After drawn-out negotiations and a three-week holdout, Keyshawn finally agrees
to a six-year, $15 million contract."In the end, we gave, the Jets
gave," he says. "I was going to be happy for a long, long time, and so
was my
family."
Fall 1996
Keyshawn is one of very few bright spots during the Jets' miserable 1-15 season.
Despite missing two games following surgery on his right knee, Johnson finishes
his rookie campaign with 63 catches for 844 yards and eight
touchdowns.
February 11, 1997
The Jets hire legendary coach Bill Parcells and Keyshawn couldn't be happier.
"I felt a new energy return to my body. Suddenly I felt like playing
football again," he says. "Parcells is on board and I can tell you
right now, things are going to be different this season. Very
different."
May 1997
Keyshawn's autobiography Just Throw Me the Damn Ball! is released. In the
controversial book, Keyshawn blasts former Jets coach Rich Kotite (he
"can't coach"), former offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt (he
"didn't know what the hell he was doing"), quarterback Neil O'Donnell
(he's "a stiff puppet") and popular teammate Wayne Chrebet (whom he
dismisses as a "team mascot"). His Jets teammates say the book will
have no affect on the team, but Johnson and Chrebet go on to have an icy
relationship. "I shoot from the hip," Johnson says. "A lot of
people live in a fictitious world; I speak
reality."
November 27, 1997
Keyshawn has his first 100-yard game as a pro in the Jets' 23-21 win over
Minnesota. He finishes the day with nine receptions for 104 yards.
February 14, 1998
Keyshawn marries his college sweetheart, Shikiri Hightower. The couple has two
children, daughter Maia and son Keyshawn Jr.
April 14, 1998
Keyshawn joins President Clinton and other prominent sports figures -- including
Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown; Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson;
All-Star second baseman/broadcaster Joe Morgan; and Olympic medalist Jackie
Joyner-Kersee -- for a nationally televised panel discussion on racial issues in
sports. Later, Keyshawn would say of sharing the stage with the President:
"I'm really proud of that. How many people get to chop it up with the top
dog?"
January 10, 1999
In what turns out to be his coming-out party as a pro, Keyshawn does it all as
the Jets beat Jacksonville 34-24 in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. He catches nine
passes for 121 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown. He also runs a reverse in
for a touchdown, intercepts a pass while playing saftey in the closing seconds
of the victory and recovers a fumble. Not one to lavish praise, Parcells says
simply of Keyshawn after the wide receiver's impressive performance: "He's
a tough
kid."
February 7, 1999
Keyshawn is selected to his first Pro Bowl after finishing the season with 83
receptions (sixth-best in the NFL); 1,131 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. His
seven catches for 87 yards help the AFC to a 23-10 victory over the NFC and earn
him co-MVP honors with Patriots cornerback Ty
Law.
June 1999
Johnson opens Reign, an upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills. The menu features
southern/soul food such as fried chicken, smothered pork chops and red beans and
rice. "I've never failed at anything and I don't expect to fail at
this," says Keyshawn upon opening the
eatery.
September 12, 1999
With expectations running high for their 1999 campaign, the Jets' season
virtually ends after one play in the first half of the first game. Quarterback
Vinny Testaverde goes down with a season-ending Achilles' injury against New
England. Johnson's frustration boils over in the postgame press conference.
"Not in a million years would I ever think that I would lose my starting
quarterback for the year," Johnson says. "It's just one of those
things. I don't know what the hell to say. What can you do? There is nothing you
can do, you can't do anything. There is nothing. We can't do s----. We couldn't
f------
throw."
April 12, 2000
The Jets trade Keyshawn to Tampa Bay for two first-round draft picks. Keyshawn
immediately signs an six-year, $52 million contract extension with the
Buccaneers, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Johnson pulls
no punches and blames new Jets coach Al Groh for his departure. "Just
talk to me," Keyshawn says. "Don't f------ tell me, 'We've got
bigger fish to fry right now.' Excuse me? Your biggest fish is out to
sea, in the sand. If you don't communicate with me, it's over. It just is. It's
sad."
Septmber 17, 2000
A week before his former team comes to town for a battle with the Bucs, Keyshawn
adds fuel to the fire by ripping his two favorite targets -- Chrebet and Groh.
On Chrebet: "There's no beef with him. You're trying to compare a
flashlight to a star. Flashlights only last so long, a star is in the sky
forever. He's not even close to me, and anyone who knows football knows that.''
On Groh: "If he extends his hand, it'll still be extended. ... There's no
need for him to say anything to me. ... I don't respect a guy that makes a
decision to trade you and then has somebody else tell you."
December
2000
Johnson finishes his first season in Tampa Bay as the team's leader in
receptions (71), receiving yards (874) and touchdown receptions
(eight)
November 18,
2001
In Week 9, Johnson tallies a career-high 12 receptions against
Chicago.
December
2001
Johnson's second year as Buc is his best as a pro. He sets club and personal
records with 106 receptions -- tops in the NFC. His 1,266 receiving yards are
also a career
high.
Text by CNNSI.com's Jimmy Traina
Photographs; Al Tielemans, Brad Mangin, Warner Books, Walter Iooss Jr., Al Tielemans, V.J. Lovero,
