| Has the world gone mad? I’ve never claimed to
be an expert when it comes to analyzing NFL talent and putting rosters together, but I
know this much: When you have a true superstar, you don’t trade him.
The Jets have a true superstar in WR Keyshawn Johnson. He is one of the top receivers
in football — the top, if you ask my esteemed colleague Michael Lev.
So why the heck are the Jets trying to trade Keyshawn? This is the question that kept
me awake last night. (OK, so maybe it was heartburn, but you get the gist.)
I understand that Johnson is threatening a holdout this summer, saying the two years
left on the six-year pact he signed as a rookie are way below market value. I also
understand that the Jets don’t believe they could re-sign Johnson when his deal
expires after the 2001 season, much less come up with the cap room to redo his deal now.
But you know what? I don’t care. You don’t trade your superstars. The Jets
have to find a way to keep Johnson in the fold.
With Johnson, the Jets’ offense has all the ingredients to be very good. RB Curtis
Martin, Johnson and WR Wayne Chrebet are all productive, and QB Vinny Testaverde should
return to make things run smoothly. Plus, the offensive line has a lot of good, young
talent. But without Johnson, things would fall apart. Chrebet’s impish size would
keep him from being a true No. 1 receiver, and I don’t see anyone on down the depth
chart with the ability to step up into that role.
Let’s make it simple: With Johnson, the Jets are contenders to win the AFC East.
Without him, 8-8 will be a struggle — regardless of how the defense plays.
While I don’t like it when players renege on their contracts and hold out, Johnson
has a point. He should be paid more than Joey Galloway, who has more speed than Johnson
but less consistency and dependability. It’s getting close to time for the Jets to
ante up and pay Keyshawn on a level commensurate with his stature. But for now, they
don’t appear to be willing to do so.
To be fair, we must note that the Jets aren’t looking to just give Johnson away.
They are demanding the fifth overall pick and probably more from the Ravens, who need a
big, talented receiver. The rumblings are that the Jets are looking to make a move up to
land Penn State DE Courtney Brown.
I want to say right here that I think Brown is the plum of this year’s draft crop.
Defensive ends who can rush the passer and play the run and whom you can plug into the
lineup for 10, 12, 15 years are very, very hard to find. When you get a chance to take one
— especially one who is as upstanding as Brown — you do it.
But it’s not worth giving up Johnson to get Brown. Johnson is an established
superstar, while Brown is not a sure thing. (No draft pick is.) Keyshawn is a keystone. He
has been everything the Jets could have hoped for when they took him with the No. 1
overall pick in ’96. He is a star who doesn’t care about his stats as much as he
does about winning. He’s the kind of player you can build a team around.
Have the Jets forgotten that? |
