Fresh off a nine-catch, 111-yard performance in his first game with the Cowboys, receiver Keyshawn Johnson fired a few profanity laced parting shots at his former Bucs coach and teammates.
In an interview with Jeffri Chadiha for Sports Illustrated's Web site, Johnson criticized Jon Gruden, Warren Sapp and Ronde Barber, calling Barber an "Uncle Tom" for his comments in support of Gruden's move to deactivate Johnson for the final six games of 2003.
At the time, Barber called it "a necessary decision."
"Ronde Barber is an Uncle Tom," Johnson told SI.com. "They'll cut him one day like they do everybody else, but he's trying to be political and kiss Gruden's butt."
Johnson added that he and Barber "will have words" when next they meet.
Johnson and Barber are African American.
Barber stood by his words Tuesday night during his weekly radio show on WDAE-AM 620.
"I call it how I see it," said Barber, in his seventh season with the Bucs. "You see something that's not right and you get asked a question about it. I'm not scared to answer it. ... It's a filthy feeling when you have somebody in your locker room, whether it's the last guy on the roster or your No. 1 wide receiver, who doesn't act like he wants to be there. Attitude to me is everything.
"Him calling me an Uncle Tom, I don't know what that means. I'm definitely not a slave. I'm not cozying up to my head coach like he's my master. Jon is my coach. I respect him as the leader of my football team. I support his decisions because he's the guy leading me to where I want to go."
Johnson, who is reunited with coach Bill Parcells in Dallas, called Gruden "two-faced."
"He had the nerve to ask me once why I didn't like him," Johnson said. "I said, "Come on ... You know why I don't like you.' This is the same guy who dogged Tim Brown in meetings all last year and then went out and signed him."
Johnson criticized Sapp, now with the Raiders, for preseason comments that Johnson seemed happy about his deactivation.
"Why is he still worried about me, especially when he knows his fat a-- would've taken the same kind of money if he'd been deactivated, too?" Johnson said.
Gruden declined comment to the Web site.
Johnson admitted some regret for the situation with Gruden, such as putting his Tampa house on the market in September and telling Gruden he wasn't a genius.
"But he's not the sugar plum in this situation, either," Johnson said.
BUSY BARBER: Barber called from an airport to participate in his radio show. The cornerback was in New York City for about 24 hours to promote the children's book he co-authored with twin brother Tiki, a running back for the Giants.
The book, By My Brother's Side, published Sept. 1.
The Barbers attended a Verizon Literacy Champions cocktail party Monday night. They were up early Tuesday to appear on television shows Cold Pizza, Good Morning America and Fox and Friends.
They also did local and national radio interviews and had two book signings, at Barnes & Noble and Champs Sports.
"It's been a whirlwind," he said.
CLAYTON A CANDIDATE: Receiver Michael Clayton, who caught a team-high seven passes for 53 yards in Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Redskins, is up for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors.
Others on the list are Seahawks S Michael Boulware, Jets S Erik Coleman, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and Jaguars WR Ernest Wilford. Clayton's seven catches led all rookie receivers.
