A further question: Since he’s on the inactive list (or, more accurately, is decativated for each remaining game), he’s ostensibly still the property of Tampa Bay. I heard this morning that he’ll be an in-studio analyst for Fox Sports. Can we assume this is done with Tampa Bay’s blessing? That is, if they didn’t want him to appear on TV, they could do so, right?
(caveat: I don’t have the text of Keyshawn’s contract in my hand.)
It’s very doubtful that KJ’s contract would have any language that would preclude Keyshawn from appearing in the media in any fashion. Pro football contracts are not exclusive-employment deals – they essentially only cover actual football activity plus typical preclusions of risky activities that might interfere with a player’s availablility to the team.
There are some exceptions to the above – for example, the Cinicnnati Bengals have added anti-defamation clauses to their players’ contracts in recent years. But for the most part, the paragraph above hold true.
NFL players routinely moonlight in the media – and are typically compensated for their services. Weekly radio shows, local and national TV commercials, guest spots on TV and movies (Key once cameoed on the NBC sitcom Veronica’s Closet), and analyst positions on pre-game shows are all pretty typical activities for higher-profile NFL players.
You may recall seeing several NFL players this season guesting on CBS’s and FOX’s pregame shows during said players’ bye weeks. Keyshawn would be doing essentially the same thing, but he’s now got six consecutive bye weeks to work with.
Well, that’s true, and I wasn’t forgetting all of those jocks (this happens in the NHL, as well), but I always assumed those athletes had the explicit permission of their clubs to do so. I was thinking TB could prevent Johnson from doing this if they wanted to. After all, although he’s been deactivated and not permitted to practice with the team, he’s still a member. Wouldn’t they be afraid he’d just trash them all the time?
Not necessarily. I’m sure in most cases, though, the clubs and the players’ agents maintain ongoing and courteous communication about such “moonlighting”.
Not if it’s not spelled out in his contract.
<shrug> It is America, after all.
But consider – if Keyshawn commences to publicly trashing the Bucs at ever turn, he drastically lowers his market value as a free agent, which he will be upon his release next summer. It’s to his financial advantage to maintain a veneer of class while in the public eye – at least until his next contract is signed.
bordelond, you know that.
I know that.
I dunno if Keyshawn knows it - since he’s been trashing his team for months.
He seems to be low-keying it now, though. Keyshawn’s had ample opportunity this week to spew venom, yet he has refrained. And he’s been on television A LOT this week.
I’m eternally grateful that I’ve missed every sacred syllable that’s dripped from his misplaced orifice. 