Johnson turns down Titans, will retire - ESPN
Keyshawn Johnson has declined an offer from the Tennessee Titans and has decided to retire.

The wide receiver, who also expected to receive an offer from the Oakland Raiders, is expected to announce his decision at a Wednesday afternoon news conference at his alma mater of USC, his agent, Jerome Stanley, told ESPN.com's John Clayton.

Stanley said Johnson is expected to pursue a broadcasting career.

"The timing of it was just right," Stanley said. "There were a couple of slots open in broadcasting...

Leinart throws celeb-studded birthday bash in Scottsdale - Arizona Republic
What’s the point in being young, rich and famous if you can’t have a star-studded birthday bash?

No point at all.

So Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart kicked off his 24th birthday celebration Saturday afternoon, May 19, at the Mondrian Scottsdale.

Celebrities who partied by the pool with him included Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo.

Following a private barbecue, Leinart and his friends made their way to Skybar and continued celebrating VIP style until the club opened to the general public at 10:30 p.m.

Party with the unwashed? Please...

Also, Cardinals digesting playbook - East Valley Tribune

Seau is back on the inside - Boston Globe
Junior Seau is staying in school.

The 38-year-old linebacker officially signed on for his second year of postgraduate work yesterday, inking a one-year deal with the Patriots. The move was anticipated...

...The signing comes less than two years after Seau said he was graduating from football, not necessarily retiring. At the time, following 13 years with the Chargers and three with the Dolphins, he said he would play if the right situation presented itself...

...Seau, now entering his 18th NFL season, later told the "Patriots All-Access" television show that he had two plates inserted in his arm, with 14 screws.

With Seau in the fold, the linebacker corps gets a boost...

Also, Pats officially get Seau back - Boston Herald

Former Arkansas QB Mustain enrolls at USC - LA Times
After five months of considering his options, quarterback Mitch Mustain officially left Arkansas behind and enrolled at USC on Monday.

"I spent one day in class and I love it here," said Mustain...

...Mustain, who is 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds, passed for nearly 900 yards and 10 touchdowns last season...

..."We're excited about him," USC Coach Pete Carroll said. "I think it's a great investment in the future...

...Mustain is the second Arkansas player to transfer to USC since the end of the season. Receiver Damian Williams...enrolled in January and is recovering from shoulder surgery. He also will be eligible in 2008...

Also, Mustain enrolls at USC - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Mustain makes transfer to USC official - OC Register
Mustain attending classes at USC - Pine Bluff Commercial
[Caparell] But Will He Play? - CSTV.com

No Helmet, No Pads, No Escape - NY Times
When Johnnie Morton finished playing wide receiver in the National Football League, he carefully reviewed his retirement options: be host of a talk show, expand his real estate profile, maybe work on his golf game.

After much consideration, Morton decided that it would be best to spend his free time being body slammed into a chain-link fence by two men named Joker and Gun.

“Crazy, huh?” Joker said...

...Together, they are teaching Morton how to compete in mixed martial arts, one of the few sports that may be more violent and more dangerous than professional football.

[Maisel and Schlabach] Can't wait to see these things this fall - ESPN
[Maisel]...OK, seriously: who plays tailback at Tailback U.? If you have 10 running backs, as USC will have on scholarship this fall, do you have one? And will it matter to the consensus preseason No. 1? It sure would help if quarterback John David Booty discovers a go-to receiver in the huddle. Patrick Turner is the leading candidate but has never held the job...

[Schlabach]...Will Pete Carroll simply plug holes with more high school All-Americans? The Trojans are the consensus preseason No. 1 after blasting Michigan 32-18 in the Rose Bowl. Quarterback John David Booty played spectacularly against the Wolverines, but top targets Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett are gone. Remember these names for the fall: Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazelton...

In private equity, he is calling big plays - LA Times
The website of his private equity firm notes that Pat Haden graduated Phi Beta Kappa from USC, was a Rhodes scholar and earned his law degree...

...Absent is any mention of his standout college and professional football careers.

That's the way Haden likes it.

"I try to distance myself to a certain extent from my athletic career," he says. "We've all seen athletes who hang on to their glory days a little too long."

At a time of life when many ex-jocks are reminiscing about their playing days, Haden, 54, is well into his second — make that third — career, as a partner at Westwood-based Riordan, Lewis & Haden...

MAKING HIS MOVE - New Orleans Times-Picayune
...John Curtis' Joe McKnight has been through it, seen it all, and he knows one thing, he said. It's time to move on. He's always in the fast lane, it seems...

... He said he's not worried about the change in lifestyle, the pace of the area he's going to be living in, school or competition on the Trojans football team, which has seven signed running backs who will be freshmen or sophomores this fall...

..."I'm expecting to go out there and prove to them that I'm not just some little Louisiana boy. I'm going to prove myself to them...

...McKnight has been out there a couple of times, and he said the lifestyle changes won't be significant. But even if they were, that would be a plus...

Also, Star recruit has folks upset back home - LA Times