Topic: Football fans? Chad Johnson

[scottws]

So, it's been painfully slow around here.  When this happens I usually start posting IT-related stuff I'm currently fascinated with but no one ever seems to care so I won't do that this time.

Anyway, if you're an NFL fan, you've probably seen Bengals receiver Chad Johnson complaining most of this off-season, wanting a trade.  So, what's your current opinion of him and what he wants and the Bengals' stance on this?

The Bengals have pretty much said he's not going to be traded.  This is because he's under contract until 2011, and he's worth $8+ million in salary cap space this year if they do trade him, a hit they just aren't willing to take.

It's a tough position for both parties, I think.  To me, Chad is really hurting his image.  He has little wiggle room to demand anything, especially now.  I think other teams would like to have his talents, despite his current bitching, but he had a horrible season last year.  He only had one good game, against the Titans.  Other than that, he had a ton of critical dropped balls.

The Bengals are in a tough spot because if they keep him and he keeps throwing a fit, it could be a distraction and hurt locker room chemistry, but if they give in and trade him then they are shafted a crapload of cap room.

Honestly I think of it like this:  you signed a contract, it doesn't expire for some time.  Shut your mouth and deal with it.  Sometimes I feel like the league needs to help teams enforce their contract more.

Edit:  Oh, and I hope it all works out and he either stays or leaves on good terms, because I have a $300 jersey with his name and number on it.  It better not turn into another Corey Dillon or Carl Pickens jersey.

[Cobra951]

One reason things are painfully slow here, I think, is that the site itself is painfully slow, at least for me.  It takes about 30 seconds for a click to respond, and that's when it's behaving itself.  I usually will wander off to another site while the spinner in the (Firefox) OW tab keeps going.  Sometime I forget to come back for a while.  The thing is, I have all kinds of time on my hands.  I imagine it would be even tougher on the rest of you, who have much busier lives.

I was never a big sports fan, but it was hard not to get caught up in the excitement of Cinci pro sports at one time.  All my friends were big-time into it, and watching Reds and Bengals games was a staple of social life.  Then the Bengals became a joke (and the Reds did not fare much better, really).  That by itself didn't kill them for me.  What killed them was that their owners, filthy-rich people, successfully dumped the cost of their new stadium on the local taxpayers.  I was adamantly against the sales-tax increase.  I felt it was dead wrong to do this with any team, but in particular with the Bengals (a joke).  Keeping a good team in a better stadium may have been a boost for the city, not that this tactic is anything but unjust in any case, but not the Bungles.  The tax levy passed, and I never went to watch them after that.  The prices got out of reach anyway.  And they never justified the sacrifice in the dozen or so years since--never.

I don't even know who Chad Johnson is.  I don't see how any one player can be particularly bad for the Bengals' image.  They do a fine job of trashing that already.

[scottws]

Haha!  Wow, what a response!  You sound like one of my friends.  My argument is always that it's better to have the Bengals here than not in almost every case.  I think it's a big boost to the local economy, and we would never get another NFL team if they left.  But yeah, it was an unusual time for Mike Brown to make any demands.  The Bengals were friggin' horrible.

If I have any complaints about the stadiums, it's the Reds' stadium.  They wanted it looking over the river... why?  You can't see anything.  It should have been on Broadway commons.  It's current location is too far from the CBD.  What, there is like two bars by it and that's it?

As far as the board slowness goes, yes we have noticed.  We have actively been in touch with the host, but are getting nowhere with them.  We are looking into new hosting options now.  The trouble is, in every case it is more than double the cost that it currently is.

[Ghandi]

Chad Johnson gave probably the worst interview I have ever heard with ESPN last week. He sounded like an idiot. Plus he's more concerned about how he looks on the field than how he plays. I've never thought that he was great. Good, but not great.

[scottws]

His fortes are acrobatic sideline catches and schooling the corner on the deep ball.  But yeah his ability to break tackles on hooks and curls and get YAC is seriously lacking.

I didn't hear or see the interview, but everyone was like "Did you see Chad Johnson's interview yesterday?"  I'd say, "No, what was it about?"  Everyone, and I mean like fifteen people, were like "I can't even explain it.  It was weird.  You'd have to see it."  Everyone said that.

[Antares]

Link to the interview for us lazy people?

[Ghandi]

I looked but couldn't find it.

In any case, I shouldn't really be talking about bad interviews. The quarterback at my college (Armanti Edwards) gives the worst interviews, I cringe whenever I hear him. Whenever I hear him talk it just makes me think that people who have never heard of our school must think that they let anyone get in. After we beat Michigan last season he was in the spotlight, and now he has a really good shot at being on the cover of NCAA football (although it's either going to be the PS2 or the PC version, I think).

But I guess the point is that even though one person isn't indictive of an entire organization, it is the responsibility of the organization to make sure that person represents them well. The Bengals should really give Chad Johnson some pointers on how to speak to the media if he is going to be representing their organization.

[scottws]

He's pissed at the organization.  I doubt he would listen to them.

[Schlotzky5]

I got really excited when I first heard about this. I'm an eagles fan and in my opinion, the one thing we need more than anything else is a great receiver. We have a couple good ones, but we need that go to guy. Westbrook ends up taking that place, but its difficult to be the star running back and the star receiver.  I know now that there is maybe a .01% chance that he will be traded.

[scottws]

The Bengals keep saying they won't trade him, but you just never know.  I'm mixed on it.  I like Chad and I want him to stay, but I don't want him to stay if he's going to ruin team morale.

[HxCeddie]

Eh, what do I know? I'm a Pats fan and everyone hates us! Ha!

Although I would love to see Johnson traded to the Pats for a 4th round pick and resurrect his career with Brady. 

[Ghandi]

Everyone doesn't hate the Pats. All of the cheaters rally around them. They are an inspiration to cheaters everywhere.

[scottws]

Yeah.  I like how the defensive coaches are all happy about the defensive headset.  As if Bill Belicheck and the Patriots won't hire RF engineers and crackers to listen in on the radio broadcasts from the defensive coaches.

[scottws]

Ah, more drama.  Now he's saying Carson Palmer is a lier and he isn't showing up for anything and he's demanding to be traded.

[Ghandi]

I'd offer my condolences for your team but seeing as I'm a Panthers fan, I have enough to worry about as it is. He needs to just shut up and play the game.

[Schlotzky5]

After that, I highly doubt that the eagles will take him. After the TO debacle, we are weary of any players that might not be team players. Since there are very few receivers that are team players, here we are.

[alina8528]

Chad loves playing football and loves having fun. Fans wonder each week what new touchdown celebration Chad will perform. He certainly has had plenty of chances to celebrate touchdowns. Since being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001, Chad has been one of the top receivers in the NFL. Chad was raised by his grandmother in Miami, Florida. Because he didn't put much effort into his schoolwork, Chad nearly lost his chance to play football in college. Chad, however, found a way to make it to Oregon State University, where his football talents shone. In the NFL, Chad learned to improve his performance even more. When his hard work comes together with a long touchdown, he loves to dance or unveil a special jacket or pass out presents or just surprise the fans. With Chad, it's something new every week.