By: Seth 

I’ll be honest with you: I’m not a fan of holdouts. They help nobody, in the long run, and are usually ridiculous. I hate hearing of players holding out because they’re tired of their $4 Million a year contract. Most of us are lucky to make 1% of that in a year.   

 But, there are also times that I can understand it. If Asante Samuel were still under contract for around $900,000 a year, I could understand him being upset at the team not wanting to pay him more (I don’t understand him holding out because he got Franchised, though). I’m still undecided about Larry Johnson’s holdout, though. What is he making? $1.9 Million a year? For a back of his caliber, that’s paltry. Lesser backs make much more. And, he doesn’t have the benefit of a lot of guaranteed money at the contract’s inception to gloss that number over. So I see where he is coming from, I’m just a little burned by the fact he’s missing camp and possibly hurting his team’s chances of performing in the season.   

 This may all be over soon, however, because it’s being reported that he and the Chiefs are close on a new contract. For the sake of the team’s year, you have to hope they are.  What do you fans think? Is it right for Larry Johnson, or any player, to holdout?

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Most of us have heard the news coming out of Miami over the past few days: Daunte Culpepper will soon be released or traded. With Trent Green coming onto the scene, a new John Beck and Cleo Lemon still in the ranks, it’s not a surprise to hear that this is happening. There’s been speculation for months that the Dolphins would soon be making a move on deciding Daunte’s future with the club. The only issue now is exactly how he will leave the team. Dolphins’ management wants compensation for him, of course. But Culpepper’s $5.5 million salary this year is going to make a trade difficult to pull off. There are teams out there with the cap room, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that many teams aren’t looking to trade for a quarterback with the baggage Culpepper is carrying. He’s only played 11 games in the past two seasons, and most teams are still scared to death about his knee injury. But, there are several teams, most notably Jacksonville, that have clearly stated their interest. One problem with a trade that many teams are looking at is that it will force them to take on the remainder of Culpepper’s contract. Most aren’t willing to do that for a quarterback that has a lingering injury. While it’s plausible that Culpepper would rework his contract and play for less, it would be far easier for teams to hold off and wait for Miami to dump him, then sign him to a smaller contract. Getting cut might actually work out for Daunte better than getting traded. For one, he’ll get to choose which team he goes to. Remember, he’s only 30 and has shown in the past that he can play. He is, of course, a project in that nobody knows how he’ll react and play after his knee fully heels. There’s also the possibility that his knee never will heal. But teams would be more willing to take a chance on a guy at $2.5 million a year than at $5.5 million. Culpepper could well take that lower amount from the highest bidder or team that he likes, play a year, and turn it into more. After all, any team that picks him up would be getting what was once a franchise quarterback. Culpepper is a career 64.2% passer with 137 to 89 interceptions. He’s thrown for over 21,000 yards and has a 90.8 passer rating. Can he still put up numbers like that? Nobody knows. But teams would be more to find out if the price was lower. The only other problem facing Miami and Culpepper is that there’s not too large a market for quarterbacks right now. Most teams have a clear starter or a young guy waiting in the wings. Bringing in Culpepper would either destabilize the current situation or be a waste of time, money and a roster spot. Teams that may have been interested (think Cleveland, Houston, Carolina, Detroit, Arizona, NY Jets, Buffalo) have all either brought in young quarterbacks with bright futures or have them on their roster. So, where will he land? I won’t even begin to say where. As mentioned, there have been reports that Jacksonville has contacted Miami. Rumor has it that Tampa might be interested because they could afford to let him rest again this year if need be. Chicago has been brought up, but I would think it’s a long shot right now. Had this deal happened pre-draft, there may have been more, but the team’s and player’s options are now pretty limited. Wherever he lands, though, he’ll get the opportunity he wants: To prove that he can still play.

 Yes, the time has finally come. Keyshawn Johnson is hanging up his cleats. He should make it official at a 3:00 news conference today in
Los Angeles.  

 Johnson, the first pick of the ’96 draft, ends his career with 814 receptions, 10,571 yards and 64 touchdowns. While he was never a truly dominating receiver, he maintained his status as a red zone threat and an elite possession receiver. Even in his later years, when his stats diminished, Keyshawn proved that he was well capable of making the big plays. They weren’t 90-yard catches or dazzling runs, they were the big first downs, sweet catches and right-moment touchdowns – the plays that are often more important.  

 Still, one has to wonder if Keyshawn’s persona will loom larger than his game. Other players with similar personalities – such as Michael Irvin, Shannon Sharpe or even Deion – regularly backed up there hype and have Hall of Fame numbers. Johnson, on the other hand, doesn’t possess those stats. Just four times in an 11 year career did he post 1000 yards or better – his best being 1266 on ’01 with the Bucs. He did have 106 receptions in that same year, but never broke 90 any other season (his average receptions per year is a healthy 74). And he only had 10 touchdowns in a season once. These numbers are good, but hardly worth a number one pick. 

 However, his best years may be on the way. Rumor has it that Keshawn has signed a contract to join ESPN. Anyone who saw Keyshawn’s Draft coverage should know that he will be an immediate asset. His comments were poignant, in-depth and well timed. When he made an opinion, he backed it up. When another person challenged his opinions and proved him wrong, Keyshawn admitted it. In short, he was captivating, drew you into his comments and held your attention for what came next. Everyone in the room left that day commenting on his skill and hoped he joined the ranks of broadcasters soon. We would have liked to see one more year out of him, but the next year will probably be more entertaining now.

 I’m sure by now you’ve heard that the Bengals have released AJ Nicholson due to conduct detrimental to the team (i.e., he was arrested for allegedly hitting his girlfriend, a claim she now denies).   What some are asking is whether this was fair to him since his girlfriend said that she hit herself when she grabbed a cell phone from his hand. But Nicholson was already on a short leash. His arrest last year during the Bengals spat of 9 in a row drew a lot of attention, and the team was already rumored to be thinking of releasing him then. The fact that he was even involved in another police matter was the final straw for the team. Essentially, he was going through the same probation period Pacman is going through now – be good and we’ll welcome you back, but risk being cut if you aren’t.  

 This is unfortunate because Nicholson is so talented. He was a beast at Florida
State, and was considered a first round talent before his suspension and eventual dismissal from the team. Even the Bengals themselves, who took him in the fifth round, had high hopes for him developing into a standout linebacker. Everybody knows what he could be, but he may have trouble finding a new team now – especially with the commissioner’s new policy. Teams are a lot more skittish now about taking NFL players with prior violations (college players with priors apparently are different stories).   Wherever he lands, the potential teams are probably limited. It’s too soon to know where he’ll land, but he will land somewhere. Hopefully he’ll be able to piece his life together, for the good, and let his talent show itself on the field.