Keyshawn Johnson

The New York Jets have had some diva wide receivers throughout their history, but none surpass Keyshawn “give me the damn ball” Johnson. The wideout was selected with the first pick of the 1996 draft out of the University of Southern California.

Johnson would be instrumental in Bill Parcells offense that turned a 1-15 team into AFC east division champs just two years later. The Parcells led Jets created a magical year in 1998, which ended bitterly, but the ride was worth it.

Keyshawn’s best game came against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1998 AFC divisional round. Johnson collected nine catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. But that’s not all he contributed. With a minute left in the game and the Jets up by 10, defensive coach Bill Belichick inserted Johnson in on defense. With time running down and Mark Brunell passing under duress, Keyshawn would be on the other end of an interception that would seal the win.

But it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies, as it rarely is for the Jets. Johnson’s controversial book, “Just Give Me the Damn Ball,” would lead to his departure from the franchise that drafted him. Prior to the draft, the Jets would receive two first round picks for Key from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After Tony Dungy fell short of winning the Super Bowl a year prior, newly appointed coach Jon Gruden would ride a great defense and the superior talents of his outspoken wide receiver to win Super Bowl XXXVII.

From a talent standpoint, Keyshawn may have been, arguably, the most talented wide receiver ever to don the green and white, but he talked his way out of town. It takes a special coach to harness the talents of a diva receiver, and the Jets had that in Bill Parcells. The two would later reunite in Dallas, but to think “what if” the two had stayed together in New York is something that’s frequented.