Monday’s Hot Clicks: Josh Johnson Played ‘Madden’ to Learn Who His New Teammates Are

He’s played for 12 different NFL teams. That’s a lot of teammates.

Wait, who are these guys?

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Josh Johnson has had a lot of teammates. 

The 32-year-old career third-string quarterback has played for 12 different NFL teams, along with a season with the UFL’s Sacramento Mountain Lions. That’s a lot of teammates. 

So how does a guy who has shared a locker room several hundred players learn who his new teammates are after being signed just five days before his first game? Johnson fired up a video game console and started playing Madden.

And it worked out pretty well for him! Despite having not thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2011 and having only a few days to learn the playbook, Johnson relieved an ineffective Mark Sanchez and led Washington on two touchdown drives. He finished the day 11-of-16 for 195 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. His team still lost 40–16 to fall to 6–7, dangerously far behind the 8–5 Cowboys in the division race, but that wasn’t Johnson’s fault. 

Head coach Jay Gruden was so impressed with Johnson’s effort (or perhaps just so discouraged by Sanchez’s) that he named Johnson the starter for next week. It seems like a smart call. Johnson has a 64 rating in Madden, while Sanchez is a 65. So it’s really a toss-up. 

You won’t see games end in more ridiculous fashion than this

First it was the double-lateral, 69-yard walk-off TD by the Dolphins to beat the Patriots. 

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Then it was Amari Cooper with the insane concentration to bobble this TD catch in overtime. 

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Awkward...

This was the most awkward moment I’ve ever heard between a play-by-play guy and his color-analyst, as Don Stevens didn’t know yet that Ric Seiling had been relieved of his duties as coach of the Buffalo Beauts. Holy moly. And then Don just jumps right back into his PBP cadence! pic.twitter.com/5OuMKLkUsp

— steelopus (@steelopus) December 8, 2018

This AHL commentator had no idea that his broadcast partner had lost his job coaching Buffalo’s professional women’s team. But he had just been fired an hour before they went on the air, so can you blame him?

The best of SI

The Cowboys’ recent renaissance has been all about Amari Cooper. ... Harold Baines has no business being in the Hall of Fame. ... Did Tua Tagavailoa’s injury and poor performance in the SEC championship game cost him the Heisman? ... It’s official: Atlanta is a soccer city. 

Around the sports world

A Dutch soccer commentator spent the entire MLS Cup broadcast refusing to talk about the game. ... The Bulls reportedly considered skipping practice after the Celtics crushed them by 56 points. ... A bet between a cadet and a midshipman on the Army-Navy game was paid off 54 years later. ... ESPN is moving the start time of Sunday Night Baseball up to 7 p.m. ET. ... One of the survivors of the Humboldt hockey team bus crash was involved in another crash. 

At a certain point you just have to let go

That's embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/1rnpV6wGBF

— Cork Gaines, Ph.D. (@CorkGaines) December 9, 2018

Patrick Mahomes is pulling streetball moves now

A closer look at @PatrickMahomes5 no-look pass. What ya' looking at? 😎Thank to @kmbc photographer, Cliff Irwin for capturing this. pic.twitter.com/RMf38SEKbl

— Len Jennings (@lenjenningsKMBC) December 10, 2018

This is proof enough that Easton Stick be the next Carson Wentz

Been around football my entire life and can’t say I’ve ever seen this. pic.twitter.com/AGiH2fcm9m

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) December 8, 2018

Weber State is the nation’s most metal football program

HAIL WARIO pic.twitter.com/O2NwzlTyN6

— Jason Kirk (tell your library about my book) (@JasonKirk_fyi) December 8, 2018

Just your classic horse delay

Messi doing Messi things

Glorious. Magician at work 🎩 🇦🇷 #Messi #EspanyolBarçahttps://t.co/lbVzNjl0MD

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) December 8, 2018

Ray Hudson absolutely LOST HIS MIND when Lionel Messi scored a beautiful free kick 😂
(via @beINSPORTSUSA) pic.twitter.com/yfT5FIVbfZ

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 8, 2018

The punch wasn’t even as good as the celebration

ICYMI: Teofimo Lopez ended his night EARLY 🥊 pic.twitter.com/xobGfkXWAF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 9, 2018

This, however, is how not to celebrate

The celebration didn't go according to plan but his performance was brilliant!

Jimmy Gressier produces a front-running display to defend his title in the U23 race at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. #Tilburg2018 pic.twitter.com/GHuBSOya6w

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) December 9, 2018

Not sports

Rob McElhenney detailed how he gained 60 pound in three months for It’s Always Sunny. ... Tyra Banks is a rapper now? ... A guard dog survived the Northern California wildfire and stayed outside his destroyed home for a month.

Minions are keeping Johns Hopkins safe

Johns Hopkins employs a large unarmed security force in the areas around campus. Many of them brave the hot and cold on foot. But last night was the first time I saw these tent pods. pic.twitter.com/fWEzpnyLeY

— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) December 9, 2018

I bet the radicchio is fantastic, though

Another absolute corker of a correction in today’s Guardian. pic.twitter.com/uftePgoCU7

— Phil Baty (@Phil_Baty) December 8, 2018

The first trailer for the Brooklyn 99 revival is here

A good song

Email dan.gartland@simail.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.