Keyshawn Johnson

Johnson’s dispute with the Jets is multi-faceted. He wanted the Jets to restructure his rookie deal in 2000 following back-to-back Pro Bowl and 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Instead, after a tumultuous four-month stretch that year that included a new owner and two new head coaches, the Jets dealt Johnson to Tampa Bay for two first-round picks.

After Bill Parcells retired to the front office, Bill Belichick resigned as head coach, citing instability following the sale of the team to Woody Johnson. New coach Al Groh became disgruntled with Johnson’s contract demands and traded him even though Johnson said that Parcells tried to rework the deal earlier. 

”Once Bill stepped aside, and Bill Belichick took over, I felt confident they would still be able to do something. Once the second Bill left, it was left to the newcomers, and it didn’t come together because Parcells wasn’t as involved as you think,” Johnson told the New York Times after he was traded. ”I wanted to stay in New York as bad as anybody ever. Bill Parcells tried to address the issue. The new people came in and they wanted to go in another direction.”