Another Carson Interview

[DDOGG]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) 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.

[GregCook]

If an accurate interview it does add to the atmosphere about Chad. Carson said he hasn't spoken to him. Marvin said the same thing this week. I doubt Mike Brown has. So nobody wants to talk to Chad about how he really feels? Nobody cares? No wonder Chad is acting out, kinda of like a 8 year old with lots of brothers....the big boys are ignoring him.

Must suck being Chad.

One way out of this, if Carson doesn't give two buffalo farts about Chad, is to restructure his deal once Chad is either cut or traded and eliminate the CAP hit this year. If the Bengals draft a WR on the first day, I'd say Chad is gone, somehow, someway.

[Ickey44]

I've been reading all kinds of posts regarding the CJ situation on this site, and they range from outright anger to "I can't believe you guys don't understand Chad's side of things". I myself have been a huge Chad fan throughout his career here, but all the hoopla he started during the Superbowl Media Blitz just about turned me against him.

It's obvious (as this whole offseason has proved) that Chad is NOT a team player and only cares about himself. Yes, it's a business, but there is a right way and a wrong way to go about addressing the fact that you think you are underpaid or not appreciated by your team. The wrong thing to do in either situation is to address it to the media instead of your coaches. In-house problems should stay in house.

The only thing that Chad has proved to me this whole offseason is that he's not professional in any way whatsoever. From pimping himself to every city he's visited to admitting that there was an altercation during the halftime playoff loss, I lose more respect for him with every word he utters. The more he talks the more he kills his trade value as well.

Is Chad a great receiver? Yes. Is Chad a playmaker? Yes. Is Chad a great teammate? Absolutely not. Football is a team sport and it's obvious to me that he's poisoning Marvin's every attempt to establish a winning attitude on our team. Great players don't win Superbowls, great teams do.

I'm sorry to say that I think I'd rather the Bengals field a team without Chad from now on.

[HairOnFire]

"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."

Boom

[HairOnFire]

If an accurate interview it does add to the atmosphere about Chad. Carson said he hasn't spoken to him. Marvin said the same thing this week. I doubt Mike Brown has. So nobody wants to talk to Chad about how he really feels? Nobody cares? No wonder Chad is acting out, kinda of like a 8 year old with lots of brothers....the big boys are ignoring him.

You walk to the bus stop and while awaiting it's arrival have to spend a few minutes in the company of an obviously crazy person. You wonder silently to yourself why the crazy person is shouting at the passing traffic. What does he gain from yelling at speeding automobiles? And how is he going to get his shoppiing cart full of soda cans on the bus? In short, you've got questions you'd like to ask.

But you don't ask them, do you?

[COB]

At the end of the season I read somewhere that Marvin didn't talk to Chad after like week 3. He was freezing Chad out, sending the message to the rest of the team: "Look, this is how we do, don't worry about that fool over there, do like we do. Ignore him." And who can blame Marvin now that we know the true story of the playoff game? As long as Chad's in the conversation, Marvin can't develop the mature team attitude he needs to win. So he just took Chad out of the conversation.

[BengalszoneBilly]

At the end of the season I read somewhere that Marvin didn't talk to Chad after like week 3. He was freezing Chad out, sending the message to the rest of the team: "Look, this is how we do, don't worry about that fool over there, do like we do. Ignore him." And who can blame Marvin now that we know the true story of the playoff game? As long as Chad's in the conversation, Marvin can't develop the mature team attitude he needs to win. So he just took Chad out of the conversation.

I'm sorry but Marvin's face from last year tells a different story...

[COB]

I'm sorry but Marvin's face from last year tells a different story...

I went back and looked. It wasn't week 3 that Marvin stopped talking to Chad, it was mid-season. From the attached Curnette blog entry:

"At one point, Johnson said Lewis stopped talking to him at mid-season."

I stand corrected, though I believe my point regarding Marvin freezing Chad out is still valid.

http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/benga...-trade-chad.asp

[GregCook]

If an accurate interview it does add to the atmosphere about Chad. Carson said he hasn't spoken to him. Marvin said the same thing this week. I doubt Mike Brown has. So nobody wants to talk to Chad about how he really feels? Nobody cares? No wonder Chad is acting out, kinda of like a 8 year old with lots of brothers....the big boys are ignoring him.

You walk to the bus stop and while awaiting it's arrival have to spend a few minutes in the company of an obviously crazy person. You wonder silently to yourself why the crazy person is shouting at the passing traffic. What does he gain from yelling at speeding automobiles? And how is he going to get his shoppiing cart full of soda cans on the bus? In short, you've got questions you'd like to ask.

But you don't ask them, do you?

Chad crazy? No more than the rest of us. He's greedier than most though. Thats the thing about wealthy people, when they have 1 million, they want another million. When they have 5 million they want 10 million. Most of us just want that first million. Chad wants at least 20 million and that is why we will be entertained between now and September until the right deal can be found to move Chad along.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Most of us just want that first million.

I'd easily settle for that first $500,000.

[chrishcovga]

If an accurate interview it does add to the atmosphere about Chad. Carson said he hasn't spoken to him. Marvin said the same thing this week. I doubt Mike Brown has. So nobody wants to talk to Chad about how he really feels? Nobody cares? No wonder Chad is acting out, kinda of like a 8 year old with lots of brothers....the big boys are ignoring him.

You walk to the bus stop and while awaiting it's arrival have to spend a few minutes in the company of an obviously crazy person. You wonder silently to yourself why the crazy person is shouting at the passing traffic. What does he gain from yelling at speeding automobiles? And how is he going to get his shoppiing cart full of soda cans on the bus? In short, you've got questions you'd like to ask.

But you don't ask them, do you?

I do, ( No Surprise right ?) I learned to talk to the "crazies" of Cincinnati along time ago. Did it in New York too. And Atlanta, Detroit, Tulsa, Buffalo, and I found something very interesting about them.....

- They're all Dallas Cowboy fans !

[BTG]

"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."

This just in: PETA is upset with Carson Palmer's treatment of his animals and plans to look into the situation.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

"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."

This just in: PETA is upset with Carson Palmer's treatment of his animals and plans to look into the situation.

What, for putting the #85 jersey on that poor dog? I agree, I couldn't do that to my dog.

[BTG]

ha ha ha ha ha ha....nice.