PFT's take on all this.

[Bengals1]

Just thought I'd throw this out for discussion....

IT'S TOO LATE TO CONTROL STINKO

Though the harsh post-game comments of Bengals coach Marvin Lewis to his team have been reported via ESPN, no one (to our knowledge) has made the obvious connection between the coach's remarks and the ongoing antics of Chad Johnson a/k/a Ocho Cinco a/k/a Mucho Stinko.

Stinko has become a media darling over the years. He's entertaining and engaging. He projects the receiver primadonna mentality in a way that, generally speaking, is neither offensive nor threatening. When he postures, it's funny. When he pouts, it's cute. When he argues with his quarterback, it's inspiring.

But, for a couple of years now, the media's decision to fuel Stinko's uncontrolled ego has undermined the Bengals. So has the failure of coach Marvin Lewis to bring Johnson under control.

In January 2006, a source spoke out to us about Stinko's halftime meltdown during a playoff loss to the Steelers primarily because the source (and others) were sick of the head coach's failure to take care of the problem.

Since then, the situation hasn't improved much. The Bengals missed the playoffs in 2006, and the team's goals in 2007 have been overshadowed by Stinko's desire to showboat.

There are signs that Lewis has had enough. As ESPN is reporting in its current endless SportsCenter loop, Lewis lashed out after Monday night's 34-13 loss to the Patriots. Calling the team "selfish," Lewis said, "nowhere in the NFL do guys act like this" and "if you don't want to be on this team, don't show up tomorrow."

The message likely was intended for Stinko, whose mini-tantrum at the end of the first half after he zigged while quarterback Carson Palmer thought he would zag was captured by the ESPN cameras. (As several readers pointed out during Monday night's Live Blog of the game, the sock puppets would have declared a national emergency if Randy Moss had been acting that way toward Tom Brady.)

Leaving the field, Palmer can plainly be seen saying to Stinko, "Chad, you f--ked up." But Palmer might want to say the same thing to his head coach.

The blame for all of this goes to Lewis, in our view. He's the one who ignored Stinko's antics, allowing Stinko to place his own interests over the goals of the team.

And so much for locker room leadership. With one Lewis-drafted turd after another getting arrested, keeping Stinko from acting like a spoiled brat was the least of the concerns of the truly good guys like Palmer and defensive tackle John Thornton.

Though it's encouraging that Lewis apparently isn't ignoring the effect that a me-first wideout is having on the fate of the team, we think Lewis waited far too long to address the situation. And calling out the entire locker room for fear of making the delicate genius feel bad isn't the way to go, either.

In our view, Lewis needs to lay down the law with Stinko, in plain view of the other players. That will send the message that there are no sacred cows in Cincinnati -- and it will let the players realizes that the days of double standards are over.

Or maybe Stinko will simply take Lewis up on his offer and not show up today. After all, maybe the Pats are looking for another wideout.

[damiancasey]

Just thought I'd throw this out for discussion....

IT'S TOO LATE TO CONTROL STINKO

Though the harsh post-game comments of Bengals coach Marvin Lewis to his team have been reported via ESPN, no one (to our knowledge) has made the obvious connection between the coach's remarks and the ongoing antics of Chad Johnson a/k/a Ocho Cinco a/k/a Mucho Stinko.

Stinko has become a media darling over the years. He's entertaining and engaging. He projects the receiver primadonna mentality in a way that, generally speaking, is neither offensive nor threatening. When he postures, it's funny. When he pouts, it's cute. When he argues with his quarterback, it's inspiring.

But, for a couple of years now, the media's decision to fuel Stinko's uncontrolled ego has undermined the Bengals. So has the failure of coach Marvin Lewis to bring Johnson under control.

In January 2006, a source spoke out to us about Stinko's halftime meltdown during a playoff loss to the Steelers primarily because the source (and others) were sick of the head coach's failure to take care of the problem.

Since then, the situation hasn't improved much. The Bengals missed the playoffs in 2006, and the team's goals in 2007 have been overshadowed by Stinko's desire to showboat.

There are signs that Lewis has had enough. As ESPN is reporting in its current endless SportsCenter loop, Lewis lashed out after Monday night's 34-13 loss to the Patriots. Calling the team "selfish," Lewis said, "nowhere in the NFL do guys act like this" and "if you don't want to be on this team, don't show up tomorrow."

The message likely was intended for Stinko, whose mini-tantrum at the end of the first half after he zigged while quarterback Carson Palmer thought he would zag was captured by the ESPN cameras. (As several readers pointed out during Monday night's Live Blog of the game, the sock puppets would have declared a national emergency if Randy Moss had been acting that way toward Tom Brady.)

Leaving the field, Palmer can plainly be seen saying to Stinko, "Chad, you f--ked up." But Palmer might want to say the same thing to his head coach.

The blame for all of this goes to Lewis, in our view. He's the one who ignored Stinko's antics, allowing Stinko to place his own interests over the goals of the team.

And so much for locker room leadership. With one Lewis-drafted turd after another getting arrested, keeping Stinko from acting like a spoiled brat was the least of the concerns of the truly good guys like Palmer and defensive tackle John Thornton.

Though it's encouraging that Lewis apparently isn't ignoring the effect that a me-first wideout is having on the fate of the team, we think Lewis waited far too long to address the situation. And calling out the entire locker room for fear of making the delicate genius feel bad isn't the way to go, either.

In our view, Lewis needs to lay down the law with Stinko, in plain view of the other players. That will send the message that there are no sacred cows in Cincinnati -- and it will let the players realizes that the days of double standards are over.

Or maybe Stinko will simply take Lewis up on his offer and not show up today. After all, maybe the Pats are looking for another wideout.

And in the blink of an eye...Ocho Cinco is transformed into T.O.!!

[HairOnFire]

In our view, Lewis needs to lay down the law with Stinko, in plain view of the other players. That will send the message that there are no sacred cows in Cincinnati -- and it will let the players realizes that the days of double standards are over.

Let me see if I understand. It's too late to control Chad...but Lewis needs to lay down the law.

Does that even make sense?

Here's another idea. Trade Chad.

[CPalmer9]

chad is a punk...he needs to shut his mouth and play football...i dont have a problem with him arguing with carson but he takes an immature approach to it....marvin is right, chad is being selfish

[gregstephens]

In our view, Lewis needs to lay down the law with Stinko, in plain view of the other players. That will send the message that there are no sacred cows in Cincinnati -- and it will let the players realizes that the days of double standards are over.

Let me see if I understand. It's too late to control Chad...but Lewis needs to lay down the law.

Does that even make sense?

Here's another idea. Trade Chad.

Wow...really? Do you think he rises to the level of a cancer?

[kingwilly]

huh..last time I checked, CJ does not play on Defense.

[gregstephens]

huh..last time I checked, CJ does not play on Defense.

And has led the NFL in receiving for the past couple years.

[COB]

huh..last time I checked, CJ does not play on Defense.

But the couple good, or very good, linebackers you could get for him would play on defense. Two weeks ago I would have mocked the idea of trading Chad. Now, his incredible desire to draw attention to himself, Willie Anderson's comment a week or two ago, his childish inability to suppress his frustration at being chided by his QB, all these things are making me start to rethink Chad. The bottom line: What do you think we could get for him?

[711chad]

anybody who is in favor of trading our best reciever in bengals history is an idiot

[kingwilly]

anybody who is in favor of trading our best reciever in bengals history is an idiot

agree.

let's stop looking to blame Chad and Palmer disagreeing about a play or Chad's ego for the Defense's inability to get pressure on a QB, tackle at the second level, cover anyone, or adjust schemes due to injury or playing from behind...

to paraphrase a political slogan...its the defense, stupid.

[volcom69]

Chad is not the biggest problem on this team, the whole team right now needs to come toghter and chad will be fine.

[COB]

anybody who is in favor of trading our best reciever in bengals history is an idiot

I'll tell you what, I'm really starting to think it might be possible. Chad goes AWOL during big games. There's no doubt in my mind that his huge ego is messing up the team chemistry. Henry is an absolute monster, and he's clutch. On the other hand, I'm still not sure of Henry's citizenship. He may not be playing in this league long term. I hear you when you defend Chad like that. The guy sells his body out big time like almost no one else in the league. Who else reaches back for balls and allows himself to fall on his back/shoulders/head from like 8 feet in the air? I love the guy, but I'm starting to have doubts. Bottom line for me, what could we get for him?

[COB]

anybody who is in favor of trading our best reciever in bengals history is an idiot

to paraphrase a political slogan...its the defense, stupid.

I know it's the defense, and the special teams. And because of those needs I'm starting to feel like three killer wideouts is a luxury we can't afford anymore. We can get by on offense with Henry and TJ. We can't get by on defense with what we have now. I don't really know what we could get for Chad, not sure anyone does. But I'd be interested to see if it was good enough.

[711chad]

dog how culd u ask what we could get for him???you gunna play housh henry and no hands chatman...i wouldnt take anybody for chad right now...somebody needs to boot him off this forum

[711chad]

im tired of getting bye...isnt anybody besides me tired of waiting for perfection and a superbowl

[WhoDey93285]

Same old, same old. I can't tell you how many times I've heard this. When things are going bad, Chad is a cancer, he's ruining team chemistry, and we should trade him for anything we can get out of him! I mean, we should have to pay someone to take this cancerous no good player off our hands!

Give me a break.

[711chad]

i know give me a break some of you must be blind to think hes the problem...

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I would say that Chad enticing and slapping the fans and the Browns' team in the face, by jumping in the "dog pound" was distracting - it just motivated the Browns - and doing that on the road is even dumber when you're down by multiple scores. Way to help out your cause there buddy, I'm sure your teammates appreciate that.

Why can't Marvin control that behavior? Chad said he would do it before the game. Threaten to suspend or not play him Marv, if you really mean business, quit calling out "everyone" when you're apparently talking to just one guy for 3 years now. That is what TJ was eluding to.

Or putting on a whining act when he misses the end zone by a yard last night, that was great, give the team a 1st and goal at the one, and all he can do is sit there and put on an act in disgust because "he" didn't score. It's embarrasing to me as a fan of the team to have to watch that over and over.

Then of course yelling at Carson - this happens in every big game when things don't go his way. Why not pick your teammates up a bit on the sidelines? Shake it off, move on, jesus.

[jonahdsage]

This thread is the epitome of what's wrong with bengals fans. trade chad . . . i don't even know where to begin.

[coupdayta]

Everyone needs to calm down.

"Trade Chad!"

"Wahhh wahh wahh."

"Fire Marvin!"

"Wahh wahh wahh."

What is wrong with you people? The problems with our team are don't have any linebackers and we have a terrible defensive coordinater. Yet the sky isn't falling. We lost to the best team in the league (the Pats) who I wouldn't be surprised to see if they go undefeated. Seriously. They are stacked.

Take some midol or something.

[AMC]

Losing breeds threads like this. As a Bengal fan it's fun to watch the ebb and flow of the attitudes as losses mount. And then watch them suddenly change if they win one game, and then two.....

[bengalboomer7]

I'll will say this. The fact he got mad about getting to the one yard line instead of celebrating a big play that got the Bengals into scoring range is completely selfish and shows a me first attitude over being a team player

[PaBengal]

I'll will say this. The fact he got mad about getting to the one yard line instead of celebrating a big play that got the Bengals into scoring range is completely selfish and shows a me first attitude over being a team player

Bengalboomer7 let me put a spin on this. Did 85 get mad becuase he didn't score or because he didn't score one for his team?

[agreen_112]

I'll will say this. The fact he got mad about getting to the one yard line instead of celebrating a big play that got the Bengals into scoring range is completely selfish and shows a me first attitude over being a team player

Bengalboomer7 let me put a spin on this. Did 85 get mad becuase he didn't score or because he didn't score one for his team?

You're right pabengal, Chad's just an emotional player, and also very passionate about this team, don't NEVER forget that! I think it's great. For someone to think of this act as being selfish... well... Go cheer for the Browns or something. Chad's our #1 WR.

Do any of you remember Chad in the beginning? He was so happy to be here. Chad is as loyal of a player that you will ever find. s**t, he practically lived at PBS there for awhile guys, he was that happy about being a BENGAL and he STILL is!!! He said back then (In like his 2nd season, before the big contract) that he wants to retire a Bengal after winning a SB... Chad's the best WR to ever play in a Bengals uniform, if he wants to score and he wants to celebrate, I say let him do his thing. I've never seen Chad give up, he just wants to help his team win, lets talk about the positives.

PFT is a joke.

[Bengals1]

PFT is a joke.

I tend to agree with this sentiment and I had a really hard time convincing myself to go ahead and post that article when I read it on another site. But it did seem relevant and I kinda' knew it would spark debate so I threw it up there just to see what would stick.