Dare we to utter these words?

[Tasher]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=jackson/061023

By Scoop Jackson

Page 2

He was Chad Johnson.

The world will remember him by another name.

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I'll be the first to say it: I'm going to miss Chad Johnson.

The hair's still wild, but the celebrations aren't.After two losses and a bye week, he began to complain. Had to. But unlike those complaints in the past, this one wasn't loud. It was quiet, but with just enough noise to be heard.

"Boring." That's the term he was associated with saying. Saying that the offense his team was running -- the one that was possibly one ACL tear on the first play of a playoff game away from taking them to SB XL -- was on the other side of the Colts.

The Bengals were not winning, underachieving, scoring only 13 points in each of their last two games. The ball wasn't moving, especially not his way -- not the way it was in the past -- so "boring" became the understatement. The statement he used to not be ignored.

Apparently, Bob Bratkowski heard it. And when the time came, with 9:13 left in the game against Carolina, the Bengals' offensive coordinator, who was deemed a genius last season, took that word out of his mouth.

"It's the kind of play I'm supposed to be counted on to make," the most unboring wide receiver in the league said afterward. "And if they keep giving me the chances, well, I'll keep making them."

But the story doesn't end with Chad Johnson making that near-impossible 32-yard catch on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter of the Bengals' very necessary win against the Panthers. No. The story ends in the aftermath, where Johnson, by the very firm recommendation of head coach Marvin Lewis, must go through detox. To be something he's not. To be boring.

No river dances, no marriage proposals to cheerleaders, no resuscitation of footballs, no ideas from "SportsCenter" anchors. In the Cincinnati offense, the YAC (yards after catch) was taking a backseat to the BAC (behavior after catch). So if Chad Johnson wanted the offense to be exciting, it would come at a cost -- his cost.

That catch was the key to the Bengals' comeback.So after the catch, that catch, in a game where his status was being judged against the receiver considered the better version of him (Steve Smith), with that blond mohawk under his helmet (which might be the next thing "asked" to be gone), Johnson did nothing. Got up, brushed off his collar, walked back to the huddle -- played it a la Marvin Harrison.

Not that anyone inside Paul Brown Stadium noticed -- because true C.J. followers know he saves his real "reactions" for touchdown catches only. But as the Bengals seemed to be doing something they hadn't done all season, despite coach Lewis' claim that attacking has "been our word, all the time," something still wasn't right.

Not that anything was wrong -- two plays later, the Bengals scored the go-ahead and winning TD from the 1-yard line. But something wasn't right.

Chad Johnson had basically been asked to become exactly what he accused his team of turning into -- boring. A one-dimensional receiver, one who catches the ball with no aftereffects, no cause for effect.

No special effects.

And now that they've won in spite of themselves, the question becomes: How do the Bengals get back to being one of the most exciting teams in the league without losing the one who not only stirs the drink, but is the Ketel One in the cosmo?

Before that catch, before that win, the Bengals' offense looked sorta like the Bears' 2005 offense. Even though they'd scored only 13 fewer points in their first five games this season compared with last season (111 vs. 124), they looked much worse. And C.J. had become their secondary playmaker, their Keyshawn Johnson.

Is the boringness about making T.J. Houshmandzadeh the primary target for Carson Palmer, as he has been so far this season? Or is it bigger than that? Is this swaggerless approach to winning about Lewis trying to make a point to his team through Johnson, the same way Bill Parcells is trying to make a point in Dallas through T.O.?

This could be as wild as the celebrations get the rest of the season.We might never know. But the Bengals calling that fourth-and-1 play in a game in which Rudi Johnson already had close to 100 yards rushing, sending Chad Johnson on a simple "nine route" and showing almost as much cojones as USC on that fourth-and-9 play against Notre Dame, proves that "boring" might be over in Cincinnati.

It shows they might be back. But their "sexy" isn't. And it's not coming back -- not if the powers that be in the place that spells sin with a "C" have the final word.

And it seems as though they do have it. Because the Chad Johnson that once was is no more.

And although one catch does not make a Bengal change his stripes, this one could be both the savior of a franchise and the death of its salesman.

"It was ballsy," Chad said of the play that might change the Bengals' season, the one that might change him into someone he's not. "That was some Scarface-type [stuff] there."

But what would "Scarface" have been if Brian De Palma had only allowed Al Pacino to stick to the script?

Scoop Jackson

[Stripes]

Good read. I think it's overly dramatic... as the offense gets back into gear, Chad will get the ball. Celebrations or not, he'll get the ball.

[Kazkal]

No doubt chad will end up with the ball he was our leading WR last week....but it wont be same without TD celebrations Most WR's celebrate a 1st down most celebrate TDs....Joe horn does it, hines ward does it reggie wayne does it =/

[futurebengal08]

This doesn't make sense to me. If Chad was running his mouth and being as flambouyant this year as he was last year, this same writer might be saying that Chad's all talk because he hasn't produced on the field. He would be called a distraction, and probably blamed for whatever losses we have. He toned it down, but he's still a force on the field. Just wait...he's a 150 yard, 2 td game away from breaking out again.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I think Chad is missing the point. It's all about getting the ball into the endzone first. Then worry about bustin' his unique celebratory moves later, like Ickey Woods used to do on the sidelines after the NFL curtailed his endzone shuffling. Yeah, it does make it a bit duller, but I'm usually still pumped anyway after the Bengals score a TD! I could really give a s**t about anything afterwards except the extra point.

[Kazkal]

TD celebrations should be tagged on too the extra point

[HairOnFire]

I'm betting that Marvin told Chad to tone it down a bit, and put a well deserved end to Chad's stupid list...prompting Chad to stomp his feet and hold his breath until he turned blue. (Emotionally)

Bottom Line: If Chad thinks I'll be disappointed if he keeps acting like boring Marvin Harrison, well....he's dead wrong.

[BengalByTheBay]

I'm not sure I get the point of this article. Is it that the team is now better, but more boring? If so, then it contradicts itself (or is at least premature) in that we've only won A (ie, one) game since Bratkowski is now totally loose and exciting and CJ is toning it down. More likely is that Brat hasn't really changed things up that much -- it was one play call. Also, anybody gonna bet that Chad doesn't do something next time he gets into the end zone.

On the other hand, if the point is that the Bengals have lost some important swagger or personality now then that's equally premature. I mean, how many times have we heard how Chad is a distraction and just trying to pull attention away from the team and onto himself with his "antics"? Now Marvin's broken his spirit, so he's lost the fun of the game?? Come on, what a ridiculous read based on one game. Marvin's been bitching at Chad for at least two seasons about his stupid list -- what else is new? This is just Chad getting attention in a new way, that's all. Poor me -- coach doesn't want me to have fun. Who cares? Draw double teams, catch the ball when it's thrown your way -- help the team win -- then do whatever the hell you want. Marvin's not gonna run out there and tackle you to keep you from celebrating.

Basically, the article doesn't tell me anything. It takes an incredibly topical look at a couple of quotes and one play in one game and makes some bold, sweeping prediction about how fundamentally this team has all-of-a-sudden changed. Piffle -- there's nothing here but an "Oprah" take on drama that has nothing to do with how this team is playing or will play.

[derekshank]

Three things:

1) Chad doesn't usually celebrate unless it is a TD. Seriously... go to You Tube or something and look. Unless it is a TD, Chad doesn't do anything. He might say something to the CB covering him... but unless it is a TD, he just gets up and goes back to the huddle... including big 1st downs that get inside the the 5 yard line. Chad has had 1 TD and 1 celebration. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

2) Chad was clearly in a "pouty" mood for most of the game, because he continued to be limited in the first half. You'll see Chad get frustrated early in a game if he's not being used the way he thinks he should be, and then he's just not his fun-loving self for the rest of the game. He'll still be able to make a play late... but it's obvious that it's more of a relief to him than fun.

3) Chad's shoulder was clearly hurting him. He landed on it after his catch, and looked like he wanted to immediately come to the sidelines to be looked at. It's hard to jump up in a celebratory "river-dance" when your arm feels like it's going to fall off.

I have a feeling that if Chad gets to feeling better and we get Chad involved early in a game, and he can get a TD, we'll see the fun-loving Chad again. I very much doubt that Marvin Lewis has much to do with this, if anything (other than a warning not to get a personal foul).

Chad's selfish. It's not all bad... but it continually bring attention that I don't think is warranted. This article just made me laugh. I just don't buy that Chad is "boring." He's frustrated. There's a difference.

[derekshank]

I have a feeling that if Chad gets to feeling better and we get Chad involved early in a game, and he can get a TD, we'll see the fun-loving Chad again. I very much doubt that Marvin Lewis has much to do with this, if anything (other than a warning not to get a personal foul).

Chad's selfish. It's not all bad... but it continually bring attention that I don't think is warranted. This article just made me laugh. I just don't buy that Chad is "boring." He's frustrated. There's a difference.

Not to be one of those guys that said "I told you so" - but...

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5614

After hearing that SI deemed him cover worthy, Johnson exclaimed Tuesday, “Wednesday? That’s funny because that’s when I’m going to go back to being my old self.”

I knew Chad wasn't going to stay "boring." He wasn't boring at the beginning of the season. Remember just before the Steelers game when he was trash talking with Joey Porter? It was after that game that he went into his "boring" but I maintain, mostly just frustrated state. He finally snaps out of it when the match-up he's been looking forward to all season comes around. Hmm... Seems like everyone was just over-reacting a little to Chad being high-maintenance.

[Pinkygen]

The Bengals may or may not be better if Chad is quiet. Another non-sensical article by Scoop Jackson.

[agreen_112]

Say Hello to my little friend.....

[bengalboomer7]

If you ask me, it's some drama queen cry baby stuff. I love Chad, but when someone is dissapointed after a win because he didn't get enough balls, or didn't get to talk trash is ridiculous, and he's clueless on the message marvin is trying to teach him.

[derekshank]

If you ask me, it's some drama queen cry baby stuff. I love Chad, but when someone is dissapointed after a win because he didn't get enough balls, or didn't get to talk trash is ridiculous, and he's clueless on the message marvin is trying to teach him.

I agree to an extent. A player should be happy with a win, even if he doesn't acheive a lot of personal accomplishments. On the other hand, every single offensive player on this team should realize that this is a game we would have lost last year, because the defense didn't play this well last year.

After the Chiefs game, Palmer said that he was happy to get a win, but was unhappy with how the offense performed, because they put such high expectations on themselves. It shouldn't be about compiling individual stats, but when the team is averaging only about 14 points over the last 3 games, I think it is acceptable for Chad to be unsatisfied with the production. I'd be more concerned if he was happy with it.

[bengalboomer7]

If you ask me, it's some drama queen cry baby stuff. I love Chad, but when someone is dissapointed after a win because he didn't get enough balls, or didn't get to talk trash is ridiculous, and he's clueless on the message marvin is trying to teach him.

I agree to an extent. A player should be happy with a win, even if he doesn't acheive a lot of personal accomplishments. On the other hand, every single offensive player on this team should realize that this is a game we would have lost last year, because the defense didn't play this well last year.

After the Chiefs game, Palmer said that he was happy to get a win, but was unhappy with how the offense performed, because they put such high expectations on themselves. It shouldn't be about compiling individual stats, but when the team is averaging only about 14 points over the last 3 games, I think it is acceptable for Chad to be unsatisfied with the production. I'd be more concerned if he was happy with it.

Agreed, but Chad has to realize that's part of the job. If teams are rolling safeties and LB's over for coverage, then someone els is really open. So, according to marvin(mainly according to me, I have no idea what marvin thinks) he did his job. Opening up holes for other people is one thing GREAT recievers do. Reminds me of Alvin Harper. Harper was great, mainly because teams focused on Micheal Irvin and it opened up single coverage for Harper. As soon as Harper no longer had a true #1 beside him, he quickly became a nobody. Now, Chad is our #1, but if teams didn't focus on him so much, would TJ and Henry be as good as they are?