Sources: Utah dismisses starting QB Johnson

Brian Johnson, a senior who started in all but three games as quarterback at the University of Utah last season, has been kicked off the team.

Coach Kyle Whittingham said the decision was made last week. "I'm just not even going to get into it," Whittingham said. "That's team stuff and I don't handle it publicly."

Johnson, who started in 11 games his sophomore season with the Utes, sat out the 2006 season with a knee injury. He also missed three games at the start of last season while dealing with a collar bone injury he sustained in Utah's season-opening loss to Oregon State.

Johnson said he was removed from the team after allegedly missing a training-room treatment and two weekend conditioning workouts that he said were scheduled because he missed the treatment.

"The only reason I was kicked off the team was -- and I quote Kyle's word -- I was 'defiant," Johnson said. "I was like, "Defiant? What's your definition of defiant?'

"He said, 'Not doing what I say."

Johnson said he was concerned about going beyond the NCAA limit of eight hours per week for offseason training, the treatments were voluntary and his hamstring injury precluded him from the conditioning drills.

"He kicked me off the team for not showing up for a punishment workout on Saturday and Sunday at 6 a.m.," Johnson said. "I didn't agree with it. I had a pulled hamstring at the time. When am I supposed to do it? I can't practice, and you're going to make me run?"

Whittingham denies taking Johnson over the eight-hour offseason workout limit.

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