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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > March > 07 > Entry
Landon Johnson cashes in with Carolina
As birthday presents go, linebacker Landon Johnson couldn’t beat it.
Johnson became the newest member of the Carolina Panthers on Friday, March 7, when he agreed to a three-year, $10 million contract.
An unrestricted free agent from the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson considered numerous offers, and decided the Panthers were his best fit.
Carolina is in desperate need of linebacker help because of Dan Morgan’s departure. Morgan was signed by the New Orleans Saints after getting released by the Panthers.
Johnson, who turns 27 on March 13, visited Carolina on Thursday and the two sides hammered out the contract particulars today.
“He needed to go where he was wanted,” Johnson’s Cleveland-based agent, Andy Simms, told me Friday afternoon via cell phone from Columbus.
“You don’t know what the market’s going to be,” Simms added. “Landon could have made more money in other years. But the linebacker market was down. But it’s still a nice three-year year deal. It’ll give him a chance to get in there and do something. At this point, it was the right move for him.”
Johnson’s strength is his versatility. A third-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2004, Johnson has 53 starts in 64 career games. He’s started games at all three linebacker positions, but most of his experience is at middle and weak-side linebacker.
Johnson’s career stats in four seasons with the Bengals: 507 tackles (314 solos), 3.5 sacks, 17 passes defensed, 6 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and 1 touchdown on a fumble return.
He also has 27 special teams tackles.
Johnson is a prince in football cleats, a good guy who never got into trouble off the field, yet never got the respect he deserved in Cincinnati. He played through a series of shoulder injuries that would have sidelined most players, but not Landon.
Johnson, who makes his offseason home in Lubbock, Texas, isn’t a bright-lights, big-city guy. He didn’t need the East Coast or the West Coast. He needed Charlotte, N.C., and it needed him.
email cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Comments
By BOILERDON
March 7, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this
The Bengals goofed big time in letting Landon Johnson leave for Charlotte. L Johnson was one high-draft player to come in, played hard and smart where- ever the Bengals needed him. He was a model player for the four years as a Bengal, on and off the field. Why would any organization let such an upstanding player/individual leave when they surely need him? Go figure! Have a great season Landon!