05/08/24
November 18, 2003
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have deactivated Keyshawn Johnson for the rest of the year, relaying the news through his agent. Johnson put his Tampa home up for sale earlier this week and reportedly told a reporter recently that Coach Jon Gruden was trying to undermine his career.
ESPN's report. From the report: "Honestly, I'm very disappointed because I really wanted to win another championship with this team," he said. "I was never Gruden's guy. He never liked me. I told him I'd rather retire than play for him in 2004. But I also told him I wouldn't be a distraction, I wouldn't go to the media with it and I didn't. I don't know why they released me. I was playing hard, I wasn't dogging it. Tell everyone I'm in New York looking for apartments." For his sake, I hope he's baiting the Giants with that statement, because after the way he left the Jets, I'm not sure they'd want him back.
posted by lilnemo at 02:29 PM on November 18, 2003
This is shocking, but I like it. If you're not getting it done, you get cut. This will either shake the Bucs up enough that they turn it around, or it will sink their season. It's a huge gamble (especially since McCardell and Jurevicius are not 100% healthy) but it's better than accepting mediocre play. Who's next in disappointing players to get cut? How about Corey Dillon (likely), Brian Griese (possible), Donald Driver (unlikely), or Isaac Bruce (they'd be insane). Hey, if it can happen to Keyshawn...
posted by dusted at 02:36 PM on November 18, 2003
When Kevin Johnson was released by the Browns, around 20 teams made waiver claims on him. If you want to get rid of a player who would be of interest to other teams, why not trade him? Last time I did the math, getting something in return was better than nothing. (I'm guessing the trade deadline in the NFL has passed, but Gruden probably knew he wanted to do this ever since Keyshawn said he didn't want to be back in 2004.)
posted by rcade at 03:07 PM on November 18, 2003
"Deactivated" isn't the same as "cut." The difference isn't important on the field -- he ain't playing in Tampa no more, regardless -- but is key when thinking about the salary cap.
I'm not going to claim to understand the arcane vagaries of capology, but from what I understand, 1. If they DO cut him, his $13 million signing bonus causes a huge "cap hit"; and 2. That he'll be hard to trade for exactly this reason -- Tampa has to take a big cap hit. Given what Clayton says in that link, it wouldn't be surprising if they waited until June 1 to trade him, thus minimizing cap consequences.
The answer that I don't know and that the link I posted doesn't address -- how will trading Key affect the cap of the team that TAKES him? Might well affect his New York apartment plans.
posted by jeffmshaw at 03:08 PM on November 18, 2003
The Lions would gladly take him...and it would serve him right...
posted by MeatSaber at 03:23 PM on November 18, 2003
Just Give Keyshawn the Damn Welfare Check!
posted by lilnemo at 03:42 PM on November 18, 2003
I heard he tried to out-smirk Gruden in practice. Keyshawn's going to be on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. Anyone have tips on how to tell which loud-mouth, egomaniacal, doesn't-know-shit, loudly dressed, ex-NFL receiver/ idiot is talking?
posted by yerfatma at 03:49 PM on November 18, 2003
posted by forksclovetofu at 04:26 PM on November 18, 2003
If you want to get rid of a player who would be of interest to other teams, why not trade him? Last time I did the math, getting something in return was better than nothing. I just heard a great comment on the radio regarding the NFL and trades..."As soon as a GM calls a team and says 'would you be interested in (Keyshawn Johnson) that team is thinking 'they're gonna cut Keyshawn". I don't know anything about the cap unless some "expert" tells me on Sportscenter so I'll take jeffmshaw's comments on it, but all that being true they weren't going to get his full value in a trade anyways. Seems like unless you're desperate for a given player you can always wait it out and pay a pretty low premium and Keyshawn doesn't seem like a guy a lot of teams will be wanting that badly.
posted by YukonGold at 04:27 PM on November 18, 2003
Take the damn ball and get out.
posted by lilnemo at 06:51 PM on November 18, 2003
The Bucks have found someone with sufficient attitude and skill to replace Keyshawn. 
posted by lilnemo at 07:19 PM on November 18, 2003
Buc's Damn it!
posted by lilnemo at 07:19 PM on November 18, 2003
Chris Mortensen reported today that Keyshawn would return home to Los Angeles after each game on Sunday and return to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, obviously missing those "voluntary" Monday workouts. It's my guess that when you're winning, you overlook those things, but when you are battling to make the playoffs, you are no longer seen as part of the team.
posted by usfbull at 07:21 PM on November 18, 2003
Hey... Keyshawn... Baby don't you worry, I got your money... Say, hey...
posted by forksclovetofu at 07:54 PM on November 18, 2003
I'd think that the Monday workouts would be less of a PITA than sitting on two cross-country flights two days apart, week after week. Even first class isn't that comfortable for six hours.
posted by billsaysthis at 08:22 PM on November 18, 2003
I saw Keyshawn this morning on ESPN discussing his release. He said his agent called him and told him he was no longer with the team, then asked him to call the team's GM. I wonder how that conversation went ... GM: "Hello?" Keyshawn: "This is Keyshawn, and ..." GM: "Go f*** yourself."
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:03 AM on November 19, 2003
The answer that I don't know and that the link I posted doesn't address -- how will trading Key affect the cap of the team that TAKES him? Might well affect his New York apartment plans. The team that takes him just gets his annual salary requirements. The team that trades him gets the brunt of the bonus amortization, since they are the team that gave him the bonus in the first place.
posted by bcb2k2 at 09:21 AM on November 19, 2003
Sounds like Gruden and Co. are sending the ultimate message to the entire team: Memo to underachiveing, whiny team: We are not happy. No one is safe. You are the ones who are the ball-lickers. You wanna be looking for work after being cut because we prohibitively overpaid based on future potential instead of past performance, dramtaically reducing the chance of future employment without contract renegotiation? It's head-busting time. Sapp - you're next. Simeon - uh, you're still cool." PS - 4 and 6!?! - I am so not impressed right now.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:34 AM on November 19, 2003
wfrazerjr, I think I saw the same interview, and I have to say, I was impressed with how he handled himself. It may all be for appearances, but he seems to know how to play his cards, coming off as sincerely shocked and genuinely interested in playing NFL ball again. With that said, Rice's interview immediately followed, and he let the cat out of the coach/star reciever relationship bag: apparently they Gruden and Johnson haven't been in speaking terms for a while.
posted by garfield at 11:57 AM on November 19, 2003
WTF?