Vikings receiver Johnson finds his motivation

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: June 12, 2009 - 10:19 PM

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Jaymar Johnson spent his entire rookie season on the Vikings practice squad, which he said turned a "chip that was on my shoulder when I got here ... into a mansion."

"As a competitor, it made me mad," he said. "But I had to learn from it and take advantage of it. The advantage of being on the practice squad is I got more time to learn and then going against our best. Going against [defensive backs] Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin and Darren Sharper, those three were the main ones in my ear. They said, 'Jaymar, if you keep working hard, you have the tools to help us.' "

Johnson's bid to make the Vikings' active roster in 2009 certainly looked promising during the mandatory minicamp and Organized Team Activities. The second-year wide receiver from Jackson State has added 18 pounds, has a better understanding of the offense and "is on a mission," according to coach Brad Childress.

"I can't think of anybody that's [worked harder]," Childress said.

Johnson, whose wife, Kassy, is a teacher in Eden Prairie, remained in the Twin Cities all winter to change his body. He went from 169 pounds as a rookie to his current weight of 187, and he looks noticeably bigger in uniform.

"I actually feel like I got faster, too," he said. "Now I just don't have the quickness. I have power behind it."

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels said Johnson's speed gives him an advantage and the added strength should help him win more one-on-one battles.

"Jaymar has got an unbelievable asset in that he's very, very fast," Rosenfels said. "He's probably one of the fastest guys in this league. As a receiver when you have a lot of speed there's so many more things that you can do as far as things down the field."

The Vikings kept five wide receivers on their 53-man roster last season, and Johnson is determined to earn one of those spots this season.

"Last year is pushing me harder than anything's ever pushed me in my life," he said. "Being on the practice squad, me coming from a small school. That chip that was on my shoulder when I got here has turned into a mansion. No matter how much [Childress] says he's proud of me or they realize how hard I've been working, I appreciate it, but I let it go in one ear and out the other because the mission I'm on now, they've turned me into a possessed person."

Etc.

The Vikings finished their OTA practices Friday. They originally were scheduled to practice Monday and Tuesday, but Childress decided to cancel those. He typically doesn't use all of the 14 OTA dates the Vikings are allowed. The Vikings report to training camp on July 29, with the first practice scheduled for July 31.

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