Jets Beat Bucs, Keyshawn Johnson
T A M P A, Fla., Sept. 25 -- The flashlight was brighter than the star.
Wayne Chrebet upstaged former teammate Keyshawn Johnson onSunday, catching an 18-yard touchdown pass from running back CurtisMartin with 52 seconds remaining to give the New York Jets a 21-17victory over Tampa Bay.
Johnson was a frequent critic of Chrebet when both were with theJets and even wrote about it in the book Just Give Me the DamnBall. Johnson disrespected Chrebet again in the week leading tothe game matching 3-0 teams.
The Buccaneers receiver also likened his former teammate to aflashlight and himself to a star. Chrebet didn’t respond before thegame, and he said the winning catch wasn’t a message for Johnson,either.
“It’s not about that, guys. You’re losing sight of what’simportant here,” Chrebet said.
“The New York Jets are 4-0. We haven’t been in this situation in,I don’t know — ever. This is a big 180. We used to lose games likethis. I think that’s so important. I can stand up here and saythings and point fingers, but I’m bigger than that.”
Digging Deep to Win
Johnson, traded to the Bucs for a pair of first-round draftpicks in April, caught only one pass for 1 yard. And for the thirdtime in their four games, the Jets came back to win after trailingin the fourth quarter.
“They dug deep. They have the heart to continue to fightback,” Johnson said of his old team. “They did the job. What moreare you going to say?”
Vinny Testaverde, playing for the first time in eight years inthe city where he spent the first six seasons of his NFL career,bounced back from throwing three interceptions to get the Jets inthe end zone twice in the final two minutes.
Victor Green recovered Mike Alstott’s fumble at the Tampa Bay 24to set up the winning score, two plays after Testaverde’s 6-yard TDpass to Martin and a 2-point conversion pass made it 17-14.