Ignatius Reilly
Footballguy
I know this isn't related to the topic, but is there any reason why Marvin Lewis is still coaching the Benglas at this point?
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Marvin: Bengals Ain't Tradin' Chad (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter QuizGuy66
- Start date
notdarkyet
Footballguy
Look how long it took Mike Brown to fire REALLY inept coaches. (Coslet, Shula, etc)
Marvin is gonna be a lifer unless he leaves on his own.
Marvin is gonna be a lifer unless he leaves on his own.
Das Boot
Footballguy
Palmer mostly mum regarding disgruntled WRs
By Michael Silver, Yahoo! Sports
March 21, 2008
Carson Palmer dropped back to pass, set his feet and surveyed his options. There were two of them, each just happy to be there. Palmer threw to a spot and smiled.
Homer and Chunk, the rottweilers that belong to the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, took off in hot pursuit across the baseball diamond of a La Jolla, Calif., park.
"I love throwing to my dogs," Palmer said by telephone Thursday morning. "They will do anything to get that ball back to me. I mean, they will literally have a heart attack and die before they stop running."
Then Palmer, a man whose sense of humor is as sharp as his passes, took a playful dig at his tandem of Pro Bowl receivers, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
"I put an 85 jersey on one (dog) and an 84 jersey on the other," Palmer said. "They fight over who gets the ball. It really relates well to the football field."
Yet Palmer is too diplomatic to say what he and most of his teammates are surely feeling right now – that Johnson's conspicuous and provocative expressions of his unhappiness in Cincinnati have become a major annoyance, and the problem seems destined to escalate.
This is a train wreck in waiting, but of immediate importance to Palmer is that neither Johnson nor Houshmandzadeh is likely to show up next week when the Bengals begin their voluntary offseason conditioning program. Palmer isn't overly stressed out about the impending absence of Houshmandzadeh, who caught a league-best 112 passes last season and sticks to a strict offseason training regimen in Los Angeles.
As for Johnson, last seen publicly pining for a trade to the Dallas Cowboys and the chance to play with (gulp) his apparent role model in disruptiveness, Terrell Owens, Palmer clearly doesn't want to be drawn into a controversy that shows no signs of abating.
"I'm not going to get involved in what's going on (with Johnson)," Palmer said. "I haven't talked to him. All I know is that I'm leaving Sunday for Cincinnati, and if he's there, great. If he's not there, I'll throw to the guys that are there and we'll try to get better together.
"I'll work with Marcus Maxwell, Bennie Brazell, Antonio Chatman and whoever else is there, and we'll try to get our routes and timing down for the season. If Chad shows up, great – he'll get better with all of us. If not, I don't know what's going to happen."
It's impossible to say for sure, but with the Bengals seemingly dug in against the possibility of giving Johnson what he wants – more money or a trade to another team – we all know where this is heading.
T.O. 2005, meet Ocho Cinco 2008.
"There are some similarities," conceded Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles three years ago when Owens became the NFL's disgruntled employee of the century. "Do I think Chad is capable of doing some of the things that T.O. does? I don't know. But if you were looking at his track record, you'd have to say yes. That's something Marvin (Lewis) and them will have to consider, because if it reaches that point, it's serious."
Johnson's unhappiness with the Bengals, which he began voicing in earnest before the Super Bowl, has already reached the semi-serious stage. That was clear on Wednesday when Johnson, appearing on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," openly campaigned for a trade to the Cowboys.
"If I end up in Dallas, I would just look at which finger I'm gonna put it on," Johnson said, presumably referring to a Super Bowl ring. "That's it. Ain't no ifs, ands or buts about it."
As to the prospect of playing with the equally tempestuous Owens, Johnson said, "That'd be a circus."
Do you think?
And do you think it's merely a coincidence that both receivers employ the same ringmaster, agent Drew Rosenhaus?
Next question.
After all, though Owens made an utter mess of his short-lived status in Philly as a valiant Super Bowl near-hero – ultimately agitating his way into a pair of suspensions that cost him more than half a season – his (and his agent's) strategy did ultimately pay off: T.O. was eventually released and signed with Dallas. He got the fat contract he sought and a chance to shine for a team that looks like it will contend for championships until he retires.
Though neither Rosenhaus nor Johnson returned phone calls seeking comment, it seems patently clear that Ocho Cinco is operating from the same playbook.
While making the interview rounds in Phoenix before Super Bowl XLII, Johnson hinted to anyone who'd listen that he'd prefer to wear a new jersey in '08. To Charlotte's WFNZ-AM, Johnson answered "definitely" when asked if he'd like to play for the Carolina Panthers, who employ Johnson's former Santa Monica College teammate, All-Pro Steve Smith. On Jim Rome's national radio show, Johnson alluded to his desire to be traded.
And on and on it went.
Lewis, Cincinnati's embattled coach in the wake of the team's disappointing '07 season, declined to comment Thursday on Johnson's latest expression of discontent. But last month Lewis firmly stated that Johnson, who is under contract through 2011, will remain property of the Bengals.
"They can stop the presses, quit killing trees and move on to other things," Lewis told the team's website. "There is, at no point, anyone in the Bengals organization who has ever uttered anything about trading Chad Johnson. Nor will he be traded."
If the Bengals hold firm, Johnson's options will be to a) shut up and play or b) become an even bigger disruption. Which do you think he's more likely to choose?
If you guessed the latter, get ready for the Cincinnati version of the Summer of T.O. Can crunches on the front lawn, snubbing the offensive coordinator's salutation or publicly ripping the starting quarterback be far behind?
"It becomes distracting to a certain extent, though it certainly doesn't bother me," Jones said of Johnson's posturing. "Is it out of the norm for Chad to speak up for what he wants? People have known Chad's a guy who likes to talk and dance in the end zone and do what he wants to do. People have seen him wear the Hall of Fame jacket and do the can-can and propose to a cheerleader in the end zone, so is it that surprising he'd make a fuss?
"With some teams it works, with others it doesn't. And players react differently when they want more money or to go somewhere else. Some plod through their job and move on. Other people make a movie about it. It's almost Hollywood. And it makes for an entertaining offseason."
I know Palmer pretty well, and I strongly suspect that the ultra-competitive quarterback is not especially entertained by Johnson's approach, even if he won't say so.
When I asked the quarterback about Houshmandzadeh's expected absence from the voluntary workouts, Palmer said, "I'm not worried about T.J. at all. He's got his own trainer in L.A. who works him very hard – I worked out with him a couple of times over the offseason, and I'll fly back a couple of more times and get a few sessions in.
"We've been together five years now. Our timing and rhythm is pretty good. I know he busts his butt every day. He does pilates and yoga and doesn't party. He'll show up for every OTA (offseason training activity) and workout and be good to go."
And Johnson?
"No comment," Palmer said.
As a certain purple-tie wearing agent might say, Next question.
By Michael Silver, Yahoo! Sports
March 21, 2008
Carson Palmer dropped back to pass, set his feet and surveyed his options. There were two of them, each just happy to be there. Palmer threw to a spot and smiled.
Homer and Chunk, the rottweilers that belong to the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, took off in hot pursuit across the baseball diamond of a La Jolla, Calif., park.
"I love throwing to my dogs," Palmer said by telephone Thursday morning. "They will do anything to get that ball back to me. I mean, they will literally have a heart attack and die before they stop running."
Then Palmer, a man whose sense of humor is as sharp as his passes, took a playful dig at his tandem of Pro Bowl receivers, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
"I put an 85 jersey on one (dog) and an 84 jersey on the other," Palmer said. "They fight over who gets the ball. It really relates well to the football field."
Yet Palmer is too diplomatic to say what he and most of his teammates are surely feeling right now – that Johnson's conspicuous and provocative expressions of his unhappiness in Cincinnati have become a major annoyance, and the problem seems destined to escalate.
This is a train wreck in waiting, but of immediate importance to Palmer is that neither Johnson nor Houshmandzadeh is likely to show up next week when the Bengals begin their voluntary offseason conditioning program. Palmer isn't overly stressed out about the impending absence of Houshmandzadeh, who caught a league-best 112 passes last season and sticks to a strict offseason training regimen in Los Angeles.
As for Johnson, last seen publicly pining for a trade to the Dallas Cowboys and the chance to play with (gulp) his apparent role model in disruptiveness, Terrell Owens, Palmer clearly doesn't want to be drawn into a controversy that shows no signs of abating.
"I'm not going to get involved in what's going on (with Johnson)," Palmer said. "I haven't talked to him. All I know is that I'm leaving Sunday for Cincinnati, and if he's there, great. If he's not there, I'll throw to the guys that are there and we'll try to get better together.
"I'll work with Marcus Maxwell, Bennie Brazell, Antonio Chatman and whoever else is there, and we'll try to get our routes and timing down for the season. If Chad shows up, great – he'll get better with all of us. If not, I don't know what's going to happen."
It's impossible to say for sure, but with the Bengals seemingly dug in against the possibility of giving Johnson what he wants – more money or a trade to another team – we all know where this is heading.
T.O. 2005, meet Ocho Cinco 2008.
"There are some similarities," conceded Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles three years ago when Owens became the NFL's disgruntled employee of the century. "Do I think Chad is capable of doing some of the things that T.O. does? I don't know. But if you were looking at his track record, you'd have to say yes. That's something Marvin (Lewis) and them will have to consider, because if it reaches that point, it's serious."
Johnson's unhappiness with the Bengals, which he began voicing in earnest before the Super Bowl, has already reached the semi-serious stage. That was clear on Wednesday when Johnson, appearing on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," openly campaigned for a trade to the Cowboys.
"If I end up in Dallas, I would just look at which finger I'm gonna put it on," Johnson said, presumably referring to a Super Bowl ring. "That's it. Ain't no ifs, ands or buts about it."
As to the prospect of playing with the equally tempestuous Owens, Johnson said, "That'd be a circus."
Do you think?
And do you think it's merely a coincidence that both receivers employ the same ringmaster, agent Drew Rosenhaus?
Next question.
After all, though Owens made an utter mess of his short-lived status in Philly as a valiant Super Bowl near-hero – ultimately agitating his way into a pair of suspensions that cost him more than half a season – his (and his agent's) strategy did ultimately pay off: T.O. was eventually released and signed with Dallas. He got the fat contract he sought and a chance to shine for a team that looks like it will contend for championships until he retires.
Though neither Rosenhaus nor Johnson returned phone calls seeking comment, it seems patently clear that Ocho Cinco is operating from the same playbook.
While making the interview rounds in Phoenix before Super Bowl XLII, Johnson hinted to anyone who'd listen that he'd prefer to wear a new jersey in '08. To Charlotte's WFNZ-AM, Johnson answered "definitely" when asked if he'd like to play for the Carolina Panthers, who employ Johnson's former Santa Monica College teammate, All-Pro Steve Smith. On Jim Rome's national radio show, Johnson alluded to his desire to be traded.
And on and on it went.
Lewis, Cincinnati's embattled coach in the wake of the team's disappointing '07 season, declined to comment Thursday on Johnson's latest expression of discontent. But last month Lewis firmly stated that Johnson, who is under contract through 2011, will remain property of the Bengals.
"They can stop the presses, quit killing trees and move on to other things," Lewis told the team's website. "There is, at no point, anyone in the Bengals organization who has ever uttered anything about trading Chad Johnson. Nor will he be traded."
If the Bengals hold firm, Johnson's options will be to a) shut up and play or b) become an even bigger disruption. Which do you think he's more likely to choose?
If you guessed the latter, get ready for the Cincinnati version of the Summer of T.O. Can crunches on the front lawn, snubbing the offensive coordinator's salutation or publicly ripping the starting quarterback be far behind?
"It becomes distracting to a certain extent, though it certainly doesn't bother me," Jones said of Johnson's posturing. "Is it out of the norm for Chad to speak up for what he wants? People have known Chad's a guy who likes to talk and dance in the end zone and do what he wants to do. People have seen him wear the Hall of Fame jacket and do the can-can and propose to a cheerleader in the end zone, so is it that surprising he'd make a fuss?
"With some teams it works, with others it doesn't. And players react differently when they want more money or to go somewhere else. Some plod through their job and move on. Other people make a movie about it. It's almost Hollywood. And it makes for an entertaining offseason."
I know Palmer pretty well, and I strongly suspect that the ultra-competitive quarterback is not especially entertained by Johnson's approach, even if he won't say so.
When I asked the quarterback about Houshmandzadeh's expected absence from the voluntary workouts, Palmer said, "I'm not worried about T.J. at all. He's got his own trainer in L.A. who works him very hard – I worked out with him a couple of times over the offseason, and I'll fly back a couple of more times and get a few sessions in.
"We've been together five years now. Our timing and rhythm is pretty good. I know he busts his butt every day. He does pilates and yoga and doesn't party. He'll show up for every OTA (offseason training activity) and workout and be good to go."
And Johnson?
"No comment," Palmer said.
As a certain purple-tie wearing agent might say, Next question.
twitch
Footballguy
Good piece in the previous post.
I admire how Cincinnati is handling this situation with Johnson right now. At least what Im able to hear about it publicly. There are many things that Chad Johnson either simply doesnt get, or just chooses to apparently ignore. He cant identify a fundamental difference between TO and TJ??? That's a good one, Chad. Personally, Id have been about ready to ship him out of town after he insulted every HOFer who's ever lived by throwing on that fake jacket after making a TD grab last season. His 'look at me Im famous, Ma' act is so tired, he really does need to be traded. (We should all be spared the entertainment when the act isnt all that entertaining.) But I appreciate the GUTS the Bengals are showing for NOT giving him what he somehow thinks he deserves. It was embarrassing what he did all during media week at the Superbowl. Talking to anyone with a mic, and repeatedly throwing his team under the bus in hopes of forcing a trade. And though I acknowledge that it doesnt really help the Bengals a whole lot by not trading him right now, and accepting what would probably be a 1st round pick to help their team improve in the very areas that are part of the reason 85 wants out, I still respect their stance to no end.
I wont go as far as to say Chad Johnson is a bad guy. I dont know him personally. Im sure he's charming. But the way he's going about his business right now in forcing his way out of town is just the wrong way to do it. And I dont know exactly what the right way would be in this case, but it surely isnt all of this. When some of these guys realize they dont actually need to sign on the dotted line and committ the next 5 or so years of their lives to a team, and just take it one year and 6 or 7 million bucks at a time, they'll make their own lives so much simpler.
Im feelin' ya, Bengals fans. I really am.
I admire how Cincinnati is handling this situation with Johnson right now. At least what Im able to hear about it publicly. There are many things that Chad Johnson either simply doesnt get, or just chooses to apparently ignore. He cant identify a fundamental difference between TO and TJ??? That's a good one, Chad. Personally, Id have been about ready to ship him out of town after he insulted every HOFer who's ever lived by throwing on that fake jacket after making a TD grab last season. His 'look at me Im famous, Ma' act is so tired, he really does need to be traded. (We should all be spared the entertainment when the act isnt all that entertaining.) But I appreciate the GUTS the Bengals are showing for NOT giving him what he somehow thinks he deserves. It was embarrassing what he did all during media week at the Superbowl. Talking to anyone with a mic, and repeatedly throwing his team under the bus in hopes of forcing a trade. And though I acknowledge that it doesnt really help the Bengals a whole lot by not trading him right now, and accepting what would probably be a 1st round pick to help their team improve in the very areas that are part of the reason 85 wants out, I still respect their stance to no end.
I wont go as far as to say Chad Johnson is a bad guy. I dont know him personally. Im sure he's charming. But the way he's going about his business right now in forcing his way out of town is just the wrong way to do it. And I dont know exactly what the right way would be in this case, but it surely isnt all of this. When some of these guys realize they dont actually need to sign on the dotted line and committ the next 5 or so years of their lives to a team, and just take it one year and 6 or 7 million bucks at a time, they'll make their own lives so much simpler.
Im feelin' ya, Bengals fans. I really am.
knowledge dropper
Footballguy
Reading between the lines on some quotes from Bengals vets is that they are all tired of Ocho Stinko and would not mind having him gone. I think they all want TJ to get paid instead and take their chances at their #2 WR spot. If Chris Henry stays out of trouble (big if), he can fill the Ocho Stinko role very well. Let's face it Ocho Stinko is a track guy. He does not block. He hates going over the middle. He gets 90% of his stats in 40% of his games. He drops the ball in big spots. Let some other team overpay for him, because he is not going to make a mediocre QB better and his best years are in the rear view mirror.
His contract is what will kill getting him off the Bengals. Mike Brown is not going to eat that much cash just to get rid of him. I wish he would.
His contract is what will kill getting him off the Bengals. Mike Brown is not going to eat that much cash just to get rid of him. I wish he would.
trader jake
Footballguy
Solid post twitch (and the ones below it). I agree but I just can't help asking myself what have Mike Brown and the Bengals organization done in the last decade to lead me to believe thet they are the ones to side with? What has Marvin Lewis done to make me believe that he is a head coach that players are willing to run through a brick wall for?I'm not saying I side with Ocho Cinco...just that I'm not sure that either side is one that I feel comfortable pointed at and saying, "Yeah, that side does things the right way and I agree with them."
massraider
Footballguy
I think you are pretty much wrong across the board. I don't think the Bengals are showing guts, they have a great player they want to play for them, and he would have a major impact on the cap this year if they did trade him. They aren't being smart, they just aren't being stupid.As to Chad, if a player wants out, this is exactly how it's done. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It's unfortunate, but the fact is, if a player quietly asks to be traded, and quietly goes about his business, behaving the way every fan thinks a pro athlete should behave, he won't get traded. Especially with a contract that makes no sense to trade. You think if Randy Moss worked hard in Oakland, he would have been traded? Is that the "right way" to do it? Should Chad not say anything to the press, and just dog it on the field? And as for players just signing one-year deal after one-year deal, that's bad for players and teams.
Kirby
Footballguy
That would be better than what he's been doing... talking #### in the press on top of dogging it on the field. How can someone make that much money and drop passes that hit them in the hands, then in the face. How can you ask for more money when you saunter out of bounds a few yards short on 4th down. Not a team player, no heart, can't catch easy passes and tries making acrobatic catches when he doesn't need to just so he can add to his highlight reel.Hopefully they trade his ### after June 1st so they can spread the 8 over 2 years. Get an extra 1st next year, pay TJ and have a healthy locker room.
trader jake
Footballguy
The Bengals problems are much bigger than Chad Johnson. However he's helping cover the stink emanating from the organization by being a pile himself right now.Kirby said:
massraider
Footballguy
I was unaware he was asking for more money. I am under the impression he wants out if Cincy. Going under that assumption (If it is true he wants more money, I am not defending that stance at all.), this is my opinion:The consensus seems to be that Cincy is a mess. I am slightly puzzled by the backlash to a player wanting out. You can find endless posts and comments of people commenting on the wonder that is Marvin Lewis' continued employment, and the police blotter roster. So a player on the team wants out, and people are offended by the very idea.I am not defending Chad's publicity tour. My point is that if you want out, and are under contract, this is the way you do it. You make your unhappiness known. Are there many instances of a player quietly requesting a trade, working hard, and getting his wish? I am sure there must be a few, but I am equally sure there are more example of players doing what Chad has been doing, and getting their way.I lost a lot of respect for Chad during the 2007 season, and even moreso in the offseason. His performance during the 2007 season was down, as was Palmer's, frankly. I saw Chad drop passes, and appear to run the wrong route, and I saw Palmer miss passes he normally made in the past. Chad went from part of the solution to part of the problem in 2007, and it seems to me Cincy should try and move him as soon as they can. But I don't think that is financially realistic till after 2008, if then. It is a rotten situation for Cincy, and it's all Chad's fault. What Chad should do is work as hard as he can in 2008, and try and force a trade again next year. It'll make him easier to trade.Kirby said:
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
Endless posts is correct. Please site a recent example regarding police blotter. You can't, because they've been very workmanlike in correcting that problem. As for Chad - he's in the top 2 in terms of WR targets last year (Housh is the other member of the top 2). So it's not the # of looks his way.
It's Rosenhaus. It's dollars. The guy wants a contract redo every single year apparently. They have paid him a lot of upfront money already (this is why the cap hit would be so huge in fact). He needs to suck it up, count his blessings and play. If he really wants out, he'll give back a huge chunk of that signing bonus and help facilitate a deal (I'm not holding my breath). Absent that, I'd just as soon see him sit out and pout than be given his bottle.
-QG
massraider
Footballguy
Just making the point that the perception of Cincy is one of a team in disarray. Not necessarily my personal feeling.
Das Boot
Footballguy
Bengals should trade Chad Johnson ASAP
By Clifton Brown - SportingNews 10 hours, 46 minutes ago
The Cincinnati Bengals should trade wide receiver Chad Johnson.
They have never won a playoff game with him. Coming off a 93-catch season, at age 30, Johnson’s trade value probably never will be higher. And if the Bengals stubbornly keep Johnson, they likely will face a dysfunctional season from an unhappy star player who clearly wants out.
This is not an easy situation for the Bengals, who keep insisting Johnson will not be traded. Trading Johnson, who is signed through 2011, would force the Bengals to take a huge salary cap hit this year, reportedly in the neighborhood of $8 million. Trading Johnson also would mean giving up one of the NFL’s best receivers.
But the longer this situation lasts, the more flammable it will get. Johnson already has skipped the Bengals’ strength and conditioning program. That is only the beginning.
Considering his outspoken history, it is almost impossible to imagine an unhappy Johnson reporting to training camp on time, keeping his mouth shut and not being a HUGE distraction.
If that happens, the Bengals’ chances of having a successful season go way down. Yes, the Bengals will avoid the salary cap hit and show Johnson who is boss. But if Johnson actually makes good on his threat to sit out the season, the Bengals will get nothing in return and still have the Johnson problem staring them in the face.
Trading Johnson means owner Mike Brown and coach Marvin Lewis would be giving into the demands of a disgruntled player. But that is not always a bad thing.
If the controversy surrounding Johnson seriously disrupts the team, everyone loses—Brown, Lewis and the Bengals. Remember when Terrell Owens and the Eagles had their nasty divorce in 2005? That season was a nightmare for the Eagles, who went from NFC champions to 6-10. But the next season, with Owens in Dallas, the Eagles bounced back and made the playoffs.
Both the Cowboys and the Eagles might be interested in a trade for Johnson, and having those two NFC East rivals vying for his services likely would increase his trade value. Perhaps the Bengals could fetch a future high draft pick or two, or a solid defensive player. Whether Johnson stays or not, the Bengals must improve their defense; adding draft picks and/or a veteran player might speed up that process.
Fortunes can change quickly in the NFL, but even with Johnson the Bengals do not look like a team on the verge of winning a Super Bowl. They have underachieved the past two seasons, and too many of their players, like Odell Thurman and Chris Henry, have caused distractions with off-field problems. They need a new direction, not more distractions. Trading Johnson would be a step toward that.
Lewis is right when he says Johnson has been well compensated by the Bengals. Johnson is a terrific player, but the Bengals gave him a new contract in 2006; if he wants more money, the Bengals should not give it to him.
Clearly, Johnson has a right to be frustrated by the team’s failure to make the playoffs, but he is not alone. Carson Palmer is frustrated, too, but he is not demanding a trade. Successful teams need star players who lead by example, especially when times are tough. But Johnson does not want to lead the Bengals. He wants to leave them.
After seven seasons in Cincinnati, Johnson has the itch to split and the Bengals should oblige him before the divorce gets really ugly. Take the salary cap hit and send Johnson packing. The time has come for the Bengals to say “Adios” to “Ocho Cinco.”
By Clifton Brown - SportingNews 10 hours, 46 minutes ago
The Cincinnati Bengals should trade wide receiver Chad Johnson.
They have never won a playoff game with him. Coming off a 93-catch season, at age 30, Johnson’s trade value probably never will be higher. And if the Bengals stubbornly keep Johnson, they likely will face a dysfunctional season from an unhappy star player who clearly wants out.
This is not an easy situation for the Bengals, who keep insisting Johnson will not be traded. Trading Johnson, who is signed through 2011, would force the Bengals to take a huge salary cap hit this year, reportedly in the neighborhood of $8 million. Trading Johnson also would mean giving up one of the NFL’s best receivers.
But the longer this situation lasts, the more flammable it will get. Johnson already has skipped the Bengals’ strength and conditioning program. That is only the beginning.
Considering his outspoken history, it is almost impossible to imagine an unhappy Johnson reporting to training camp on time, keeping his mouth shut and not being a HUGE distraction.
If that happens, the Bengals’ chances of having a successful season go way down. Yes, the Bengals will avoid the salary cap hit and show Johnson who is boss. But if Johnson actually makes good on his threat to sit out the season, the Bengals will get nothing in return and still have the Johnson problem staring them in the face.
Trading Johnson means owner Mike Brown and coach Marvin Lewis would be giving into the demands of a disgruntled player. But that is not always a bad thing.
If the controversy surrounding Johnson seriously disrupts the team, everyone loses—Brown, Lewis and the Bengals. Remember when Terrell Owens and the Eagles had their nasty divorce in 2005? That season was a nightmare for the Eagles, who went from NFC champions to 6-10. But the next season, with Owens in Dallas, the Eagles bounced back and made the playoffs.
Both the Cowboys and the Eagles might be interested in a trade for Johnson, and having those two NFC East rivals vying for his services likely would increase his trade value. Perhaps the Bengals could fetch a future high draft pick or two, or a solid defensive player. Whether Johnson stays or not, the Bengals must improve their defense; adding draft picks and/or a veteran player might speed up that process.
Fortunes can change quickly in the NFL, but even with Johnson the Bengals do not look like a team on the verge of winning a Super Bowl. They have underachieved the past two seasons, and too many of their players, like Odell Thurman and Chris Henry, have caused distractions with off-field problems. They need a new direction, not more distractions. Trading Johnson would be a step toward that.
Lewis is right when he says Johnson has been well compensated by the Bengals. Johnson is a terrific player, but the Bengals gave him a new contract in 2006; if he wants more money, the Bengals should not give it to him.
Clearly, Johnson has a right to be frustrated by the team’s failure to make the playoffs, but he is not alone. Carson Palmer is frustrated, too, but he is not demanding a trade. Successful teams need star players who lead by example, especially when times are tough. But Johnson does not want to lead the Bengals. He wants to leave them.
After seven seasons in Cincinnati, Johnson has the itch to split and the Bengals should oblige him before the divorce gets really ugly. Take the salary cap hit and send Johnson packing. The time has come for the Bengals to say “Adios” to “Ocho Cinco.”
massraider
Footballguy
Bump in response to Chad's bizarre SportsCenter interview.
Anyone missed it, don't ask me to recap. it was strange.
Anyone missed it, don't ask me to recap. it was strange.
