R.I.P

Jim Johnson is remembered as the ultimate assistant coach. As a motivator, he was tough, yet sensitive. As a defensive mastermind, he cut his players loose to blitz, blitz, blitz the quarterback. Johnson, defensive coordinator of the Eagles for the past decade, died Tuesday at age 68 after a battle with cancer. He had taken a leave of absence in May. Stricken with back pain during the playoffs last season, he coached from the press box during a postseason victory over the New York Giants and a loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. After the loss to Arizona, it was announced he had a cancerous tumor on his spine. He was one of the best