http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football...4p-309799c.htmlGive Chrebeta D*** callBy RICH CIMINIDAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERIn the next day or so, Wayne Chrebet can expect a phone call from a well-wishing former teammate whose identity might surprise him. It will be Keyshawn Johnson, his old adversary."I'm probably the last person he'd expect to hear from," Johnson told the Daily News last night from Dallas.Johnson and Chrebet were Jets teammates from 1996 to 1999 and, despite a frosty relationship that made for plenty of tabloid headlines, Johnson said he intends to make the call out of concern and admiration.Chrebet, 32, is dealing with the after-effects of his ninth documented concussion, sustained in last Sunday's loss to the Chargers, and he's expected to retire in the near future. He has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season."I just want to let him know that I appreciate the way he played the game," said Johnson, now with the Cowboys. "In my eyes, he played the game the way it's supposed to be played: Tough, hard-nosed and helped his team win games. Not caught up in statistical numbers, not bickering about money."I'm a fan of his."Those words may seem shocking, considering the players' history. Johnson, in a controversial book about his rookie season with the Jets, referred to Chrebet as the "team mascot." In 2000, after Johnson was traded to the Bucs, the flamboyant receiver said matching him against Chrebet would be like comparing a star and a flashlight. A few days later, the flashlight caught the winning touchdown pass to beat Johnson's Bucs.Johnson claimed the feud was blown out of proportion by the media. They have exchanged quick hellos at various functions over the years, but there haven't been any lengthy conversations, according to Johnson. Chrebet never has spoken much about their relationship."People can say whatever they want, but as a fan of his and an ex-teammate, I don't want to see a person go through that pain," Johnson said.Johnson said he watched the Jets-Chargers game on TV, and he saw Chrebet's helmet slam into the ground."My first thought was, 'Why the hell is he still playing?'" Johnson said. "I was hoping he'd retire last year (after his previous concussion). Then I started to think about his kids and the Al Toon situation. At the same time, I thought about his career."It's a storybook type of deal. Maybe he walked through the door easy because it was opened for him, but he never went out. They brought in guys every year to replace him, but he outlasted them all."To do what he did, coming in as an undrafted guy from a school I never heard of ... that's a movie," Johnson continued. "Hofstra? He put that school on the map, not the Jets. To have 500 catches, 40 touchdowns, I'm telling you, that's a movie."Despite their differences, real or perceived, Johnson and Chrebet formed one of the most prolific receiving tandems in Jets history. In 1998, they both cracked the 1,000-yard mark."It was wonderful. I hate that (former coach) Al Groh broke it up," said Johnson, referring to his controversial trade. "We blocked for each other and we ran routes hard so the other guy could get open. I got joy out of watching him take advantage of (defenders), breaking those guys off. I always liked the underdog." ___________________Nice to see Keyshawn can act like a man when it actually matters.
