LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- He has been called selfish, egocentric, cocky and an "I" guy, which is why some call Keyshawn Johnson by a not-so-nice nickname.
He's "Me-shawn."
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| Keyshawn Johnson will provide some balance as a complement to Steve Smith, Carolina hopes. (AP) |
Want proof that Johnson, who signed a free-agent deal with the Panthers last week, is far different than people really know? He flew here to the site of the league's winter meetings to meet Monday morning with coach John Fox because Fox was in Florida last week when Johnson signed with the Panthers in Charlotte.
Flew here on his dime, too.
"People have memories of Keyshawn when he was very, very young," said Fox. "He's grown up a lot as a player and a person. If anything, he's going to be a real positive presence in our locker room."
Johnson spent about three hours at the Orlando-area hotel Monday, talking with Fox about football, strategy and where he would fit in with the team.
Here's saying he will fit in nicely.
Johnson's addition does something else, too. It solidifies the Panthers as the favorite in the NFC -- even if Fox and general manager Marty Hurney cringe about such talk.
"We're just trying to be a good team, just trying to add the right pieces." Hurney said.
Johnson is one of those pieces, a tough receiver who does the dirty work to get open, a perfect complement to Steve Smith, the Panthers electrifying playmaker. In the playoffs last season, it became painfully clear that the Panthers needed someone to take the pressure off Smith.
"We think he can come in and help in that area," Hurney. "Teams are going to focus on doing that more and more since Steve is a dynamic player. Keyshawn gives us another receiver teams have to game-plan for."
By signing Johnson, center Justin Hartwig and defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu during this free-agency period, the Panthers have enjoyed one of the best offseasons of any team in the league.
