By Tim Graham
A lot of times in the NFL, people get hung up on labels.
Who's an elite quarterback? Who's a franchise left tackle? Who's a shutdown cornerback?
Stevie Johnson considers himself a No. 1 receiver. But he doesn't view a move to the slot as any kind of demotion.
In fact, a grinning Johnson called it "easy money," a few hours after Buffalo Bills General Manager Buddy Nix said he wanted to add a big outside target and move Johnson into the slot.
"To me," Johnson said, "the slot means you got access to go left, you got access to go right, you can work up the middle, you're not going to be pressed as much -- and we all know what I can do to people that press me.
"You'll be going against either the safeties or linebackers or the third cornerback. That's what I think about when I hear slot. It seems like easy money for me."
The Bills would like to have used Johnson in the slot this season to maximize certain matchups. But the season-ending knee injury to David Nelson on opening day and the slow development of rookie T.J. Graham forced the Bills to keep Johnson on the outside almost all the time.
Johnson clearly doesn't consider a move inside to be a downgrade to his standing on the team.
"It's taking advantage," Johnson said. "Not to sound overly confident in myself, but I don't think I can be handled outside. And now imagine me going against whoever I have to go against in the slot.
"I think it'll only help us out. I don't see it as a demotion when they talk about moving me anywhere. With the right mentality, I feel we're just trying to get better as a team. I don't put myself ahead of these guys."
As for adding help at receiver, Johnson is enthusiastic about the prospect.
"If we can get help at the receiver position, that'd be big for us," Johnson said. "We can move the ball. We have T.J., who's pretty much getting into form, going downfield. To add a bigger target, that'd be huge.
"Wherever I'll be, I know I'm going to work, and I'm going to do my thing inside or outside. I think it's only going to help our team out if we were going to do that."
