_2.gif "Time.com 50 Best Websites 2008")
Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson spent most of the off-season criticizing and complaining about his team and his contract, but with training camp approaching, Johnson now says he’ll report, he’ll play hard, and that he’s sorry if he made the fans upset with his offseason antics.
“I am sorry,” Johnson said Monday. “I apologize to those I upset.”
Johnson said that recovering from last month’s arthroscopic ankle surgery could keep him from doing everything in training camp, but that he will be 100 percent ready for the regular-season opener.
“My whole focus right now is on Baltimore,” Johnson said of the Bengals’ Week One opponent.
So what has changed? It may be as simple as Johnson realizing that when Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called his bluff, there was nothing more that he could do. So now Johnson says he’s going to play, and play happily.
“You’re going to see the same player — the laughter, the celebrations,” he said. “I’m still going to get fined and still going to have Cincinnati on the edge of its seat wondering what I’m going to do next — but I am going to mature in some way, I just don’t know how it will be.”
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 am
Translation - I’m sorry I didn’t get the hell out of Cincinnati and get more money somewhere else. I’m sorry now I have to kiss the ass of all the people I insulted over the last couple months.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 am
his apologies dont mean sh!t, he’s a habituall iar, why wouldn’t he be lying now?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
So let me get this straight: all of the media attention over Chad’s desire to leave Cincinnati - orchestrated through “next question” boy - was for nothing? How many stories devoted to Chad’s unhappiness were printed on this site and every other single website devoted to American sports?
Everyone with half a brain could have predicted that this was going to be the outcome. Kinda reminds of me of another story making the rounds in Wisconsin right now.
What a joke…..
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
He is a crazy little effer, but if he landed with the Eagles, I would be one happy Eagles fan.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:22 am
Chad Johnson is pathetic.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 am
I’ll be curious to see if he keeps that attitude up if Cincy has a bad start and is 1-5 or 2-4. Will he remain a happy camper then, or will he return to trying to force a trade again?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:28 am
He says that now but if Cincinnati struggles again, he will most likely be a pain in the ass and we will see the same song and dance again
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 am
I wish he would just shut the F*ck up.Harrisonhits you nailed it!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:36 am
chad is a character but the NFL is a buisness and players have to do what they think is best for their caree he did not get what he wanted so he is trying to make things right with his teammates and fans
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Give him a break everyone, he was just playin’.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Yeah, he’s sorry … Sorry he didn’t get his trade … Sorry he didn’t get a new contract … Sorry excuse for a human being!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 am
Does anybody have the address to the Bengals facility? I want to send Chad some Pepto Bismol to help him digest that crow.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 am
I hate this guy… the NFL doesn’t need guys like this… why is he even talking about TD celebrations…
just play the game Chad… that’s why fans are there.. not to see your stupid antics… we are football fans…
this guy is the exact example of what is wrong with so many players today… why are receivers liek this??… they touch teh ball 5-10 times per game if they are lucky… why do they think they are any more important than any other position?..
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
I think we’ve witnessed the maturation of Marvin Lewis. His strong stance was exactly the right thing to do in this situation. Well done, Marvin.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
@LuvThatDirtyWatah
Yea, it’s about the only thing Marvin Lewis has done right in the last 2 seasons.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Honestly what else did we have to talk about before Farve unretired?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
“LuvThatDirtyWatah” brings up an excellent point that most people overlooked throughout this fiasco. I’m a Bengals fan, and I was waiting for them to crack. Yeah Mike Brown is a stubborn jackass, but he’s also a moron. I was sure it was just a matter of time before they shipped him off to another team. This was a huge win that the front office and coaching staff really needed in this time of mediocrity. The Core players the Bengals have are all-star material, you can’t deny that. The problem is, we don’t have ANY core players on defense, and the core players we have on offense usually aren’t able to attempt getting their jobs done because of our horrible offensive line. Hopefully this can inspire some of the other players to play for today, and not like they can’t wait to get out of that city. Or, the players will take the selfish approach, realize they didn’t give chad an inch, interpret this as bad management-player relations, and the team will implode..
It’s the Bengals, so just going off of history, I’m gonna pick door #2. Hope I’m wrong though.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
From Fonzie:
“this guy is the exact example of what is wrong with so many players today… why are receivers liek this??…”
It’s not just receivers and it’s not just NFL payers who are like this. Most professional players are like this. I blame ESPN for highlighting the “fun” antics of the players. Players are now more interested in having their celebration showcased on an ESPN highlight than they are with being a team player and building a championship team.
It’s the “all about me” attitude. While Cincy was falling apart and losing, Chad Johnson was making sure his “antics” were not interrupted. Johnson is just another ass-hat who thinks he is larger than the game.
Am I the only person who cringes with embarrassment for Clinton Portis when does an interview as one of his alter egos? What a fool.
Oh, and I also blame Eisen and the rest of the brain-dead mutants at NFLN for sucking up to guys like Chad Johnson during interviews and “highlights.”
Egomaniacs have taken over sports, and the sports commentators seem to think the fans love this crap. Maybe most do. I certainly don’t.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
“Mature in some way”?
What’s he gonna do, grow a mustache? He’s still going to do all the crap that makes him such an excitingly crappy player, so his only recourse is to grow a mustache, mayhaps with a beard.
I so, go for the Freddy Mercury ’stache, it’ll accentuate the truly gay dancing he thinks we enjoy so much.
jackass.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Wow Funny how everybody hates Chad now that you know your team will not get him. As I said way back in feb. This is all hype-n-drama that chad generated to get his team and the defense fired up about getting better. He really did want out if the organization were to do nothing about improving! Then he went to mini camp and saw how the new guys and the vets have a renewed sence of urgency to put together a winning season. The defence will be improved. The 07 Bengals were the most injured team last year. No team wins consistantly with there starters injured.
As far as egomaniacs taking over?? WTF in the NFL there are about 480 active players there might be 25 I would not call that taking over!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Douche Bag
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Any fan that has the guile to cheer this man opening day clearly needs to have there head examined. Chad is the most talented reciever in Bengals history next to Issac Curtis. However, his antics are so American Idol tired. This guy will do anything to pimp his face on the tv and he almost never backs it up. This guy for all of the shit talking he does has never: 1. Caught a td in the playoffs 2. Won a playoff game 3. Played in only a half of a playoff game ( He had his baby huey breakdown at haltime which took him mentally out of the 2nd half). I will boo this man everytime he touches a football in PBS. Maybe if he catches a td in the Superbowl I will them consider endorsing this overblown, forcefed media machine. But we all know that may very well never happen.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Chad, I wipe my orange and black striped ass with your apology and the fans of Cincinnati will defacate on your gold grill come September 14.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
MadElf is the one who hit it on the head. If he wants to mature, quit dancing, catch the ball when it matters, and go sit down when you are not playing. TJ has better hands, runs better routes, can take a hit better (though he better stop or he will be in a body cast by the end of the season), and is a team player. Chad has more speed, but drops alot of balls, and disappears in clutch situations. I will cheer for the team, and cheer if Chad scores, but no one will forget how childish he has acted throughout this whole fiasco.
Mustache.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Good to know Walter Ocho Mitty is “still going to have Cincinnati on the edge of its seat wondering what I’m going to do next.” Yeah, buddy, Cincinnati must be one exciting place to live. Maybe Ocho will really pull a goobersmacker for his fictional, invented breathholding fans and after his next touchdown, hand the ball to the official and trot to the bench. Those figments of his imagined fan base will probably excrete themselves with glee over his imaginative celebration. Ocho, no one likes you. Here’s hoping you tear a ligament in your jaw.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 1 rating(s)