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The ongoing Chad Johnson-Cincinnati Bengals saga continues.
The most recent development is a video plea from agent Drew Rosenhaus to the Bengals, in which he pleads with the team to trade Johnson. Here’s the video:
Clearly, the plan here is to stoke the fans and the media into continuing to pressure the Bengals to accept the reported offer of a first-round pick in 2008 and as much as another second-rounder in 2009 from the Redskins.
But the Bengals aren’t budging. During a spot with Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton of WFAN earlier this morning, Boomer offered up a great idea — the Bengals might be inclined to let Johnson go if he offers to pay back signing bonus money.
Even then, however, we’re not so sure that team president Mike Brown would bite. He’s out to make a point on this one, and it’s very possible that no amount of money or draft picks will change his mind.
So what say you, PFT Planet? Should the Bengals keep him, or should they trade him?
April 25th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I think Chad and Drew are both a couple of whiners…but if the Bengals were smart, and they could get a 1st round pick this year, and a second round pick next year…then they should do it…Two first round picks this year could really help rebuild this team.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 10:41 am
First off, this isn’t about Chad Johnson’s contract. He wants out of Cincinnati AND he wants to keep that big contract. Has Johnson said anything to the effect that he would welcome getting cut and give up the contract that puts him as one of the highest paid WR’s in the league? If he has, I haven’t seen the quotes. He wants to have his cake and eat it, too.
If the Bengals trade Johnson, then they have just shown all the other players in that organization how to leverage their way out of Cincinnati - bitch, piss, moan, throw temper tantrums, go on radio during Super Bowl week doing those things, and have your agent produce jacked up YouTube videos pleading for a trade (not to get cut from the team, a trade… then you still get to keep that contract).
It’s getting to the point where this is not going to end well for Chad Johnson. He needs to re-evaluate his ego and tone the whole PR campaign down.
If the reports are true that Marvin Lewis has won back the locker room after his comments about Johnson, then the Bengals now have even more incentive to break it off in Johnson’s a$$ and not give in to his crying and tantrums. Especially if it brings the locker room closer together.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Looks like a record in posts to me, one a minute for an hour.
Chad hasnt acted up ? end zone bs ? blaming everyone else for his drops ?
oh… and… choking one coach, swinging at another, and making it impossible for them to win a playoff game they were leading at the time ? all because he thought he was being used as a decoy.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Drew Rosenhaus is a turd, Chad Johnson is a turd. What I saw was a millionaire begging on the steps of the Bengals’ organization doorstep…DR has no pride.
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 10:48 am
look here the deal Bungles, The Browns ( yes the Brownnies) are a better football team then you now and they are gorwing….. thats just sad. if you dont dump Chad and get the picks to rebuild your poor excuse for a team you are going to be the laughing stock of the NFL. and take over the browms role. from a business stand point sometimes you gotta cut your losses and move on
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Rating: 2.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:04 am
The Bengals should look into any tampering done by the Redskins and bring down the hammer on anything they find. They should suspend Chad for conduct detrimental to the team, pursue any and all money they are entitled to get back and then trade him to a team in the NFC where they will not have to face him more than once a year.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:09 am
This is like watching two speeding trains rumble towards each other. Go Bengals!
How obvious did Rosenhaus make it that he has been talking to teams behind the scenes?
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am
must post again. This WILL become a major league wide issue. Yes many players do not have guaranteed contracts, but if they are injured, they have all of their subsequent medical treatments paid for. All teams have staff that try to help all players develop future plans for the money they are paid while in the league. And, are these players not “college students” who have been given magnificent opportunities to get a free education, something that most of us, or our children, have not been given. To use reverse logic, maybe all professional athletes should have their contracts evaluated on a yearly basis and have their contracts lowered for poor years, years they didn’t produce due to injury etc. The bottom line is we have very rich people (owners) playing games with rich people (players). Even the entry level salary is much greater than the vast majority of college graduates earn in their first years. And by the way, gas is $3.50 a gallon and food prices are rising sharply. Why should we should we put so much time and effort on these rich asses.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:13 am
the Bengals are being stubborn stupid. Get off the stupid train. A first and a third for a guy who doesn’t want to be there and may not play this season anyway? Daft.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:14 am
As a biased Raven fan I want to see Ocho set free for my own reasons, but in principle I agree with him.
Why should he be forced to “honor” a one sided contract? because Gene Upshaw said so? F that. The precedent has already been set by T.O. and MeShawn. Holding the line here is only going to pull back the curtian at how gangster an operation the union cba bs is under don upshank break yer freakin head rather than have a conversation over dinner with a broken down bitter former player.
Forget about it.
Take your money Ocho they are not going to just give it to you. F the CBA, F the Bungles, F Upshaw. F God Dell.
They are goint to try and send a message by forcing you to be a Bungle for life? For what? What is the message, dont sign long term contracts. Don’t talk to the media? Shut up and play? F that message.
Free your speech and the Bungles will be forced to set you free. Fire Upshaw and change the CBA. Get TJ to hold out with you. What does he make like 2 mil per for a perrenial pro bowl WR?
The Bungles should just move to LA. The crimes they commit in Cincy are mostly legal there I think. Ocho Stinko could get some side money pretending to be pimp or some stereo typical jiggabo type clownwhore for Madam Holly.
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Rating: 1.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:14 am
i havent read all these comments but has anyone thought that the reason they wont trade him is that we play the nfc east this year. it would be horrible for him to catch a td and win a game that kept us out of the playoffs (i am being hopefull). we play at dallas oct 5th, host eagles nov 16th and host redskins dec 14th. just a thought. i kinda like the idea of him sitting all year but we could use the pics and never spend all the cap money anyhow (see cheap owner). i still love the bengals as they are my home town team, and i will remain hopefull.
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Rating: 1.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Bengal have been off-sides with League office for too long.
If you’re Mike Brown do you take this one back to League and seek ‘clarification’. Is there any NFL concern about players becoming the stars and teams just the laundry?
NFL may want to throw Bengal a break if they choose to sit him
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I have not read all of your replies so I apologize if this is a repeat but who is the QB of the Bengals? Palmer, good, so far you have scored higher than Manningham… Next who is the QB of the Redskinns? Good,Campbell… 2 for 2, so far you can graduate Michigan… So, do you really think a QB of a completely different caliber will be able to pass to him? I do not think so… I hope he goes to the redskins and blows up!
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Does anyone think it’s a coincidence that Rosenhaus represents both TO and Ocho Stinco? I would bet big money that he is behind this whole fiasco. Agents need to held accountable for the actions of their clients and themselves. When a team talks to an agent about a player that is the “property” of another team, I think the agents are the ones who initiate contact or start the rumors about their clients being unhappy. The agents get their commission on every new deal that’s done, so why not create a little animosity in order to get a new deal.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Trade him. It’s not about prinicipal, it’s a sound buisness and football decision. His value will never be this high again as a bengal. He won’t sit out this year, but he will be a serious distraction and will not be productive, and he’s at the pinical of his career in terms of age (and mental health). Get as much as you can for him to build for the futre. All of the arguements against doing so are week. 1. Cap hit. Have some other guys restructure, or trade picks to move up this year (and snag ellis or dorsey) and get another first round next year. 2. Others will want more money and try similar antics. Others have done this in the past with the Bengals and having to wait out their contracts did not quell the issue with Chad. It created more disfunction and a poor attitude detracting from locker room coherence and ensuring lossing ways. 3. Mikey Boy is proving a point to the rest of the league. Mike is being Mike and the PR is positive for him on this one. This is the perfect storm for him. Positive national outlook without having to do anything. It maybe good for the league, but it’s bad for a team trying to win, which his actions dictate is not his concern.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:38 am
It’s time for a team in the NFL to stand up for their rights as a team in forcing a player to actually honor their contract. While contracts have been structured to protect players by providing them with guaranteed money up front, there is not enough protection in place against players acting like complete douches (e.g. Chad Johnson). These players bitch and moan and cause problems until their team realizes they can’t stand to have them around anymore and are forced to trade them. And then, knowing the situation the Bengals are in, why would I trade them full value knowing that Chad doesn’t intend to suit up for them? It’s just wrong.
Chad, you and Drew negotiated your contract with the Bengals, you signed for a set number of years and for a specific amount of money. Play out your contract, shut your mouth and do your job.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I cant believe Rosenhaus would say “Please trade him it would make Chad very happy.” Who cares if he is happy? This is the lamest approach by an agent I have ever seen. Why cant the NFL ban players from using this idiot. Its people like him that ruin all that is great about sports. I think Marvin could have helped this problem along time ago but he didnt. Make the idiot sit out. I am one of many Bengal fans that cant stand Chad Johnson. Ive never gone from liking a player so much from wishing he would never play again. Go play soccer Chad like youve always talked about doing.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:44 am
First of all I am not sure what Chad’s problem is. He just signed a contract not too long ago so it better not be about money. I thought at first it was about the team and it’s ability to win (like that of Takeo Spikes and Corey Dillion) but in reality the Bengals have the ability to compete for the playoffs ao Chad needs to shut-up and help make his team better so that they can compete. It’s not like the Bengals are as pathetic as they used to be. If it is something else like a certain person in the organization that he doesn’t like (Marvin Lewis maybe) then he needs to work it out face to face with that person. Because in all reality Johnson has no real leverage in this matter. It’s not like he can sit out most of this year then play the last few games and become a free agent. The Bengals hold all the cards because they got to pay him whether he is there or not and if he sits out they can at least get money back. I think the Bengals should call his bluff and let him sit this year. They can always trade him next year.
My 2nd point is to those that try to stick up for Chad and talk about how owners can just get rid of players without penalty. Well when a guy like Johnson signs a contract for 20-30 million signing bonus they get that money no matter what unless they do something that breaks the contract. So if a guy under performs or gets injured and the team cuts him they still have to pay that 20-30 million they, don’t get off scott free. How would you like to pay someone that kind of money and get nothing in return for it? The reason the NFL has signing bonuses and other guranteed money payments is because they don’t have guaranteed contracts. And usually if a player outperforms his rookie contract a team is willing to give them a raise. The problem comes when a guy is a free agent and he gets a contract that makes him the highest paid player at his position but then a couple years down the road somebody else gets more so the previous player feels like he should get more and then he starts becoming a problem. Ultimately though Rosenhaus has become the biggest problem because most of the players that are/were complaining are his clients. (T.O., Johnson, McGahee, etc…)
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I am so sick of everyone calling Mike Brown a genius for not giving into Chad’s demands. No one really thought Chad would get traded because he was bringing down his trade value by putting the Bengals in the corner and trying to force a trade. Now when an offer with real value has come forward, they shoot it down. This is a prime example of how Mike Brown’s management of this franchise is botching any chances they will have of a Super Bowl run in the near future. While it is nice to see someone stick to their guns on something, you have to pick your battles. And winning this battle will not benefit the Bengals at all. Morale victories don’t bring you any closer to a Super Bowl. The Bengals are a franchise destined for NFL mediocrity (or worse) until they stop with the family business and run the organization like a football franchise.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I’d put Chad on the non-football related injury list and sit his butt for a year or two. He dosen’t appear to be emotionally stable enough to play a team sport. Maybe after a year of chillin’ he’ll grow up and recognize the opportunity he’s wasted.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Bengals fans should file a class action suit against Rosenhaus for tortius interference in CJ’s contract with the Bengals (e.g. his contact with the Redskins), with their standing stemming from the millions the fans spend on season tickets.
The NFL should open a tampering investigation pulling all electronic records from all Rosenhaus, Johnson, and Redskins associations.
The outcome should be that Rosenhaus and the Redskins pay out millions is damages; the Redskins forfeit 3 1st Round picks, and Rosenhaus is placed on probation (and banned if future violations occur) for tampering, or facilitation of tampering.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
The Patriots took that road a couple of years ago with Branch. It worked out in the long run (traded for #1 pick), but if you remember that year, they were booted in the playoffs due to lack of quality receivers. I distinctly remember watching a potential TD pass bounce off the numbers of Bug-Eye Caldwell and landing on the turf.
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April 25th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
This is clearly case of tampering by the Redskins.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
On principal, no the Bengals should not trade Chad Johnson.
But this isn;t about principal it’s about business. And they have to get rid of him if they want any chance at competing in the NFL. Let’s all understand that Chad will show up when it’s time to earn the paychecks. So the Bengals cannot force Chad to retire or sit out the season. He will show up, he will be a distraction, and the Bengals will have to pay him. Ignoring silly comments I read like placing him on the non-football related injury list etc., the Bengals have 3 choices: (1) Stick to their guns and keep Chad knowing they will not get his best performance, he will be a distraction to other players affecting their performance and they will have to pay him millions of dollars for this. (2) Cut him. (3) Trade him now and get something of value to help the team. (understanding that the longer this drags out the lower his trade value is).
Now, if you realize that the Bengals realisticly only have 3 viable courses of action which of the 3 makes any sense??? (assuming the Bengals organization is actually trying to put the best possible product on the field for its players and fans - and I realize that assumption is a stretch)
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April 25th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Teams can cut a man and part ways at any time. I think it’s an unfair practice to not allow a player to do the same. Do you really want to retain a player that doesn’t want to be there anyway? I think you get more from a player who is passionate about playing for you than from the ones who are only there for money. And what message does this send to future signees? If I were a player I would certainly now, think twice about signing with the Bengals or at least only sign a contract that allows me to opt out at any time. Trade him, get everything you can for him and be done with it.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)