Johnstone glad to be back in black

[size=18px]Johnstone glad to be back in black[/size]

After six years away, DE eager to merge forces with Burgess

By Jerry McDonald, STAFF WRITER
InsideBayArea.com

ALAMEDA — Lance Johnstone, sitting directly across from the locker stall which used to be his six years ago, feels in some ways as if he has never left.
"It was always in the back of my mind I'd end up here," Johnstone said Sunday after the Raiders wrapped up a three-day, mandatory minicamp. "I wasn't surprised by it. I'm happy to be back."

Johnstone, who turns 33 in June, admits he wasn't sure a decade ago if the Oakland Raiders knew what they were doing when they took a svelte, linebacker out of Temple in the second round and decided he would make a solid pass-rushing defensive end.

Ten years and 70 sacks later, Johnstone — who spent the past five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings — is back where it all started.

If all goes according to plan, he'll serve as a situational pass rusher to give opposing offensive lines something to think about other than defending NFL sack leader Derrick Burgess.

Although credited with a career-low 15 unassisted tackles last season, Johnstone had 7.5 sacks — indicating he can still bring the heat even if he's on the field for fewer plays.

Only six players remain from when Johnstone played his last game with the Raiders in 2000 — Zack Crockett, Sebastian Janikiowski, Shane Lechler, Jerry Porter, Barry Sims and Adam Treu.

"It's amazing how much things can change in five years," Johnstone said. "But there are still a lot of the people, outside of the players, within the organization."

Johnstone, an unrestricted free agent, said he was courted by the Raiders and two other teams which he declines to name. Although released following the 2000 season, he said he left on good enough terms that coming back was no problem.

The thought of playing on a defensive line with Burgess was also appealing.

"The best years I've had have been when there's another good pass rusher with you," Johnstone said. "So (Burgess) was part of the decision. Hopefully we'll get Sapp coming off his injury pretty good, and we'll have three good pass rushers in there. I think we can do some things."

Entire Article: Johnstone glad to be back in black

I'm going to miss Lance being a part of this team.

I still think he is one of the FA we should have resigned.

70 sacks in 10 years with some of those years as a part timer isn't nothing to sneeze at.

I agree 100%....I was really dissapointed that we didn't resign Lance

Meh, give the playing time to our first rounders...

Only thing that concerns me is, he states he always felt he was in the black/????????? What about the Purple and Gold?????? Screw HIM>.......

Quote:

---

Johnstone, an unrestricted free agent, said he was courted by the Raiders and two other teams which he declines to name. Although released following the 2000 season, he said he left on good enough terms that coming back was no problem.

---

Really, I think the faders were the only team that came calling. I was never sold on Johnstone

I always liked Johnstone(especially when he got a sack :lol: ) but i doubt he does much in oakland. Not a terrible loss considering our personnel at DE right now.

Johnstone is a beast, but hes old and we're stacked at DE, so I can see why we let him go. Anywho I wish him the best there.

Good luck, Lance...you are gonna hate playing for a crappy team though!

hes all right not that big of a loss