Gunzlingr
05-05-2003, 08:51 AM
TAMPA - No Buccaneer shelved last year's championship memories more quickly than Keyshawn Johnson, who celebrated NFL bragging rights for about a month before turning the Super Bowl page and picking up the 2003 playbook.
Tampa Bay's leading wide receiver appeared refreshed and energized during the Bucs' minicamp that concluded Sunday. Heading into the eighth season of a planned 10-year NFL career, Johnson said the Bucs offense should be more efficient the second time around under Coach Jon Gruden.
``We played better offensively as the year went on and I think that improvement will carry over into 2003,'' said Johnson, who also led the Bucs with 14 catches in the postseason. ``Gruden realized what we did best and those are the plays he focused on down the stretch. For instance, I was running slants in the Super Bowl until the cows came home.''
Gruden and Johnson, two strong personalities, have clashed on occasion. They had a memorable sideline confrontation last year and Johnson's absence from One Buc Place for much of the 2002 off-season irritated Tampa Bay's rookie coach.
``Going into Year 2 of our system will only help Keyshawn,'' Gruden said Sunday. ``He's been here for all of our passing camp dates and he's a leader on this team. So far, so good.''
MORE (http://bucs.tbo.com/bucs/MGAWCSDUBFD.html)
Tampa Bay's leading wide receiver appeared refreshed and energized during the Bucs' minicamp that concluded Sunday. Heading into the eighth season of a planned 10-year NFL career, Johnson said the Bucs offense should be more efficient the second time around under Coach Jon Gruden.
``We played better offensively as the year went on and I think that improvement will carry over into 2003,'' said Johnson, who also led the Bucs with 14 catches in the postseason. ``Gruden realized what we did best and those are the plays he focused on down the stretch. For instance, I was running slants in the Super Bowl until the cows came home.''
Gruden and Johnson, two strong personalities, have clashed on occasion. They had a memorable sideline confrontation last year and Johnson's absence from One Buc Place for much of the 2002 off-season irritated Tampa Bay's rookie coach.
``Going into Year 2 of our system will only help Keyshawn,'' Gruden said Sunday. ``He's been here for all of our passing camp dates and he's a leader on this team. So far, so good.''
MORE (http://bucs.tbo.com/bucs/MGAWCSDUBFD.html)