It's Official - Chad want's out

[Bengals1]

Okay gang, it's official. I just heard on the radio that Chad said he is willing to sit out the year if he is not traded. Drew Rosenhaus said that Chad will play in 2008. He however, did not say whether it would be with the Bengals or not.

Jim Rome spent about 15 minutes on this earlier today. Basically Rome said that while he likes Chad and likes what he does, how he brings laughter to the game and is one of the best in the league and he's always "had his back" in the past...Rome is now saying that Chad is under contract, and it is his duty to be a professional and just suck it up. Either make it right or suck it up. If Chad continues to put on this show and "bring the rest of the team down" then he's hurting the team and Rome will not support that kind of behavior.

Gee, I'm shocked by this turn of events....

[Pidge]

One of the few times I agree with Rome. Chad, I'm sorry, you have issues buddy. Probably taken off the tit too soon by his mom or something.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

One of the few times I agree with Rome.

I was thinking the same thing.

"Agree...with...Rome - can't comprehend...." *head explodes*

[Bengals1]

One of the few times I agree with Rome.

I was thinking the same thing.

"Agree...with...Rome - can't comprehend...." *head explodes*

He's not my favorite host either but out here on the left coast it's either him or Colin Cowherd during morning drive time.

[jjakq27]

I am surprised it took this long for this to make our board.

Now I am bored.

[mgi]

ESPN published this this morning. I hope we don't trade him, he sits out, and then we win the Super Bowl Tiki Barber style.

IChad Johnson's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Sunday that the Bengals wide receiver has no plans to sit out the 2008 season, according to a published report.

"Chad Johnson will play football in 2008," Rosenhaus told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday.

But when asked if he'll be playing for the Bengals next season, Rosenhaus was noncommittal.

"Our plan is for Chad Johnson to play football in 2008," Rosenhaus told the newspaper. "That is how I will respond to the report."

On Sunday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Johnson feels betrayed by head coach Marvin Lewis and is privately threatening to sit out the 2008 season if he isn't traded, according to a source.

Johnson was upset after the coach quit speaking to his receiver early in the season, according to the source. The Bengals wideout had been making the rounds with the media at the Super Bowl.

Johnson was asked on Jim Rome's radio show last week about whether or not he was happy with the Bengals.

"I'm not allowed to say. I get the blame; the so-called best player, I'm the problem. Someone in-house is spreading this," he said. "Maybe they want me to quiet down [and] stop being me. That is not going to happen. I can't function that way. I tried it. It sucked. There was no excitement."

Lewis has said he won't trade Johnson, who finished with a single-season franchise-record 1,440 receiving yards. Johnson has had six consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards and is under contract with the Bengals through 2011 after signing a $35.5 million extension in April 2006.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3229722

[HoosierCat]

Now I am bored.

Shoot, I've been bored with the whole Chad thing for days. At first it was amusing to watch so many Bengals fans declare they were shocked -- shocked! -- to discover Chad was a high-strung diva. But with each thread I grow less irritated and more sleepy. Mikey says he stays. Marvin says he stays. The threat to sit out is always a hollow one. All the rest is filler for sports talk shows.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Shoot, I've been bored with the whole Chad thing for days. At first it was amusing to watch so many Bengals fans declare they were shocked -- shocked! -- to discover Chad was a high-strung diva. But with each thread I grow less irritated and more sleepy. Mikey says he stays. Marvin says he stays. The threat to sit out is always a hollow one. All the rest is filler for sports talk shows.

It's all about levels. For a while I thought Chad was a fun-loving guy who liked attention maybe more than was healthy, but whose antics were harmless and who wanted to win most of all. Then I got annoyed in 2006 as I realized that getting attention was probably as important to him as winning. By late 2007, I'd decided he was more high-strung and emotional than a pregnant woman, had no capacity for analyzing his own actions for any wrongdoing, and blamed people around him for his shortcomings. By early 2008 it's clear that nothing, even constant ego-stroking from the entire organization and coddling his every whim, is enough to keep Chad from his periodic media whore whining if everything isn't going his way.

So it has gotten worse. He's more than a high-strung diva - his latest actions are painting him as a quitter. That's a lot worse in my book.

I'm hoping this will die down by camp, and that Rosenhaus - cast against type in his latest role as the voice of reason - can calm his dumb ass down.

[HoosierCat]

He's more than a high-strung diva - his latest actions are painting him as a quitter.

Nah. If he was a quitter, he'd just shut up, show up, and collect a paycheck like so many time-servers have done in stripes for years.

[jjakq27]

Now I am bored.

Shoot, I've been bored with the whole Chad thing for days. At first it was amusing to watch so many Bengals fans declare they were shocked -- shocked! -- to discover Chad was a high-strung diva. But with each thread I grow less irritated and more sleepy. Mikey says he stays. Marvin says he stays. The threat to sit out is always a hollow one. All the rest is filler for sports talk shows.

I will not waste my time fretting over him and the effect that it will have on the team, etc. Been through that with Carl Pickens and Corey Dillon to name just a couple.

What I am really hoping for is that someone like Willie or maybe Justin Smith slams him up against a locker the next time they see him. That's how things used to get settled before ESPN, agents and big contracts. I know that s**t still works in high school and college. Maybe someone ought to try it 'round here.

[Pidge]

Now I am bored.

Shoot, I've been bored with the whole Chad thing for days. At first it was amusing to watch so many Bengals fans declare they were shocked -- shocked! -- to discover Chad was a high-strung diva. But with each thread I grow less irritated and more sleepy. Mikey says he stays. Marvin says he stays. The threat to sit out is always a hollow one. All the rest is filler for sports talk shows.

I will not waste my time fretting over him and the effect that it will have on the team, etc. Been through that with Carl Pickens and Corey Dillon to name just a couple.

What I am really hoping for is that someone like Willie or maybe Justin Smith slams him up against a locker the next time they see him. That's how things used to get settled before ESPN, agents and big contracts. I know that s**t still works in high school and college. Maybe someone ought to try it 'round here.

Well Justin can't hit a QB so we might as well see how he does at trying to hit a WR I guess.

If that did happen, I can envision Chad being pushed into the court in a wheelchair with a neck brace on during the lawsuit. He's be dressed in a nice sundress and shades.

[GregCook]

Well if he does want out, I'm thinking he'll get out. I don't see Marvin having "distractions" around his team. The team could do a Keyshawn on him and tell him to go pound sand while he pockets his salary in 2008 or they could take the best deal available around draft time. Mike Brown sure has had his share of embittered employees.

I wonder what Carson is thinking? He'll have to spray the air around this turd that Chad has laid, sooner or later.

[HoosierCat]

What I am really hoping for is that someone like Willie or maybe Justin Smith slams him up against a locker the next time they see him. That's how things used to get settled before ESPN, agents and big contracts. I know that s**t still works in high school and college. Maybe someone ought to try it 'round here.

Well, Willie would have to catch him first, which might be a problem now that he can't take two step without injuring himself. And if Chad is lobbying to be the first one out the door, I'd argue that Justin is only a few steps behind. And, of course, there's Deltha, who wants out and has said so repeatedly. And, so goes the rumor mill, TJ will walk after this season if he isn't given No. 1 coin. Rudi was noticeably pouty (as well as ineffective) all season. And let's not forget Grumpy Levi. Chris Perry, talked up for weeks after Irons was hurt, went on IR without a peep. Thornton has been doing a passive/aggressive act for years. Stacy is no doubt eyeing another visit to the Meadowlands in March, and all the rest of our FAs are apparently waiting for the FA opening bell as well.

I would submit that the problem is broader than Chad wanting out. Indeed, there appear to be no shortage of Bengals players eyeing the exit door, and/or for whom the most important letter in "team" is "I.". Chad, thanks to his voluble nature, is just the most demonstrative about it.

[Bengals1]

Well if he does want out, I'm thinking he'll get out. I don't see Marvin having "distractions" around his team. The team could do a Keyshawn on him and tell him to go pound sand while he pockets his salary in 2008 or they could take the best deal available around draft time. Mike Brown sure has had his share of embittered employees.

I tend to agree Drought, I just hope that whatever we do, we do it quickly and get this horsemanure behind us. I don't want this to drag on into March or April and effect the mini camps and draft.

Let's pull the plug, bite the bullet and all those other cliches' and put this behind us and get on with the business of making this a better team for 08'!

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

He's more than a high-strung diva - his latest actions are painting him as a quitter.

Nah. If he was a quitter, he'd just shut up, show up, and collect a paycheck like so many time-servers have done in stripes for years.

We'll see what he does. Right now, he's threatening not to play at all, which is a higher level of quitting than even we've seen yet.

Nice analysis on the list of 'get me the hell out of here' guys in your other post. Depressing as hell. I'm hoping Marvin can turn some of that around, because right now it seems like Carson is the only leader on the team who's certain to be here in 2009.

One does have to remember that this is Marvin's first gig. If I were him the lesson I'd learn is "you can't put all your vets in the doghouse". He needs Levi to be a guy who steps up as a leader of the O-line when Willie's gone. If Justin leaves, we need a leader there (Peko?) We need a leader in the secondary (I like Dookie's attitude a lot). God knows who we even have at LB, let alone leaders. And we need some of those guys to be here long enough that a guy like Chad can't get like he is as a rookie or young player without somebody kicking him in the ass.

[Pidge]

He's more than a high-strung diva - his latest actions are painting him as a quitter.

Nah. If he was a quitter, he'd just shut up, show up, and collect a paycheck like so many time-servers have done in stripes for years.

We'll see what he does. Right now, he's threatening not to play at all, which is a higher level of quitting than even we've seen yet.

Nice analysis on the list of 'get me the hell out of here' guys in your other post. Depressing as hell. I'm hoping Marvin can turn some of that around, because right now it seems like Carson is the only leader on the team who's certain to be here in 2009.

One does have to remember that this is Marvin's first gig. If I were him the lesson I'd learn is "you can't put all your vets in the doghouse". He needs Levi to be a guy who steps up as a leader of the O-line when Willie's gone. If Justin leaves, we need a leader there (Peko?) We need a leader in the secondary (I like Dookie's attitude a lot). God knows who we even have at LB, let alone leaders. And we need some of those guys to be here long enough that a guy like Chad can't get like he is as a rookie or young player without somebody kicking him in the ass.

Agree totally about leadership. It's why I'm pulling for Pollack to get back. Even if he becomes a more situational type player, his attitude and work ethic is something this team needs to be exposed to.

[HoosierCat]

We'll see what he does. Right now, he's threatening not to play at all, which is a higher level of quitting than even we've seen yet.

Won't happen. If Chad doesn't honor his contract they can suspend him without pay for at least four games, and possibly more depending on how you interpret the rules. Plus he would be required to pay back the relevant portion of his signing bonus. And of course he would not earn any workout or performance bonuses. If nothing else, Rosenscumbag would never let that happen, it'd be a huge blot on him.

As to the larger issue of a lot of guys looking to get out, I don't the situation is yet lost. Desperate, but not lost. Bengals mgmt needs a good FA period and draft, one that instills some confidence in players that the team is serious about winning. If they let guys go and sit on their a$$es like they did last year, tho, expect -- in the now immortal words of Emmit -- the 2008 season to be "debacled."

[Bengals1]

Looks like we're not the only ones tired of Chads antics. From Yahoo Sports....

• Chad Johnson's a great player, and a favorite interview subject, but if he tries any harder to force his way out of Cincinnati, the Bengals may conclude they're better off without him. Said one Cincy player to whom I spoke this weekend: "In my opinion it'll be better if Chad goes. He's such a 'me' guy, and I think he rubs off on T.J. (Houshmandzadeh), who otherwise is a pretty humble, hard-working dude. I know Chad's talented, but I think it might be one of those cases where we're better off just losing someone."

[Horsemen]

You'll have to excuse my ignorance on the subject as I didn't really pay attention to anything but the game until a few years ago then started reading up... can someone explain the deal to me? I understand lack of scouts, no GM, ect but there's gotta be more to it all. Why is it everyone wants out seemingly all the time? What is it causing what IMO really is a very talented and cabable team to give up, get out? Why is it they stop caring here but go elsewhere and care and try?

Just makes no sense to me. What really IS the underlying problem here with the Bengals? We have a team just as good as NY and we just seen what trying, what not giving up and what believing in yourself can accomplish. It really does seem to go well beyond Chad Johnson and anything he's saying or doing.

[HoosierCat]

You'll have to excuse my ignorance on the subject as I didn't really pay attention to anything but the game until a few years ago then started reading up... can someone explain the deal to me? I understand lack of scouts, no GM, ect but there's gotta be more to it all. Why is it everyone wants out seemingly all the time? What is it causing what IMO really is a very talented and cabable team to give up, get out? Why is it they stop caring here but go elsewhere and care and try?

Just makes no sense to me. What really IS the underlying problem here with the Bengals? We have a team just as good as NY and we just seen what trying, what not giving up and what believing in yourself can accomplish. It really does seem to go well beyond Chad Johnson and anything he's saying or doing.

Well, I'll give you my short answer (others may differ). It's that the players see all those things you cite, too. Lack of scouts, no GM, letting vets go instead of "overpaying," not playing in free agency and replacing guys with scrubs or undrafted college free agents, etc. Just as a lot of fans point at these thing as examples of why the team isn't committed to winning...some players get that idea, too. Especially good ones who are here for a while and the team doesn't win.

It's easy for fans to point at those players and say they are the problem, that if only we had a bunch of "team" guys we would win. But from the point of view of those players, they think it's hard to soar like eagles when you are flying with turkeys. And eventually they get tired of it, so you have these regular, periodic player problems.

[Bengals1]

I agree with everything Hoosier said above and would like to add this, the life of an athlete; any athlete is usually fairly short. Most NFL players only play the game for a few years and then injury, age, wear and tear etc... put an end to their careers.

Many are very cognizant of this and don't wish to play for an organization that doesn't seem committed in their eyes at least, to do what's necessary to win. They feel (and in many cases rightfully so) that God's granted them only X number of years to play this game and achieve some sort of immortality while doing it. Why waste that time playing for someone like Mike Brown?

Many players are simply grateful to be given the chance to play in the NFL for any team….period. But the more gifted athlete’s often feel their talents going to waste in Cincinnati. Rather than confront this situation thru back-channels or quietly request a trade or leave via free agency when they get the chance they become impatient and go public with their complaints in the hope that it will win them the freedom they so badly desire.

The squeaky wheel doesn’t always get the grease, sometimes if it squeaks loud enough, it gets replaced.

[Larry]

Well if he does want out, I'm thinking he'll get out. I don't see Marvin having "distractions" around his team. The team could do a Keyshawn on him and tell him to go pound sand while he pockets his salary in 2008 or they could take the best deal available around draft time. Mike Brown sure has had his share of embittered employees.

I wonder what Carson is thinking? He'll have to spray the air around this turd that Chad has laid, sooner or later.

I am not sure, but I don't think they can pay him to sit at home anymore. They can suspend him for four games for actions detrimental to the team, but after that, they have to let him at least practice. I think it changed with the last players union deal?

[agreen_112]

This whole situation really sucks and I'm sad to see Chad act this way (like a baby), but I can't say I don't blame him. I'm surprised it lasted this long. We're gonna loose a really good player, again... Hopefully we trade him for a quality LB. If we don't get what we want, it wouldn't bother me to see my favorite player ride the pine... And you better believe that once he's gone there's no turning back, he'll no longer be a Bengal so it's OFF WITH HIS f**king HEAD!!!

OTOH, I reallly fear playing against Chad, he will shred our secondary.

[TJJackson]

This whole situation really sucks and I'm sad to see Chad act this way (like a baby), but I can't say I don't blame him. I'm surprised it lasted this long.

Yeah, he only signed a contract through the next 2-3 years, what reasonable person could expect him to actual play out the contract he signed?

[agreen_112]

This whole situation really sucks and I'm sad to see Chad act this way (like a baby), but I can't say I don't blame him. I'm surprised it lasted this long.

Yeah, he only signed a contract through the next 2-3 years, what reasonable person could expect him to actual play out the contract he signed?

Dude! First you guys want him gone, you call him selfish and partially the reason for the Bengals losing season. Hella fans call for a trade, they want him gone, and say he isn't worth the trouble.... Now, when CJ is trying to make that happen, your bitching because he won't honor his contract?

Again, I can't say I don't blame him. Cincinnati fans, media, coaches, and mostly the owner suck!