Travis Johnson Underachieving? That's Unpossible!

by Tim on Jan 29, 2009 9:59 AM CST in News

With National Signing Day quickly approaching, I was looking for information from various recruiting sources, primarily because I'm a tool who's glutton for punishment. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this list from a few years back and immediately read this gem:

2. Travis Johnson, DL
6-4, 258 4.6

Sherman Oaks (Notre Dame), Calif.

FSU

"Explodes off the ball, outstanding closing speed, great reactions."

That's right, folks. Travis Johnson--this Travis Johnson--was once rated the second-best recruit in all the land. If that doesn't make you take every bit of information you read about college recruiting with a cinderblock-sized grain of salt (while simultaneously shaking your head in disgust as a Texans fan), I don't know what to tell you.

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If this were that...

If TJ was still 6’4", 258 pounds, and ran a 4.6 40 yard dash to go along with his explosiveness off the ball, outstanding closing speed, and great reactions…well, he’d be our starting bookend to Mario Williams.

Unfortunately TJ is looking like a bust. Maybe under Bush’s scheme he’ll improve?

by Leein3D on Jan 29, 2009 10:28 AM CST reply actions

258??

Whose bright idea was it to take a highly-ranked DE, then make him get fat and play like crap?

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Jan 29, 2009 10:37 AM CST reply actions

I wanna say Richard Smith

But surely he didn’t know him then, did he?

by Leein3D on Jan 29, 2009 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe Bobby Bowden...

and Richard Smith are related.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Jan 29, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

It's possible

that Travis got fat all on his own and then HAD to be moved inside.

by Vega on Jan 29, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

We need to part ways with TJ. DelJuan Robinson showed us what a football player is

and TJ will never be mistaken for a player with heart and desire like DR. We need to sign a low priced free agent DT like Shaun Cody and be done with this.

I would also like to get Chris Canty to replace Weaver, but maybe that is asking for too much.

by oiler-texan diehard on Jan 29, 2009 11:03 AM CST reply actions

Whoa

I used to live one block away from TJ’s high school – ND in Sherman Oaks (it’s in the Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles).

I COULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE!!! I DIDN’T KNOW!!!

Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Jan 29, 2009 1:49 PM CST reply actions

I Don't Blame You, Chris

But I can’t help resenting you a little bit. Irrational, I know, but I wonder how a Tr. Johnson-free existence would have improved my life the last four (4) years.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Jan 29, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

The trade off?

I’m sure with or without TJ’s existence, Charlie would have found a way to screw up that 1st Round Pick.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stros!

by Shake on Jan 29, 2009 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

You'd likely drink less.

So, you know, no “Scott.”

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Jan 29, 2009 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

Well Played

I still don’t understand why you refuse to believe Scott exists. You met him in Nashville, for crying out loud.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Jan 29, 2009 4:54 PM CST up reply actions

Correction:

I met the actor you paid to portray Scott in an elaborate ruse. And it would have worked, too, had your actor not slipped up and worn those strange driving shoes that no self-respecting Kentuckian would even own.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Jan 29, 2009 5:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs