I wouldn't say MJ was on the verge of putting it all together.  He didn't suit a full season since his rookie year and his yards per reception dropped a full 4 yards from his career best in 2006 (15.7 per catch) to his final year on the team in 2008 (11.7 per catch).  I think his public appearance representing the team at a local elementary school and reading to the kids in a wife beater and flip flops indicates he might have had the problem in the first place which likely impacted his play on the field.  I never understood how a guy that fast was so slow coming off the line.  His last season here set a career low for him with 2 TDs. 

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