By the time they signed the enigmatic Johnny Johnson to a two-year, $3 million deal last week, the 49ers had raised their 1996 free-agent signing bonus commitments to $9 million, all in just six weeks.
That's one active NFL checkbook. The total is a $5 million increase from a year ago, when the Niners were coming off a Super Bowl victory rather than a first-round playoff loss.By signing Johnson, 27, a running back who was out of football last season after playing five years with the Cardinals and Jets, the Niners may have made one of the most interesting hires of 1996.
Johnson ostensibly burned his bridges with the Niners last year, when he twice refused to work out for the team. That infuriated George Seifert, but the Niners head coach has found a new attitude in Johnson this time.
"Since that time, he's been on a vendetta to get himself prepared to play," said Seifert. "He had a tremendous workout at the (49ers') facility, and all the coaches raved about him. I visited with him the other day, and his physical condition is as good as I've ever seen it."
A seventh-round draft choice in 1990, Johnson made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He averaged more than 800 rushing yards a year through his first five seasons, and in 1993 and 1994 with the Jets he caught 109 passes. But he also earned an "attitude-problem" label at each franchise, and an official with one of his former teams pointed out that Johnson's play never quite matched his first season with each club.
Someone else might have pointed out that in Phoenix and New York, Johnson played for lousy teams.
Pete Carroll, the 49ers' defensive coordinator, was head coach of the Jets when Johnson played there, and he raves about the new Niner.
"I found him to be a really good guy," Carroll said. "Easy to talk to, a guy that worked tremendously in games, was a real competitor, fought every inch of the way, and (teammates) really thought of him as a leader.
"Probably a good deal of his reputation came out of what he did in the off-season," Carroll added. "He always kind of disappeared. He has changed his off-season ways. He's worked out like crazy, really pumped up strong. . . . I never saw him like that, ever. We might really see something special this year."
STONEWALLING JACKSON: The Packers have suggested that tight end Keith Jackson won't be around for a second season in Green Bay. The ex-Eagle joined the team late last season, after threatening to retire, and made $1.125 million in a backup role. The Packers aren't likely to increase those numbers.
"Undoubtedly, they want more," said Packers GM Ron Wolf, who doesn't expect Jackson to attend a minicamp this week. "The problem with Jackson is, we've decided that Mark Chimura is our starter. We've made our decision. So where does Jackson fit into that? Would he be happy in a reserve role? I'm not sure he would."
The Saints have offered Jackson a three-year contract averaging $1.33 million. He reportedly has asked New Orleans to sweeten the deal by $1 million a year.