Did Chad Johnson Hit Marvin Lewis? (1 Viewer)

[fatness]

According to PFT, one of the Bengals players at that time, Shaun Smith, says that Johnson hit Lewis at halftime of the Bengals/Steelers playoff game in 2006.

We made one of our biggest stirs ever with this blurb from the evening of January 9, 2006:

“A league source tells us that multiple members of the Cincinnati Bengals witnessed a troubling incident as the team prepared to take the field for the second half of Sunday’s playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Per the source, the last few minutes of intermission were ticking away, when the players were startled by the sight and sound of a helmet slamming against the glass pane of the training room door. Inside, receiver Chad Johnson and receivers coach Hue Jackson were engaged in an altercation. At one point, Johnson was seen holding Jackson in a headlock. “Coach Marvin Lewis entered the training room to intervene, and Johnson (per the source) took a swing at him.”

The team denied any such incident, and Johnson called a press conference for the sole purpose of claiming that nothing happened. Boomer Esiason of CBS partially corroborated our report, and Johnson eventually would concede that something happened.

More than two years later, one of the players who witnessed the incident has shared his perceptions with the world, courtesy of the magic that is YouTube. On Monday night, speaking at a recent meeting of the Central Maryland Browns Backers, former Bengals defensive tackle Shaun Smith acknowledged that Chad Johnson took a swing at Lewis — and made contact.

Asked at the 5:20 mark of the clip about the incident that occurred in the team’s locker room during the only playoff game of the Lewis era, Smith said of Johnson: “He swung on Marvin. . . . [Johnson] shattered the training room glass. . . . He swung on Marving [and] hit Marvin in the eye. . . . Then he tried to swing on wide receivers coach Hue Jackson, who’s now in Baltimore.”

There was also a link to YouTube video of Smith's speech, but it has been taken down.

 

[bcat01]

Smith has been talking alot since he left. Hard to tell if it's true or not.

 

[JohnnyU]

Someone needed to knock the stupid out of him.................jk

 

[NorrisB]

Someone needed to knock the stupid out of him.................jk

As a Bengal fan I agree with these

 

[DinkinFlicka]

Shaun Smith YouTube clip:

 

[Kirby]

POW! Right in the kisser!

 

[Bobcat10]

Smith has been talking alot since he left. Hard to tell if it's true or not.

Nice name.I agree, he's talked alot about Cincy. Not a nice divorce there. He jawwed all game with their sideline too.

 

[Couch Potato]

Goes to show the difference between a star and a nobody. If some backup had popped Marvin, he would have been off the team in 2 seconds. With Chad, Marvin has made it clear even recently that he's not going anywhere. So, there wasn't a plan to unload Chad after the incident, and there isn't a plan to do so 1 1/2 years later. Chad seems to want to leave though, so maybe he needs to hit him again, but harder this time.

 

[vandyt]

This is just one of the rumors PFT has made up over the years. Now they are bringing in NFL players to help cover their lies.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

Someone needed to knock the stupid out of him.................jk

I don't think 85 is strong enough to hit him that hard.

 

[Couch Potato]

This is just one of the rumors PFT has made up over the years. Now they are bringing in NFL players to help cover their lies.

ohhhhhhh kayyyyyy...

 

[BigJim®]

This is just one of the rumors PFT has made up over the years. Now they are bringing in NFL players to help cover their lies.

ohhhhhhh kayyyyyy...

I read that as great sarcasm. Either that or ditto.

 

[Couch Potato]

This is just one of the rumors PFT has made up over the years. Now they are bringing in NFL players to help cover their lies.

ohhhhhhh kayyyyyy...

I read that as great sarcasm. Either that or ditto.

Ah. I didn't think of the sarcasm angle. Maybe you're right. Maybe.

 

[knowledge dropper]

There are two reasons I don't believe the story:

1) If Marvin was punched in the face, he did not have a mark on him when he went out and coached the second half.

2) As others mentioned Smith has made an idiot of himself since leaving the Bengals. His behavior in the game where the Bengals eliminated the Browns from the playoffs was disgraceful. He even got flagged for pushing the kicker. I think he has an axe to grind with Marvin and his lack of PT.

I am no CJ fan, I think he is a grade A loser, but I don't buy this story. There is no way they could have buried something like this for 2 years.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

I cannot imagine why there are Chad Johnson trade rumors ... Bengals coaches love his locker room presence

 

[Das Boot]

I cannot imagine why there are Chad Johnson trade rumors ... Bengals coaches love his locker room presence

 

[notdarkyet]

There are two reasons I don't believe the story:1) If Marvin was punched in the face, he did not have a mark on him when he went out and coached the second half.2) As others mentioned Smith has made an idiot of himself since leaving the Bengals. His behavior in the game where the Bengals eliminated the Browns from the playoffs was disgraceful. He even got flagged for pushing the kicker. I think he has an axe to grind with Marvin and his lack of PT. I am no CJ fan, I think he is a grade A loser, but I don't buy this story. There is no way they could have buried something like this for 2 years.

1. Post game press conference, his eye looks a little swollen.2. Smith still talks to Marvin, and in facts talked to him the very day that the video was taken. I wouldnt be surprised if Marvin called him and got Smith to track down the poster of the vid and remove it.3. There are many that acknowledge that something happened, some have said that Chad took a swing, this is the first that someone said he landed. Nobody in the lockerroom has gone on record til now, but the statements have been made to former players like Dave Lapham.

 

[TD32]

I was up 46 rows in the endzone during this game. I also felt like I had be punched.

 

[notdarkyet]

I was up 46 rows in the endzone during this game. I also felt like I had be punched.

5th row north endzone. One of the suckiest days ever.

 

[malaka]

There are two reasons I don't believe the story:1) If Marvin was punched in the face, he did not have a mark on him when he went out and coached the second half.2) As others mentioned Smith has made an idiot of himself since leaving the Bengals. His behavior in the game where the Bengals eliminated the Browns from the playoffs was disgraceful. He even got flagged for pushing the kicker. I think he has an axe to grind with Marvin and his lack of PT. I am no CJ fan, I think he is a grade A loser, but I don't buy this story. There is no way they could have buried something like this for 2 years.

1. Post game press conference, his eye looks a little swollen.2. Smith still talks to Marvin, and in facts talked to him the very day that the video was taken. I wouldnt be surprised if Marvin called him and got Smith to track down the poster of the vid and remove it.3. There are many that acknowledge that something happened, some have said that Chad took a swing, this is the first that someone said he landed. Nobody in the lockerroom has gone on record til now, but the statements have been made to former players like Dave Lapham.

1. just watch the post game conference after the playoffs, must of got punched in both eyes, they both look pretty much alike2. Please provide these facts that Smith still talks to Marvin and "IN FACT" talked him the very day the video was taken.3. Something may have happen in the locker room, but I find it strange that after this incident Chad signs a extended contract for more money.

 

[Stillers Jr.]

I was up 46 rows in the endzone during this game. I also felt like I had be punched.

5th row north endzone. One of the suckiest days ever.

I disagree, I loved it.One of the best days evah.

 

[notdarkyet]

There are two reasons I don't believe the story:1) If Marvin was punched in the face, he did not have a mark on him when he went out and coached the second half.2) As others mentioned Smith has made an idiot of himself since leaving the Bengals. His behavior in the game where the Bengals eliminated the Browns from the playoffs was disgraceful. He even got flagged for pushing the kicker. I think he has an axe to grind with Marvin and his lack of PT. I am no CJ fan, I think he is a grade A loser, but I don't buy this story. There is no way they could have buried something like this for 2 years.

1. Post game press conference, his eye looks a little swollen.2. Smith still talks to Marvin, and in facts talked to him the very day that the video was taken. I wouldnt be surprised if Marvin called him and got Smith to track down the poster of the vid and remove it.3. There are many that acknowledge that something happened, some have said that Chad took a swing, this is the first that someone said he landed. Nobody in the lockerroom has gone on record til now, but the statements have been made to former players like Dave Lapham.

1. just watch the post game conference after the playoffs, must of got punched in both eyes, they both look pretty much alike2. Please provide these facts that Smith still talks to Marvin and "IN FACT" talked him the very day the video was taken.3. Something may have happen in the locker room, but I find it strange that after this incident Chad signs a extended contract for more money.

1. Yea, his eyes always look weird, looks like he is drunk half the time. 2. Said so in that very video. 3. Nobody ever accused the Brown family of smart business decisions. Something definately happened. Players have told Boomer and Dave Lapham about it. Obviously not on the record so as to not violate the "locker room code", but as I see it there is no reason for Lapham or Boomer to have lied about being told that.

I was up 46 rows in the endzone during this game. I also felt like I had be punched.

5th row north endzone. One of the suckiest days ever.

I disagree, I loved it.One of the best days evah.

Stay classy Steeler fan.

 

[Stillers Jr.]

Stay classy Steeler fan.

Umm ok.

 

[malaka]

There are two reasons I don't believe the story:1) If Marvin was punched in the face, he did not have a mark on him when he went out and coached the second half.2) As others mentioned Smith has made an idiot of himself since leaving the Bengals. His behavior in the game where the Bengals eliminated the Browns from the playoffs was disgraceful. He even got flagged for pushing the kicker. I think he has an axe to grind with Marvin and his lack of PT. I am no CJ fan, I think he is a grade A loser, but I don't buy this story. There is no way they could have buried something like this for 2 years.

1. Post game press conference, his eye looks a little swollen.2. Smith still talks to Marvin, and in facts talked to him the very day that the video was taken. I wouldnt be surprised if Marvin called him and got Smith to track down the poster of the vid and remove it.3. There are many that acknowledge that something happened, some have said that Chad took a swing, this is the first that someone said he landed. Nobody in the lockerroom has gone on record til now, but the statements have been made to former players like Dave Lapham.

1. just watch the post game conference after the playoffs, must of got punched in both eyes, they both look pretty much alike2. Please provide these facts that Smith still talks to Marvin and "IN FACT" talked him the very day the video was taken.3. Something may have happen in the locker room, but I find it strange that after this incident Chad signs a extended contract for more money.

1. Yea, his eyes always look weird, looks like he is drunk half the time. 2. Said so in that very video. 3. Nobody ever accused the Brown family of smart business decisions. Something definately happened. Players have told Boomer and Dave Lapham about it. Obviously not on the record so as to not violate the "locker room code", but as I see it there is no reason for Lapham or Boomer to have lied about being told that.I am sure something happened, but a punch in the eye seems a little far fetched. I am sure players or player who told Boomer and Lapham is the very Shaun Smith. Seem to recall when Cincy refuse to match Cleveland's offer for Shaun Smith, something was said about who ever leaking what happen in the locker room was no longer on the team. Its seem funny that there are plenty of other players who were in the same locker room and are no longer Bengals and yet Shaun Smith who according to him is still friends with Marvin Lewis is the only one telling this story, at a Browns' backer meeting no less.No doubt the Brown family Paul Brown being the exception isn't know for sound business decisions, however if this exact incident happen a punch in the eye, I would think Marvin Lewis would of had some say so, after that playoff game and that season, Marvin was still considered the team saviour.

I was up 46 rows in the endzone during this game. I also felt like I had be punched.

5th row north endzone. One of the suckiest days ever.

I disagree, I loved it.One of the best days evah.

Stay classy Steeler fan.

 

[Da Guru]

This story is no secret. It was rumored the day after it happpened.

 

[notdarkyet]

I am sure something happened, but a punch in the eye seems a little far fetched. I am sure players or player who told Boomer and Lapham is the very Shaun Smith. Seem to recall when Cincy refuse to match Cleveland's offer for Shaun Smith, something was said about who ever leaking what happen in the locker room was no longer on the team. Its seem funny that there are plenty of other players who were in the same locker room and are no longer Bengals and yet Shaun Smith who according to him is still friends with Marvin Lewis is the only one telling this story, at a Browns' backer meeting no less.No doubt the Brown family Paul Brown being the exception isn't know for sound business decisions, however if this exact incident happen a punch in the eye, I would think Marvin Lewis would of had some say so, after that playoff game and that season, Marvin was still considered the team saviour.

It doesn't really matter, but Lance McAlister, of local radio station 1530homer stated that those that know the situation said that Shaun Smith was not the initial leak that was removed from the team. Its all moot as nobody will go on record to corroborate the story. Its very possible that he didnt actually land the punch, but I do believe a punch was thrown. Might not have even been thrown at Marvin. Word is that Marvin wanted to keep Shaun Smith, but was overruled by the Brown family. All I know is the Bengals are a disfunctionally run organization. Mike cares about money, not football. Chad is the most marketed player on the team, he isnt going anywhere anytime soon, as he makes Mike money. It has been said time and again that there are two sets of rules, one for Chad and one for everyone else, and most say it started with the halftime incident. There is resentment by some in the organization that there is a double standard, and I believe that is part of the reason that Marvin doesnt seem to have control over the team. As they say, winning cures all, but when you are losing and there are issues like this, it just festers that much more. Hopefully they can get it turned around, as I am pretty tired of hearing this same crap over and over.

 

[notdarkyet]

Hue Jackson refutes Shaun Smith version of the story.

HUE SPEAKS ON 2006 INCIDENT

Former Bengals receivers coach Hue Jackson, who presently works for the Ravens, addressed over the weekend the recent comments from former Bengals defensive tackle Shaun Smith, who confirmed that Bengals receiver Chad Johnson went bonkos in the locker room during halftime of a January 2006 playoff loss to the Steelers.

Here's what Hue said on Sirius NFL Radio, via the Cincinnati Enquirer:

"No, he's not accurate. I've heard about it, obviously; someone called me yesterday to mention it to me. And if Shaun did say that I'm a little surprised because, first, Shaun doesn't work in Cincinnati anymore. Shaun works for Cleveland, and I don't know how that would come back up again when it has been dead now for a couple of years."

Okay, let's hit the "pause" button. How does the fact that Smith "doesn't work in Cincinnati anymore" make his version of the events less credible? And as to Jackson's confusion as to how the issue came up, anyone who saw the video before it was taken down from YouTube knows that the matter resurfaced because someone at the meeting of the Central Maryland Browns Backers specifically asked Smith about it, and because whoever taped it decided to post it on YouTube.

"To shed light on it I'll say the same thing I said before. Chad Johnson never hit Marvin Lewis. Chad Johnson never hit me. Chad Johnson never put anybody in a headlock. Chad Johnson was very emotional at halftime of that game. The true story to all that was Chad had an IV in his arm and me and him were talking about plans for the second half and he got emotional because he said, 'Hey, coach, without Carson [Palmer] I'm not going to be able to get the ball.'

"And that's what it was and I told him, `Well, then you need to tell [offensive coordinator] Coach Bratkowski that.' And he ripped the IV out of his arm, and it's like anything else, you see blood coming out of a person's arm people think the worst. And he went from there to go into the locker room to let Coach Lewis know that, 'Hey, look, I want the ball.' And that was it. And when he opened the door he stumbled out of the training room so he was flailing and people think that he was swinging on people. Chad wasn't swinging on anybody. Chad would not hit Marvin Lewis, and Chad sure would not hit me. So that is not what happened and I'm very disappointed that now, even after two years, we have to discuss this again. But that is exactly what happened."

Their Source, Cincinnati Enquirer http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/