Bucs/NFL

Keyshawn's big return

Former Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson scores twice and makes an impression on Jon Gruden.

By RICK STROUD
Published September 25, 2006

TAMPA - Keyshawn Johnson met Bucs coach Jon Gruden at the middle of the field after the Panthers' 26-24 win over Tampa Bay.

Johnson, who had scored touchdowns on a 31-yard reception and a 4-yard run, extended his hand as Gruden shouted in his ear.

"He said, 'I'm proud of you, man,' " Johnson said of Gruden. " 'You came back in here and kicked my a--.' Then you know what else he said after that? 'I love you, man.' "

As Johnson walked through the tunnel to the locker room at Raymond James Stadium, a fan poured a cup of beer over his head.

And that pretty much sums up the love-hate relationship between the Bucs and Johnson.

The 34-year-old receiver finished with seven catches for 97 yards, falling one shy of the career 10,000-yard plateau. He was helped by the return of Steve Smith, who led the Panthers with seven catches for 112 yards.

All week, Johnson had downplayed his return to Tampa Bay for the first time since being deactivated by the Bucs for the final six games of the 2003 season.

But he didn't waste any time making his point to Gruden - and putting points on the scoreboard.

Johnson scored on a 31-yard pass from Jake Delhomme on the Panthers' first play from scrimmage. He also scored on a 4-yard reverse run in the second quarter to give Carolina a 17-0 lead.

It was the third rushing touchdown of Johnson's career.

After the first touchdown, Johnson handed the ball to a Panthers fan in the south end zone. After his second score, he slowly rubbed the banner of B.K.'s Kids, a charitable organization belonging to former USC and Bucs teammate Brian Kelly.

Gruden was asked if he felt the Bucs were motivated by Johnson's celebrations.

"Oh, for crying out loud, no," Gruden said. "That's who he is, man. He's a great performer.

"He's a showman, okay? He made a nice play early in the game. He ran a corner and we had a two-deep zone. He's just a great football player. Our players understand him very well, I think. Don't you?"

Johnson downplayed his feud with Gruden and his return to Tampa Bay, which became a sidebar to the struggle of two winless teams in the NFC South.

"To win this football game was really the most important thing right now," Johnson said. "Outside of that, all the other stuff is really for Internet chatting and people that want to write on the Internet, newspapers and televisions. That's really what it is. My focus is to win football games."

Despite playing nearly four seasons in Tampa Bay and winning a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs, Johnson said he was not nostalgic.

"No. We went and ate last night, me and my friends. For me, it was just another team and trying to get a win," Johnson said.

"I didn't come here at 3 o'clock in the morning and turn on the lights and sit in the stadium. It wasn't like that. I didn't drive by One Buc and say, 'Wow, I used to be in the building.' "

[Last modified September 25, 2006, 00:06:46]