Don't give him a microphone

The Bucs' Keyshawn Johnson says he won't talk to the media during his final three seasons.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 25, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- Keyshawn Johnson will play only three more seasons, and he will not talk to the media until he's done.

Not even after Sunday's game.

Johnson said his experience of answering questions for four days here convinced him to go the way of "Sterling Sharpe, Steve Carlton and Duane Thomas."

Johnson made his declaration in the Damn Diary on Friday, his daily Super Bowl journal on ESPN.com.

"I can't talk to the media anymore," Johnson said Friday. "I'm going to deal with them like they deal with me. I'm going to be finicky. Maybe one minute I'll talk to you and then the next minute I won't talk to you. Like the media, I won't be able to make up my mind."

Johnson said he was irritated that reporters covering the Super Bowl solicited answers to questions then accused him of being self-centered by his reponses.

"I'm self-serving when you are the one who is asking me a question," Johnson said. "When we don't talk, we're disgruntled. When we talk about ourselves, we're seeking attention. You can't have it both ways."

Johnson left the locker room after the Bucs' 31-6 victory against San Francisco Jan. 12 in the NFC divisional playoff game without talking to reporters. He said he will do the same Sunday.

Johnson, however, appeared on the Best Damn Sports Show Period on Fox Sports Net on Friday afternoon. "I promised Michael Irvin," he said.

Johnson has long said he wants to play only 10 seasons in the NFL. He has three years left on his contract.

Can Johnson really go silent for the rest of his career?

"Keyshawn and the media are as one," Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice said.