Keyshawn takes beefs with media to Rome

TAMPA -- Every little advantage will help the Bucs this week, so it's no surprise receiver Keyshawn Johnson went after some "jungle karma" on his day off by calling in from Orlando for an interview on the nationally syndicated Jim Rome Show, heard locally on WDAE-AM 620.

Johnson didn't speak to the media after Sunday's win, telling reporters to get quotes from 49ers star Terrell Owens, who got much of the spotlight last week. He took the 15-minute interview Tuesday as an opportunity to clear the air about misconceptions, including those about his happiness.

"I decided to share my happiness with my family (Sunday), and now, all the sudden, I'm not happy," Johnson said. "It's ridiculous. It's so ridiculous it's unbelievable. ... How can you not be happy when you're 13-4 and playing 60 minutes to go an hour and a half from your hometown for the Super Bowl?"

One thing Johnson wouldn't be happy with is a loss Sunday at Philadelphia, as he reiterated that a championship ring is the only thing missing from his resume.

"The ring is the most important thing. It puts me over the top," Johnson said. "I'll have huge numbers. I'll have 1,000 catches, I'll have 10,000 yards. I'll have close to 100 touchdowns. I'll have what they call Hall of Fame numbers. I'm on pace to do all that, but the one thing besides that is the ring. I think the time is right now."

He didn't seem particularly happy with criticism from what he called "amateur, average players turned analysts" who have questioned his play this season.

"(They) talk about what's going to happen to us in Philadelphia, how our wide receivers can't get separation and speed and all this," Johnson said. "It's all the guys that are in TV, especially the ones that don't have rings. ... We were laughing, listening to those guys on ESPN, average guys who have television jobs. They were journeymen when they played, and they get an opportunity to pop off."

Other Keyshawn morsels:

On the Bucs being 1-21 under 40 degrees: "I didn't play in those 21 games, or 19 of those games. History, yeah, that's all fine and dandy, but the bottom line is none of those games is the NFC Championship Game. None had as much riding on it as this game. If you're sitting around, worrying about the cold, stay at home."

On his numbers against the 49ers defense: "I could have torched them for 200 yards if we hadn't put up 31 points on them. That's realistic. It's not as frustrating as most people would want it to be."

On people criticizing his production: "It's always going to be that way. As long as I'm playing professional sports, people are always going to try to find the negative, more so than the positive. I'm never going to be any good, I'm never going to be this. Okay, buddy, whatever."

What about great receivers such as Owens, Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss? "To be honest, I don't consider any of them great. I consider them good. Who do I consider great? Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin. Two hundred yards and you get your nose kicked in isn't great to me. There's value in receivers like Keyshawn Johnson. You can't hide it, one way or another."

Is Tim Brown a great receiver? "He has Hall of Fame numbers. He'll wind up being a great receiver, but he'll be Andre Reed at the end of the day if he doesn't get a ring. I don't want you talking to me in 10 years, talking to me about 'How does it feel not to have a ring?' I don't want to be Ernie Banks. Oh, poor Ernie. I'm not trying to be that guy."

The karma may only last so long for Keyshawn, as Eagles coach Andy Reid is scheduled to join Rome on the air for today's show.

HOLDING ON: Tampa Bay tied for the NFL lead in turnover margin this season, forcing 17 more than they gave up, and with Philadelphia close behind in fourth at plus-14, it's a telling statistic as to why both teams are still alive.

The teams lost one fumble and threw one interception in their regular-season meeting in October, but quarterback Brad Johnson said winning the turnover battle Sunday is crucial to standing up to an opportunistic Eagles defense.

"Ball security is job security," said Johnson, whose last pass against Philadelphia was intercepted by ex-Buc Al Harris, leading to the Eagles' final touchdown in their 20-10 win. "The biggest thing for me is to get the ball out of my hands, throw the ball away if I have to, be ready to punt and avoid turnovers. Last time, we had a turnover at the beginning of the game, gave them three points, and that's what we cannot do."

Fullback Mike Alstott fumbled on the Bucs' second offensive play, leading to an Eagles field goal, but Philadelphia returned the favor as Donovan McNabb lost a fumble that Derrick Brooks returned 12 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.

Johnson pointed to Saturday's Eagles-Falcons game as proof that you can hang with Philadelphia simply by keeping its defense off the scoreboard. Cornerback Bobby Taylor's 42-yard return after intercepting a Michael Vick pass was Philadelphia's only touchdown until midway through the fourth quarter.

"What really cost Atlanta the other night was the interception," Johnson said. "The biggest play in that game was the turnover."