Johnson has foot inside NFL door

Steve Virgen

Eddie Johnson’s quest to break into the NFL as a punter will begin

July 25. He could be signed as a Minnesota Viking or become a free

agent. That will be determined during training camp.

The make-or-break situation is not uncharted territory for

Johnson, a former standout punter at Newport Harbor High and Orange

Coast College. Seemingly, he is battle-tested to overcome challenges.

There were obstacles he had to surpass to reach levels as the best

punter in OCC history, a two-time All-American at Idaho State

University and the sixth-round selection by the Vikings in the 2003

NFL Draft.

After Johnson graduated from Newport Harbor, he came to a

crossroads when he nearly failed to meet academic requirements in his

first semester at OCC. But Johnson realized he had too much potential

to let it go to waste.

“That first semester was tough,” said Johnson, who returned to his

hometown to spend the Fourth of July. “I never really thought about

giving up on football. But I think I had run out of room. There was

no room for error. It was either bust it or give up. And, I wasn’t

ready to give up.”

Johnson turned his life around and intensified his commitment to

football. He developed into a consistent weapon for OCC’s defense,

which helped lead the Pirates to a share of the Mission Conference

central division championship in 2000. He earned all-state honors.

However, he was still faced with a challenge.

Punting for a community college, he realized he had to sell

himself in order to find a better opportunity to play at a four-year

university. Johnson, along with OCC Coach Mike Taylor and his staff,

helped the punter take his game to the next level.

At Idaho State, Johnson led the nation with a 46.3-yard average,

earning first-team All-Big Sky Conference and NCAA Division I-AA

All-American honors in 2001. Of his 49 punts, 10 went inside the

opponents’ 20-yard line.

He put 15 inside the 20 in 2002 and recorded eight touchbacks on

kickoffs to go with another All-American season.

Then, April 27, he was drafted 180th overall in the seven-round

draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’m pleased,” Taylor said of Johnson’s rise to the NFL. “When he

came here from Newport, he was sort of searching for whatever path to

follow. But he had to go to class. There was a point where it was, he

could drive the ferry the rest of his life or he could end up going

to college.”

Taylor said OCC special teams coach Paul Briggs served as an

important factor in pushing Johnson toward his potential. Johnson had

already garnered discipline and a strong work ethic toward the game

at Newport Harbor under Coach Jeff Brinkley. At OCC, Johnson depended

on those attributes, while seeking guidance from Briggs, a

grandfather figure who influences players with his passion for the

game.

“He’s such a great guy,” Johnson said of Briggs, who is entering

his 18th season with the Pirates and has been coaching football for

55 years.

Briggs was one of several close friends who enjoyed seeing

Johnson’s name being broadcast on cable television coverage of the

NFL Draft. Johnson was in Las Vegas with his family and friends and

received many phone calls after he was selected.

Two weeks after the draft, Johnson prepared for life with the

Vikings. He went through a week-long minicamp and became familiar

with his situation in regard to the squad.

“I love it,” Johnson said. “It’s one of the best situations I can

be in. I do have to beat out a worthy opponent, but I don’t have to

beat out a veteran. For some punters, it could take a couple of years

to make it just because the opportunities are tough to come by. I

have this opportunity and I’m ready to give my all.”

Also working in Johnson’s favor is that he will punt indoors at

home games, just as he did in college. There is a long-shot

possibility that the team will be sold and moved to Los Angeles.

However, Johnson was selected by the Vikings in the draft, while

Arizona State product Nick Murphy was signed as a rookie free agent

in April, 2002 and did not play last season. Punting for the

Barcelona Dragons in 2003, Murphy led NFL Europe with a 42.4-yard

average on 68 punts.

Johnson said he really wants to be a part of the Vikings, a squad

led by a dynamic offense that includes quarterback Daunte Culpepper

and receiver Randy Moss. Minnesota won its final three games last

season, spoiling playoff chances for the New Orleans Saints and Miami

Dolphins.

“The Vikings are a good sleeper team,” said Johnson, who punted

and practiced at OCC Thursday.

Johnson, who will also compete for kickoff duties, will attempt to

beat out Murphy for the starting punter position. The winner will

open the season with the Vikings when they take on the Green Bay

Packers at Lambeau Field Sept. 7.

Johnson has a bit of an advantage as he was selected in the NFL

Draft, but he said the competition will most likely be tight.

“He’s a confident young man, but not cocky,” said Ken Harris,

Johnson’s agent. “This league is about surviving and beating out the

next guy. I have no doubt in my mind that Eddie will not only

survive, but excel.”

Before coming back to Newport Beach, Johnson spent four days in

Palm Beach, Fla. for the NFL rookie symposium. His attendance, as

well as that of the other players chosen in the NFL draft, was

mandatory. He learned of life in the NFL, while listening to NFL

players such as Emmitt Smith and Peyton Manning.

Johnson said he also met Mr. Irrelevant XXVIII Ryan Hoag, the

draft’s final pick made by the Raiders. The two had a conversation

about Newport Beach and the festivities that Hoag enjoyed throughout

Irrelevant Week.

Johnson will report to camp July 25 at Minnesota State University

in Manketo. He might have the chance to play close to home when the

Vikings visit the San Diego Chargers Nov. 9.