NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans need an experienced
receiver to help Vince Young, and said Thursday they are interested
in veteran Keyshawn Johnson.
"There's mutual interest I'd say right now," coach Jeff Fisher
said. "I think we'll probably look into the possibility of
pursuing things. Where that goes, I can't tell you."
Johnson will visit the Titans on Friday. His relationship with
Fisher goes back to Southern California, when the coach played for
the Trojans and Johnson was a ball boy.
"I know Jeff, but I don't know the organization and I don't
know the makeup of the team and the coaching staff. I know a little
bit about Norm Chow. I know Norm from college. At the same time, I
want to make sure everything's the right fit," Johnson said.
"I was in a situation last year I thought was the right
situation, and wind up a year later going in another direction. I
want to make sure it's something everybody is committed to for the
next couple of years. They're committed to me, and I'm committed to
them, whoever it is I go play for."
The Carolina Panthers released Johnson, who turns 35 in July,
earlier this month after drafting Dwayne Jarrett. He had 70 catches
for 815 yards and four touchdowns last season and became the 16th
player in NFL history with 800 career catches.
His 70 catches for 2006 easily tops the receptions of all the
receivers currently on the Titans' roster who played in the NFL
last year.
Center Kevin Mawae, who played with Johnson when both were with
the New York Jets, said he wasn't sure if Johnson's personality --
which earned him the nickname Me-Shawn -- would click with the young
Titans.
"One thing I do know about Keyshawn, he's absolutely an
incredible athlete and a wonderful receiver. The guy works harder
than most guys in this league," Mawae said. "He plays hard and he
practices hard. That's the kind of guy you need in this locker
room."
Young called Johnson a great receiver who would be welcomed.
"I really feel like he could come in and help some of the young
guys at receiver and then also come in and help us," Young said.
David Givens is the Titans' only receiver with more than five
seasons in the NFL and the only one with more than 65 career
catches (166). But he had a second surgery on his left knee seven
weeks ago and isn't expected to be ready for the start of the
season.
The Titans' receivers include Justin Gage, a four-year veteran
signed as a free agent who has 64 career catches; a trio of players
drafted in 2005 led by Brandon Jones with 27 catches in 2006; and
another trio of draft picks last month -- none taken before the
third round.
Compare that to the 6-foot-4 Johnson, who was the No. 1 pick in
the 1996 draft. He spent last season with Carolina after being
released by the Dallas Cowboys to free up enough salary cap space
to sign Terrell Owens.
Johnson said last year he wants to play a couple of more seasons
to reach 1,000 career receptions. But productivity has never been
his problem.
He clashed with Jets teammates and wrote the book "Just Give Me
the Damn Ball" after his rookie season.
Mawae was a teammate in New York in 1998 and 1999 and still
remembers Johnson's feud with fellow receiver Wayne Chrebet.
"I'd like to think everybody has matured since then. I know
Keyshawn's a great player, and that's ultimately what you need in
this locker room -- a great player and a guy who comes in and works
hard with a great ethic," Mawae said.
Johnson helped Tampa Bay win a Super Bowl in 2002, only to be
deactivated for the final six games the next season after feuding
with coach Jon Gruden.