<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina receiver Steve Smith might have been the biggest influence in persuading Keyshawn Johnson to the sign with the Panthers."He threatened me a couple of times to make this decision," Johnson quipped Friday after signing a four-year contract to play for the Panthers.Johnson, who negotiated the contract himself while his agent serves a one-year suspension, got a $19 million deal that includes a $5 million signing bonus."Was I unreasonable?" he asked general manager Marty Hurney."Apparently not!" Hurney fired back.Johnson becomes the complement to Smith that the Panthers lacked last season during their run to the NFC Championship Game. Smith was their only big playmaker, and teams could clamp down on him to stop Carolina's offense.Johnson called Smith "the most dominant force in the NFL at wide receiver" and said he was looking forward to lining up next to him."I didn't come here to catch 100 balls," Johnson said. "I came here because I feel Carolina is the team with the best chance to get to the Super Bowl."Released last week by the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson rejected a bid from the New York Giants and also planned to meet with the Seahawks. But after coming to Charlotte on Thursday, he never made it to Seattle because the Panthers convinced him to stay."We have a wide receiver and a football player who is going to have a huge effect on this football team the next four years," Hurney said before handing Johnson his new No. 19 Panthers jersey.Johnson said it doesn't bother him if quarterback Jake Delhomme considers Smith his No. 1 target."The only people who get caught up in No. 1 or No. 2 are the ones playing fantasy football," he said. "The only number that means anything is the number of [Super Bowl] rings you have on your finger."Steve is important to me and he's the reason I came here," he said. "And I'm important to him."With Johnson on the field, defenses can't zero in on Smith because they'll know the Panthers have at least a second option. Carolina lacked that for most of the year because its running game took months to develop, and No. 2 receiver Keary Colbert had a big drop off from his outstanding rookie season.Now Johnson takes over that No. 2 role, where he can also be used as a blocker to open up DeShaun Foster and the running game. Colbert, who had offseason ankle surgery to correct a problem that apparently bothered him most of last year, won't have as much pressure on him.But the signing of Johnson is out of character for the Panthers, who have made a public effort to run a problem-free program since John Fox became head coach in 2002. After a series of off-the-field problems, including former wide receiver Rae Carruth's conviction in a murder-for-hire plot on his pregnant girlfriend, the team has avoided signing players with bad reputations.Johnson left the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on bad terms. But his last two years with the Cowboys have been trouble-free under disciplinarian Bill Parcells. Still, he couldn't avoid the questions about his character."How come everyone keeps signing me if I'm such a problem?" Johnson said. "I know I wouldn't sign Keyshawn for all this money if I'm a problem."But he also said he has an image that's hard to shake."I'm Me-Shawn," he said, smiling at the nickname he inherited over the last 10 years in the league. "I'm fine with that."Panthers officials talked to some of Johnson's former clubs and got positive reports."We knew we had a good player," Hurney said. "Everyone we talked to had something very good to say."</div><div align="center">Source</div>Good signing. This should take most of the load off of Steve Smith.
I think this will be the last team hes on, unless a trade. Hes already been pro for 11 or 12 years, add another 4 years, I think he'll be done. Enjoyed him being a Cowboys while he lasted
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LightsOut @ Mar 24 2006, 08:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div align="center">Source</div>Good signing. This should take most of the load off of Steve Smith.</div>Took the words out of my mouth,he would be especially helpful in the playoffs,Panthers are the team this upcoming season!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Mar 24 2006, 10:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, Steve Smith and Keyshawn. Best recieving core in the game?</div>I dunno about that, but they should go well together. Smith is more a speed reciever while Keyshawn is more possession reciever. Also, at least teams won't be able to just double and tripple team Smith now with Keyshawn in town.
Wow, I love this signing. Keyshaun isn't a 100 catch 1,000 yard, 10 TD guy but he will help open up that offense which lacked everything in the passing game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LightsOut @ Mar 25 2006, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I dunno about that, but they should go well together. Smith is more a speed reciever while Keyshawn is more possession reciever. Also, at least teams won't be able to just double and tripple team Smith now with Keyshawn in town.</div>Smith was the best WR in football and Keyshaun is more of a lanky, athletic WR. What team has better WRs then Keyshaun and Smith?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Mar 24 2006, 11:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Smith was the best WR in football and Keyshaun is more of a lanky, athletic WR. What team has better WRs then Keyshaun and Smith?</div>Washington. Moss, Randle-El, Lloyd, and Patten.Or even the Colts with Harrison and Wayne.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BCB @ Mar 24 2006, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Arizona - Larry Fitzgerald / Anquan Boldin</div>Same thing I was thinking,but they seem to go un noticed cause there playing in Arizona+there still very young.
Idk I think Carolina now has the best. they got 1 1500 yard WR and another 1200 WR. They also have Kerry Colbert who is not bad.
Keyshawn has not been around a good WR like Delhomme. And the Panthers pass quite a bit as well. i'm guesing he will get around 1000. I guess I exagerated a bit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Mar 24 2006, 11:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Keyshawn has not been around a good WR like Delhomme. And the Panthers pass quite a bit as well. i'm guesing he will get around 1000. I guess I exagerated a bit.</div>Delhomme is a Qb
I would like 2 point out that I am a big time Panther fan as well as a Steeler fan + i hate the Patriots , so next season is looking great already 4 me.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Mar 25 2006, 04:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Keyshawn has not been around a good WR like Delhomme. And the Panthers pass quite a bit as well. i'm guesing he will get around 1000. I guess I exagerated a bit.</div> Fitzgerald and Boldin have bad QB's, Chambers has had bad QB's...
I like Arizona's wide reciever tandem the best.You can't forget the Giants either.Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey, Amani Toomer, and Tiki Barber some of the time, with Eli Manning throwing.
