McDermott: Eagles Defense To Honor Jim With Its Play
Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott spoke to reporters Wednesday about the passing of his friend and mentor, Jim Johnson.
McDermott: Eagles Defense To Honor Jim With Its Play
Les Bowen
Listening to Sean McDermott Wednesday, it was obvious that Jim Johnson's successor is one of the people most deeply affected by the Tuesday death of the Eagles' beloved defensive coordinator.
"There's nothing I would want more than for Jim to be able to call one more game right now," said McDermott, recalling the aftermath of the Eagles' loss to the Cardinals in last January's NFC Championship Game.
'It's an honor to follow Jim Johnson, in any way, shape or form," McDermott said. He said he told Johnson's widow, Vicky, that the Eagles' defense will "try and honor Jim and the Johnson family with the way we play this year."
McDermott agreed with a questioner who posited that Johnson's proteges -- coaches such as Steve Spagnuolo, now head coach of Rams, Ron Rivera, defensive coordinator of the Chargers, Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator of the Vikings, and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, along with McDermott -- were like Johnson's sons.
"Last night, we got the news right before we had meetings. By the time I got out of meetings, I had messages from all those brothers that we had, if you will," McDermott said. "John Harbaugh, Steve Spagnuolo ... everyone was checking on everyone else, to make sure everyone was doing OK. That's the way Jim would have wanted it."
On an appropriately dark and cloudy morning at Lehigh, a black circle with the initials "JJ" had been painted onto a small hill adjoining the practice fields. This would seem to be the design for the patch the Eagles are expected to wear on their uniforms this season.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg called Johnson "a great influence on myself, my family, and my children." He extolled Johnson as a man of "great class, great character."
***
Eagles veterans are scheduled to report this afternoon, for a 7 p.m. team meeting. First-round draft pick Jeremy Maclin remains unsigned, with full-squad, contact workouts beginning Friday.
Comment removed.
1st of all..RIP JJ!!! U were THE best! 2009 has been crazy..alot of well-known, beloved people lost. NOW:)..Mcdermott will be just as nasty with it as JJ..but 30sumn years younger. Tom Brady benifits from the best SYSTEM in the NFL..any1 could play in it they went 11n5 with who?Exactly. Peyton has won ONE count it ONE suberbowl and he had Marvin AND Reggie for like 9 plus years!!! Give Donovan that same chance and see what happens..2stud recievers..the ONLY time he had ONE he went straight to the bowl..u think if he had TO or Randy for 8-10 years he wouldnt have gotten us 1 by now?CMon!!! Mcnabb is and has been the best qb we ever had and he is barely appreciated. U cant say he is a bad guy(no strip clubs,drugs,domestic stuff or ANYTHING..no bs negative black man image to report there)n he is a very good football player/teamate. He has done the most with next to nothing than any1 ever has!! I remember to many missed playoff seasons BEFORE he got here. U cant say he hasnt given us 1 and been the reason 4us to get hype the last 10 years!He had Stinkston n Trash maaan!lol Give him his dang props!— big worm- I'm so saddened by the loss of Jim Johnson. For those who claim our city is full of hate and despair, take notice. Just reading the posts here proves we are a city with compassion and heart, and Jim knew that.— denyll
- Come on, BIRDS, WIN THE BIG ONE for one of the best defensive minds EVER!!!!!!!!!! Bleeding green in Maryland— J.L.Thompson
- I agree this isn't the time or place to blame anybody for the lack of a ring or worry about someone who signed elsewhere. It's Coach Johnson's time, period. R.I.P. and thanks for a decade of excellence J.J.— joeydub
- Dawkins is on another team. That was his decision. Get over it. The Eagles' defense will be better this year regardless of Dawkins not being here. The pass defense will certainly be better.— p-diddy
- Bobby D- really? Who helped you plug in the computer to avoid a shock? Be careful in the restroom, I sense you may lose I.Q. points when you go...— mebphila
- Bobby D- really? Who helped you plug in the computer to avoid a shock? Be careful in the restroom, I sense you may lose I.Q. points when you go...— mebphila
- Thanks for everything JJ, rest in peace brother. My deepest condolences to the Johnson family for their loss, he was a great coach, and I'm sure, a great man. May God comfort and bless you.— flyerdup
- bobbyd: you are a disgrace and a classless idiot... RIP JJ— bleed green forever
- its so easy to blame the qb. if jj def played like it had during the stretch run they would not hv allowed the cards to convert the 4th down on the sneak, hold the ball for like 8 min and chew up clock, but why r we tryna pass blame when we should be mourning the death of the great def coordinator? r.i.p jimmy i hope the birds finally get all the pieces together and win one in your honor.E.A.G.L.E.S eagles !!!— positive eagle
- Comment removed.
- As long time Eagles fan, we're all going to miss you Jim Johnson! We hope that your "D" demolishes the competition all year long in the NFL and helps McPaid get Philly a Super bowl this year!
- R.I.P. JIM JOHNSON...I MISS YOU ALREADY!!! I KNOW YOU'LL BE WEARIN DEM HEADPHONES IN HEAVEN WATCHING OVA ALL OF YO KIDZZZZ!!!! WIN ONE FOR THE MAD SCIENTIST......— zenroc24
- Hey BobbyD, if you can't simply pay your respects to JJ without taking an opportunity to slam the QB, then it's clear you learned nothing about the kind of CLASS that Johnson personified. Grow up!— gc2332
I mean come on BobbyD."It's a shame the Birds never won the Super Bowl under JJ. Thanks again Donovan." To blame the birds not winning on Donovan is crazy, and out of place. I get so sick of the so called Philly fans that don't know anything about sports! So I guess if we would have had Peyton Manning, or Tom Brady we would have won a ring by now! One thing I will say though, it would have been possible if we would have had a accurate Brady, or Manning in last season's playoff game. Especially the potential TD's we could have had if the passes was on the money. But stop blaming Donovan! It is enough blame to go around.— Que19st- Go in peace J.J. You were the ultimate mad scientist. Gonna miss ya.— joeydub
- RIP JJ— bleufunk
- It's a shame the Birds never won the Super Bowl under JJ. Thanks again Donovan.— BobbyD
- Class, Class, Class, Class. The perfect Philadelphia Eagle's coach. Obviously from everyones take, a wonderful person. Win the Big Game for JJ this year. Sean McD will probably twist himself into knots to carry on the tadition of defensive dominance for the last 10 years. Go Birds and fans a standing O for JJ and our continued tributes.— cbray
- Will repeat what I wrote yesterday. The birds "D" will have one of their best seasons this year, it's how they will honor their great leader for 10 seasons. The rest of the team will do their part also. I imagine JJ was loved by most of the organization members as well as anyone who worked with him over the years. Yes, his family and friends will miss him tremendously, but so will "we" the fans!!! God be with you JJ, rest in peace!!!— DJ
- RIP JIM JOHNSON!!! You ran a defense the way all defenses should be played in sports. All Out every play!!! Pressure! Take No Prisoners! You will be missed.— ahjii
- Shame Dawk is gone, he wouldn't allow the Birds D to give anything less than what JJ expected this year.— HahFace
- Oh, if only Dawk was on this defense this year.......we wouldnt let a point scored!!! not really, but you get it. PHILS win for HARRY, and EAGLES win for JJ !!!!!!!!
