Keyshawn Johnson is out of a job again. He was cut by the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday afternoon, just three days after the Panthers drafted his replacement on day-one of the NFL Draft. Johnson was covering the NFL Draft as an analyst for ESPN, and was ecstatic when the team chose Dwayne Jarret, who like Johnson played his college ball at USC. Johnson looked into the camera and addressed Jarrett, telling the rookie pass-catcher that he would take care of him in Carolina. Johnson didn’t know it at the time, but he won’t get that chance, as he’s now a free-agent.

A year ago at this time it was the Dallas Cowboys who had just released Johnson, a three-time Pro Bowler, who was the the first player selected in the 1996 NFL Draft. Johnson wasted little time in agreeing to terms with Carolina, whom he went on to have a productive season for in 2006. He made 70-catches and compiled 815-yards and even scored four touchdown’s as the second-option in Carolina’s passing game.

Johnson is now 34, and he hasn’t gone over 1,000-yards receiving since 2002. But he’s still very much a commodity as a possession-receiver, because he can line up in the slot and make catches across the middle. The former New York Jet, Tampa Bay Buccaneer, and Dallas Cowboy has made at least 70-catches and gone over the 800-yard mark in receiving four times in the last five years. He’s quite serviceable as a second-option, and is as conisisten a pass-catcher as there’s been in the NFL in the last decade. 

If I’m an NFL General Manager, I contact Jerome Stanley (Johnson’s agent) about bring in his aging client for a workout. There are a few teams in the league who are so stacked at receiver that they don’t need him, the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins come to mind, but the majority of the clubs in football could benefit from a veteran possession-receiver who isn’t afraid to go across the middle.

Most people think that Johnson is some kind of locker room cancer, or team-ruiner. That isn’t the case, nor has it ever been. He was once a problematic young player and a brash and cocky guy away from the field, but those days are behind him. He’s not ”Me-Shawn” anymore, because physically he’s not good enough to think that he should get the ball every play.

I wouldn’t hesitate about calling Johnson’s agent for a second if I’m a team in need of depth at the receiver position. Not only would I bring him to training camp this summer, but I’d play him. He’s still a valuable asset, and I’m sure he’ll play again in 2007. More than that, I’m sure he’ll play well.