Cardinals’ Rashad Johnson responds to strange analysis
Jan 21, 2016, 4:32 PM | Updated: Jan 22, 2016, 4:33 pm
Arizona Cardinals free safety Rashad Johnson (26) tackles Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Chris Simms played in the NFL.
From 2004 to 2009, the son of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms went 7-9 in 16 career starts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos.
He now hosts a podcast with Adam Lefkoe on Bleacher Report. In another video, supposedly exposing the hidden truths about the four teams still alive in the playoffs, Simms dished on the weakness of the Arizona Cardinals’ secondary as they head into Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers.
“There is a weakness with the Arizona Cardinals’ secondary right now,” Simms said. “Look at the safety position. You wish Tyrann Mathieu was healthy because he’s such a good player and fun to watch.
“Their two safeties, Tony Jefferson and Rashad Johnson, they’re solid players, but they’re not special. They do nothing elite. That’s going to put a lot of pressure on these corners to cover with Cam Newton’s great right arm and then having a lot of time to let these down-the-field routes kind of develop, it’s going to be very interesting.”
It’s hard to define what is elite in the NFL, but Jefferson and Johnson have both been stalwarts for a very good Arizona defense this season. Johnson ranked fifth on the team in total tackles with 61 and he led the club with five interceptions.
Jefferson ranked fourth with 78 total tackles and had two interceptions — one that he returned for a touchdown in an early-season win over the Chicago Bears and the other that clinched a victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.
“Jefferson and Johnson,” Simms continued, “they do their assignments, but they never make plays in the run game. They never break up passes, intercept passes or anything like that.”
Huh?
For those scoring at home, aside from the interceptions that we already covered, Jefferson and Johnson combined to break up 12 passes and register six tackles for loss on the season. Jefferson was also responsible for three forced fumbles, which tied for the third-most in the NFL this season.
Normally, pro athletes will take the negative analysis in stride and not even pay it any mind publicly. But this analysis was so far off the mark that Johnson felt compelled to respond via Twitter.
@CSimmsQB what film you be watching?last I checked have10ints in past 2 seasons.The 1 and only safety w/ multiple int gms each past3 seasons
— Rashad Johnson (@49foyamind49) January 21, 2016
@CSimmsQB if I did a show I prob would research instead of just stating opinions and not facts. U mess it up for the good analyst! — Rashad Johnson (@49foyamind49) January 21, 2016
So let this be a lesson to you … just because you played the game and have an outlet to get your thoughts out there, that doesn’t mean you know what you’re talking about.
