ExtremeSunday, July 22, 2007 8:10 PM CDT

Comments (0) |

E-mail this page |

Print this page |

Enlarge type |

Reduce type |

Search archives |

RSS feeds |

Add to My Yahoo!

Defensive lineman Johnson retiring after UIF playoffs

By Randy Reinhardt
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com

ROCKFORD — Now that his sons are playing football, Bloomington Extreme defensive lineman Eric Johnson believes it’s time for him to quit.

“I’m getting a little old,” said Johnson. “My kids are starting to get of age that they are starting to play. I missed their football camp (earlier this week). It’s time for them.”

The 33-year-old Johnson, who ended a successful career at Illinois State in 1996, will retire when Bloomington’s season ends.

Johnson and the Extreme hope that does not occur today as fourth-seeded Bloomington faces top seed Rock River in a 7:05 p.m. United Indoor Football Eastern Conference semifinal at the MetroCentre.

“This will be my last year of playing,” Johnson said. “It’s been another opportunity to keep playing, doing something you enjoy. It’s an opportunity for your kids to see you play. And I have other interests outside of football I’m taking care of.”

Johnson has 32 tackle points and 9½ sacks for the Extreme this season.

“He’s been an outstanding leader in the locker room and on the field,” said Bloomington coach Ted Schmitz. “He’s been a really good speed rush end. That’s been his main forte in this game.

“He’s always been a tweener, whether he’s a lineman or a linebacker. He’s a good man. We’ll miss him.”

Johnson went to training camp with the New York Jets in 1997 after earning Gateway Conference all-star honors with ISU the previous fall. He spent four seasons in the Canadian Football League and one with the short-lived XFL.

When that league folded, Johnson moved his football indoors with Peoria before joining the expansion Extreme in 2006.

The 6-foot-2, 275-pound Johnson said helping Bloomington to the playoffs in his final season “means a lot. Hopefully, we can continue and form some sort of history and tradition. It’s always nice to be part of something greater than yourself and lasts longer than yourself.”

Johnson works as an underwriter for State Farm in Chicago and lives in south suburban Tinley Park.

Not to be confused with the Extreme offensive lineman of the same name, Johnson has three sons and a newborn daughter, Erica.

“She’s the one I’ve been waiting on, my little girl,” Johnson said. “I’m done now.”

E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS

Show comments | Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories

Subscribe to the Pantagraph

Contact the Pantagraph staff

Home page | Previous page | Top

Ads by Yahoo!

Scientific Graphing Software

Origin 7.5 provides powerful yet intuitive tools to: import data, perform analysis, develop custom algorithm, create publication-quality 2D and 3D graphs, output for presentation. Free demo.
www.originlab.com

Practice Forex Trading

Start trading with a free $50,000 demo account. Play before pay.
www.fxcm.com

Allheartchefs Discount Chef/Cooks Pants

Everyday low prices on chef pants, hats, aprons, clothes, supplies. Embroidery available. Professional aprons, chef coats, cook shirts, pants, chef hats and beanies, chef clogs and shoes.
www.allheartchefs.com

Take a look

Bloomington Extreme defensive lineman Eric Johnson reaches out to try and stop RiverCity Rage running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir on April 14, 2007, at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. (Pantagraph/B Mosher)

Video stories