JUST SIGN THE DAMN RECEIVER

You can take a wide receiver out of New York, but you can’t take New York out of a wide receiver. So with that said, Keyshawn Johnson, who now claims he loved playing in New York, was across the Hudson on Tuesday to meet with Big Blue about a second stint in the Meadowlands, this time as a Giant instead of a Jet. It’s an interesting thought, especially since Keyshawn Johnson identifies himself with Los Angeles more than a David Lee Roth video. And as we all know, many Californians who’ve played for the Jets and Giants have said that winds of Giants Stadium, and it’s immediate surroundings, remind them of the breezes of Redondo Beach. Personally, I love the smell of Bain de Soleil while driving past the fuel tanks of Carteret, not to mention all those pick-up volleyball games at the Grover Cleveland Service Area.

All kidding aside, signing Keyshawn Johnson to the Giants could be interesting provided that the money’s right and (and this is a big and) that Keyshawn Johnson understands his role from the get-go (think Alfonso Soriano). True, he’s a chronic malcontent when not in the proper system, but with Tom Coughlin giving Plaxico Burress the kick in the ass he needed early in the season, as well as the fact that he was a wide receivers coach under Bill Parcells’ tutelage in the 1980s, Johnson and Coughlin just might be that oddball couple who winds up growing old together. For years, Johnson’s made no bones about giving his all for Bill Parcells with the Jets and Cowboys, and with Coughlin being cut from the same cloth, the loquacious Johnson just might know when to shut up if he wants to be happy.

With the Giants being about $4 million under the salary cap, signing Johnson to join an already well stocked corps of receivers may seem frivolous in terms of addressing their top priorities. One didn’t need Luminol to detect that the real bleeding came from the Giants’ linebackers and secondary. And with Will Allen signing with Miami, and Will Peterson’s career likely over, the Giants, despite acquiring Sam Madison, still have gaping holes to fill in their pass defense. On the linebacking front, it’s also been mentioned that LaVar Arrington (another chronic malcontent) would beautifully complement his former teammate Antonio Pierce, particularly in the wake of Barrett Green getting cut and Nick Greisen likely to be jettisoned as well. Word on the street is that Arrington wants around $15 million in guaranteed money before he signs with anyone. Right now it’s understood that cap-happy Cleveland is in the LaVar Arrington hunt, so signing Keyshawn Johnson could drain the Giant’s liquidity in a bidding war with the Browns.

Should Johnson become a Giant, it will expose how much those gritty seven and eight yard receptions were missed when the Giants cut Ike Hilliard in 2005. Despite the erratic, and, yes, disappointing performance of Eli Manning in the latter half of the 2005 season, the Giants offensive arsenal came with plenty of playmakers but still lacked a “go-to” receiver to move the chains. Johnson fills that void. No need to belabor all those botched third down conversions, however, a receiver like Johnson could be the final answer from taking the Giants offense beyond the cusp of contention and into prime time. Say what you want about his mouthy behavior and selfishness, Keyshawn Johnson still remains one of the toughest and most fearless receivers in the NFL. And with him as a legitimate threat in the slot position, expect another productive season by Tiki Barber enjoying the soft, drop back coverage by linebackers forced to spot Johnson. In addition, with Johnson in the scheme, the Giants could really open up the passing game by playing four wides. Such a formation could finally benefit receivers like Tim Carter and Jamaar Taylor, who have been waiting for breakout seasons for several years now. It’s no secret how Keyshawn Johnson’s presence has done much to elevate many of his past teammates into the limelight.

More than anything else, this is likely to be the final season for Giants’ General Manager, Ernie Accorsi who’s legacy will no doubt be determined by the production of Eli Manning. With yet another toy for Manning to play with, Accorsi’s betting the ranch on Manning’s pedigree may finally be insured. As for Manning though, should he have Johnson as a teammate, he’ll likely have a do-or-die type of season like Joey Harrington just had in Detroit. There is one way that Manning can shun the scrutiny…just get Keyshawn the damn ball.