Johnson stars in obscurity

He’s never been on a team that finished better than 8-8, so he doesn’t get much exposure in big games.

But Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans just might be the best receiver in the league.

Let us count the ways:

Johnson has 90 catches and a league-best 1,433 yards. He led the league last season with 115 catches and 1,575 yards. He needs 67 yards to join former Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison (2001-’02) as the only receivers in history to have at least 1,500 in back-to-back seasons.

Schobel may be done

Defensive end Aaron Schobel, 32, who is in his ninth season with the Buffalo Bills, told reporters this week that he is contemplating retirement at the end of the season because he feels his performance is diminishing.

But this season he leads the Bills with seven sacks (the most since a career-high 14 in ’06) and is the team’s fifth-leading tackler with 64.

From his rookie season of 2001 through 2007, Schobel’s 67 sacks ranked seventh in the league, and second in the AFC to Jason Taylor (86) of the Miami Dolphins.

Bulger on IR

Quarterback Marc Bulger has become the 13th St. Louis Rams player to be placed on injured reserve.

The 1-13 Rams have had little hope for weeks that Bulger could return from a broken left shin bone before the end of the season, and Bulger was still working his way off crutches during the practice week heading into Sunday’s game at Arizona.

The Rams placed Bulger on IR Saturday and will go with either rookie Keith Null or Kyle Boller against the Cardinals. Null has started the last two games.

Wide receiver Cord Parks was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad.