Keyshawn Johnson has been described as many things, both good and bad, in his 10 years in the NFL. Brash, arrogant, self-serving, successful, emotional, consistent, the list can go on for days.
No matter how long you go, however, chances are, the term modest isn't going to pop up.
And now, as he enters his 11th season and fourth city, this Carolina Panther wideout isn't about to change his ways.
He's still as confident as ever, and he loves to illustrate that.
"I've been the missing piece for every team I've ever been on," he said. "I was drafted by the Jets to take them to the Super Bowl. I helped get them to the AFC championship. I was the missing piece in Tampa Bay. Two years later, we won it all.
"I was the missing piece in Dallas. I helped them turn things around and get back to respectability. Now I find myself where I might be the missing piece for the Panthers. Hopefully, I can continue to do good things and help this team get to the Super Bowl."
Keep in mind, when most bettors think of "missing pieces," they think of players who are going to lead a team to a title. And remember, Johnson has won just one championship, and those 2002 Buccaneers had an awful lot of talent before he arrived and after he left.
So, as usual, he's giving himself a little more credit than he deserves. But, all told, Johnson may be onto something in Charlotte. After all, the ready-made Panthers have been to the NFC Championship Game two of the last three seasons and already had one of the NFL's most talented offenses.
If nothing else, Keyshawn adds some moxie to this imposing mix. He's clearly the second option for quarterback Jake Delhomme, who has developed an unflappable rapport with Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith. And when you combine that trifecta with a solid running game and Coach John Fox's fierce defense, there's no doubt the Panthers should warrant serious consideration to win the Super Bowl at any sportsbook (Carolina's odds is +$1200).
"The Super Bowl is the goal. That's why you play this game," Delhomme said. "You don't play this game to go 8-8 or even to go 10-6 and play one or two rounds in the playoffs. You play to get to the ultimate game and win it. We've had a taste of that. We made a nice run last year, but it wasn't good enough. You want to be the champions."
Winning the NFC South "something they failed to do last year " and securing homefield advantage would be a good start. But it won't be easy. The defending division-champion Buccaneers are coming off an 11-5 season, and the Falcons and Saints shouldn't be the pushovers they were last year.
But when it comes time to head for the sportsbooks, bettors are probably on the right track if they call on Carolina.
"There is a confidence, but our guys understand that it's not what you do on paper, it's what you do on tape," Fox said. "We know how hard they have to work. There is an air of confidence, which is what you would expect when expectations are high, and I don't have a problem with that."
It's good of Fox to face that realization in July. Because when you have a player like Johnson lining up across from Smith "himself not particularly the shy type "there won't be a confidence drought at any point.
"I won't settle for anything less than a championship," said Johnson, who, believe it or not, has just four 1,000-yard seasons. "I think if we don't get to the Super Bowl and win it all, it becomes a complete failure."
Quintessential Keyshawn.
SUPER STEVEN: While sure Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and the Rams continue to mull their fading relationship, starting running back Steven Jackson appears to get lost in the headlines.
But, all fantasy fans and bettors alike, make no mistake. Jackson, a former first-round pick out of Oregon State, is ready to burst. And in a division that features shaky defenses like San Francisco's and Arizona's, he may just win a rushing title.
"It seems like everyone is making this season a focal point," Jackson said. "Two years ago, when I was drafted, thats what the plan was. We knew that eventually the team was going to be more geared and built around me and now it seems like it has finally come to the forefront."
Jackson, a 6-foot-2 speedster in college who has now bulked up to 240 pounds, has developed into a dual threat. He can still break runs. But he can also play it safe, take three yards a pop, get whacked, get back up and do it again.
Last season, he finished with 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns on 254 carries. He also caught 43 passes for 320 yards and two scores.
Expect even better numbers this year.
No matter how long you go, however, chances are, the term modest isn't going to pop up.
And now, as he enters his 11th season and fourth city, this Carolina Panther wideout isn't about to change his ways.
He's still as confident as ever, and he loves to illustrate that.
"I've been the missing piece for every team I've ever been on," he said. "I was drafted by the Jets to take them to the Super Bowl. I helped get them to the AFC championship. I was the missing piece in Tampa Bay. Two years later, we won it all.
"I was the missing piece in Dallas. I helped them turn things around and get back to respectability. Now I find myself where I might be the missing piece for the Panthers. Hopefully, I can continue to do good things and help this team get to the Super Bowl."
Keep in mind, when most bettors think of "missing pieces," they think of players who are going to lead a team to a title. And remember, Johnson has won just one championship, and those 2002 Buccaneers had an awful lot of talent before he arrived and after he left.
So, as usual, he's giving himself a little more credit than he deserves. But, all told, Johnson may be onto something in Charlotte. After all, the ready-made Panthers have been to the NFC Championship Game two of the last three seasons and already had one of the NFL's most talented offenses.
If nothing else, Keyshawn adds some moxie to this imposing mix. He's clearly the second option for quarterback Jake Delhomme, who has developed an unflappable rapport with Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith. And when you combine that trifecta with a solid running game and Coach John Fox's fierce defense, there's no doubt the Panthers should warrant serious consideration to win the Super Bowl at any sportsbook (Carolina's odds is +$1200).
"The Super Bowl is the goal. That's why you play this game," Delhomme said. "You don't play this game to go 8-8 or even to go 10-6 and play one or two rounds in the playoffs. You play to get to the ultimate game and win it. We've had a taste of that. We made a nice run last year, but it wasn't good enough. You want to be the champions."
Winning the NFC South "something they failed to do last year " and securing homefield advantage would be a good start. But it won't be easy. The defending division-champion Buccaneers are coming off an 11-5 season, and the Falcons and Saints shouldn't be the pushovers they were last year.
But when it comes time to head for the sportsbooks, bettors are probably on the right track if they call on Carolina.
"There is a confidence, but our guys understand that it's not what you do on paper, it's what you do on tape," Fox said. "We know how hard they have to work. There is an air of confidence, which is what you would expect when expectations are high, and I don't have a problem with that."
It's good of Fox to face that realization in July. Because when you have a player like Johnson lining up across from Smith "himself not particularly the shy type "there won't be a confidence drought at any point.
"I won't settle for anything less than a championship," said Johnson, who, believe it or not, has just four 1,000-yard seasons. "I think if we don't get to the Super Bowl and win it all, it becomes a complete failure."
Quintessential Keyshawn.
SUPER STEVEN: While sure Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and the Rams continue to mull their fading relationship, starting running back Steven Jackson appears to get lost in the headlines.
But, all fantasy fans and bettors alike, make no mistake. Jackson, a former first-round pick out of Oregon State, is ready to burst. And in a division that features shaky defenses like San Francisco's and Arizona's, he may just win a rushing title.
"It seems like everyone is making this season a focal point," Jackson said. "Two years ago, when I was drafted, thats what the plan was. We knew that eventually the team was going to be more geared and built around me and now it seems like it has finally come to the forefront."
Jackson, a 6-foot-2 speedster in college who has now bulked up to 240 pounds, has developed into a dual threat. He can still break runs. But he can also play it safe, take three yards a pop, get whacked, get back up and do it again.
Last season, he finished with 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns on 254 carries. He also caught 43 passes for 320 yards and two scores.
Expect even better numbers this year.