Keyshaun released???
 

They just said on The Dan Patrick Show that Len Paquarelli has reported that the Bucs have released Keyshaun Johnson. What the hell???

I'll post a link when more news comes available...

ESPN website confirms it.

It's a bad year to be a WR with the initials KJ.

ESPNEWS is saying he's been deactivated.


He'll either be released after the season or traded.

The Vikings could use a #2 reciever...

Pasq just changed the story to that he being deactivated with the intent for release...

The Cowboys could use a posession reciever and we all know how much Key loves Bill...

Pasq is on the radio and just confirmed what vtbub said, though no mention of trading him. He basically isn't allowed at practice or games or any team functions and will be released after the season...

Bucs Deactivate Keyshawn
The Tampa Buccaneers have deactivated wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson for the rest of the season, reports ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli. Losers of the three straight games, the defending champions are 4-6 and in danger of missing the playoffs.

I can only hope John Gruden played back the tape of Meshawn insulting Marvin Harrison a few times when he told him of the decision.

OK Bucs, only one more conceited, egotistical bastard to go and I can start liking you again.

TroyF

Shit...i have him on my fantasy team :(

Once he has been deactivated...is he done for the season 100%?

GIVE ME THE $%&$ PINK SLIP!!!!!

Dola...for Bucs fans...who is their 3rd WR that would become the number 2 guy behind Mccardell?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

hahahahahahahhahahahahahahaha

I'm pretty sure he is broken for the season.

Karl Williams?

Excellent. It's nice to see jerks get what's coming to them once in a while. Thank you, Jon!

Wow.

he played last week. I beleive he is now back and 100% healthy. They've been toying with signing Andre Rison (yes, that one) all season. I hope they make that a reality, for comedy value alone.

PATS....GET HIM......PLEASE......

Holy shit. Well Jon gruden said there would be some 'huge changes' starting monday, after they lost. Unbelievable!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1664796

He doesn't have enough character for the Eagles, I could see him migrate to Dallas, ick!

why in the world would N.E. want him?

Both the Vikings starting defensive ends were arrested for DUI this week. Keyshawn should have enough character...

Of topic, but one of the links on that page was "Callahan on THG". I think they could have phrased that a bit better.

I did like the headline Ramsey's foot, like 'Skins' blocking, is broken

I'm with you Ronnie, the simple idea of him with the Pats makes my skin crawl... Anybody think he'd get along well with Belichick? I know they were both with the Jets at the same time, but BB was more with the D than the O...

FM

Keyshawn and Moss on the same team? Dear god, I think I'd pay to see that.

Here's some more info...

When contacted by SportsLine.com, Johnson sounded shocked and added he didn't know anything about such a move.

"I'm not even in town right now," he said. "I'm traveling. For what? What are they doing that for? What have I done?

"I didn't do anything. I haven't done anything, like I've always done, but play with passion when I step in between those white lines."

Phone calls to Rich McKay have not been returned.

Johnson has privately stated to friends it is his desire to play elsewhere next season. Earlier this season he battled with Gruden over his lack of balls thrown to him in the offense. He also gave Gruden a shot by boasting how far he has to go in order to be on the same level of Bill Parcells.

The two have had a rocky relationship since Gruden first came to Tampa a year ago. There were blowups on the sideline, recent rips by Johnson's agent of the coach and even an embarrassing moment on TV when he was caught belittling fellow Pro Bowl wideout Marvin Harrison.

You need to look harder.

ESPN says he's just deactivated, Keyshawn says he's released in the quote in the same article. I wonder which side is right:

"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."

Pats... ignore bbo..... Please....

I'm interested to see how this turns out, if they only deactivate johnson, then they still own him and he plays for no-one this year. if they release him altogether, then whoever is highest on the waiver wire gets first dibs. Something tells me Johnson crossed a line with gruden after the game sunday and Gruden decided that he'd had enough bullshit from a not so great reciever. Keyshawn has always been all talk and no walk. well, now you can walk KJ, walk your ass right out of the erna and sit your stupid shit on the curb for awhile.

did I mention that I seriously dislike KJ? =)

TEEHEE

Scott, I'd think Keyshawn's just equating this with being released...either that or the first news he heard of it was the initial, apparently incorrect, "he was released" line.

Still is kind of screwey...

setting the stage for his return to the Jets.

Is there anyone on the planet who would take Keyshawn over Marvin Harrison? And still the guy is dumb enough to mock Harrison on national TV. I bet Harrison is enjoying this breaking story.

Only if Tampa releases him and he will sign for the minimum. The Jets are going to take a hit from releasing Mo Lewis, plus they need to re-up Pennington and Abraham this year. Add in the fact that it is being reported as somewhat of a done deal that they get TO, and there is certainly no money for Me-shawn.

I think TO would be a bad signing for the Jets (speaking as fan of the team).

\

I'm a huge fan too. The TO 'in the bag thing' is likely wishful thinking. He's a head case, but unlike Moss, he always plays hard, and oh, so well.

Besides, if he can make a chump like Garcia look like an all-pro, he'll put Pennington in the HoF.

I'd like to know how that's considered a 'done deal' at this point.

If my jerks-go-to-the-jerk-magnet teams theory is right, TO will go to Oakland.

My theory has correctly predicted Galloway going to the Cowboys, Romanowski to the Raiders, and Leaf to the Cowboys in the past.

Of course, I don't know if the Raiders have the cap room for TO. I'm guessing they don't.

I think people are missing the difference between being deactivated and released. He's not going anywhere this year, other than home.

How about T.O. and Keyshawn replacing Rice and Brown in Oakland? Whew, that would make for some good hatin'!

In my Madden dynasty, I put Owens and Moss on the Raiders, and have a young Jeff George throwing to them. :)

What about joining his mouthy cousin (Chad) in Cinci. I would love Keyshawn, Chad, and Warrick. They all talk smack, but are pretty good receivers.

No.

If there is, they need to wear tin foil as a hat so we know who they are.

I wouldn't even describe Keyshawn as good. I would take Keenan McCardell over him any day of the week.

I just hope the Cowboys don't pick him up.

Apparently I completely missed the Keyshawn bashing Marvin Harrison episode.

What exactly happened there?

That, I could live with. Him and the "she" Glenn would make a nice duo... :)

FM

On MNF a week ago (or was it two), Meshawn was mic'd up and he kept on talking how better than Harrison he was and how HE was the cream of the crop in the year they both got drafted...

Something to that effect...

FM

No No and NO! In spite of Dillon's little outburst a few weeks ago, that team is tight. There is no room for Meshawn in that locker room. Besides, if Kelly Washington progresses this offseason, I'm not sure Leon would be an improvement. He is already not an improvement over Chad or P-Dub.

he was released after the first season in my FOF2004 career too and I though it was so unrealistic. ha ha

That cracks me up.

Haha, that was one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen.

To insult Marvin Harrison in such a way, and then Marvin was the reason that the Colts won that game. By catching multiple TD's and putting Keyshawn in his place.

= )

Keyshawn was Mic'd up, and Marvin caught 2 WR screen passes, for about 10 yards.

Keyshawns response was ... ."Yeah, that's how he gets all of his catches, and he's supposed to be the best WR in the NFL?"

Among a couple other comments I tried to forget.

I think before the game when he was miked up Keyshawn was talking about how he was going to teach Harrison a lesson in how it''s done in primetime, something to that effect.

keyshawn was talking shit about harrison not doing anything as the bucs built their huge lead. then harrison ended up catching 2 tds later in the game as the bucs scored 21 points in the last 5 minutes to beat the bucs (in ot). made keyshawn look very foolish for talking smack, and then getting out-performed and losing.

Now for the real question?
 

Will this finally lower his rating in Madden? ;)

You know those three might all be assholes, but really That combination would put up some MONSTER numbers.

Say what you like about Jeff George, and I say plenty, the fact of the matter is I think he threw the most beautiful pass in the history of Monday Night Football a few years back. He had the skills, just not the head.

The pass I am thinking of was a post route to Moss, I believe, right in the middle of three defenders. The ball was absolutely where it had to be, 40 plus yards down the field, and the ball never got more than 12 feet off the ground. It was a frozen rope, not like the jump balls Moss caught from Cunningham then, and Culpepper now.

This wouldn't even be news if he wasn't such a loud mouth. The guy is a 2nd tier receiver. He is NOT a star receiver. Good for the Bucs for waking up and realizing he's not worth the $$$.

Let me clear up some misunderstandings.

KJ is being deactivated. He's in the 4th year of a 7 year deal. Releasing him now would require next years cap hit to take the full brunt of 4 years of bonuses (which were huge). If they release him after the season, that is reduced to 3 years (still a big hit, but less obviously).

If KJ had a good attitude, wasn't a preMadonna, and was a team player (off the field and in practice) I would imagine people would look past his stats and see just how incredible of a WR he is.

He was never afraid to go across the middle. He is an incredible blocker who can take on LB's and has blocked multiple defenders in many 1st down and TD runs by the Bucs backfield over the years, has been soley responsable for our TE or FB or RB who goes out in the flat opposite KJ for being wideopen on many occassions.

This really sucks because he is an awesome football player, but if it's deteriorated that badly, I guess it's time for him to go. I remember that he had a hard time smiling after the Super Bowl, so maybe nothing will make him happy unless he is the man. But make no mistake, he is very passionate about being the man and will go to great lengths to be the man.

Like him or hate him, he's a damned fine talent that Buc fans will miss...

keyshawn johnson is a top 10-15 reciever in the game, easily

everything else said about him i agree with

Regardless of Keyshawn Johnson's character, if this move hurts the offense of the Buccaneers, it's a bad move. We have yet to see if that will be the case or not. I don't think it's time to start applauding Jon Gruden or Rich McKay yet.

I do. I think that any time a coach or GM shows enough spine to put one of these guys in their place, it can only help the sport.

I still haven't heard anything that Keyshawn did to be put in 'his place.' Sometimes coaches and players don't get along. But even you guys who hate him would have to admit tht he is one of the harder working players in the game.

And despite being known as a glory hound, his most notble skills are things that no one gets much credit for: blocking and running 'distraction' routes. Of course, he's not better thn Marvin Harrison. But whom do the Bucks have that is better. Who are they going to replace him with.

I'll reserve judgement until the whole story comes out. But unless he did something catastophic, this seems like a bad move by 4-6 team.

Perhaps Gruden using this to motivte the rest of the team.

It helps YOUR vision of what the sport is supposed to be, but does it help the Buccaneers win football games? If not, then it may be a good thing for some fans, but that doesn't do a damn thing for getting the Bucs another championship. I'm not saying if Keyshawn's deactivation is a good thing or not, because we haven't seen how it affects the team on the field yet. I'm simply saying that IF it hurts the team's offense, I don't know if that's worth the tradeoff of getting an asshole off the team.

Or has the NFL become a personality contest?

"Or has the NFL become a personality contest?"

Sometimes a player's personality can be very detrimental to the players around him.

It may hurt them short term, though chances are they'll be better off in the long run.

Well Pumpy, I think you're right about it being a loss, but I don't recall seeing McKay and Gruden high-fiving each other and laughing and carrying on about how they are definately going to win 6 games and go to the playoffs as the team to beat now.

They were unhappy campers and I think they know they lost a great talent. But again, if KJ alledgedly talking trash about management, the owners, the trainers, other players and not showing up to meetings and practices has reduced the morale of other players to the point where they are diming him out and are unhappy with him...I think the decision was easy.

The move was not made to make the team contenders, it was to remove a cancer that we, the fans, didn't really ever see.

...and frees up some base salary cap room to get Sapp resigned...

All points respectfully noted. I stress that I am not saying that this is either a good move or a bad move, as I don't think we've seen the full effects of it yet. This could turn out to be a great move. All I'm saying is that I don't know one way or the other yet.

The thing that sucks is that now I have to alter the player file AGAIN!!!

why in the world would they want to re-sign the other maniac? not to mention he's running on fumes at this point.

Unfortunately, I don't have the priveledge of looking at Sapp in the here and now. As a die-hard, I remember 1995 when he came to Tampa and was front and center in selling Tampa to free agents. For me to turn on Sapp or Brooks or Lynch because of an off year would be pretty fickle of me. Loyalty still means something and Sapp is a very big part of the reason why I can say the Bucs are a Super Bowl Champion right now.

Lets see, Michael Pittman is a convicted wife beater, I did forget him. Kenyetta Walker is a cheap shot artist, but I expect he'll be released after the season anyway.

Still, they have Brad Johnson, Joe J. (I'm not even going to attempt a spelling), John Lynch, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber who I highly admire both as players and people.

If they get rid of Sapp-head and K.J., there will be a lot more room for me to like them again.

TroyF

I don't even consider Michael Pittman a Buccaneer. He's a true mercenary....a RB for hire....if he stays or goes, I could care less.

:)

From Don Banks' article on cnnsi:

..."They lost a player who as recently as Monday morning put himself into final-straw territory by blowing off the team's mandatory day-after-the-game routine of weightlifting, running and meeting with his receivers coach. That despite Bucs head coach Jon Gruden repeatedly reminding his players of those duties amid the gloom of Sunday's losing locker room, after Tampa Bay's potentially season-killing game against Green Bay.

...

And they lost a veteran player who has been known to dog it at times during practices and walk-throughs, and give something less than his full undivided attention (feet propped up, head drooping) in team meetings. And that doesn't even address Johnson's disturbing penchant for lining up in the wrong spots during a game from time to time."

Don Banks doesn't mention that he doesn't work hard during the game, either!

ya know guys I think mosses trying when I want to days areover, he has tryed every game this season and has awesome stats thru the losing streak.... him and moe williams the only thing consistent on that team...culpepper 6 turnovers in one game...absolutely pathetic...that lost the game right there...

OK, let me ask you a question:

Do you want to win the Super Bowl again, or are you just happy watching the players who helped get you the first one fade into the night with BIG contracts? Should they make Brad Johnson the third or fourth highest paid QB in the game because of LAST season?

I understand Sapp helped turn the team around. That was when he was a dominating DT who sliced through opposing offensive lineman at will. In '97 through '00 Sapp was one of the most dominating DT in the game.

He isn't even close now. He's a fat, bloated, out of shape DT who is content to get some leftover sacks when Rice breaks down the pocket. He isn't even dominating vs. the run anymore. Late in a close game? Forget it, he isn't anywhere to be found in the fourth quarter.

The scary part of all of this is that this is a CONTRACT year. This is the time he should be playing his ass off to try to get one last big contract. What the heck does he do if the Bucs give it to him?

The Bucs have other holes to fill. They cannot make him one of the top 5 paid DT's in the game and still fill those other needs to get back to being playoff contenders.

Hell, I make my biggest mistakes in FOF trying to keep a players ghost. Savor Sapp's role in bringing TB up from the ashes. Don't make the mistake of thinking that player will help you get back to the promised land.

TroyF

Well, no, because then he'd be admitting that he is either ignorant or a liar or both. Say what you want about Meshawn but saying he doesn't work hard during the games is patently untrue. I've had the pleasure of watching every bucs game for the last few seasons ( not this one thank god ) and have a really good handle on what he brings to the games and it's not a slacker attitude.

Unfortunately for him, he's the only known receiver on a talent limited offense so his best work is as a decoy. One play last year is the perfect example of this. It was McCardell's 65 or so yard td pass reception. Both Keys were on the left side and KJ cut inside while McCardell went outside. There were three defenders in the area and all three converged on Johnson leaving McCardell an easy walk for six.

Of course, those who really know the game, you know, fans on bulletin boards not those who play or coach the game, know better and just know he's overrated and that he sucks but those idiots who draw up and execute game plans for a living are all deluded and feel he deserves the attention that he so undeservedly receives.

He's great in this role with this team but he wants to be something else. I'm so pissed right now. Pissed at him, pissed at the team, pissed at everybody involved but mostly at him.

Still, I'm not going to let that make me make ludicrous statements that can't be substantiated by

1. the observations and reactions of the professionals in the sport.

2. My own eyes over three seasons worth of Tampa games.

For the record, I didn't like him when he came to Tampa mainly because I'd never really seen him play and all I knew was about his attitude. He converted me into a lover of his game. It's sad that he could never overcome his attitude. :(

For the record, I missed when he was dominating against the run. What week was that again? He's always been soft vs the run but he was adequate enough considering he had Nickerson behind him and last year Quaryles. Look at how the defense vs the run slipped during the Duncan years between Nickerson and Quaryles for more proof.

One thing about Gruden is he does not allow cancers on his team. When he first came to Oakland he absolutely cleaned house of bad attitudes and brought in guys who were team players. It seems that is what he is doing here as well. Does it hurt them short term? Maybe, but they weren't exactly headed in the right direction either. If anything it puts out a notice to other players on the team that this kind of crap does not fly. In the long run this will help them immensely if only to let other FA WR know that there is now an opening for a #1 WR to come to TB and catch a lot of passes.

Not True! It was his girl friend.

I used to hate Pittman when he played at Fresno State. I was absolutely certain he would never catch on in the NFL. I am lucky I didn't bet on it, because I was absolutely certain he wouldn't finish his first training camp. My biggest beef was that he would stand still in the backfield, hopping from foot to foot, while he waited for the hole to open. The funny thing is that during the game this Sunday the announcer said the biggest problem he has, according to coaches, is that he hits the hole too soon. They say he is always at the point of attack too early.

I am pretty sure that Keyshawn will cost more against the Bucs cap for 2004 this way than if he had played for them that season.

Troy that's two questions, and a lot of making up your own assumptions about what I mean about fan loyalty, btw.

1. No, I don't want to win another Super Bowl and I think we should resign Lee Roy Selmon and Doug Williams for all they did for our organization....and fat contracts at that! :rolleyes:

2. Should Brad be paid for what he has proven to be capable of doing? Why not! I guess you would handle it how?

Perhaps like this,

Before the Super Bowl
"Well, Brad, we can't pay you as a Super Bowl winning calibre QB, becuase, well, you just haven't proved it yet....hehe."

After Super Bowl
"Well Brad, it's great that you won the Super Bowl, but you're getting kind of old now, so we figured we would pay you a salary closer to a veteran journey quarterback...but if you happen to win the Super Bowl again, come back and see us!.....hehe."

Problem is though, is that you wouldn't be saying this to top tiered players, but to Vinny Testeverde, Michael Pittman, and Darnay Scott...and not winning many Super Bowls! :)

Add Keyshawn with Moss? That'd be a double waste. Culpepper would still drop dink passes to his back or run with the ball.

Keyshawn is not the reason they are 4-6. If they are 6-4 does Keyshawn get sent down? Of course not. It's just an old gimmick used by Gruden to keep fingers from being pointed at him. Keyshawn just provided a nice target because he is outspoken too much for his own good and apparently it worked just fine.

Gruden even said he wasn't the reason the team is 4-6. You did know that right? I mean, McKay and Gruden said that on more than one occassion, I think it was during the press conferences, actually.

If you put up with it when you win, then you put up with it when you lose.

When you are winning you maintain status quo. When you are losing, changes need to be made.

Were you saying that about management, the coach, the other players who were complaining, the fans, or to KJ himself? ;)

So why that change? There are a dozen other things that they could've done. Again, I am not saying that they made the wrong move. I'm saying that if this is truly not about winning and losing, then this change could've been made anytime. As much as Gruden and McKay are trying to say the right things, they really come off as making Keyshawn look like a scapegoat here. Keyshawn's a big boy. He can handle it, and he'll obviously catch on with somebody next season. I'm not defending him. The timing of all of this just contradicts what Gruden and McKay are saying.

after watching the live interview on espn this morning all I can say is good riddence, I hope nobody touches this self centered asshole next year. perhaps going into free agency or trade talks and getting no offers will wake his idiotic self up.

KJ is all about the talk, I've watched him play, I've seen his skills, and quite frankly, I'd have cut his ass years ago for the BS he puts out.

What a complete loser this guy has turned into.

Its all about Meshawn, excuses for everything including the kitchen sink, its all on the management, He doesn't know anything about nothing, but he's just fine with it all.

If he's just fine with the situation then that ought to tell us all what his real problem is. He's not about the team, period.

Good riddence to ignorant rubbish.