Chris Tait

Sorry Bengals fan, I truly am.  I hate that the last few posts are focused on Chad Johnson.  Unfortunately I would not be doing my job covering the team if I didn’t cover ‘As the Chad Turns’.  So the latest news is that Chad will undergo ankle surgery on Wednesday as reported on NFL.com…

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d808e1b11&template=with-video&confirm=true

The surgery will reportedly remove bone chips from the ankle that have been hampering him since last season.   Johnson should be available for training camp as the recovery time for this procedure is relatively short.  Here’s hoping that he stays out of the news for a while and when he shows up to camp he shows up ready to play and limits his quotes to the witty not the whinny…

Chris Tait

Weeks of speculation end with Chad reporting to camp.  Great!?  Not so much.  It seems like Chad wants to turn Bengals camp into a sideshow.  Perhaps he figured that being a pain in the ass might be the best way to punch his ticket out of town or to force a renegotiation.

He pulled the shoot in the morning complaining of a sore back and watched from the sidelines.  His agent, the infamous Drew Rosenhaus, subsequently produced a document indicating he has an ankle injury, an injury the Bengals were aware of and that surgery may be required.   HMMMM… is it the back or the ankle?  Should really have lined up the stories don’t you think?

Regarding the ankle injury, the Bengals did respond that they were aware of the existing issue and Chad had opted out of surgery last year.  They further asserted that they have documented proof, from Rosenhaus, that Chad felt the ankle was fine last year and was not interested in the surgery which would clean out area.

Further to that, at mid-day the Bengals released a statement…

“Chad Johnson was given a physical this morning by one of the Bengals team doctors…  He did not report any physical problems to the doctor, and he was cleared by the doctor for practice. Later, after the physical was concluded, Chad told our training staff that his back was sore. He refused to practice.”  

Is this worth the effort?  Is the team going to spend the entire year playing “We say, Ocho says”?  If anyone was thinking this was going to end well, I am certain that hope is gone.  I would tend to think that no matter how good a player is, they are not worth sacrificing the chemistry of your team.  And if I was Lewis, I would be finding out what other teams are willing to give up for a shot at Chad Johnson.  Should be fairly easy to move, he passed his physical…

Chris Tait

Chad Johnson is a double edge sword.  He has a boat load of talent, charisma and is clearly the most quotable guy in Bengal’s history.  What’s not to love?  Well poor Chad has fallen out of love with the Bengals.  He feels unappreciated and underpaid.  No-one knows but Chad which slight is affecting him more.  However, I would suggest the romance could be rekindled with a bigger contract. 

I almost certain the club is not considering a renegotiation or a trade.   So that leaves the ball in 85’s court.   Chad has sent mixed messages regarding his intentions.  From never wanting to play for the Bengals again to his ESPN quote last week, which indicated he would return for sure.  His intentions are as clear as mud.  There have been several rumours out there that while out clubbing recently he told anyone who would listen, that he will never play another game as a Bengal. 

It should all come to a head on Thursday with the start of mandatory mini-camps.  If Chad misses the first day, chances are he will hold out for a while at least.   While the fines are insignificant to a player making millions, the message to the organization will be very clear.  Then the standoff begins.  My gut feel is that the Bengals will stand firm and start issuing the fines.  This approach leaves all the pressure on the player, especially, if the team you field is winning.  If not, the fans and the media will apply pressure to resolve the situation.  Here’s hoping that Palmer can keep getting the ball to TJ and get support from the ground game to compliment an improved defence.  If that is the case it could be a long drawn out affair.  At least there will always be something to blog about.

What do you feel Bengal fan?   Trade him? Make him sit? Renegotiate?  One way or the other we will know on Thursday.