Ex-Buccaneers WR Keyshawn Johnson Says He Despised Playing For Jon Gruden

ESPN analyst and former Buccaneers wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson said on Sunday NFL Countdown that he despised playing for former Tampa Bay head coach and current Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden so much that he wanted to leave by any means necessary. “When your psyche is messed with, and you don’t want to be around the organization or team, you just want to do whatever you can to get out of there,†Johnson said. “And that was the situation when I was under coach Gruden in Tampa.†Johnson and Gruden won a Super Bowl together in 2002 but by the following season, they were at each other's throats to the point that the Buccaneers deactivated Johnson for the rest of the 2003 without pay. Johnson said on Countdown that he was more than glad to get dismissed by a Gruden-led Tampa Bay team. “I didn’t want to be there,†Johnson said. “I didn’t want to be in the environment. No matter we had just won a championship, and I was playing fine the year that I got deactivated, I was doing great. In fact, we had a chance to go to the playoffs. But it was just something about the way I was being coached, talked to, dealt with. Just didn’t want to be there. So for me, I was happy when I got the phone call that said, ‘Hey, we’re going to deactivate you for the rest of the year.’ I was excited. I was like, ‘Oh, cool, no problem. I don’t have to be around this because my health is more important.’ Going into a building and not wanting to be there, it was just a blessing to me to be able to go to Dallas. Heck, even before I went to Dallas I was talking to the Arizona Cardinals. Now think about that. I just wanted to get out of Tampa.â€

Source: Pro Football Talk: Twitter.com

 

Interesting to see how Gruden responds to this Monday night...............

 

That's because Key is a selfish pr**k who thought he was better than he was. Gruden wasn't okay with it and called Key out on it. Plus Gruden is kind of a pr**k to. Just like with a 3some, don't ever cross the swords! 2 pr**ks just can't get along.

 

LOL!!

I totally agree. It was a ticking time bomb from the start. I am shocked it lasted as long as it did. And Keyshawn just needs to keep quiet. He who is without sin may cast the first stone. just sayin. lol

 

This is news now? I've know that for years.

 

yea KJ never panned out to be what he shouldve been