Bombers sign all-star cornerback Jovon Johnson to contract extension

WINNIPEG - Despite his off-the-cuff tweets that sometimes irk management, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed all-star cornerback Jovon Johnson to a contract extension.

"We came to a mutual agreement and everything worked out for the best for the both of us," Johnson said on a conference call Thursday.

Johnson, who signed a one-year deal plus a club option, has been known tweet complaints about management decisions such as the release of running back Fred Reid and about his own contract talks.

"Players make mistakes and I'm a man and I admit that. . . It was just one those things where emotionally I got kind of upset," he said.

"They look forward to me being a leader on this team and I look forward to going out and doing it."

Johnson is entering his fifth season with the Bombers.

He was picked as the league's the top defensive player in 2011, the first time ever a defensive back has been selected.

He was a CFL all-star for the second straight season and an East Division all-star for the third straight season.

He's also Winnipeg's primary punt returner and sits fourth on the team's all-time list with 594 yards.

Last season he returned two of his league-leading eight interceptions for touchdowns. His career total of six is good enough for third on the CFL all-time list.

"Clearly, Jovon Johnson is one of the marquee players in this league and we are thrilled to lock him down for the foreseeable future," general manager Joe Mack said in announcing the deal.

"His versatility to play special teams in addition to his regular role on defence makes him an even greater asset for us. We are looking for him to take a larger leadership role this season and are confident he is in a position to do so."

He said he's eager to get back on the field where he and the Bombers had so much success last season, up to their Grey Cup loss in Vancouver.

"Defensively, we definitely have the players to get the job done, as long as we go out and play and play fast and start games and start games fast. That was one of our weaknesses last year," he said.

"Hopefully we can go out and play the whole season the way we did the first half of the season."