SB Nation - Steve Johnson

Chiefs Safety Eric Berry Wonders Whether He Was The Target Of A Bounty

Bill Hanstock — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:16:30 -0000

"Bountygate" is invading headlines everywhere and now some NFL players are starting to develop some paranoia on the subject. The New Orleans Saints are in the midst of an investigation by the league concerning allegations that they were running a bounty system under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who would pay players based on injuries they would inflict upon the opposing team. Chiefs safety Eric Berry is wondering whether he may have been the victim of a similar operation.

Berry suffered a torn ACL in the 2011 season opener against the Buffalo Bills on a low block by Bills receiver Steve Johnson. The injury knocked Berry out for the rest of the year. Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk reports that Berry took to Twitter to muse on the incident following the news of the Saints scandal breaking.

"Sometimes I sit n wonder if they had a bounty out on me...oh well...who cares. Either way u can't hold me down."

Hopefully this will not open the floodgates for every injured player over the last few years to come out and start crying "Bounty!" I mean, it would be entertaining as hell, but let's not go down that road, shall we?

For all news and information regarding the Kansas City Chiefs, please visit Arrowhead Pride.

Mets' Josh Thole Gets Off The Social Media Express

Ed Valentine — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:29:56 -0000

For every Chad Ochocinco, who has nearly two million Twitter followers and has emerged as what you might call a social media superhero, there are several Twitter horror stories concerning athletes.

Ask Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall. Or Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills. Or other athletes who have said regrettable things on Twitter. Or had regrettable things said to them by followers, who are supposedly their fans.

I cam across a story this morning noting that New York Mets catcher Josh Thole, tired of the abuse he was hearing from followers, has deleted his Twitter account.

"I thought this was supposed to be fun," Thole said. "They’re ruthless on there."

I love Twitter as a tool for getting news out quickly, and for finding it quickly. Athletes, though, are finding that while Twitter can be fun it also has plenty of pitfalls for them. Both in terms of what they might send out to the world before thinking it through, and opening up another avenue for overzealous fans to spew venom in their direction.

Thole did the right thing. As much as I enjoy what some athletes have to say on Twitter, there are probably a lot of other guys who should do the same thing.

Derek Anderson's Postgame Tirade Regarding Laughter

James Brady — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:01:02 -0000

Over the past couple weeks, we've taken a look at a few meltdowns. Ben Roethlisberger got what he deserved when Richard Seymour scored his flash knockout, Cortland Finnegan decided to change his name to "Cortland Innegan" after Andre Johnson beat the 'F' out of him, and even God was called out over Twitter for causing Bills WR Steve Johnson to drop a touchdown reception.

We've got another one for you to add to your breakdown list: Derek Anderson losing his cool during the postgame press conference following the Arizona Cardinals' 27-6 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Now, following such a beating, it's generally acceptable to have an aversion to the media, to perhaps ... be a little heated, but Anderson really had no idea what was going on at this point.

The reporter asks him, with a full speech disclaimer, why he was laughing when down by so much in the fourth quarter. It was a fair question to ask, at least initially. Perhaps the way the reporter followed up on it was not the best way to go about things, but it's not as though he said "Derek Anderson, you are a child. Your laughing is an embarrassment. Why do you love losing? Also, why you mad though?"

It's kind of a self explanatory question to an extent, sure. I think the media getting all up in a tizzy regarding his laughing is rather silly, somebody obviously told him something funny or showed him Tim Hightower's rushing total on the night. But asking the question was still a valid move and Anderson reacted most emotionally and without thinking, which is one of the worst ways to react.

God Took The Points Against The Buffalo Bills, Says Steve Johnson

Sean Keeley — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:42:14 -0000

Those who remember the early days of Comedy Central remember that the 24-hour network's lineup basically consisted of various stand-up acts recut into half-hour "shows" and then replayed ad nauseum. Of the many, many, many bits I watched during those pre-Daily Show lean years, one that always stuck with me was Jeff Stilson's classic and oh-so-obvious rant on athletes who are always quick to thank God for their fortunes but never blame God when they under-perform.

I don't watch football anymore, I gave that up. I got tired of the interviews after the games, because the winning players always give credit to God, and the losers blame themselves. You know, just once I'd like to hear a player say, 'Yeah, we were in the game, until Jesus made me fumble. He hates our team.'

Jeff, I give you your champion. Buffalo Bills WR Steve Johnson.

Last week, Johnson was the Greatest Guy Who Ever Lived after scoring three touchdowns in Buffalo's 49-31 win over the Bengals. Johnson was fined by the NFL for his 'Why So Serious' undershirt but seemed to escape God's wrath for worshiping a false idol like The Joker. Or so he thought

This week, with a chance to win their third-straight game and upset the vaunted Steelers, Johnson watched one of his five dropped passes fall through his hands as Pittsburgh forced overtime and defeated the Bills. It was the kind of humbling reminder that so many athletes take to heart and learn from.

Not Steve Johnson. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away and Stevie is PISSED RIGHT OFF!

I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...

It's a fair point. I'd like to think Jesus Christ will think twice before sticking his nose in the outcome of football games from now on. At the very least, he'll properly dole out positive yardage based on the number of times someone prays to him. That seems like a fair system.

H/T: Deadspin

VIDEO: Steve Johnson Drops Game-Winning Touchdown For Bills In Overtime

Andy Hutchins — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:11:18 -0000

Steve Johnson has been one of the NFL's breakout players this season, emerging as a go-to receiver in Buffalo and developing chemistry with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. And he figured into the Bills' game effort against the Steelers today, making seven catches for 68 yards.

But when he had a chance to make a game-winning play in overtime, Johnson dropped the ball. Literally.

It's painful to watch. Johnson gets loose, gets under a well-thrown deep ball from Fitzpatrick, and gets his hands under the ball, but then just can't hang on.

The Steelers went on to win the game on a Shaun Suisham field goal, and the Bills kept pace in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes; Buffalo, at 2-9, is still one game behind (ahead?) of Carolina in the competition for the NFL's worst record. That probably won't be much solace to Johnson — who is, shockingly, not taking this all that well — but it's something positive for the Bills.

(Video via BlackSportsOnline.)

VIDEO: Stevie Johnson Plays Joker To Cincinnati's Batman And Robin

Brian Galliford — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:17:29 -0000

Prior to Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, Bills receiver Stevie Johnson took to Twitter to preview a game featuring the NFL's self-proclaimed duo of Batman and Robin, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco.

Johnson's role in the game? Well, clearly, he was going in as The Joker - and even though both Batman and Robin scored early touchdowns in the game, it was The Joker - who hauled in eight passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns - that finally, mercifully, got the last laugh. He did most of his laughing after his first touchdown, which kick-started a 35-0 run in the Bills' 49-31 beat-down of the Bengals.

Of course Gus Johnson called this gem. Of course he did.