Keyshawn Johnson has declined an offer from the Tennessee Titans and decided to retire from football in order to pursue a broadcasting career at ESPN.
The wide receiver, the No. 1 draft pick in the 1996 NFL draft, was expected to address his decision at a Wednesday afternoon news conference at his alma mater of USC.
Johnson said despite still being able to perform at a high level on the field and despite having contract offers on the table, he realized he had accomplished what he had set out to do as a professional football player. "That fact, combined with this current opportunity, allows me to feel good about what I have accomplished as a player and what lies ahead in the next phase of my career," he said.
At ESPN, Johnson will join the crew of Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown as an analyst. He will also contribute to a new weekly ESPN Radio NFL show hosted by Chris Mortensen and Bill Parcells.
Johnson, who turns 35 in July, was released by the Carolina Panthers earlier this month after the Panthers drafted Southern California wideout Dwayne Jarrett. He had 70 catches for 815 yards and four touchdowns for Carolina in 2006.
Johnson, the No. 1 pick in the 1996 NFL draft, has started 162 of 167 games in his 11 NFL seasons with the Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. He retires with 814 career receptions for 10,571 yards and has 64 touchdowns. He won an NFL title with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Johnson worked as an analyst on ESPN's coverage of the the NFL draft last month.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2879994
i guess titans got screwed again..... anyway, happy retirement!
