Teams, players and agents will be negotiating contracts this week.
The National Football League will hit its free agency period, starting Wednesday, March 9. All unrestricted free agents are set to test the market, but one in particular is fine where it stands.
Arizona Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson wants to “remain a Cardinal for life,” per Robby Baker of 12 Sports News. Johnson was selected by Arizona in the third round (95th overall pick) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He chimes in at 345 career tackles, with 61 coming last season. Johnson recorded five interceptions and guided the Cardinals to a playoff berth with a 13-3 record.
The former Alabama standout was a two-time first team All-SEC selection (2007-08), prior to be taken by the Cardinals. Johnson, a seven-year veteran, had this to say to reports last week, while orchestrating a youth football camp:
“It would be great, seven years, I think another deal here could solidify that. I would love to go back to Alabama and be able to tell the story for the rest of my life that I was a Cardinal for life, one team. I built my legacy from the ground up. I was a walk on, when I got here I was drafted in the third round I had to sit out a few years and just play special teams. Didn’t get a chance to play until my fifth year. I would love for that to be my legacy,” Johnson said.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
