Why was Keyshawn such a prick to Chrebet?

I agree with you and all the others that say the root cause of the bad blood was jealousy. I suspect Chrebet had more friends among the players and coaching staff, too. He was a team guy. Keyshawn, for all his talent and work ethic (which he did have, he was one of the best at going up for a ball and taking a hit while holding on) was about himself and that's it.

I remember Wayne going over to congratulate Keyshawn when the latter would run one in the end zone. I don't recall it once happening the other way.

 

The only time I ever saw Keyshawn react appropriately to a Chrebet TD was the one that Curtis threw to him to beat the Buc's late in the game in the 2000 season.

Keyshawn's face sagged on the sidelines when he realized that Chrebet had gotten behind the safety on the halfback option. After the game he was quoted (throwing another teammate under the bus) as saying that he had told Damien Robinson not to let Chrebet get behind him on that play.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Keyshawn always thought a lot more of Chrebet's abilities than he showed. The look on his face that day as Chrebet beat him was priceless.

 

I'm not talking about academics, I'm talking athletically. key was from a prestigious program and Chrebet from some little program on LI.

I don't think agree.

anyone who calls Key lazy was not paying attention, he was a great teammate(except to Chrebet but in reality Chrebet's best days were opposite Key so on the field he was great to Wayne) who always practiced and played hard. He is very underrated.

 

I totally agree...Keyshawn couldn't stand that a 5'10 188lb white boy had more balls to go over the middle and make a catch.

Fans down here in Charlotte think Keyshawn's gonna help them and I keep telling them to wait until he goes a game without a catch and see what happens.

 

Yes, but what a shame it is that players such as this always take the ME out of the word TEAM and miss the point. Imagine what their overall contribution to the TEAM could be, how TEAM contribution does not detract from individual contribution; how selflessness for the sake of TEAM UNITY, how taking the HIGH ROAD FOR THE BETTER GOOD could translate an above average career into a stellar one in the end? Can you imagine a Terrell Owens with the class of a Curtis Martin? So yes, in that regard, I think it is a cancer, it's disruptive; and again, who knows why Parcells tolerated his garbage seeing as Parcells was generally intolerant of any such thing. This isn't to say that a little arrogance is harmful. One has to believe in oneself to succeed, but it should be tempered with humility when necessary, which is the mark of the bigger person in a team situation. Call me a sap, but a few more players with the temperament and the carriage of a Walter Payton to balance out the selfish dreck could go a long way. It's disheartening at times. Stale and irritating always. Just my thoughts.

 

Heh. I edited the title to reflect what you really wanted to say, JTuds. Wel, what I HOPE you were trying to say, anyway

 

:rofl: I remember that! Poor Meshawn wanted to smile for the good of the team but he just couldn't quite force it enough. :rofl:

 

Because Chrebet had half the talent, half the production, and 10x the fan and media appreciation because he was the short slow white kid from long island.

And it was Keyshawns swagger, cockiness, desire and expectation to win, that attitude he had which changed the team. Before Keyshawn losing was expected, he changed that expectation, and Chrebet got all the glory.

In his career Keyshawn caught more balls on 3rd down for 1st down (in fewer games played) then Chrebet, but Chrebet was all "Mr. 3rd down".

But hey, Chrebet was every short slow white guy from the suburbs who thought 'hey, maybe if I have enough grit I can make the NFL'.

 

Did you notice the quote "white guy" in Hot Rod's post?

Yes he was jealous of Chrebet, but the other issue that in my presonal opinion bothered Keyshawn was that Chrebet was a big fan favorite - and part of the reason was Chrebet is white.

So, to go along with the local angle - NJ boy who went to Hofstra - Chrebet was a fan favorite AND the "great white" favorite at that.

I have little doubt race did have something to do with Keyshawn's issues with Chrebet. Unfortunately that it 100% on Keyshawn - because if he didn't act like such a jerk, he'd have been beloved in NYC regardless of race.

 

I don't think John Fox will take too kindly to Johnson's potential crap.

Johnson did play with balls (read: had courage) just like Chrebet.

Johnson is one of the most fearless receivers I've ever seen. He's up there with Al Toon, Art Monk, Charley Taylor (toughest receiver ever, in my opinion), Wayne Chrebet, Fred Biletnikoff, and Jerry Rice.

Plus, Johnson is an excellent blocker. Ranks right up there with Rice, Taylor, and Paul Warfield in that department.

I also enjoyed Johnson ripping on Warren Sapp. (I can't stomach Sapp's act. One of the most annoying NFL players of all time.) Hopefully, Kris Jenkins (another anti-Sapp guy) doesn't get hurt again. I can't wait for the pre-game comments from Johnson and Jenkins before the first CAR-TB game on November 6.

With that all said, I'm with you folks in terms of likability.

Chrebet > Johnson > Sapp

 

If you don't get the lead role for Hoosiers II, somebody's missing the boat.

 

Saying the only reason people preferred Wayne over Keyshawn was skin color misses the boat. However sarcastically, you did call him "Mr. Third Down" yourself, which gives away what Chrebet was loved for beyond that lovely manilla epidermis.

Yes Keyshawn has caught more passes, but I wonder how many more of them he caught while both played on the Jets. For the first few seasons of their joint careers, I'm sure Johnson was the more productive receiver but I suspect Chrebet made more third-down receptions for first down. Definitely Johnson was more talented, and in the last few seasons has remained a blue-chip WR while Chrebet declined, but Chrebet was every bit the gamer Johnson was, and in some games, made more of a difference. If not, I'm sure Johnson wouldn't have resented him as much, whatever Chrebet's skin color.

Chrebet may just be "every short slow white guy from the suburbs who thought 'hey, maybe if I have enough grit I can make the NFL'" to you, but you're ignoring one thing: He did make the NFL. And by the way, he was pretty fast, too. Ask any corner who played him.

 

I think you overstate the relative performance and abilities of the two, but broadly speaking there is no doubt that Johnson was the better NFL player and less appreciated by the fans.

The place where your analysis falters, I think, is that it took less than one season for Johnson to lay his contempt for Chrebet out for all to see. He didn't just want to be considered the man - he demanded that everyone loudly proclaim him the man from the first day he walked on the field, and that's just ridiculous. Chrebet kept his mouth shut, which was a much smarter thing to do.

 

BINGO!

Does anyone remember the dinner party Meshawn threw for his old Jets team mates when they traveled to TB for a game that year? He entertained about 14 guys. All black players. He never, ever trashed a black team mate, and the press gave him a free pass on all of it.

 

You nailed it Jeff. :up: That's what burned me about Keshawn. He thought since he was the better player, (and let's face it, he was)He probably assumed the fan base should shift to him. The more he spouted off about Chrebet, the more Chrebet just let it slide. Who was the bigger man? Wayne was, hands down. That's what kept the fans.

I still have my #19 Johnson jersey that I just HAD to have the day after the draft. :rofl2:

 

To Keyshawn's credit(?), he did say nice things about Chrebet on the day of his retirement. Of course, that might have been too little, too late. But, Johnson's dissing of Chrebet probably made Wayne more money (the "underdog" label) and popular, so I guess it all worked out in the end.

 

I also remember Keyshawn buying rolexes for all thre qb's on the roster (two of whom were white.. and whatever ray lucas is). Sorry but Keyshawn never rubbed me as a racist. Egotistical prick yes, but racist no.

 

ding ding ding

 

I always liked Keyshawn. He will be a big help to the Panthers this season. The Jets still haven't found a quality replacement for his over the middle ability.

We also don't know what happens behind the scenes and in the locker room.