NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 20: John Johnson of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after defeating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints with a score of 26-23. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
By the Patriots Newswire at 98.5 The Sports Hub
Nobody needs extra motivation to win the Super Bowl. But if any team can find a way to get it, it’s the Patriots. Rams safety John Johnson just made it easy for them.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Johnson was asked about facing Tom Brady for the first time in his career. He was quick to give him the adulation typically reserved for the five-time Super Bowl champion, but he also let a bit of honesty slip out.
“It’s an honor, honestly,” Johnson said, via TheRams.com. “He’s an all-time great. He’s been to the Super Bowl what, nine times? He’s beatable, though. We just can’t go in there with a mindset of ‘Oh, it’s Tom Brady’. Like, he’s definitely beatable. So we’re going to go in there and give him a go.”
This is certainly mild by the usual “bulletin board material” standards. Most fans, on either side, will rightfully shrug this one off. It’s not like Tom Brady has literally never lost a game, let alone never lost a Super Bowl. The Rams shouldn’t act like they’re being led to a slaughter, either. Step one to beating Brady is to believe you can beat him in the first place.
But the real question is, do Brady and the Patriots use this comment as a little extra fuel? Maybe to show Johnson who’s really beatable in the big game, Anthony Smith-style? That’s all that matters here.
Either way, it’s way too early for stuff like this to already be coming out of the Rams locker room.
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