PFT: Meshawn did not receive $3m bonus

[WoodysGirl]

We've been trying to figure out why the Panthers would release receiver Keyshawn Johnson only a month after paying him a $3 million roster bonus. We finally know the reason.

They never paid it to him.

Pat Yasinskas of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers did not -- contrary to a report from ABC 12 and possibly -- pay Johnson a $3 millon roster bonus on April 1.

As to the reason for the move, Yasinskas writes: "Some very important people in the organization weren't happy when Johnson failed to stand up and take blame from quarterback Jake Delhomme after some critical passes intended for Johnson were intercepted. At least one very important person in the organization urged Johnson to do that and he didn't."

Yasinskas also says that the decision was made a couple of weeks ago, and that the team waited until after the draft to make the move.

 

[peplaw06]

I thought the roster bonus was automatic if the guy was on the roster at the designated date...? Unless they actually cut him before April 1, he should be entitled to that. They said the decision was made weeks ago, but was he actually on the roster April 1?

Them holding this information is bush league IMO. Was it just so no one would know they were looking for a WR? That's not the right way to treat a guy.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I thought the roster bonus was automatic if the guy was on the roster at the designated date...? Unless they actually cut him before April 1, he should be entitled to that. They said the decision was made weeks ago, but was he actually on the roster April 1?

Them holding this information is bush league IMO. Was it just so no one would know they were looking for a WR? That's not the right way to treat a guy.

Well it's kinda similar to the situation with McNair last year. They owed him a $50m bonus of some kind and they didn't pay it. Just simply let the deadline pass. I think it's up to the player and the NFLPA to file a grievance to get the payment.

Maybe Keyshawn knew something and that's why he waited to file a grievance.

 

[iceberg]

We've been trying to figure out why the Panthers would release receiver Keyshawn Johnson only a month after paying him a $3 million roster bonus. We finally know the reason.

They never paid it to him.

Pat Yasinskas of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers did not -- contrary to a report from ABC 12 and possibly -- pay Johnson a $3 millon roster bonus on April 1.

As to the reason for the move, Yasinskas writes: "Some very important people in the organization weren't happy when Johnson failed to stand up and take blame from quarterback Jake Delhomme after some critical passes intended for Johnson were intercepted. At least one very important person in the organization urged Johnson to do that and he didn't."

Yasinskas also says that the decision was made a couple of weeks ago, and that the team waited until after the draft to make the move.

was the INT his fault? if not, why should he? be honest and go fix mistakes. lie and you're forever fixing a lie.

 

[Stash]

I'd like to see a reason why they didn't pay him. This 'report' gives nothing, so why should I believe it?

It's not like it was optional.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I'd like to see a reason why they didn't pay him. This 'report' gives nothing, so why should I believe it?

It's not like it was optional.

They linked to this Charlotte Observer blog, but I didn't activate the link in the first post, but here are some entries...

About Inside the Panthers

Email Pat Yasinskas

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

No $3 million bonus for Johnson
Let's clear up a little matter here before it gets too wide-spread: The Panthers DID NOT pay Keyshawn Johnson a $3 million roster bonus on April 1, as has been reported elsewhere and has fans scratching their heads.

The Panthers did pay Johnson $1 million April 1. But that was deferred money from the signing bonus he agreed to when he initially signed with the Panthers. Johnson also was due a $1 million reporting bonus at the start of training camp. Obviously, he won't get that money and it won't count against the salary cap.

Why Panthers canned Keyshawn

Here's why Keyshawn Johnson is gone:

Although the receiver, who was followed by controversy in his previous stops, seemed to be a model citizen in his one season with the Panthers, there were some-behind the scenes issues.

Some very important people in the organization weren't happy when Johnson failed to stand up and take blame away from quarterback Jake Delhomme after some critical passes intended for Johnson were intercepted. At least one very important person in the organization urged Johnson to do that and he didn't.

Johnson also didn't endear himself to some key people by questioning some coaching moves. The Panthers are on the hook for $3.75 million in salary cap space because of remaining signing bonus prorations. They may designate Johnson as a June 1 cut and spread the cap hit over two years.

The decision to part ways with Johnson actually was made at least several weeks ago. When a rumor was circulating about this move last week, Panthers general manager Marty Hurney told The Observer that information was "not accurate.''

Apparently, the Panthers wanted to make sure their bases were covered before officially making the move, and the clincher came when they drafted USC's Dwayne Jarrett in the second round Saturday.

Keyshawn still draws interest
Keyshawn Johnson might have to put his television career on hold. Word is there might be a pretty good market for him. The Eagles, Chargers, Giants and Titans are rumored to be among the teams that are at least thinking about pursuing Johnson.

 

[burmafrd]

Depends on what his contract said. These things are usually tied to something. I remember in 2004 when key busted a route and Vinny threw to where he was supposed to be and it got picked. BP cornered Key and told him if we lost that game he had to man up to the Pick. Luckily for Key, we won THAT game. Key did say he screwed up later.

 

[SultanOfSix]

They owed him a $50m bonus of some kind and they didn't pay it. Just simply let the deadline pass.

Holy moly. No wonder they didn't pay it.

 

[burmafrd]

More and more what little respect I had for Carolina is disapearing. Nothing was said by anyone last year about Key being responsible for those picks;
maybe he was. BUT it sounds to me like some threre were so hyped on protecting Delhomme that they were willing to throw everyone else under the bus.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Smells like BS to me. I think the Panthers didn't want to pay him the bonus so there fabricating stuff as to why the welched. Everybody knows that they are up against it on the cap. They can't afford to sign Peppers, Gross, Jenkins, Mintor and KJ. They may be able to sign a couple of these guys but there going to lose some people here. If it were a big deal about him appoligizing or some such thing, they would have cut him before the Roster Bonus was due and made it known. Instead, they let it pass and now it's about INTs that are some how his fault. The other poster had it correct, based on the info that is reported here.

This was Bush League.

 

[theebs]

I like what keyshawn did for us, but I dont think he is the best thing for a teams locker room.

Remember last year when He signed in carolina how he said it was nice to have such a good qb to play with, then in the next sentence say Ive had to play with drew bledsoe, testaverde, lucas and brad johnson.

Hmm, wonder if he has changed his opinion on delhomme, mr. throw it anywhere at anytime to anybody.

 

[joseephuss]

Depends on what his contract said. These things are usually tied to something. I remember in 2004 when key busted a route and Vinny threw to where he was supposed to be and it got picked. BP cornered Key and told him if we lost that game he had to man up to the Pick. Luckily for Key, we won THAT game. Key did say he screwed up later.

I watched the Carolina-Cincy game this year. Jakey threw a pick in the endzone and afterwards made a motion that seemed to indicate that Key should have cut straight across instead of floating to the back of the endzone. The announcers discussed it. To me it just looked as a bad decision by Jake, but it is possible that Key did something wrong. I have seem Delhomme throw plenty of passes that looked like bad decisions only for his receivers(mostly Smith and in previous years Muhammed) to bail him out.

Sounds like a weak excuse. There are good reasons to cut Key. He is older and is not as good as he once was(not great in my opinion, but that can be debated) in the past. Key had to know this was coming if they indeed withheld his bonus. I am asking my boss right now for some money owed me last week. I imagine Key , his agent and accountant were asking where his $3 million was and why it had not yet been paid.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I watched the Carolina-Cincy game this year. Jakey threw a pick in the endzone and afterwards made a motion that seemed to indicate that Key should have cut straight across instead of floating to the back of the endzone. The announcers discussed it. To me it just looked as a bad decision by Jake, but it is possible that Key did something wrong. I have seem Delhomme throw plenty of passes that looked like bad decisions only for his receivers(mostly Smith and in previous years Muhammed) to bail him out.

Sounds like a weak excuse. There are good reasons to cut Key. He is older and is not as good as he once was(not great in my opinion, but that can be debated) in the past. Key had to know this was coming if they indeed withheld his bonus. I am asking my boss right now for some money owed me last week. I imagine Key , his agent and accountant were asking where his $3 million was and why it had not yet been paid.

I agree with a lot of your post. I just think that if it's about money, then you should just say it's money. If it's about performance, then say that. If it's about the fact that your starting QB doesn't want him on the team, then say it. However, don't say it's about some BS interceptions when you owe the guy 3 million and you haven't paid it or released him. That, to me, is weak.

 

[Crown Royal]

Wow - if that reports true, pretty crappy on Carlona's part to cut key because he wouldn't cover the problem they have at QB - frankly, that they lack a real one.

When they signed Delhomme to that extention I rolled over laughing.

 

[ZeroClub]

Keyshawn is a bright guy. If he is owed millions, he'll collect.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Jake throws a ton of jump balls and has been lucky to have wrs that could go up and get them.

It's a very crappy thing for Carolina to do. Key was on national tv pimping the organization and Jarrett knowing they were going to cut him. I guess they didn't want him to talk bad about them.

 

[Crown Royal]

Jake throws a ton of jump balls and has been lucky to have wrs that could go up and get them.

It's a very crappy thing for Carolina to do. Key was on national tv pimping the organization and Jarrett knowing they were going to cut him. I guess they didn't want him to talk bad about them.

Jake Delhomme is one of the most overrated QBs in the game today. Or at least was two years ago.

 

[DLCassidy]

I watched the Carolina-Cincy game this year. Jakey threw a pick in the endzone and afterwards made a motion that seemed to indicate that Key should have cut straight across instead of floating to the back of the endzone. The announcers discussed it. To me it just looked as a bad decision by Jake, but it is possible that Key did something wrong. I have seem Delhomme throw plenty of passes that looked like bad decisions only for his receivers(mostly Smith and in previous years Muhammed) to bail him out.

Sounds like a weak excuse. There are good reasons to cut Key. He is older and is not as good as he once was(not great in my opinion, but that can be debated) in the past. Key had to know this was coming if they indeed withheld his bonus. I am asking my boss right now for some money owed me last week. I imagine Key , his agent and accountant were asking where his $3 million was and why it had not yet been paid.

Good post. That's what I saw also.

 

[AdamJT13]

The Panthers didn't pay Keyshawn a $3 million roster bonus on April 1 because there never was a $3 million roster bonus in his contract. The only bonuses remaining in his contract were a $1 million reporting bonus this season, a $1 million roster bonus in 2008 and a $1 million roster bonus in 2009. Some mediot had bad information, that's all.

 

[Charles]

The Panthers didn't pay Keyshawn a $3 million roster bonus on April 1 because there never was a $3 million roster bonus in his contract. The only bonuses remaining in his contract were a $1 million reporting bonus this season, a $1 million roster bonus in 2008 and a $1 million roster bonus in 2009. Some mediot had bad information, that's all.

ooops :laugh2:

AdamJT13 strikes again