Keyshawn may soon be a Giant
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 BY MIKE GARAFOLO
Star-Ledger Staff
Could Keyshawn Johnson have a return engagement on Broadway? Perhaps.
Johnson, who was the first pick of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Jets and spent his first four seasons with the club, is scheduled to fly into the area this morning and visit with the Giants, according to a close friend and former teammate with knowledge of the talks between Johnson and the Giants.
The friend said the Giants are expected to make a strong bid to sign Johnson and may strike a deal as early as this week. Johnson is said to be excited about the opportunity to return to the New York area, a place he never wanted to leave.
"If the numbers are right, he could sign with the Giants (today)," the friend said. "Keyshawn thinks the Giants have a really good team and could contend for the Super Bowl. Besides, he loves the New York stage."
Johnson, 33, was released by the Cowboys last week when the club decided not to exercise a $1 million roster bonus and instead sign Terrell Owens. He was due to earn a $1.5 million base salary in addition to the bonus but made it clear he wanted more money and a multiyear deal.
Carolina, Seattle, Philadelphia, New England, Kansas City and Dallas, which would like to re-sign Johnson, also have shown interest.
Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi refused comment.
In an interview with SI.com last week, Johnson suggested the Giants and Seahawks were among his top targets.
No matter who signs him, Johnson made it clear last week he's not looking to take a pay cut.
"I know exactly what I'm worth, and it's not $2.5 million a year," he told SI.com. "I know what I bring to a team, and if somebody comes calling who is willing to compensate me accordingly, I'm available."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said recently that Johnson was one of the "top five competitors to ever put on a Cowboys uniform."
Johnson, entering his 11th season, is still a big-time player and could provide several intangibles to the Giants, against whom he caught eight passes for 120 yards in a Cowboys victory last October. Last season, he had 71 receptions for 839 yards (11.8-yard average) and six touchdowns. He commanded double teams, which opened up the field for teammate Terry Glenn, and remains one of the top blocking wide receivers in the league.
Furthermore, Johnson is still a clutch performer and is fearless going across the middle. He had 25 receptions for 256 yards and two touchdowns on third down, tied for sixth in the NFC.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who is close to Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, is believed to think Johnson is the kind of clutch player the Giants lack. Receiver Plaxico Burress, who was added as a free agent last year, started well but had only one 100-yard game in the final five weeks of the regular season. Burress also dropped a touchdown on the first offensive play of a Christmas Eve loss to the Commanders and was held without a catch in the team's shutout defeat to the Panthers in the playoffs.
Coughlin, who is close to Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, is said to be convinced Johnson can still play at a high level and does the little things to help a team win. He would provide solid blocking for running back Tiki Barber and the attention he would command in the passing game would create even more space for tight end Jeremy Shockey, Burress and 11-year veteran receiver Amani Toomer.
It's unclear exactly how much money Johnson is looking for, but he is said to want a multiyear deal, according to the friend. Thirty-something veterans such as Kevin Mawae ($4 million), Willie McGinest ($6 million) and Isaac Bruce ($6 million) have all done well on the free agent market this off-season. Johnson has earned $8 million over the past two seasons.
Despite his age, Johnson, a three-time Pro Bowler, remains productive. He's not far off his best season with the Jets, when he had 89 catches for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns in 1999, his final season with the club.
Since leaving the Jets, Johnson, who has also played with the Bucs, has won a Super Bowl, had a 100-catch season and gone to the Pro Bowl. Throughout his career, he has made the receivers playing opposite him better, including Wayne Chrebet, Keenan McCardell and Glenn. He has caught a pass in 151 consecutive games, second to only the Colts Marvin Harrison.
