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Johnson Halts Talks With 'Skins

October 18, 2000 / 10:32 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Quarterback Brad Johnson, who took the Washington Redskins to the playoffs for the first time in seven years, has suspended negotiations for a new contract and plans to become a free agent at the end of the season.

"I want to be a Redskin, but we're at a point now it's got to be strictly football," Johnson said Wednesday. "We don't want to put this any further into the season. It hasn't been a distraction for me, but this is something that will be a decision next spring, and that's kind of the best way to leave it."

Johnson was acquired last year in a trade with Minnesota, and his contract expires at the end of this season. He was hoping to have a new deal negotiated by now, but his agent, Phil Williams, accused the Redskins of making his client "the last priority to the team."

The Redskins are spending a record $100 million in salaries and bonuses this season. Their high-profile signings include Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, LaVar Arrington, Chris Samuels, Stephen Davis and backup quarterback Jeff George.

But no one feels they would have returned to the playoffs last season without Johnson, who went to the Pro Bowl. This year the Redskins are 5-2, having won four straight. Johnson, with George looking over his shoulder, started slowly but has played well in recent weeks.

"I feel like I had a big part in getting to where we were last year, a big part in what's happening this year," Johnson said.

Williams said he will not reopen negotiations until Johnson hits the free market, which would open a huge bidding war in a league short on quality quarterbacks. The only way the Redskins could prevent Johnson from becoming a free agent would be to name him their franchise player, but that would require an upfront commitment of perhaps $6 million from a team already on the verge of bursting the salary cap.

Redskins director of player personnel Vinny Cerrato refused comment.