While the 2011 NFL season is over for Michael Johnson, it was another season to remember for the former Dallas County High School standout.

Johnson finished his third season with 42 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble and an interception in a year the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end said was filled with doubters. Johnson said the media was down on the Bengals after the loss of key players like Chad Ocho Cinco, Carson Palmer and Terrell Owens, but Johnson said he tuned it out as the Bengals went on to finish the year with a 9-7 record and earned a trip to the playoffs.

“I try not to listen to what’s going on because you never accept what people’s expectations are of you, and I don’t think we did that this year,” Johnson said. “As a team we went out there and we lost some games we should have won and we won some games that people didn’t think we could win. We made the playoffs again. This is my third year and the second time in the playoffs. I think that’s pretty good, with a franchise that’s only made the playoffs three times in the past 21 years. I’m only 24 years old, to put that in perspective.”

Johnson said he’s thankful for having completed another season, and it’s been a blessing to have such an opportunity.