The agent for Bengals receiver Chad Johnson denies an ESPN report that the player periodically known as “Ocho Cinco” will sit-o out-o in 2008.

But here’s the kicker.  While Drew Rosenhaus says that “Chad will play football in 2008,” Rosenhaus wouldn’t say that it will be for the Bengals. 

“Our plan is for Chad Johnson to play football in 2008,” Rosenhaus told the Cincinnati Enquirer.  “That is how I will respond to the report.”

Clearly, Johnson wants out of Cincy.  Even more clearly, Rosenhaus has learned from the T.O. debacle of 2005, when the Eagles season “got debacled” (thanks, Emmitt) by Owens’ antics in an effort to be traded or cut.

But none of this means that the Bengals will do anything to let Johnson get his way.  The Bengals have Johnson under contract through 2011, and can choose to not trade him.  His choice, then, would be to play for the Bengals or not at all.  If he doesn’t play at all, he’ll owe the Bengals the signing bonus money that applies to the 2008 season.

And if O.C. takes a page from T.O. and reports for work with a stick up his butt, the team will have the ability to suspend him for up to four weeks for conduct detrimental to the team.  The only difference between 2005 and 2008 is that he can’t be sent home with pay.

Meanwhile, with Pats receiver Randy Moss pulling out of the Pro Bowl, Johnson is now on the roster.  We wonder how he feels about wearing a Bengals helmet in Honolulu?

Our guess is that he’ll gladly tolerate it, since it gives him a chance to continue to campaign, not-so-quietly, for a new home come September.