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ASHBURN, Va. (CBSDC) — Robert Griffin III thinks the world of Derrick Johnson.

When the Washington Redskins host the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday, the young quarterback will square off against the veteran linebacker whom he’s had respect for since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.

“He’s a play maker,” Griffin said in comments distributed by the Chiefs. “He’s been a play maker for a long time. He’s the guy that I heard about when I was coming through the ranks as well. By no means has his level of play decreased at all. He’s a baller.”

The admiration is well warranted. In his ninth NFL season, Johnson is the Chiefs leading tackler and has 3.5 sacks through 12 games.

Griffin, now 23, was just 15 years old when Johnson, 31, was a rookie.