Josh McCown, Andre Johnson, Derek Carr
Andre Johnson was conspicuous by his absence at the Houston Texans' minicamp.
Now, the star wide receiver is publicly expressing that he isn't a happy camper.
"I just look at my career … I've only been to the playoffs twice, I think we've only had three winning seasons," Johnson was quoted as saying in the Houston Chronicle during a media event at which he presented a $30,000 check to the Houston Women's Center. "I don't think any player wants to experience that. I think over time it can become very frustrating. And this offseason has been very frustrating for me; beginning of the offseason, I should say. That's just kind of where I'm at right now.
"Nobody's been here as long as I have. You just kind of look at things; I've been thinking about things this offseason. And I just kind of wonder sometimes, 'Is this still the place for me?'"
Still, according to the Chronicle, Johnson made it clear he has not requested a trade, nor is dissatisfied with his contract.
JOSH MCCOWN HAS GLOWING PRAISE FOR HIS BACKUP, MIKE GLENNON
By not selecting a quarterback in the NFL Draft and reportedly rejecting trade offers for Mike Glennon, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are apparently moving forward with new coach Lovie Smith's plan for Glennon to be his quarterback of the future.
Nevertheless, the Bucs did sign Josh McCown to be their starter of the present.
McCown, for one, thinks the Buccaneers' long-term intentions with Glennon make sense and that he is looking forward to the chance to help develop his young backup.
"I just like his skill set," McCown was quoted as saying on ESPN.com. "He throws the ball well. His arm strength is obviously well above average. He can really spin it.
"He's a hard worker. He loves football and you have to have that at that position and he's intelligent. It's just a matter of time for him."
OAKLAND RAIDERS GM SAYS DEREK CARR HAS ALL A TEAM CAN WANT IN A QB
Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie made it clear that the team couldn't have been happier about making former Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr its second-round draft pick.
"In evaluating him, we thought he could definitely throw the ball," McKenzie told reporters who cover the Raiders. "He was athletic. All the things that we were looking for in a quarterback, we felt like he had.
"He played different styles of offense. He played under center, and of course he played in the spread offense. Bottom line, he was an extremely smart football player, he knew how to read defenses. He was one of those guys that you knew he knew how to play the position. We had a chance to get a really good player, and we jumped at it."
NICK SABAN SURPRISED TO HEAR A.J. MCCARRON CAME OFF AS COCKY IN PRE-DRAFT MEETINGS
Just before the NFL Draft, there was plenty of talk that former Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron had turned off some potential future employers by displaying a cocky attitude during pre-draft interviews with them.
At least one team, the Cincinnati Bengals, was willing to look past whatever questions McCarron might have raised about his demeanor because they made him a fifth-round draft pick.
But McCarron's former college coach, Nick Saban, said the negative reports about the quarterback caught him off guard.
"It does surprise me because he was never that way to me and I think that if you asked a lot of his teammates, they would probably say the same," Saban was quoted as saying on AL.com. "I think that A.J. is a very good person. And regardless of what he ever said to you and whatever way he left you with an impression, if he could do something to help you, he'd be the first person to be there to do it.
"He is a good person and in the long run, he will certainly get the chance to prove that he can be a good leader and a good quarterback in the National Football League."
MIKE SMITH WANTS TO KEEP PEOPLE GUESSING ABOUT ATLANTA FALCONS' DEFENSE
Wondering what kind of defensive scheme will the Atlanta Falcons play this season?
Keep wondering, which is exactly the way Falcons coach Mike Smith prefers.
"We don't want to be pigeon-holed as 'this defense' or 'that defense,'" Smith was quoted as saying on AJC.com regarding whether the Falcons will play a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. "I think when you really study how people play defense, and how we play defense you don't know what we are, and that's the key."
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