Will Chad want more money?

[JohnsonX5]

I came across this article about Drew Rosenhaus at espn. I was too lazy to read the entire thing, but I did happen to notice this quote from Rosenhaus

"This week, the Cincinnati Bengals approached me about [linebacker] Nate Webster," he said. "We just did a five-year contract for Nate. Last year he popped his patella tendon. They go out and draft another guy to replace him, he's not doing well and they want to cut him. But for me to go to them and ask them to redo Chad Johnson's contract – who's sorely underpaid – that's unbelievable. Why? Why?

"If contracts can be cut, why can't they be raised? Explain that to me."

I don't think we should worry about this anytime soon but, if Chad has another great year, I think we could be in for a lot of trouble with Rosenhaus. I like Chad a lot and I don't think he's the greedy type, but it's this Rosenhaus guy that kind of worries me. I know there's been talk that Chad only signed with Rosenhaus to gain publicity, but it sure sounds like Rosenhaus is looking for a bigger contract when he's saying things like Chad is "sorely underpaid." Didn't Chad just sign a new contract worth a pretty good amount of money this past year? I didn't want to make my first post cause any concern, but I just came across this and wanted to know what everone else thought.

[bengalsLB]

chad may want a new contract but he won't hold-out he loves the game way to much. rosenhaus should be ban from the nfl

[derekshank]

we talked about this a bit before:

http://forums.bengalszone.com/index.php?sh...#39;s+new+agent

But I hadn't seen this quote before... but like HairOnFire said "It's a nagging concern"... but that is all it is for now. I've seen no signs of Chad making this an issue, so I see no need for the rest of us to make it an issue yet either.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

The reason the Bengals asked Nate to change his pay was because his role on the team changed. CJs role as the #1 receiver isn't going to change, so there is no reason to change his pay.

Rosenjackass needs to take Motorcycle riding lessons from Kellen Winslow Jr.!

[BengalPappaw]

Rosenjackass needs to take Motorcycle riding lessons from Kellen Winslow Jr.

NO, I have better idea -- let him go riding WITH Jr.

[Kazkal]

Not talking about money

But Johnson isn’t making a sound about more money. After all, the Bengals reportedly dropped $10.5 million on him to sign the deal in November of 2003, and according to the NFL Players Association, his salary ranges from $1 million this season to $3.6 million in 2009.

“My play is going to take care of itself. That’s why I don’t talk about it. It’s why I’m not holding out,” Johnson says. “Hold out for what? Your play is going to take care of itself. You can’t think about money and play football at the same time. You can’t do those two. It’s impossible.”

The only guy who has had a more productive offseason is Rosenhaus. He snagged several high-profile clients this winter, including Johnson and Peter Warrick on the Bengals, and Owens of the Eagles. Rosenhaus’ star quality has no doubt aided Johnson’s national appeal.

“I think it’s good for everyone,” Johnson says. “I mean, it’s good for me to get exposure, but it’s also good for us. When I talk, I talk about us as a team. Now as we’re on the verge of doing things, things are happening off the field and it will be good for all of us.”

The mouth is still working. During Tuesday’s warmups, Johnson approached Palmer and said, “You can’t stop me. How can I be stopped?”

Palmer didn’t blink.

“I’ll throw it to T.J.,” he said.

That might have got a few points on “Teammates.”

re

[IckeyShuffle]

I read this today today and it scared the crap out of me. I love Chad, love his play, love his attitude, love his work ehtic and the fact that he's never satisfied. But if there ever came a day where Chad pulled a T.O. because he has "outperformed" his contract, we will be able to thank Marvin for giving us the depth we need to move on and not rely on one player. I hope that all of you are right and that this is an issue we will never have to deal with.

Everything I read on Chris Henry is lights out, I can't wait to go to Georgetown and see this kid play in training camp in person. Anybody interested in a Bengalszone outing locally this summer or into training camp?

[membengal]

I read this today today and it scared the crap out of me. I love Chad, love his play, love his attitude, love his work ehtic and the fact that he's never satisfied. But if there ever came a day where Chad pulled a T.O. because he has "outperformed" his contract, we will be able to thank Marvin for giving us the depth we need to move on and not rely on one player. I hope that all of you are right and that this is an issue we will never have to deal with.

Everything I read on Chris Henry is lights out, I can't wait to go to Georgetown and see this kid play in training camp in person. Anybody interested in a Bengalszone outing locally this summer or into training camp?

If CJ was gonna go that route this off-season, he would already have started missing off-season workouts like seemingly every other one of f**k-face's clients have (Owens, Walker, Sean Taylor, A. Boldin, etc. etc. etc.). I think CJ told f**k-face "no" when f**k-face tried to get him to join that party.

That's a big one for CJ.

Now, next off-season, will f**k-face finally get to Chad? Maybe, who knows? But, for now at least, CJ has spared us the off-season f**k-face agony that Eagles and Packers fans among others are having to go through.

For that, CJ has my everlasting thanks.

Oh, and Drew Rosenhaus is a f**k-face. In case I had not said it enough.

[andybren]

"If contracts can be cut, why can't they be raised? Explain that to me."

I'll explain it. Teams can cut players. Players can quit teams (retire). Everything else is a contractual obligation one way or another. Unless, it seems, you are a Rosenhaus client.

And here I was given the guy credit for keeping Webster employed, and in the future, employable. Sounds like the shoe was on the other foot and the Bengals were actually trying to keep Nate around when his contract made him a liability.

What a jerk.

[bengalindian]

I must say that the Drew Rosenhaus' of the world are bad for fans like us. But damn, you gotta give it to him. He works his ass OFF.

[andybren]

I must say that the Drew Rosenhaus' of the world are bad for fans like us. But damn, you gotta give it to him. He works his ass OFF.

Tom DeLay works his ass off. So does Jesse Jackson, Bill O'Reilly, Ted Turner, Donald Trump, Martha Stewart and Kim Jong Il. Doesn't mean they deserve any extra credit or blame for their actions.

[schweinhart]

Chad is the one working his ass off.

Can't blame a man for wanting to reap as much as he can from what he sows, but for the money he got with the extension, he should be content at least through 2005.

There's no cap room to extend him now anyway w/o wholesale cuts, so a holdout for 2005 is pointless.

But the signal is clear -- Chad hired Rosenhaus. Bullsh*t is coming at some point.

As great as Chad is, he's physically vulnerable over the middle, IMO more so than many other receivers because of his build and speed at impact. I'd be more concerned about him being gun shy over the middle than holding out. There were some signs last year that he was trying to set parameters about what he was willing to do -- like the reverse where he came up dramatically weak-kneed and woozy as if to say, "Don't run the reverse with me again."

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I just don't see Chad pulling typical Rosenfag bulls**t.

[UofLnMU]

Well, I'm sure that Genghis Khan worked his ass off, too, but that doesn't make me want to embrace the Horde.

[ArmyBengal]

I mentioned this in another thread, but think Chad is doing what he should in regards to the Organization, the players, and the fans. If this becomes a problem, we deal with it then. Chad will get paid before his contract is up again... Bet...

WHODEY !!!

[derekshank]

I don't like the Rosenhaus antics either... but Chad has proven that the athletes have a say in the matter. T.O. is a jerk, and was one well before Rosenhaus was his agent. And Rosenhaus won't get T.O. one shiny dime either, so as long as Chad is happy about Cincy, (and I think he will be as long as the team has a chance, and Cincy fans keep worshipping him) I have decided there is no reason to worry about him pulling Owens/Walker type shenanigans.

On the flip side... Rosenhaus' quote certainly got all of us riled up, which begs the question... If Chad signed him for publicity purposes, is he not succeeding? Him mentioning Chad being grossly underpaid certainly puts the media spotlight on Chad asking "What's he gonna say/do?" Chad said/did the right thing, which should being making him a media darling in some respects. Hope it works for him.

[jditty47]

rosenhaus was on PTI today...was pretty good, he didnt say anything about chad though...just commenting on TO and Sean Taylor. Hes an agent, hes out for the client and himself more than anything...anyone knows that. Hes a good agent, he gets things done for his client. I bet TO doesnt get a new contract this season, and he wont holdout btw, but i bet next year if he has a good year this year, his contract will be changed or terminated. Same as for chad. Im sure it'll be brought up during the season but nothing is gonna happen till next year. Next year chad might threaten a holdout - time will tell.

[BengalByTheBay]

To me there are two sides to this coin. You always hear about the cap-stressed team that goes to its big $$ superstar to ask him to re-do his contract to help the team with the cap. Sometimes the player does, sometimes he doesn't. This is the other side of that same issue when the player comes to the team and says "damn, I'm doing so much better than this contract you should pay me more." Sometimes the team re-does the deal, sometimes not. If CJ goes off again and say leads the league in yards and TD's, who would be surprised if he asks for a new deal? Nobody. It's the way it works. In fact, we might be happy to have the deal re-done just to make sure that everything's cool. I don't think it's necessarily something to fear.

Rosenhaus is the type of agent who tells his client that if they don't ask they won't get. And you know what...he's right. But his leverage only goes as far as his client's ability gets it. What is TO gonna do if Philly (as they will do) says no? He'll probably play because his contract isn't really out-of-whack for his production.

In all this, I give CJ mad props for what he's said up to now. He seems like the only one who's got a sense of proportion about it -- as of now his contract isn't really that bad. If he has another big year, it probably will be and there will be ol Drew lurkin'.

[jjakq27]

I like Cha'd comment that "he works for me."

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...090404/1066/SPT

Thursday, June 9, 2005

Chad Johnson says he won't hold out for more money

By Kevin Kelly

Enquirer staff writer

In response to a comment made by his agent in a recent online report, Chad Johnson stressed Wednesday that a holdout is not in his plans.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus represents the Bengals wide receiver, who is under contract through the 2009 season. An ESPN.com story about Rosenhaus included a comment from the agent that Johnson was "sorely underpaid."

"My agent doesn't run me. I run myself," Johnson said after Wednesday's workout. "He works for me. Therefore, if there were any holdout going on it would be going on right now with the rest of those that are holding out for more money right now.

"(Number) 85 ain't going nowhere."

In November 2003, the Bengals gave Johnson a $12.5 million signing bonus on a five-year contract extension worth $26 million. According to the NFL Players Association, his salary will rise from $1 million this season to $3.6 million by 2009.

"That's Drew's opinion," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "He's got that opinion about nine or 10, 12, 15 guys all around the league through this point. No big deal."

Johnson led the AFC in receiving yards (1,274) last season, caught a career-high 95 passes and was voted to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for the second consecutive year.

"Am I underpaid? I'm not sure," Johnson said.

[Dirk Funk]

BengalbytheBay, good post.

When the Bengals originally signed Chad 2+ years ago with a $12.5 signing bonus he was well overpaid considering his lack of experience. M Lewis and Mike Brown did a great job getting him under contract before his rookie deal expired, helping the cap in future years. Kudos to the Bengals management staff seeing this before his major, major upswing in performance/value.

However if Chad does it again this year, he will have all the leverage in the world.

[cincy9275]

yes chad will want more and he is very under payed

[BengalByTheBay]

BengalbytheBay, good post.

When the Bengals originally signed Chad 2+ years ago with a $12.5 signing bonus he was well overpaid considering his lack of experience. M Lewis and Mike Brown did a great job getting him under contract before his rookie deal expired, helping the cap in future years. Kudos to the Bengals management staff seeing this before his major, major upswing in performance/value.

However if Chad does it again this year, he will have all the leverage in the world.

Dirk -- welcome to the zone. You are obviously a person of valuable judgment and incredible insight.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

yes chad will want more and he is very under payed

True, but Chad is smart enough to know that he earns his paycheck ON THE FIELD, not by staying OFF THE FIELD. Mike Brown WILL tear up his contract and pay him more if he continues to play at a pro-bowl level. He has done it for others, including Marvin Lewis two years in a row.

[Kazkal]

Chad stated the only reason he hired this arse for his agent was to work when it's not football season

[derekshank]

Rosenhaus' quote certainly got all of us riled up, which begs the question... If Chad signed him for publicity purposes, is he not succeeding? Him mentioning Chad being grossly underpaid certainly puts the media spotlight on Chad asking "What's he gonna say/do?" Chad said/did the right thing, which should being making him a media darling in some respects. Hope it works for him.

I know it is terribly self promoting to quote my own post, but I have to show that I was right.

On the ESPN show 1st and 10 this afternoon, they were talking about Rosenhaus and T.O., and then the discussion turned to Chad Johnson. They mentioned his quote about how Rosenhaus doesn't run him, he runs himself, and that Rosenhaus works for him.

They pretty muched raved about Chad being the man, having a great attitude. THey talked about how they really liked him, thought he was one of the best WR's in the NFL, and hope he can do several endzone dances this year. This may just be the beginning of Chad's media frenzy. I think he will quickly become a media darling if he keeps making quotes like this, and catching TD passes.