Titans interested in Keyshawn Johnson
?There?s mutual interest I?d say right now on both parties behalf. I think we?ll probably look into the possibility of pursuing things. Where that goes, I can?t tell you,? Fisher said.
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.
Johnson told The Associated Press that he is working to schedule a visit with the Titans and other teams that are interested in signing him. His relationship with Fisher goes back to Southern California when the coach played for the Trojans and Johnson was a ball boy then.
?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.?
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 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 does. He plays hard, and he practices hard. That?s the kind of guy you need in this locker room,? Mawae 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 when the season starts.
The Titans? receivers include Justin Gage, a four-year veteran signed as a free agent from Chicago with 64 career catches; a trio of two-year veterans 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 would like to play a couple of more seasons to reach 1,000 receptions for his career. 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 the 2002 season only to be deactivated for the final six games as the loser in a feud with coach Jon Gruden.
The receiver said he has watched film of the Titans over the past couple weeks to study Young and their receivers. He said he?s played with 13 different quarterbacks in his career and doesn?t worry about age.
?I?m impressed,? Johnson said.