LANDOVER, Md. - Long after midnight, I went looking for the man who had shut down Steve Spurrier in prime time.

        “He's in there,” someone said, nodding toward the Philadelphia Eagles coaches' office. “Looks a little like Walter Brennan.”

        Jim Johnson soon appeared, tie in place, briefcase in hand. A soft-spoken 61-year-old football lifer. Know what? He does look a little like Walter Brennan.

        But never mind that. About his defense that had just broken Fun 'n' Gun into pieces on the floor of Monday Night Football, reminding the world that nobody just blows through the NFL, not even Steve Spurrier ...

        “I tried not to let it be personal,” he said. “I told our players the same thing: "Don't let this be Jim Johnson and Steve Spurrier. Let's just beat the Redskins.'

        “I never thought about Steve Spurrier much at all. I just knew his offense.”

        No offensive touchdowns. Ninety net passing yards. A 37-7 thrashing in front of the sophisticated D.C. audience, including the guys in hog noses.

        And other than that, how did you enjoy your first Monday Night Football, Steve?

        “When I get my butt kicked, there's no excuses,” he said. “I don't want to blame it on the players - we were all bad tonight.

        “I apologize to the Redskins fans. We had a full house ... screaming and yelling and ready to do something. And we couldn't go anywhere.”

        Someone asked the last time he had seen his offense shackled so. Spurrier decided it was Rutgers in a rainstorm in 1986. Florida won 15-3.

        There will be days like this in the NFL, no matter how thick the playbook. In a breezy preseason and first-game gimme over Arizona, Spurrier seemed every bit the new mastermind in town to revive the Redskins. But he was not the cavalry riding to the rescue Monday night. Unless you mean Custer.

        The ABC viewers who tuned in to see Spurrier's magic at work saw only one Washington touchdown. They did, however, get to see Spurrier grimace, frown, press his lips together and scratch his head. They must have loved it in Tallahassee.

        Johnson watched five Florida games from last season to get a feel for Spurrier. It helped. His game plan included only modest use of the blitz, and denying Spurrier his beloved long ball. The vertical of Spurrier's offense became horizontal. The first six Washington passes went to running back or tight end.

        It brought up one of the adjustments Spurrier must make from college Saturdays - facing defensive backs who can cover his receivers. The secondary is not Vanderbilt's anymore.

        “I think he anticipated more blitzing,” Johnson said. “It becomes a little bit of a guessing game. I just wanted to see what he was going to do. I didn't know how it was going to work.”

        So it is. But Johnson is still the first of the brotherhood of defensive coordinators to blunt the Fun 'n' Gun invasion. Monday's game films should be popular viewing in several darkened NFL offices. Johnson shrugged, more or less.

        “I have respect for Steve Spurrier. He's got some good ideas.”

        Other Jim Johnsons will follow with their own ideas. The test of Steve Spurrier, NFL coach, has begun.

Bengals figure Patriots did, so can they Bengals E-Mail Q&A Falcons waive ex-Bengal Heath Unitas remembered as mythic hero Pepper spray use defended Spurrier's NFL honeymoon ends abruptly

OSU sensation 'unlikely' for UC game
Pirates 11, Reds 3
Reds Box, Runs
Cinergy softball tickets available
Griffey wants to play on historic weekend
Sparky to throw out first pitch Sunday
Reds Notebook: Williamson looks like closer
Reese (5 RBI) enjoys beating Reds
Giants regain wild-card lead
Brewers 5, Astros 4
Cardinals 11, Rockies 4
Padres 3, Diamondbacks 2
Angels go back on top in AL West
Mariners 3, Rangers 2
NCAA upholds Kentucky's bowl ban
OSU's Sylvester recovering from gunshot
Xavier women's basketball schedule
St. X, Elder, Colerain hurting in Harbins
Ohio football computer rankings
Elder regains No. 1 in Cincinnati
Dixie still leads Northern Ky. poll
Kentucky statewide football polls
Madeira soccer team may be No. 1 in state
Hat trick boosts Boone Co.
Today's high school schedule
Boys cross country results
Boys golf results
Boys soccer results
Boys water polo results
Girls cross country results
Girls golf results
Girls soccer results
Girls tennis results
Girls volleyball results
Girls water polo results
Ohio statewide volleyball polls
Ohio statewide girls tennis polls

• Return to Bengals front page...