Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, generally adopting an uncharacteristic tone of defiance in remarks from the league meetings in Palm Beach, has a message for receiver Chad Johnson a/k/a Ocho Stinko.

Play for us, or play for no one.

“We’ve been dealing with this inside for over a year and we’ll be prepared to move on,” Lewis said. “He has a contract through 2011.  If he plays NFL football it will be in Cincinnati, or he has to do what he says and that’s retire.  That would be a shame.”

Wow.  But, wait.  There’s more.

“A lot of people who really had an affection for him fan wise and people around the league see him in a different light and that’s unfortunate.  Some of the things he’s gone on record and said one way or the other he’s going to have to deal with them one way or the other. . . .  He’s said he’s probably going to sit out.  I think you’ve got to own up and do it. . . .  The Cincinnati Bengals hold the cards through the 2011 season.”

Actually, the Bengals hold the cards even longer, if Johnson holds out beyond the tenth week of the 2008 season.  At that point, his contract would automatically be extended to 2012.

If/when Johnson comes back, he might not recognize the team.  Because Lewis plans to make the team more physical, and to throw the ball less.

“We’ve got to go back and play physical football and be a different team,” Lewis said.  “The coaches are well aware I’m not happy with it. . . .  Everybody thinks it’s cute to throw the ball around the lot, but you don’t win games throwing the ball around the lot.”

Hey, we like what Lewis has to say.  But we’re not sure that the passing game should be completely overlooked.  Running the ball and stopping the run better than anyone else didn’t even yield a playoff berth for the Vikings.

Still, it’s time for an attitude change in Cincinnati.  Lewis is the one who helped create the current atmosphere by putting up with Johnson’s crap.  Standing up to Johnson might create a T.O.-style soap opera, but it also will help Lewis regain the trust and respect of the locker room.