Keyshawn retires

by Dave Halprin on May 23, 2007 12:14 PM CDT in News Comment 11 comments

Keyshawn Johnson has declined an offer from the Tennessee Titans and has decided to retire.
The wide receiver, who also expected to receive an offer from the Oakland Raiders, is expected to announce his decision at a Wednesday afternoon news conference at his alma mater of USC, his agent, Jerome Stanley, told ESPN.com's John Clayton.
Johnson will pursue a broadcasting career with ESPN.

I’m actually a little surprised. I thought he would catch on somewhere else and continue to play. But Keyshawn was always a natural for TV, so I guess there comes a day when beating up your body loses out to a cushy schedule and plenty of time to relax and live the good life. You just don’t get paid as well and the adrenaline rush of game day is never matched.

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I recall a quote the other day

where he was laying out his salary demand, maybe more than 2.5 mill?? and I remember thinking "Dude, Key, you're never going to get that". Maybe another case of confusing paycheck with value as a player and person.

by dunkman on May 23, 2007 12:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That doesn't surprise me at all

Keyshawn has too much pride to play for the veteran minimum. He thinks he's worth millions and he'll get it at ESPN.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 23, 2007 12:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I doubt he'll get millions just starting out

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by Dave Halprin on May 23, 2007 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I was wondering

what do these guys get paid? Obviously, it varies, but it seems that they'd have trouble paying these casts of thousands 3 mill apiece.

by dunkman on May 23, 2007 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ask and you shall receive

I found this link to an article about salaries:

While Madden, Michaels and Costas etc. earn millions a year most don't. Here is a part on Barkley and Collinsworth, ex-jocks who have been doing it a while.

One recent retiree who is never at a loss for colorful commentary is Charles Barkley. In 2002, Barkley signed a contract extension with TNT to continue broadcasting NBA games at a salary of $1.5 million a year. And former Bengal Cris Collinsworth signed a deal with FOX in 1998 to broadcast NFL games at a salary of $1 million a year.
Not every former athlete, however, can expect millions. Barkley and Collinsworth landed long-term deals to broadcast games throughout an entire season. Athletes providing coverage for smaller sports in limited time spans earn much less.

Here's another link to an older article about salries.

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by Dave Halprin on May 23, 2007 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew it!

Wonder if he had Staubach help him close the deal...

by dunkman on May 23, 2007 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he'll make more

as an analyst at ESPN than what some team would offer him.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 23, 2007 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And without

the bone-jarring hits while going across the middle.

by dunkman on May 23, 2007 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That

was the problem. Keyshawn thought he was worth more than what teams were offering him, and the truth is he's not. After realizing no team was going to pay him 3 or 4 million a year like he wanted the last resort was television. Keyshawn was a good player, but a little overrated.

by Cowboys81 on May 23, 2007 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just heard that he'll be doing a show with

none other than the Big Tuna.

by dunkman on May 23, 2007 2:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Just Give Him The Damn Mike

Rumor has it that Keyshawn's working on a new book with that exact title... you know, as a follow up sequel to his New York Jets Bestseller, "Just Give Me The Damn Ball" when he played for the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!!!!

"Beware of D-Ware!"

by kcbrett5 on May 23, 2007 10:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs