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Team looks into Keyshawn
Reports say Packers interested in receiver
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: May 3, 2007
The Green Bay Packers are one of the teams that has some interest in recently released Carolina Panthers receiver Keyshawn Johnson, but whether they're willing to make a stronger play for him than they did Randy Moss remains to be seen.
According to an NFL source with strong connections to Johnson, the Packers are doing their homework on the 11-year veteran and are considering whether he would be a good fit for their team.
"I think their interest is legitimate," the source said.
Johnson, 34, was released by the Panthers Monday, after spending the weekend as an ESPN draft analyst, at one point lauding Carolina for its decision to draft Southern California receiver Dwayne Jarrett, whose selection made it possible for Johnson's release. In his only season with the Panthers, Johnson caught 70 passes for 815 yards and four touchdowns, serving as the team's No. 3 receiver.
Johnson's agent, Jerome Stanley, did not return a phone message, but two sources said they thought Johnson would receive a considerable amount of interest around the National Football League despite his age. Johnson played hard for the Panthers, has never been a speed burner so there's no concern he's going to lose it all at once and continues to be productive.
Stanley told ESPN Wednesday that "several teams have expressed interest in Johnson and that he does have offers." However, he declined to identify any of the teams.
Among the teams Johnson and his agent are thought to be concentrating on are the Packers, Seattle, the New York Giants, San Francisco, Tennessee and the New York Jets. Johnson entered the NFL as the No. 1 overall pick of the Jets in 1996, was traded to Tampa Bay for two first-round picks in 2000 and played four years in Tampa Bay, two in Dallas and one in Carolina.
The 6-foot-4, 211-pound Johnson could provide a big boost for the Packers' sorry red zone offense because he's good running across the middle and he's physical enough to win jump balls in the end zone. In 11 seasons, he has 64 touchdowns, including 16 in the last three seasons. He has caught at least 70 passes in each of those campaigns.
More than likely, the Packers are throwing their hat in the ring to find out whether the outspoken Johnson would be a good fit for a team with a young receiving corps. The Packers added two receivers - San Jose State's James Jones and Virginia Tech's David Clowney - in the draft and are eager to give them, as well as youngsters Greg Jennings, Ruvell Martin, Carlyle Holiday and Shaun Bodiford, a chance to prove themselves.
They remain high on the receiver group despite the fact only veteran Donald Driver has been shown himself to be a reliable starter. Adding Johnson wouldn't have the impact a rejuvenated Moss would, but he comes with less baggage and could help the Packers in their quest to get into the end zone more often.
"He'll work hard on Sunday," the source said. "He doesn't have a lot of speed or quickness, but he's big going over the middle. When you don't have a tight end, he's basically your tight end."
Scouts say Johnson isn't much into practicing and requires some special treatment from the coaching staff, but his only real down side in the locker room is that he likes to talk a lot, especially to reporters. He had a well-documented dispute with Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden that resulted in him being deactivated for six games in '03 and then released, but most of his antics are harmless.
"If there's an older guy at quarterback who can tell him to shut up in the huddle, then he'll be fine," said a scout who has studied Johnson.
It's unclear how high the market for Johnson will go, but it's likely he'll get between $1 million and $2 million for this season, which is not an exorbitant price for a 70-catch receiver. If the Packers are serious, they'll probably have to be the high bidder because Johnson has two children in Los Angeles and would prefer to be close to them, the source said.
Bring it on: Kicker Dave Rayner was vacationing in the Dominican Republic when the Packers selected Colorado kicker Mason Crosby in the sixth round.
When contacted about the move, Rayner said, "Oh, OK."
"That was about it," said the kicker's agent, Paul Sheehy. "I know a lot of people think it's a big issue, but in my experience competition makes everybody better. Dave is not afraid of competition."
Crosby is known to have the strongest leg of any kicker coming out of college this year, but suffered a subpar senior season and was drafted lower than where most people expected him to go. Rayner and Crosby are similar in that they both have strong legs and excel at kickoffs. Both need to be more consistent on field goals.
"It's not like they picked a guy on the first day," Sheehy said. "I live in Colorado and got a chance to see Crosby and he is a great kicker. It's not surprising they took him there. It was a value pick. All teams do that."
That would be just fine. Can I pitch in for Fergy bus out of town?
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