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Bengals wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are skipping the team’s off-season workouts, and both are apparently unhappy with their contracts.
But their quarterback, Carson Palmer, isn’t concerned about having a pair of starting receivers missing in action.
“My frustration level? I’m at zero right now,” Palmer said, per the Dayton Daily News. ”I’m not frustrated at all. I’m happy and excited to be back on the field myself, whether they’re here or not. I’m excited to be back with these guys, the guys that are here.”
Still, Palmer added that “We’re definitely missing valuable time. We’ll get to work whenever they get here.”
The real question, though, is whether Palmer’s receivers will ever get there at all. Houshmandzadeh appears prepared to show up to training camp, but Johnson has said he has no desire ever to play in Cincinnati again. And given the way he’s reacted to everything else coming out of Cincinnati this offseason, Johnson may decide to interpret Palmer’s latest comments as an insult and a further reason to want out.
May 14th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Carson is right - I would follow him into battle! TJ will be there - Chad can go away - we do not need him!!!
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 14th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
How the hell does this writer know TJs unhappy with his contract? Always trying to stir up drama.
I’m sure he would like to get one done but he must realize the Bengals are going to wait until they make their camp/post-camp cuts to see how much cap room they have. He knows he’ll be up for a big payday. Well, he SHOULD know anyway.
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May 14th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Keep on skipping Chad…
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Palmer does indeed deserve better from the cry baby WRs on the Bengals. Maybe Palmer can elevate a couple of no-name draft picks to great heights and the Bengals won’t miss the cry-babies.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 14th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Pay TJ what he wants.As for Chad, he wont sit the season out because he has Carson Palmer for a QB.
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May 14th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
So I was thinking about the Chad Johnson issue and his refusal to play for the Bengals and the Begals refusal to release him, arguing he signed a contract and therefore must remain a Bengal. Doesn’t that violate the 13th Ammendment (against involuntary servitude)?
I suppose you could argue that he has the right to quit football altogether, but then he’s deprived of another Constitutional right (can’t remember exactly which one), the right to pursue gainful employment. No other job he takes can offer the same amount of money and bennies that football does and if not for his contract with the Bengals, he could and would play football.
He’s basically being forced to work for an employer against his will, seemingly a situation that the 13th Ammendment was designed to prevent.
Moreover, aren’t contracts that bind people together against the will of a party against public policy? Just a thought…
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 14th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Tdubb, I don’t believe “Involuntary Servitude” would apply to Johnson, unless you can prove he was mentally unable to understand the contract he willingly signed in 2006. ‘Course, Rosenhaus is his agent, so maybe…?
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Let’s be honest guys, after Brett Favre called out Javon Walker and he tore one of his CLs, no quarterback should ever comment on the status of anyone on the team. Sure it’s a team game, but those guys still have to look out for number one, because if number one gets seriously injured, the team isn’t really concerned with him.
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
@FloriosPhillyFan,Are you Lito Sheppards agent?(smile)
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I know you have no GM, and I am feeling kind of tired of making Bungle jokes so I will give you an idea to run with.
Trade Ocho Stinko to AZ for BOldin or Detroit for Williams, and you not only get rid of a headache, you get an upgrade at the position.
You just have to pay them and TJ if you want them to show up, and it won’t be a long term deal like Ocho signed, it will be just like the Larry Fitzgerald deal.
TJ would be a fool to try to play week one with no new contract, no training camp and no Ocho Stinko on the other side. He does not want to get JACKED UP like Chad does when he tries to take on Ray or Reed.
The 13th Amendmant idea may work. This really does seem unfair and un-American. He may be finacially responsible for liable or damages, but he should not be forced to work for someone against his will.
Is there an arbitrator or “Special Master” the NFL and NFLPA use to settle this stuff?
Any word from Upshaw on the issue, Drew R?
This is embarrasing not only for the BUngles but for pro football in general.
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May 15th, 2008 at 1:10 am
“Mike D, a Cheerleader, says:
May 14th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Im a Steeler fan and I can honestly say that Carson Palmer deserves so much better than what he’s gotten thus far in his career. The kid strikes me as a class act, model citizen and a hard working player. A good teammate. Yet, he has to play for this fourth rate organization and he has to deal with two cry baby WRs. Thats a shame. ”
I totally agree with you–I’m also a Steelers fan, and I thoroughly enjoy to see Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati, but I also have a ton of respect for Carson Palmer. I think he could get to that Brady/Manning level, but with the way things are going, he’s not going to have the weapons to work with. Not long ago, they had a dangerous foursome; Kelley Washington’s gone, Chris Henry got himself booted out of town, Chad’s trying to do the same thing (without the criminal activity), and who knows how long TJ will be around? Palmer will have to make things happen with the guys he has around him, and if he’s as good as I think he CAN be, then he can still win with what’s perceived to be lesser talent.
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May 15th, 2008 at 8:27 am
People seem to forget that the players and the teams always say that this is a business! Most businesses must put up a performance bond to ensure that the job is completed. Chad Johnson signed a contract and the league should insist that his contract is fulfilled! If he fails to complete his contract, he should not be allowed to play for another team and he should not be PAID. This whining about not playing (in the business world) would be considered a breach of contract and would find it hard to get another contract. If the NFL teams don’t take a hard stand on this, they will see this kind of action escalating! Would Chad play if the Bangals decided to cut his pay?? I think not
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May 15th, 2008 at 9:41 am
What you all don’t realize (those talking about the 13th Amendment and such) is that a contract is a LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT that you will perform said services in that contract. If it says 4 years, you work 4 years. Doesn’t matter if it’s the NFL or a government contract. If you break that contract, you have to pay a fee preset in that contract (think of getting out of your gym membership or cell phone contract). If Chad wants to pay back his signing bonus and follow all the rest of the legalize in his contract, the person holding his contract then can decide whether on not to accept those terms. This has nothing to do with “involuntary servitude”. Come on guys, you are smarter than that (I hope).
As for Carson’s comments, he’s in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. If he calls them out, he risks further alienating them. If he says “we need them here or we can’t win” he’s saying that his other teammates aren’t good enough and risks alienating them. If he says “we’ll be fine without them” (as Marvin likes to do), he risks alienating fans because we all know better than that. I think the way he phrased it is as best as he could. And fairly honest in his own right…
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May 15th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Please…a little common sense here. Carson is NOT going to call out these guys in the media, why would he? It would minimize him as a leader if he does it in public. We’ve all seen the clip of him telling Ocho on national TV, “Admit it Chad…you f***ed up!” The guy has spine and he throws the ball as well as anyone in the league.
TJ has gone on record as saying he has a contract and he’ll honor it. This guy actually shows a little common sense…he knows if he comes out and has a huge year (will his year be worse if he’s splitting time with Ocho?), he WILL get paid…..handsomely. There are 4 QB’s at most in the league that generate these huge contracts for WR’s…Carson is one.
As for the Steelers fans…I think your sentiment is admirable. I watched the Steelers-Bengals playoff game in a local sports bar with a bunch of die hard black and gold fans. As soon as Carson went down they gave a visible sigh of relief and every damn one of them bought me a beer. He’s a damn good competitor and it’s fun to watch him. I went to Miami(OH), so I like yer damn QB too…..the kid was a monster in college.
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May 15th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Of course Carson’s not worried. Haven’t you heard that Jessica Simpson is back on the market?
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May 15th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I for one am glad of Hanging Chad’s off season behavior. I’ve said all along that he a selfish ass clown but everybody kept saying it’s just all good fun.
As for Whosyourmama, he never goes to voluntary workouts, there’s no reason to not expect him to show up for training camp just like all the previous years.
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May 16th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I agree with Jakefountain!
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