Ludwig: Chad Hints at '06 Holdout

[HoosierCat]

Just another athlete not honoring his contract; what else is new? Oh well. Same ol' same ol' in the NFL.

Well...at least talking about not honoring his contract. We'll see how far it goes. Personally, I thought -- at least until Chad opened his yap on the radio -- that he was handling things exactly right. Play it cool, go do your thing, worry about it next year, and if anyone asks, just tell them you're the boss and it isn't on the table. Like the old saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar; no need to go all "T.O." on a team that's already given you a lucrative extension based on what was then a very short NFL career.

...but he couldn't keep his mouth shut...

[Kirkendall]

No argument here ditster. There's a huge penalty in MLB if you go past a certain number on payroll. However, rather than penalizing that team like NFL does, MLB just says, fine. They force that team to pay a % of the payroll to the remaining 32 teams. It's not perfect, and it takes a different approach than the NFL -- which I, admittadly, believe is more one-sided.

Now, let's get past the numbers, and contracts, and etc.. and look at the people that it makes sense to the most. The players.

And Drew Rosenhaus has a point. If a team can just cut you for under-achieving, then why can't you hold out if you're over-achieving? It's snake-like car salesman stuff, but there's truth to it -- one, as a fan of professional football, I hate!

[Kirkendall]

Just another athlete not honoring his contract; what else is new?  Oh well.  Same ol' same ol' in the NFL.

Well...at least talking about not honoring his contract. We'll see how far it goes. Personally, I thought -- at least until Chad opened his yap on the radio -- that he was handling things exactly right. Play it cool, go do your thing, worry about it next year, and if anyone asks, just tell them you're the boss and it isn't on the table. Like the old saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar; no need to go all "T.O." on a team that's already given you a lucrative extension based on what was then a very short NFL career.

...but he couldn't keep his mouth shut...

Yea. As crazy as the boards got, and local radio shows got, when Rudi threatened to sit out if he didn't get a long-term deal, it's weird that Chad would even promote the idea wanting more money. Or the backlash TO is getting, or the Ross Verba fiasco up in turd city.

But if anything, we should restrain from discussing trades or shouting back at Chad for this. We don't know much of the story and probably won't. The biggest mistake professional sports made were publicizing contracts and all that stuff. That should all be private, IMHO.

[HoosierCat]

And Drew Rosenhaus has a point. If a team can just cut you for under-achieving, then why can't you hold out if you're over-achieving? It's snake-like car salesman stuff, but there's truth to it -- one, as a fan of professional football, I hate!

It's exactly that "snake-like car saleman truth." That truth that asks you not to examine it to closely because there's less than meets the eye. Yes, teams can cut players who don't perform...but the ones they cut on the bottom of the pay scale are guys Rosencarsalesman don't actually give a crap about. And guys on the other end of the pay scale, teams either can't release because of the cap hit (see Sapp etc.)...or they end up kissing off millions in signing bonuses they paid for a bum (can you say "Akili"?).

Also what is the big deal about teams being able to cut people who don't perform? Last time I checked, if I don't do my job, my employer is free to can my butt. Even if I've signed a contract, there are standard clauses that govern termination in the case of nonperformance.

[Kazkal]

Lewis won't take crap from any player. Even CJ can be replaced and will be if he develops Rosenhaus' ego and tries to get overpayed. I love him and want him on my team, but I'm not mortaging the team for a receiver.... And I don't think ML will either.

Overpayed he's a top 5 WR he's getting payed what half of what he deserves.

[DontPushMe]

When you have a player like Rudi Johnson making comparable money to a top 3 receiver, you know somethings wrong. I wouldnt be suprised if the contract RJ got is what made Chad decide he needs more.

[Kazkal]

verywell could be

[Who?]

When you have a player like Rudi Johnson making comparable money to a top 3 receiver, you know somethings wrong. I wouldnt be suprised if the contract RJ got is what made Chad decide he needs more.

Yeah I never really thought Rudi Johnson was that good at all, the Bengals could do better, does anyone know his YPC (I think that's it?) from last year?

[redsfan2]

When you have a player like Rudi Johnson making comparable money to a top 3 receiver, you know somethings wrong. I wouldnt be suprised if the contract RJ got is what made Chad decide he needs more.

Yeah I never really thought Rudi Johnson was that good at all, the Bengals could do better, does anyone know his YPC (I think that's it?) from last year?

RJ had 361 carries ( team record ) for 1454 yards ( team record ) avg ypc 4.0 hardly a team record, but not bad either .... long 52 yards ... He's faster than a lot of people think and 12 td's. To put in perspective, RJ accounted for 1454 of the total 1839 yards rushing for the team.

Chads numbers ( while still good ) were actually down a little from the previous year. TJ's were comparable ( both 13.4 ypc avg ) and he and Schobel both had longer catches.

Doubt that CJ holds out. #1 He's a team guy to the end ...... spends the night at the stadium about 3 times a week during the season .... & coaches have to tell him to go home. #2 He knows who they drafted. About the only thing he likes as much as being paid is seeing himself on the field making catches. I doubt he's going to stand on the sideline and hold the door open for one of the new guys to walk in and take his place on the field. Coach Lewis' theory is that whether due to a hold out or injury, you have to win your job back when you come back in. You don't walk back in as the starter.

Rudi mentioned holding out too, but signed the 1 year tender and then got his contract. CJ talking is CJ talking and that's about it. Saying and doing are 2 different things, and when it comes right down to it .... he won't do it any more than RJ did.

[Kirkendall]

Don't forget about the Drew variable Bozo. He's pretty slick...

[redsfan2]

Don't forget about the Drew variable Bozo. He's pretty slick...

Hey Cap'n .... long time.

I haven't forgotten about Rottenhouse. I just don't think that CJ is the type to be led around by the nose. A lot ( not all ) of the other guys that Rotten represents are " Yea Me screw you " types who put themselves above the team. Now Chad definitely has the "Yea Me" down pat, but I've never seen him put his own interests before the team.

Plus, like I said .... he knows who the Bengals drafted and he knows how coach Lewis runs the team. He may key word may, posture etc ..... but when it comes down to playing time he's going to tell Rottenhouse to " get me a deal and get it done" and that'll be the end of it.

Or as in other cases I'm 100% wrong ... there's a hold out ... animosity ... and we end up shipping him off for a 7th round draft pick from the Raiders .... Who the hell knows ??

[DontPushMe]

When you have a player like Rudi Johnson making comparable money to a top 3 receiver, you know somethings wrong. I wouldnt be suprised if the contract RJ got is what made Chad decide he needs more.

Yeah I never really thought Rudi Johnson was that good at all, the Bengals could do better, does anyone know his YPC (I think that's it?) from last year?

His 4.0 average is actually very deceiving though. He was under 4 ypc in 11 games. The average was only brought up by a few big games.

[Irish Bengal]

I'm sure Dillon had a few big games to get his average up too!

What's your point?

[DontPushMe]

I dont get what the 2 players have to do with each other, Dillon wasnt part of this thread, why bring him into it?

If you must though, he had 3 games below 4 ypc this year. So you are wrong.

[redsfan2]

I'm sure Dillon had a few big games to get his average up too!

What's your point?

Oh God !!! You had to ask didn't you ?????

[CBin2k7]

I dont get what the 2 players have to do with each other, Dillon wasnt part of this thread, why bring him into it?

If you must though, he had 3 games below 4 ypc this year. So you are wrong.

Rudi Johnson wasn't part of this thread either, but you brought him into it.

[Spain]

LOL DPM has changed another post to a Dillon or rudi post. Incredible. DPM you trully are Dillons biggest fan. I thought my wife was.- she switched to the pats when he left!

[Sox]

I dont get what the 2 players have to do with each other, Dillon wasnt part of this thread, why bring him into it?

If you must though, he had 3 games below 4 ypc this year. So you are wrong.

Your right,Dillon had nothing to do with this topic.

Neither did Rudi,so why did you bring HIM into it?

[HairOnFire]

I guess DPM has awakened from his nap and now wishes to discuss Rudi Johnson again. In fact, he even mentioned that one stat he likes so much. However, I'll warn other posters not to make the mistake of countering his single stat argument or you'll quickly hear his now familiar rant about how little meaning or value stats have.

As for CJ, he'll deserve a bump in pay if he continues at his current pace and the Bengals would actually be smart to listen. In the process of renegotiating they can lower CJ's base salary, extend his deal several more seasons, and further erode their front office reputation for being cheap and uncreative.

[DontPushMe]

I dont get what the 2 players have to do with each other, Dillon wasnt part of this thread, why bring him into it?

If you must though, he had 3 games below 4 ypc this year. So you are wrong.

Your right,Dillon had nothing to do with this topic.

Neither did Rudi,so why did you bring HIM into it?

Why was TJ brought into the thread? Why was Warren Sapp? Why was willie?

Because they have something to do with the post. So did RJ. Dillon didnt. Dont confuse it. The only reason i brought our incumbent starting RB into the arguement is because i felt his contract being similar to CJs was the reason Chad wanted the raise. There is no way anyone could say those are equal players right there, and Chad is at a more important position (Not because WR is more important then RB, but because its harder to find good #1 WRs than it is good RBs - look at how hard it was for the bills to trade Henry).

Dont get it twisted, it wasnt me that turned this into a RJ/Dillon thread. Had anyone else used the RJ comparison there it wouldnt of become anything. In fact a few people even agreed with what i said there.

[HairOnFire]

The only reason i brought our incumbent starting RB into the arguement is because i felt his contract being similar to CJs was the reason Chad wanted the raise. There is no way anyone could say those are equal players right there, and Chad is at a more important position

Less than four days ago Chad Johnson could be heard on a national television show claiming that re-signing Rudi Johnson to a long term contract was the most important move the Bengals could have made this offseason. He even went so far as to call Rudi the "heart and soul" of this Bengals team.

So Pushy, does any of the above make you think Chad is jealous of Rudi's contract? And if it doesn't, what other sources of information are you using to base your latest stupid opinion upon? (You've got nothing, right?)

[HairOnFire]

Had anyone else used the RJ comparison there it wouldnt of become anything.

And that should tell anyone all they need to know about the level of credibility you have around here.

[DontPushMe]

Once again, do you think he would get on the radio and say "I wish they hadnt resigned RJ." or "They overpayed for him" or "I should be making more then him". No.

He had to stay politically correct.

As for no evidence, of coarse not, its speculation, but you have no evidence for your case also. All im saying is, RJ (average) gets a deal equal to CJ (elite), and within a couple weeks CJ has a new agent who is saying chad is underpaid? You could call it coincidence, but i disagree.

[HairOnFire]

As for no evidence, of coarse not, its speculation, but you have no evidence for your case also.

Actually I do have some evidence, and I'll be darned if it isn't less than a week old. You of course have little choice but admit that your latest Rudi broadside is pure speculation based upon nothing but your own bias and stupidity.

And just for the record, I wasn't a bit surprised.

If it's simply a matter of contract size why stop at Rudi? Why not point to Carson's contract? Why not point to the one just signed by fellow wideout TJ? Why not use the pay of other top wideouts around the NFL to make your point? Because I'm pretty sure Chad's agent is going to go that route if he hopes to gain any traction at the bargaining table. Then again I'm sure he's well aware that he'd have to be a slack-jawed moron to compare the just signed contract of a starting NFL RB to a contract signed several years ago by a WR who had several years remaining on his original contract?

And your excuse about Chad simply being politically correct is just a self-serving bit of fluff that you're attempting to prop up despite ample evidence to the contrary. Let's not forget how often you've lent your support to politically incorrect players like ex-Bengal Corey Dillon, a guy who had no problem making demeaning statements about Willie Anderson, Rudi Johnson, and yeah...Chad Johnson. Or have you forgotten when Dillon openly belittled the idea of the Bengals building their offense around Chad? Or how about later when he said the same things in regards to Rudi being capable of taking his job?

Frankly Pushy, I think it's clear by now that most of your arguments are based upon bias, pure speculation, and the vast amounts of information you don't seem to know.

[Spain]

Ok here goes the Dillon ,Rudi post all over again!lol