Future questioned

As he fades from offense, Keyshawn Johnson says he'll reassess future after season.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 12, 2002

[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] Keyshawn Johnson leads the Bucs in receptions and yards, but he has averaged only three catches over the past three games and had two for 25 yards Sunday against Atlanta.

TAMPA -- Keyshawn Johnson pulled up to a drive-through for some takeout chicken late Wednesday, ordering two legs, two thighs and a large side of potatoes and gravy.

"I don't feel like any white meat," Johnson said between orders. "Right now, I need some grease."

Johnson could use the extra calories. He has lost about 10 pounds the past few weeks, in part due to the stress of his recent filing for divorce from his wife of four years.

But a bigger concern than losing weight is how he has been disappearing from the Bucs offense the past three weeks, averaging three catches.

While Joe Jurevicius and Keenan McCardell were catching two touchdowns each in Sunday's 34-10 win over Atlanta, Johnson had two receptions for 25 yards.

Johnson has not complained and is happy the Bucs seem headed toward a possible Super Bowl appearance. But his sporadic use this season by coach Jon Gruden has prompted him to question his future with the team.

"I'll reassess this thing after the season," Johnson said. "I'll look at it and see if it's for me. If I don't think it's for me, I'll let them know it's not for me. Right now, I'm happy we're winning and we have a chance to go to the Super Bowl."

It has been an emotionally draining time for Johnson, who filed for divorce Dec. 3 from the former Shikiri Hightower. He missed practice two days later to spend time with daughter Maia, 6, and son Keyshawn Jr., 4, while the team prepared for an NFC South showdown with the Falcons.

Bucs officials suspect Johnson has been affected by his off-field problems and are concerned about his weight loss.

"We know it's not easy on him," Gruden said. "For us to do what we did, really without him, says a lot about these guys. ... But we need to help him and hope that this is a temporary situation."

Johnson says suggesting he is not catching more passes because of off-field matters is an excuse.

"If anybody thinks the reason I'm not touching the football a number of times (is) because I'm getting a divorce, than I guess I have been getting a divorce all year long," Johnson said. "I guess I was getting a divorce in Carolina because I caught two balls. Am I having a problem because I got three balls thrown to me?"

Johnson had four passes thrown his way against Atlanta.

His plea to have more passes thrown his direction is hardly news. But instead of being more of a focus in Gruden's pass-happy offense, he has lingered around the middle of the NFL with 57 catches for 825 yards and four TDs.

When he has been the focus, the offense generally has produced. With McCardell and Jurevicius out with injuries, he caught nine passes for 133 yards and two TDs in a 38-24 win over Minnesota.

"You know the offense looks different when I'm getting the ball," he said. "But I'm not going up and say I need the ball because we're winning. We're 10-3. If (Gruden) feels we can go to the Super Bowl and win it, without me being heavily involved, I believe in it.

The numbers Johnson is quick to rattle off support his claim that he can produce in almost any system. In seven seasons, he has had six offensive coordinators, four head coaches and 12 quarterbacks.

The Bucs gave up two No. 1 draft picks to get him, and he is in the third season of an eight-year, $56-million deal, making his departure next year unlikely. But a $3-million roster bonus due after the season could lead to discussions about restructuring or release. The latter seems unlikely as Johnson would count $7.5-million against the cap if he's not with the team.

"I'm going to play football and be good wherever I play," Johnson said. "I'll see at the end of the season. You never know what happens in this game. I thought I'd be in New York the rest of my career, I think I'll be in Tampa the rest of my career, but I'll look at it at the end of the season and see where it goes from there.

"I hear rumors I'm going back to New York to the Giants. All I can do is wait and see what it is and play like I'm playing. But when you start hearing rumors in New York he could be gone, where there's smoke there could be fire."

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