksonville as an unrestricted free
agent, however was waived at the end of training camp…Signed by Tennessee the
week before the start of the regular season and served as the 3rd QB for the
Titans behind Steve McNair and Billy Volek…Saw action in the final two games
of the regular season, coming off the bench to relieve starter Billy Volek in
both contests…Totaled 6-of-12 passing for 68 yards with no TDs or
interceptions…Inactive 3rd QB in nine contests, did not play in five
others…Was 4-of-7 passing for 26 yards vs. Denver on Dec. 25, and 2-of-5
passing for 42 yards vs. Detroit on Jan. 2.
2003: Started eight of 10 games in place of the injured
Michael Vick, completing 136-of-243 passes for 1,655 yards, 8 TDs and 12
interceptions, a 67.5 QB rating…In season opener vs. Dallas on Sept. 7,
completed 16-of-27 passes for 228 yards, 2 TDs, including career-best 41-yard
scoring strike, with 1 interception, and also added 1 rushing TD…Completed
16-of-36 passes for 197 yards with 2 TDs and 2 interceptions at Washington on
Sept. 14…Had his best day as pro vs. Minnesota on Oct. 5, completing 28-of-40
passes for 352 yards, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions…Set career highs in yards
(352), completions (28) and attempts (40) and tied career-high with 2
TDs…Started at Houston on Nov. 30, and completed 12-of-27 passes for 116 yards
and 1 interception before being replaced in lineup by Michael Vick with 2:14
to go in 3rd quarter.
2002: Played in six games, including one start,
completing 37-of-57 passes for 448 yards and 2 TDs with 3 interceptions and a
78.7 QB rating…Started at N.Y. Giants on Oct. 13, due to a shoulder injury to
Michael Vick and completed 19-of-25 passes for 257 yards with 1 TD and 1
rushing TD for 15 yards for a career-high passer rating of 121.6.
2001: In his second season with Atlanta, played in three
games and served as the 3rd QB behind Michael Vick and Chris Chandler…Completed 3-of-5 passes for 23 yards and 1 TD and added 5 carries for
12 yards…Was backup QB at Arizona on Sept. 30, due to a back injury to Michael
Vick, and came in late in the 4th quarter and rushed 4 times for 13
yards…Backup vs. Dallas on Nov. 11, due to an injury to Chris Chandler, and
alternated with Michael Vick in the second half on every series, completed
3-of-4 passes for 23 yards and the game-winning TD pass to TE Brian Kozlowski
with 5:28 remaining in the game for a 20-13 win…Rotated for a series with
Michael Vick late in the 4th quarter vs. St. Louis on Dec. 2…In the regular
season finale at St. Louis on Jan. 6, backup to Michael Vick.
2000: In his rookie season, opened the season as club's
3rd QB behind Chris Chandler and Danny Kanell, but moved up depth chart as
season progressed…Played in four games, including two starts and totaled
36-of-67 passing for 406 yards and 2 TDs with 3 interceptions and a 63.4 QB
rating…Started consecutive games vs. Seattle on Dec. 3, at New Orleans on Dec.
17, due to injuries to Chandler…Made his NFL debut at Denver on Sept. 10, as
he took over for starter Chris Chandler in the 4th quarter and completed
3-of-7 passes for 43 yards, and connected on his first pro pass to WR Shawn
Jefferson for a 25-yard gain…Began the second half in relief of Chandler at
Oakland on Nov. 26, and completed 11-of-17 passes (64.7%) for 85 yards and 1
TD for a 96.4 QB rating, and added his first TD on a 4-yard pass to TE Brian
Kozlowski…Made his first NFL start vs. Seattle on Dec. 3, and completed
17-of-33 for 233 yards with 1 TD and 2 interceptions…Started at New Orleans on
Dec. 17, however was replaced by Chris Chandler in the second half.
College: Started 22 games for nationally-ranked Florida
Gators from 1996-99…Only Shane Matthews (74, 1989-92) and Danny Wuerffel (114,
1993-96) threw more TDs in school history than his 62 career scores…Completed
504-of-907 attempts (55.6%) for 7,114 yards, which ranked sixth-best on school's all-time
charts…Threw 7 TDs in single-game vs. Central Michigan as sophomore and passed
for 460 yards vs. Vanderbilt during his junior season…As senior, completed 190-of-337 passes
for (56.4%) for 2,574 yards with 20 TDs in nine starts…Majored in sports
management.
Personal: Married to wife, Tara, and the couple resides
in Gainesville, Fla…Attended Buchholz (Gainesville, Fla.) High where he was a
first-team All-America selection and was named the Gainesville Sun Area
Offensive Player-of-the-Year in 1995…Led Buchholz to state semifinals in Class
5A…Born Doug Johnson on Oct. 27, 1977 in Gainesville, Fla.
JOHNSON’S
CAREER PASSING STATISTICS
|
Year |
GP-GS |
Att. |
Comp. |
Pct. |
Yards |
TD |
Int. |
Long |
Sacks |
Yards |
Rating |
|
2000 (Atl.) |
4-2 |
67 |
36 |
53.7 |
406 |
2 |
3 |
26 |
13 |
75 |
63.4 |
|
2001 (Atl.) |
3-0 |
5 |
3 |
60.0 |
23 |
1 |
0 |
14 |
2 |
13 |
110.8 |
|
2002 (Atl.) |
6-1 |
57 |
37 |
64.9 |
448 |
2 |
3 |
63 |
3 |
11 |
78.7 |
|
2003 (Atl.) |
10-8 |
243 |
136 |
56.0 |
1,655 |
8 |
12 |
86t |
19 |
121 |
67.5 |
|
2004 (Tenn.) |
2-0 |
12 |
6 |
50.0 |
68 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
1 |
6 |
67.4 |
|
Career
|
25-11
|
384
|
218
|
56.8
|
2,600
|
13
|
18
|
86t
|
38
|
226
|
69.4
|
JOHNSON’S
POSTSEASON CAREER PASSING STATISTICS
|
Year |
GP-GS |
Att. |
Comp. |
Pct. |
Yards |
TD |
Int. |
Long |
Sacks |
Yards |
Rating |
|
2000 (Atl.) |
1-0 |
1 |
1 |
100.0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
118.0 |
|
Career |
1-0 |
1 |
1 |
100.0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
118.0 |