When Keyshawn Johnson was voted into the Pro Bowl, he promptly said he planned to invite his fellow receivers with him in February to Hawaii. That, Johnson said, included Wayne Chrebet.
Yesterday, Chrebet confirmed that he was indeed going to the Pro Bowl even though he wasn’t voted in to play.
But he’s not going as Johnson’s guest. Chrebet revealed that he’s going on Vinny Testaverde’s tab and that he never even heard from Johnson about going with him.
“If he did [invite me], I didn’t hear about it,” Chrebet said, then joking that he’s just as soon “take the cash.”
When he was told of Johnson’s public promise to invite the Jet receivers, Chrebet said, “You’ve got to look at why certain things are done sometimes; that’s all I’m going to say,” implying it was a public relations move on the part of Johnson, who called Chrebet the “team mascot” in his rookie-year book.
Chrebet actually said he and Testaverde had made a pact with each other that if one made it he would take the other.
“I’m going as Vinny’s guest,” Chrebet said. “Vinny had asked me as soon as the team was named.” *Jets LB Mo Lewis, who was recently voted into his first career Pro Bowl, yesterday was named to the Associated Press NFL All-Pro team.
“That’s great, but I’ve got to thank my teammates and coaches,” Lewis said. “The coaches have gotten me back into the business I needed to be in as a player.”
Bill Parcells said, “I just think everything went well for him this year. If you don’t win, you’re not going to get any recognition.” *Parcells went out of his way to praise RG Matt O’Dwyer, who’s been much maligned in his career for losing his temper on the field. He said, of all players that had crosses to bear, O’Dwyer had the biggest.
“I’ve seen [opposing players] try to goad him,” Parcells said. “Matt’s done a terrific job. He’s a changed player from what he was when I came here last year.” *Parcells said all the players practiced yesterday, including CB Aaron Glenn (sprained right ankle) and FB Keith Byars (fractured left arm), both of whom have missed the last three games.