Johnson, who started all 10 games for the Monarchs during the 1995 World League season, will start for the first time in a five-year NFL career if Warren Moon fails to recover from the ankle and toe injuries that forced him out of the Vikings' Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions.
Johnson made the most of his opportunity against Detroit, completing 16 of 23 passes for 157 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown pass to Cris Carter with 66 seconds remaining for a 17-13 Vikings victory. The former ninth round draft choice out of Florida State goes into Week 2 of the season as the NFL's second-rated passer with a rating of 103.0.
The heroics of Johnson on the NFL's opening weekend highlighted the achievement of 93 players who developed their skills in the World League and made their clubs' opening-day rosters -- a significant increase on 72 World Leaguers involved in the 1995 NFL season.
Of the 93 players, 70 were on the active roster for the Week 1 matchups, while 13 were on the practice squad and a further 10 were on reserve.
"The high number of World League players involved in the NFL season is another indication of the high standard of player we have in the league," said World League president Oliver Luck. "As a former quarterback, I am delighted to see 13 quarterbacks who have graduated from the World League school making their mark in the NFL."
If Johnson starts against the Falcons, he will be backed up by his old foe at the Barcelona Dragons, Jay Walker.
The Vikings are due to make a decision on Moon's fitness closer to gametime.
"If it's my time to play, then I will," Johnson said. "But if Warren's ready to play, I'll go back to being the No. 2 guy."
Moon has no worries about the prospect of Johnson having to step into the spotlight.
"When I first got here I didn't feel very confident that, if something happened to me, I could come out and we could put him in those situations," said Moon. "But now he's a guy that you're not going to worry about so much if I'm feeling bad."
Here is a rundown of World League players on 1996 NFL opening-day rosters:
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Active: Jerry Drake, DE, London 1996
Injured Reserve: Blaine Berger, DT, Amsterdam 1995, London 1996
ATLANTA FALCONS
Active: Louis Riddick, S, Sacramento 1992
BUFFALO BILLS
Active: Chris Mohr, P, Montreal 1991
CHICAGO BEARS
Active: Greg Briggs, LB, Frankfurt 1995
Keith Jennings, TE, Montreal 1991
Marcus Spears, OL, Amsterdam 1996
Injured Reserve: David Webb, LB, Scotland 1996
Zev Lumelski, T, Amsterdam 1996
DALLAS COWBOYS
Active: Jason Garrett, QB, San Antonio 1991
George Hegamin, T, Frankfurt 1996
DENVER BRONCOS
Active: Byron Chamberlain, WR, Rhein 1996
Tom Rouen, P, Ohio 1992
Practice Squad: Michael Titley, TE, Orlando 1992, London 1995-96
DETROIT LIONS
Active: Jocelyn Borgella, CB, Scotland 1995
Scott Mitchell, QB, Orlando 1992
Practice Squad: Tommie Boyd, WR, Rhein 1996
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Active: George Koonce, LB, Ohio 1992
Doug Pederson, QB, NY/NJ 1992, Rhein 1995
HOUSTON OILERS
Active: Willie Davis, WR, Orlando 1992
Purvis Hunt, G, Scotland 1996
Erik Norgard, C/G, San Antonio 1992
Practice Squad: James Roberson, DE, Rhein 1996
Reserve/Suspend: Torey Hunter, CB, Amsterdam 1996
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Active: Kerwin Bell, QB, Orlando 1991-92
Cary Blanchard, K, Sacramento 1992
Steve Hardin, G, Rhein 1996
Paul Justin, QB, Frankfurt 1995
Bobby Olive, WR, Frankfurt 1995
Kipp Vickers, OL, Frankfurt 1995
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Active: Jeff Novak, OL, Montreal 1991-92
Darren Studstill, S, London 1996
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Active: Louis Aguiar, P, Barcelona 1991
Tom Barndt, G, Scotland 1996
Steve Matthews, QB, Scotland 1996
Pellom McDaniels, DE, Barcelona 1991-92
Tracy Simien, LB, Montreal 1991
Keith Traylor, DT, Barcelona 1995
Injured Reserve: Kenny McEntyre, CB, London 1995-96
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Active: Everett McIver, G, London 1996
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Active: Brad Johnson, QB, London 1995
Jay Walker, QB, Barcelona 1995
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Active: Adam Vinatieri, K, Amsterdam 1996
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Active: Paul Green, TE, Sacramento 1992
Brian Jones, LB, Scotland 1995
Ed King, G, Barcelona 1995
Andy McCollum, G, Barcelona 1995
Doug Nussmeier, QB, Rhein 1995
Donald Willis, G, Amsterdam 1996
Practice Squad: Kevin Farkas, T, Amsterdam 1996
Injured Reserve: Israel Byrd, CB, Scotland 1996
NEW YORK JETS
Active: Ron Carpenter, S, Amsterdam 1995
Rick Hamilton, LB, Barcelona 1996
Don Silvestri, K, London 1995
James Parrish, T, London-Barcelona 1992
Practice Squad: Bobby Hamilton, DE, Amsterdam 1996
NEW YORK GIANTS
Practice Squad: Jeremy Burkett, RB, Barcelona 1996
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Active: Rick Cunningham, T, Orlando 1992
Mike Jones, LB, Sacramento 1992
Dan Land, S, New York/New Jersey 1992
Kenny Shedd, WR, Barcelona 1996
Practice Squad: Jerone Davison, RB, Rhein 1996
Injured Reserve: Keith Franklin, LB, Amsterdam 1996
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Active: Jim Miller, QB, Frankfurt 1995
Chris Oldham, CB, San Antonio 1992
Practice Squad: Jay Kearney, WR, Frankfurt 1996
Terry Richardson, RB, Rhein 1996
Matt Storm, G, Scotland 1996
Injured Reserve: Patrick Scott, LB, Frankfurt 1995
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Active: Adam Walker, RB, Ohio 1992
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Active: Darren Bennett, P, Amsterdam 1995
Mark Montreuil, CB, London 1996
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Active: Michael Brandon, DE, Scotland 1995
Dedrick Dodge, S, London 1991-92
Ted Popson, TE, London 1992
Practice Squad: Mike Salmon, S, Rhein 1996
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Active: Stan Gelbaugh, QB, London 1991-92
Michael Sinclair, DE, Sacramento 1992
Ronnie Williams, TE, San Antonio 1991-92
Practice Squad: Riddick Parker, DT, Rhein 1996
ST LOUIS RAMS
Active: Paschall Davis, LB, Amsterdam 1996
Cedric Figaro, LB, Amsterdam 1995
Jon Kirksey, DT, Amsterdam 1995
Jamie Martin, QB, Amsterdam 1995
Anthony Parker, CB, New York/New Jersey 1991
Injured Reserve: Troy Ridgley, DT, Scotland 1995-96, Amsterdam 1996
Jay Williams, DE, Amsterdam 1996
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Active: Scott Adams, OL, Barcelona 1991
Herman Smith, DE, London 1995
Willy Tate, TE, Scotland 1996
Casey Weldon, QB, Barcelona 1995
Practice Squad: Marvin Marshall, WR, Barcelona 1996
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Practice Squad: Ed Smith, TE, Frankfurt 1996
World League players in the NFL, by the numbers:
By roster category Active Roster 70 Practice Squad 13 Reserve 10 By position Offensive lineman 18 Quarterbacks 13 Linebackers 11 Defensive ends 8 Tight ends 8 Cornerbacks 7 Safeties 6 Wide receivers 6 Defensive tackles 5 Punters 4 Running backs 4 Kickers 3 By World League team Amsterdam Admirals 17 London Monarchs 14 Barcelona Dragons 13 Scottish Claymores 11 Rhein Fire 10 Frankfurt Galaxy 9 Orlando Thunder 5 Sacramento Surge 5 Montreal Machine 4 San Antonio Riders 4 NY/NJ Knights 3 Ohio Glory 3 Note: Some players are listed under more than one team.
[ Teams | Standings | Players | Stats | Photo Gallery | Articles ]
[ Links | FAQ | Updates | Index | Sign Guestbook | View Guestbook ]