Now I admit it, I may be the only diehard Cincinnati Bengals fan in my hometown north of the 49th parrallel. For that, anything relating to the Bengals seems to be the topic of any NFL buddy of mine. Of course all my friends are Giants fans, Packers fans and Cowboys guru's, so picking such an eccentric team when I started watching football seemed to be unnatural. When the Chad Johnson news broke around Pro-Bowl time I thought nothing of it. I'd get the odd text message and odd razzing that Chad wanted out. Of course when I first started cheering for the Bengals, it may have been Ocho's on-field showboating and antics that had originally drawn me to the team in the first place. I think for many fans of the Bengals in the middle part of this decade, it was the touchdown celebrations, the references to who's better then number 85 and the "list" that really appealed to newly-acquainted Bengals fans. But after months and months of talk-shows, interviews and sports radio shows, isn't it time for CJ to give it up?
Its all fair and dandy that number 85 wants a new contract, we all know that. The guy put up record numbers in recieving yards, that's true. Maybe he deserves more than he's making but i think Chad Johnson is more of an image than a top 10 reciever. Sure, CJ wants a change of scenery, a franchise thats a winner. But at the start of the season doesn't everyone want to be a winner? Doesn't every team strive to be a winner? If Chad wanted to skip town, why did he sign a contract extension keeping him in town for an extended period of time. As mentioned the guy set career highs in recieving yards, yet he lagged behind in receptions and TD's when compared to TJ Houshmandzadeh. Unfortunatly for all the correlation and media attention that Ocho Cinco has provided the Bengals, this is more TJ's team then his now. Lackluster results late in games that could have turned the tide in the Bengals favor, or key drops throughout the coarse of the season have severly faltered number 85's image of a game-changing reciever. How can Ocho expect to play for a winner, when he himself doesn't know how to win?
No doubt we know the talent of Chad Johnson, he's a big name reciever that draws opposing safeties deep to atleast open up the middle for screen passes and short outs to TJ. Give him credit, his mouth full of bling and hilarious touchdown celebrations atleast give him an honourable mention of the most colourful Bengal, possibly of all time (sorry Ickey Woods!!). To that end, the guy scored only 8 Touchdowns all season, as opposed to the 12 put up by team leader Housh. What's even more disappointing is that Chad only scored in 4 of the Bengals games, putting up 4 multi-TD games. 5 of them occured against the Titans and Dolphins respectively in meaningless games late in the season. The other 3 happened in the 1st two games of the year, arguably Ocho's best two games of the year. How can a guy who scored over 50% of his touchdowns in meaningless games prove that he's a winner, when he's never won?
It's unfortunate that CJ wants to leave town, he'll surely be remmebered as the Bengals most eccentric reciever in recent memory, but not the best. Guess i'll have to trade in my number 85 jersey for a number 84 on game day and cheer on the newest crop of Bengals wideouts.
Notable Conn Smythe Winners
Comments (3)
Absolutelyt great blog.Tje situation with Ocho cinco is an interesting one.It is frustrating as a bengals fan to watch this unfold.We will have TJ,but if you look at the side of the page on si's top stories you will see TJ wants a new deal.I'm also looking forward to the bengals trading in their bad guy image from all the situations with the law.What I really wonder about is the RB situation.We have Rudi,Chris Perry,Dede Dorsey,Kenny Irons,Kenny Watson.What's going on there?Who knows where that is going.I do know one thing though and that's Perry should be out next year.Great insightful blog.
"Cincy" Jesse Owens | 03/28/08, 01:35 PM
Report Offensive CommentThanks Cincy Curry, excellent comment!! I truely feel the Bengals weakest link, atleast last season, was there run game. Of course there defense needed some work, but I credit that more due to injuries to the Linebacking core and starting 7 then to the fact that they were a bad defense. They put together a lineup virtually identical to the one that won the AFC North in '05. It seems like Marvin Lewis and the rest of the staff are pretty confident with the backfield even this offseason, especially letting go of Madieu Williams and Justin Smith. The TJ and Ocho drama is correlated more so threw the media than factual information. TJ as you know, practiced with a personal trainer last season and well you saw the results. Of course he wants a new deal, he's in the last year of his old one!! I think TJ has stated numerous times his intention on stayin with Cinci, Chad is more so in it for the money and the fame (Check his Degree Deoderant promo during the NFL Access Interview for proof)
As for the run game you bring up an interesting point, the team used 4 RB's!! I think Rudi is still the number one guy until Dorsey or Watson can step up and prove us in Bengaldom otherwise. Watson showed some flashes of being an RB that can do both, run and catch which i think is lacking from Rudi's game and that screen play mentality that will work against blitzing defenses such as Baltimore. Chris Perry is an interesting case, he's been hurt and hasn't really had the chance to show what kind of RB he is at the NFL level. Kenny Irons was a great talent at Auburn? (I think thats were he played someone correct me if im wrong) but he lacks the size and is like Perry, oft-injured
MapleLeaf4Ever | 03/28/08, 02:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood write-up, MapleLeaf. Chad's a crybaby and will never be a winner. He quits on plays when he's not getting the ball (other teams have nailed him on this, he tips the offense's hand ALL the time by not running his routes as hard when he knows he's not getting the ball), and everything he does becomes a distraction. I'll never wear my 85 jersey again until it's got a different name on the plate. I'll probably mod it myself before the season. D BAG sounds appropriate, doesn't it?
Stop by sometime at http://www.bengalnationdaily.com, I've been talking a lot about this situation as well.
A Pragmatic Bengals Fan | 03/31/08, 09:59 PM
Report Offensive CommentAdd a comment
Remember to keep it clean. Bad words will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed. More Guidelines