Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Gruden had the right idea

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 | 10:10 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4076.

Jon Gruden found a simple solution to a yearlong problem.

Open the door, and throw away the Key.

Keyshawn Johnson, the outspoken Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass-catcher, had become even more disruptive than usual in recent weeks.

Johnson was placed on the team's Unable to Quit Whining List, and basically, is finished with the Bucs.

Just Throw Me the Damn Crying Towel. Gruden finally took a stand, and should be commended for it.

Keyshawn certainly isn't the only member of the All-Woe team. Several other players, even terrific talents, are detrimental to a team's overall success.

In Johnson's case, Gruden thought the best course of action was to remove him from action. The only beef I have with that is Johnson says he'll spend the rest of the season as a television analyst, and I think Gruden should have had at least a little more sympathy for the rest of us.

Still, finding the proper punishment for some locker-room problems, no matter how gifted the player is, can be difficult. A few ideas on a few players:

Terrell Owens has spent much of this season ripping Jeff Garcia's quarterback play as the Niners have struggled to a 5-5 mark. Solution: Dennis Erickson should tell Owens to prove his worth by forcing him to kick field goals. If the 49ers had a decent kicker, they'd be leading their division.

Charles Woodson claimed that just nine months after the Super Bowl, coach Bill Callahan was stubborn had lost control of his team. Solution: Make Woodson the defensive coordinator. Only four defenses give up more yards per game than the Raiders. Sorry, Charles, the offense was the key to Oakland's Super Bowl run last year.

David Boston was suspended for a game earlier after getting into a shouting match with an injured San Diego teammate and a run-in with the team's strength coach. Solution: Boston should be forced to wear his old Cardinals uniform at all times. He'll never complain again.

Kevin Johnson was cut by the Cleveland Browns, despite catching 315 passes since 1999, because he didn't meet the expectations of coach Butch Davis. Almost immediately, Johnson was picked up by Jacksonville, where he may play Sunday. Solution: Drop a few more passes, take a job in the tropics.