Keyshawn Not Interested in Green Bay

[motife]

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=6489230

The Green Bay Packers' seemingly tepid interest in free agent receiver Keyshawn Johnson will apparently be rebuked.

According to a Sports Illustrated report, Johnson has narrowed his choices to the Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, or retirement, which also means a career in TV.

The report also says Johnson is reluctant to play in Green Bay, and if the money is not right he will walk away from the game.

Johnson, 34, has averaged 70 catches the last three seasons. He thinks he can play two or three more seasons -- but apparently not in Green Bay.

[MJZiggy]

Although I'm not happy about a player saying he doesn't want to play in GB, I'm glad he didn't string the fans along for weeks while they got all excited only to be let down when it didn't happen. That said, screw him.

[wist43]

He's a knob... always has been.

[Bretsky]

no need to take on an aging Keyshawn Johnson when we have to figure out if these young inexperienced guys are NFL Europe or NFL talent

[Patler]

I don't particularly want either one of them, but what I don't understand is why so many fans wanted Moss so badly and are opposed to Johnson. Johnson has far outperformed Moss the last three seasons and has the type of big receiver, over the middle skills that are not likely to disappear over night. He is outspoken and brash, but I don't believe has ever quit on his team as Moss has.

As I said, I don't particularly want either one of them, but if I had to take one of them I think I would prefer Johnson over Moss at this stage of their careers.

I don't get excited over any player, but I am real interested in seeing how the two rookies pan out at WR. Each brings something the Packers haven't had in a while. Jones might be a more physical receiver than anyone the Packers have had for a long time. (For all the Walker fans, yes he is big and strong, and physical downfield, but he also is reluctant over the short middle of the field.) Hopefully, Clowney will provide the speed that has been missing for a very long time in the WR group. I hope each in different ways will open things up for Driver and Jennings. If they do, it could change the dynamics of the passing game a lot.

[Bretsky]

Moss is a much more talented player at this point in his career. Better speed, better red zone target. Just a better player. Stats don't matter much on this one; give Keyshawn the Raiders QB and his would be nasty too.

My level of expectations have changed since the Moss and draft went down so no need to bring in vets; load this group up with young guys and see if any of them are players.

[Kiwon]

No biggie, but let's see what offers he receives from other teams. The Packers might start looking better to him if the others fizzle. He's not ready to retire.

[Cheesehead4]

Keyshawn would be a solid red-zone/possession target with a skecthy TE situation, but not for more than $2-3 million/year. He's a Band-Aid at best, and not worth getting too hot about.

I find it interesting, however, that he prefers Oakland or Tennessee. Oakland (close to home?) or Tennessee (Fishers and Chow USC connection?).

At this point in his career, comfort is probably a high priority... probably doesn't feel that in Green Bay.

[Patler]

Moss is a much more talented player at this point in his career. Better speed, better red zone target. Just a better player. Stats don't matter much on this one; give Keyshawn the Raiders QB and his would be nasty too.

I disagree. Keyshawn Johnson is not much less talented than he ever was. He was never fast, and probably hasn't slowed that much. I believe Randy Moss is only a shadow of his former self. I believe his skills have deteriorated, and consequently the difference in talent between the two has decreased.

Keyshawn Johnson remains what he always was, a possession type receiver. I doubt that Randy Moss can return to the game breaker that he was. He may occassionally make a play, and is going to a team where he will be the best he can possibly be, but id don't think he is capable of dominating games as he did when he was younger.

[Bretsky]

Moss is a much more talented player at this point in his career. Better speed, better red zone target. Just a better player. Stats don't matter much on this one; give Keyshawn the Raiders QB and his would be nasty too.

I disagree. Keyshawn Johnson is not much less talented than he ever was. He was never fast, and probably hasn't slowed that much. I believe Randy Moss is only a shadow of his former self. I believe his skills have deteriorated, and consequently the difference in talent between the two has decreased.

Keyshawn Johnson remains what he always was, a possession type receiver. I doubt that Randy Moss can return to the game breaker that he was. He may occassionally make a play, and is going to a team where he will be the best he can possibly be, but id don't think he is capable of dominating games as he did when he was younger.

I won't argue with any of this, but still feel Moss is the better talent. IMO Moss would be one of our big 3. KJ would definitely be the #3.

As it stands we have two starting calibur WR's and a bunch of potentials. Hopefully a few of them develop.

[BooHoo]

Let him play for someone else then. Also, I don't think he is a very good announcer so his media days might be numbered.

[Patler]

Truth be told, there are probably a lot of players that would prefer not to play in Green Bay, probably even some current Packers. Small town, rural Green Bay is not for everyone, and I suspect that among the professional athlete personality types there is a somewhat lower percentage who find it an attractive life style than in the population as a whole. There are some FAs that Green Bay will be attractive to ONLY if they look at it as a chance to win a Super Bowl, as it was 5 to 10 years ago. Now they do not see it as that.

Big and emerging businesses in small towns can have similar problems in attracting top level executives. Not everyone wants to go there. You have to fine the right fit, like a Brett Favre.

I have often wonder if Favre would have been as happy playing football in New York, Chicago or another major metropolitan area as he has been in Green Bay. I doubt it. Too far to go to go hunting!

[BooHoo]

Yes, we are not the big draw that we were 10 years back. People like a winning team.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Good.

[ahaha]

I don't particularly want either one of them, but what I don't understand is why so many fans wanted Moss so badly and are opposed to Johnson.

Because Keshawn was never the game-changing receiver that Moss was. And, there's reason to think he might still have those skills, if you believe the reports of him running the 40 recently in the 4.3 range.
And, as someone mentioned, the comparison of stats for the last couple years isn't fair. The Raiders had terrible QB play combined with an embarrasing o-line. How could any receiver have a good season when the quarterback stinks and his offensive line is allowing him to be sacked over 70 times? Or how about an offensive coordinator who hadn't been in the league in over a decade? Things change in the NFL, and this guy was totally lost.