Bucs QB Josh Johnson was replaced in the fourth quarter of today's loss 35-7 against New England, and Johnson immediately came to terms with the fact that it might be a permanent move.

When coach Raheem Morris pulled him from the game, the coach put his arm around Johnson and whispered some words of encouragement.

"I told him, 'You don't have to say anything. I understand,' " Johnson recounted later. "(It was) the same situation as Byron (Leftwich). If we don't win games, maybe Josh (Freeman) is going to play. I understood what was going on when I first was (named) the starting quarterback."

Morris was non-committal about which quarterback would play after next weekend's bye, when the Bucs continue the season at home against Green Bay.