Friday, June 21, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Bills make underrated signing by inking Johnson

Buffalo agreed to terms with veteran WR Charles Johnson on a one-year, $650,000 contract. The signing adds experience to the Bills’ young receiving corps. Johnson was cut in February after one season with the Patriots, having made 14 catches for 133 yards and one touchdown — the lowest numbers of his career. He has caught 351 passes for 4,567 yards and 24 touchdowns in an eight-year career that has taken him from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to New England.

Buchsbaum: Some free-agency signings don’t get much publicity. The perfect example is the Bills' signing of WR Charles Johnson. Now, Johnson may go the whole year as a fourth or fifth receiver and catch five passes all year, yet he still could be a tremendous addition to the Bills. Not so much on the playing field as in the clubhouse and the impact he’ll have on the very talented, young Bills receivers.

Although Eric Moulds is going into his fifth year in the league, he is a front-runner, an immature player whose questionable work habits deteriorate when he’s not getting the ball as often as he likes and things aren’t going his way. His attitude is a problem.

Peerless Price, who’s coming up next to Moulds, really hasn’t learned what it takes yet, and Johnson could have a very positive effect on him, whereas to date Moulds has been more of a negative influence on Price.

Then you have rookie Josh Reed, who will probably need direction, being a first-year player. Johnson’s influence on these three players could be tremendous, and he could combine with them to give the Bills one of the best foursomes of receivers in the NFL and tremendous targets for QB Drew Bledsoe. Also, remember that Johnson played with Bledsoe for a little while in New England, so the two veterans are familiar with each other.

Patriots re-sign Phifer

New England finally confirmed what had been rumored for weeks when it re-signed starting OLB Roman Phifer. The 34-year-old had a strong season last year, finishing with 92 tackles.

Buchsbaum: The Patriots’ re-signing of Roman Phifer was a good one. He may be 34 years old and a step slower than when he came into the league out of UCLA and not very big. But he’s very smart, a good team player, knows the defense well and was an effective starter on the weak side for the Patriots last year.

He’s a positive player, fits his role well and doesn’t make mistakes in a complicated defense run by Bill Belichick. He also gives the team positive leadership in the clubhouse and on the field.

The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season