AJ focused on reaching the playoffs

[djohn2oo8]

HOUSTON -- Andre Johnson didn't spend much time thinking about football or the fact that he's yet to reach the playoffs on his 30th birthday last month



The Houston Texans' star receiver says he never thought he'd reach the milestone birthday before making the postseason. Johnson has long been considered one of the top receivers in the NFL. He's had more than 1,000 yards receiving in five of his eight seasons in the league, including the last three straight.

But as the Texans prepare for their 10th season and Johnson for his ninth, he says he'll have to turn his play "up another notch" to help Houston reach the playoffs for the first time.


(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...ams&id=8299843

[Double Barrel]

Man, scary to think what the NFL's best WR will look like if he turns it up another notch!

It's like the beast goes into BEAST MODE to form an even bigger BEAST!

[HOU-TEX]

I think AJ's always focusing on playoffs. It's the other 52 players and 75 coaches that need to join AJ

[dinkatoid]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Man, scary to think what the NFL's best WR will look like if he turns it up another notch!

It's like the beast goes into BEAST MODE to form an even bigger BEAST!

Anyone else just get the mental image of AJ turning green, busting his jersey into rags and trampling the d?

[SheTexan]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

I think AJ's always focusing on playoffs. It's the other 52 players and 75 coaches that need to join AJ

SOOOOO true! If half of them had the heart and passion that AJ has there would be NO doubt we would not only make the playoffs, but, go the distance! I wanna go from NEVER making the playoffs to being SB champs!!

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Man, scary to think what the NFL's best WR will look like if he turns it up another notch!

It's like the beast goes into BEAST MODE to form an even bigger BEAST!

Yup, and one of the classiest players to ever play the game. The comparison to some of his contemporaries is stark - TO (multiple sideline confrontations, public statements, publicity stunts), Ochocinco (stupid name change, over the top bragging, bitching his way off a team), Moss (again can't keep his mouth shut, took a three year hiatus being petulant). Man the Texans got lucky the consensus best WR in 2003 was Rogers.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by SheTexan

SOOOOO true! If half of them had the heart and passion that AJ has there would be NO doubt we would not only make the playoffs, but, go the distance! I wanna go from NEVER making the playoffs to being SB champs!!

Yep. Heart and passion. It's been said that the physical talent between pro players is often measured in minuscule amounts, because most of them are great athletes. So what can truly make the best rise to the top is what they have inside their hearts and minds. If only we could clone AJ and inject AJ serum into the rest of the team!

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Yup, and one of the classiest players to ever play the game. The comparison to some of his contemporaries is stark - TO (multiple sideline confrontations, public statements, publicity stunts), Ochocinco (stupid name change, over the top bragging, bitching his way off a team), Moss (again can't keep his mouth shut, took a three year hiatus being petulant). Man the Texans got lucky the consensus best WR in 2003 was Rogers.

Palilo was talking about Shannon Sharpe's HoF induction speech, and went on to talk about players whose speeches surprised folks. Montana was one of those, and he brought up AJ. It will be interesting to see this very reserved pro up there, so that was an interesting thought. But, I don't want to think about that much any time soon, because I want to see him up there as a champion. He's definitely a player that is champion caliber, in terms of pure talent, heart, focus, and his cool demeanor just makes him rise above all of his peers. No doubt about the Texans luck in landing AJ. In spite of all the flaws of the previous FO, they certainly got that one right.

[Kimmy]

He is so freaking amazing. I adore him If he goes balls to the wall and we don't make, he needs another team. Man deserves a ring!

[CloakNNNdagger]

This is the full story........notice the last sentence.

Johnson focused on Texans reaching playoffs

By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer – 5 hours ago

HOUSTON (AP) — On his 30th birthday last month, Andre Johnson didn't spend much time thinking about football or the fact that he has yet to reach the playoffs.

Still, the Houston Texans' star receiver said he never thought he'd reach the milestone birthday before making the postseason.

"Like I said before, that's something I think about every day," Johnson said of making the playoffs. "I'm just trying to do whatever I can to hopefully stand up on that podium one day and hold that trophy. That's my goal."

Johnson has long been considered one of the top receivers in the NFL. He's had more than 1,000 yards receiving in five of his eight seasons in the league, including the last three straight.

But as the Texans prepare for their 10th season and Johnson for his ninth, he's prepared to do even more to help Houston reach the playoffs for the first time.

"You just have to turn your play up another notch," he said. "That's just the way I look at it so hopefully, the way I've been playing, I can just take it and turn it up a whole other level. That's what I'm going to try to do."

It would be difficult for Johnson to do much more for this team. He followed up two straight 1,500 yard-plus receiving seasons by catching 86 passes for 1,216 yards in just 13 games last year.

"He means everything," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I was just telling the guys a while ago that I was putting pressure on him. When he practices good, we practice good as an offensive football team; same thing with the quarterback. Andre goes all day, works all day. You don't find many guys that are nine-year pros and work like that. That's why he's a great player."

Johnson missed four days of camp with a dislocated left index finger, but has looked good since returning on Sunday. He's not 100 percent, but knows it's important to practice as much as possible with the first preseason game with the Jets coming up on Monday.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "The finger is still sore. I just keep it wrapped up with a splint ... just trying to see how fast it can heal up, but I've been getting treatment and stuff on it every day just trying to get it fully healed."

Johnson doesn't talk publicly about personal goals and says he doesn't care where people rank him among the top receivers. The only goal he shares with the media before each season is the one he hasn't reached, but he's grown weary of talking about that one, too.

"It's like beating something dead," Johnson said of talking about the playoffs. "We hear it over and over so we know what we have to do to get to where we want to go."

Texans owner Bob McNair said he isn't even considering the possibility of not making the postseason.

"It's the playoffs," he said. "That's what we expect and have no reason to believe we won't be there. We're going to do whatever we have to do to win, period. Of course, that means you're going to be in the playoffs ... but it's all about winning and we've had adequate time to get there and we've been very close. We just need to make that determination that we're going to make it happen."

As one of the longest tenured players on this team, Johnson's leadership is something McNair believes will be key in helping the Texans reach their goal. Johnson signed a contract extension before last season that should keep him in Houston for his entire career.

"You just couldn't ask for anybody to be a better teammate than Andre because not only is he a great player but he goes out there and plays as hard or harder than anybody, he never complains, he does his job, he's willing to sacrifice and he doesn't complain about how many balls you've thrown to him," McNair said. "That's what you're looking for. This is a team sport and a lot of what happens depends upon the chemistry of that team. Andre helps set the right chemistry for us."

Notes: LB Brian Cushing practiced for the first time on Wednesday morning after sitting out the first few practices recovering from offseason knee surgery. He took part in a couple of segments of practice and Kubiak said he's "way behind" and they'll need him to catch up quickly. ... Receiver Jacoby Jones left Wednesday morning's practice with a sore foot.

I sure hope that this is NOT a case of plantar fasciitis!

[SteveSlaton20]

I thought we've been focused on reaching the Playoffs for the last 2-3 years?

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

This is the full story........notice the last sentence.



I sure hope that this is NOT a case of plantar fasciitis!

We're deep at receiver. If anything, this will help Dickerson and the UDFAs more.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

We're deep at receiver. If anything, this will help Dickerson and the UDFAs more.

Not a good way to look at things right after he's been paid. We can quickly go to a poor situation if people who we thought would turn out to be good end up barely serviceable, or other players we expected to step in also get injured.

Especially based on preseason quick impressions/hopes, things can change at a blink of an eye. We can't cavalierly take any known talent for granted thinking that we are "deep." As it is, we already have too many questions at WR. Placing your trust in any way in UDFAs that will not have experienced any in-season real game experience would be down right unrealistic.

[El Tejano]

Texans owner Bob McNair said he isn't even considering the possibility of not making the postseason.

"It's the playoffs," he said. "That's what we expect and have no reason to believe we won't be there. We're going to do whatever we have to do to win, period. Of course, that means you're going to be in the playoffs ... but it's all about winning and we've had adequate time to get there and we've been very close. We just need to make that determination that we're going to make it happen."

Wow! Check out Bob giving the Rex Ryan impression!!!

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by El Tejano

Texans owner Bob McNair said he isn't even considering the possibility of not making the postseason.



Wow! Check out Bob giving the Rex Ryan impression!!!

Like everyone else, I am trying to be hopeful (yet not blind) about the upcoming season. Somehow, though, it is difficult for me not to read McNair's comments in the context of past history." I keep hearing:


McNair: "But I will stop short of consequences for not, because after a decade, we have finally put our best foot forward for success. We want to promote a positive attitude only. Threats or even implications of such will scare these professionals from performing to their max. After all, realistically, when dealing with professionals, they will remain professionals.............and there will always be next year."

[steelbtexan]

Originally Posted by SteveSlaton20

I thought we've been focused on reaching the Playoffs for the last 2-3 years?

Me too

I hope BoBBy isn't feeding the fans a line of crap again this yr.

[steelbtexan]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Like everyone else, I am trying to be hopeful (yet not blind) about the upcoming season. Somehow, though, it is difficult for me not to read McNair's comments in the context of past history." I keep hearing:


McNair: "But I will stop short of consequences for not, because after a decade, we have finally put our best foot forward for success. We want to promote a positive attitude only. Threats or even implications of such will scare these professionals from performing to their max. After all, realistically, when dealing with professionals, they will remain professionals.............and there will always be next year."

BoBBy says the same thing every yr in some context or another.

The there's always next yr mentality has permiated the Texans organization for far too long. Everybody in the organization just needs to shut up and prove it on the field.

The Texans are starting to remind me of the Oilers, all talk and cant back it up.

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Man, scary to think what the NFL's best WR will look like if he turns it up another notch!

It's like the beast goes into BEAST MODE to form an even bigger BEAST!

[MightyTExan]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Like everyone else, I am trying to be hopeful (yet not blind) about the upcoming season. Somehow, though, it is difficult for me not to read McNair's comments in the context of past history." I keep hearing:


McNair: "But I will stop short of consequences for not, because after a decade, we have finally put our best foot forward for success. We want to promote a positive attitude only. Threats or even implications of such will scare these professionals from performing to their max. After all, realistically, when dealing with professionals, they will remain professionals.............and there will always be next year."

This. I guess I'm a jaded fan. No kool-aid for me until 10 wins in one season.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by dinkatoid

Anyone else just get the mental image of AJ turning green, busting his jersey into rags and trampling the d?

That's exactly what I was going to post. AJ's gonna get greener? Uh, oh.

[CloakNNNdagger]

BTW JJ is again held out of today's practice with his foot issue...........