Colts re-sign defensive tackle Johnson

Sports Network | May 5, 2009

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - The Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday re- signed defensive tackle Ed Johnson. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Johnson played one game last season but was waived by the Colts in September after he was pulled over by police in Hamilton County, Indiana, and charged with speeding and possession of marijuana.

"We are giving Ed Johnson another opportunity to play for the Indianapolis Colts," said head coach Jim Caldwell. "We dismissed Ed last year because he knowingly violated a team rule in the area of personal conduct. We consider every violation of a team rule or NFL policy on an individual case-by-case basis, and we evaluate a possible return to the team on that same basis. Ed understands our team rules and our mandate that players represent themselves as professionals at all times. We feel the lessons Ed has learned will allow him to be what we demand from our players."

The 24-year-old Johnson, who signed with the Colts prior to the 2007 season and came into camp as a backup but moved into a starter's role after Anthony "Booger" McFarland sustained a season-ending knee injury in training camp, was the only Indianapolis lineman to start in each of the 16 games in 2007.

The Penn State product finished the 2007 campaign eighth on the team with 63 tackles. Johnson also recorded a sack, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble last season. Overall for his brief career, Johnson has totaled 73 tackles.

"I would like to thank the Colts for this second privilege to join the team," said Johnson. "I apologize to everyone for the situation I created last year. I have learned valuable lessons from my mistake, and I want to regain the trust of the organization, my teammates and our fans."