According to CNNSI, Keyshawn Johnson turned down a two-year, $8 million deal to play for the Tennessee Titans. That's well above what I figured he would have been offered. Tennessee needs a replacement for Drew Bennett and they were apparently willing to pay for the mistake of letting him go to St. Louis. But according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, Keyshawn was asking for a two-year $12 million deal to play for the Titans, an amount they would never pay. I mean, Marvin Harrison will earn $4 million in 2007. And he's Marvin freakin' Harrison.

Geraldine Mitchell, mother of Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer on Monday, May 21.

Here is a statement from Brooks:
"As many of you are aware, my Mother recently lost her long battle with breast cancer. My family and I are truly appreciative of the support and well wishes we have received from my Buccaneer family and the entire Tampa Bay community. As we move forward one day at a time, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time."

Former Bucs tight end Ron Hall, the team’s fourth-round pick in 1987 out of Hawaii, died Saturday, according to the team. He was 43. His mother said he died at his home in Costa Rica of natural causes. Hall, born in Arizona, played seven seasons with the Bucs, starting 90 of the 101 games in which he played before signing with Detroit in 1994. He had his best season as a Buc in 1988, his first as a starter. He had 39 receptions that season for 555 yards, third on the team behind receivers Bruce Hill and Mark Carrier.

The Bucs took a look at free agent receiver Antonio Bryant earlier today, and early indications are they liked what they saw.

But that won't guarantee Bryant a job.

The sixth-year player was released by the 49ers after drawing a four-game suspension last season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He still has two games remaining on the suspension and would have to forfeit them with whatever team signs him for 2007. The suspension followed an arrest in November for reckless driving and resisting arrest, during which officers allege Bryant was driving his Lamborghini more than 100 mph. The 49ers decided to cut ties with Bryant despite giving him a four-year, $13.9-million contract in 2006.

Let's say you have mice in your house and you want them dead. So you buy a cat. But then you think maybe a cat isn't enough, so you buy a ferret. Then you put them both in a big burlap bag and shake them up. Then you throw some meth in the bag and shake it some more. Then you let them loose in the house. While the results may be entertaining to watch from afar, you will end up with a house that's been tore all to hell from the inside, and somehow still have a mouse problem. That's what signing Antonio Bryant will be like for Tampa Bay if he ends up on the roster along side Jerramy Stevens.

Bucs cornerback Brian Kelly counts Keyshawn Johnson as one of his closest friends, so he knew even before today's news that Johnson planned to retire and take a job with ESPN.

Asked to put Johnson's career in perspective, Kelly said: "I think he's a misunderstood player. At the end of the day, as a teammate, you'd like to have him because he plays hard on Sunday. He's just a little opinionated and maybe people can't handle that. But I think he had a great career."

Former Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson has decided to retire and pursue a broadcasting career, according to ESPN's John Clayton. Here is the story, from ESPN.com.

Brief background: Michael Vick is being investigated for being involved in a dog fighting operation in Virginia. Earlier this week, Clinton Portis made some statements defending Vick.

Remember Derek Watson? He was the peppy little running back that made some noise for the Bucs in the 2005 preseason, stuck around on the practice squad, was eventually promoted to the active roster, then was waived. If you read various Buccaneer message boards, you can still find folks hopeful that Watson will make his comeback and lead the team to the promised land. Between him and Larry Brackins, Tampa Bay could run the table, right? (that joke was for a particular audience.)