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Johnson tried to work deal with Jets
Posted: Wednesday April 12, 2000 09:03 PM
For Keyshawn Johnson, the saddest part of leaving New York is what might have been. Because in 1999, he came agonizingly close to signing a contract that would have kept him a Jet for the rest of his career. Now it can be told. Johnson tells me he worked with then-coach Bill Parcells and Jets salary-capologist Mike Tannenbaum to restructure a contract that looked skimpy beside those of some other wide receivers. Johnson said: "I offered to give back the rest of the pro-rated signing bonus in order to get the deal done." In fact, he offered to pay the Jets $3 million, the remainder of his $6 million signing bonus, and the Jets crafted a long-term deal. But when they submitted it to the NFL's Management Council, the contract wasn't approved. A source close to the team said the league refused to erase the final three years of the contract for this reason: It would set a precedent that any player unhappy with his contract could offer to pay back the rest of his bonus and re-do the contract from scratch. As Johnson said: "Bill knew this contract problem was coming, and he tried to do something about it. The Management Council wouldn't let us. If they did, I'd still be a Jet."
Here's what draft top 10 looks like
As the clocks ticks down toward Saturday's draft, here's what the top 10 looks like: Cleveland, picking first, has decided to try to sign defensive end Courtney Brown but is smokescreening interest in LaVar Arrington. Needless. Brown's their man. Washington, picking two and three, is solid on Arrington, the Penn State linebacker, and Alabama's Chris Samuels, their left tackle for the next 10 years. Cincinnati, choosing fourth, is still drooling over the prospect of getting Florida State wideout Peter Warrick here. Baltimore, at 5, plans to trade this pick sometime before Saturday to move back into the low teens of the first round. Look for the Ravens to deal this new pick to Cincinnati for disgruntled running back Corey Dillon. But whichever team acquires the fifth-overall pick -- I think either Green Bay or the Jets -- will probably select Florida State pass-rusher Corey Simon. If it's New York, the Jets still intend to make four first-round choices. Philadelphia likes running back Jamal Lewis of Tennessee, in a surprise at 6. Arizona is zoned in on New Mexico linebacker/safety Brian Urlacher or running back Thomas Jones. Pittsburgh, a candidate to trade down at 8, likes wideout Plaxico Burress if it stays put. Chicago, at 9, loves Urlacher and Burress and is praying one falls to them. And the Ravens, who moved up to the 10-spot in an odd trade with Denver on Wednesday, could select fast-rising Florida receiver Travis Taylor. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's NFL Preview.
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