Monday, November 24, 2003
Johnson is open to return to Bucs
NFL notebook
The Associated Press
Keyshawn Johnson is still willing to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - despite differences with coach Jon Gruden.
The star wide receiver spent his first Sunday since being deactivated on Fox's weekly pregame show instead of on the practice field, where the Bucs prepared for Monday night's game against the Giants.
The Bucs deactivated Johnson for the remainder of the year last week, saying his desire to leave Tampa was a distraction the team could no longer ignore.
Despite the usually light-hearted nature of the show, analyst and ex-Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson and former Steelers great Terry Bradshaw pulled no punches with Johnson.
"How can you say that you're totally committed when you go in after a midseason loss and tell the head coach (Jon Gruden) that you don't want to play for him and that you don't want to come back next year?" Jimmy asked.
Noting that Keyshawn Johnson was being paid $170,000 a week not to play for the Bucs, Bradshaw asked, "Aren't you embarrassed? If I were you, I'd be embarrassed."
Johnson denied embarrassment, saying the problem was a contentious relationship with Gruden. Johnson said he was frustrated with his role in Gruden's offense.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning now has 3,105 yards passing this season, marking the sixth consecutive 3,000-yard campaign in his six NFL years. That moved Manning into a tie with Len Dawson for third most in league history. Only Dan Marino, with 10 3,000-yard seasons, and Brett Favre, with nine, have accomplished the feat more times.
Colts placekicker Mike Vanderjagt hit a 24-yard field goal, and hasn't missed in 30 attempts, tying Jeff Wilkins for the third longest streak in NFL history. It's one short of matching Fuad Reveiz and 10 behind record-holder Gary Anderson, who hit 40 in a row for Minnesota in 1997-98
The three interceptions by Minnesota's Brian Williams tied a Vikings record, done most recently by current Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio in 1993.
Oakland safety Derrick Gibson was removed from the field on a gurney after injuring his neck in the second quarter of the Raiders' game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
His condition and the nature of the injury were not immediately available. Gibson had movement and feeling in his arms and legs, coach Bill Callahan said after the Chiefs' 27-24 victory, and X-rays and a CT scan were both negative.
Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb completed his first three passes, giving him 16 straight in two games to tie the club record set by Bernie Kosar in 1989.
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