Chad Johnson News: Pro Sports Daily

Chad spices minicamp with talk of playoffs

Comment

June 19

Dayton Daily News

"Minicamp kicked off at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday, June 18, with wide receiver Chad Ochocinco predicting a playoff season. "It's going to be scary," he said. "I'm trying to surpass what I've already accomplished. No point in going back to that." The five-time Pro Bowler (2003-07) struggled in 2008, turning in the worst season (53 catches, 540 yards, 4 TDs) since his 2001 rookie year. After training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., Ochocinco claims he's in the best shape of his life, and proved it by running 28 40-yard dashes in conditioning drills Wednesday. Separate groups ran 14 sprints each. He competed in both groups. "I'm in stupid shape," he said. "I wasn't just ..."

Mrs. Palmer puts foot down: Chad not a houseguest

Comment

June 19

Dayton Daily News

"Carson Palmer's wife, Shaelyn, can rest easy. There's no way her husband, the Bengals' quarterback, is going to let Chad Ochocinco, the team's star wide receiver, crash at their Southern California home in July while the two work out together. Three's company? Hardly. Carson said Shaelyn got either a text message or e-mail from a friend, saying Ochocinco planned to stay with the Palmers in the days leading up to training camp. Shaelyn gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - on Jan. 20. "As soon as I walked in the door from work the other day, she just gave me that look," Palmer said. "I'm like, 'Whoa, calm down. It's media stuff. It's Chad being Chad.' "I told her, 'Don't worry. I haven't ..."

Ochocinco optimistic about 2009

Comment

June 18

ESPN.com

"Optimism is running extremely high with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. But leave it to receiver Chad Ochocinco to take the team's optimism several notches higher. "It's going to be a great year; we're going to the playoffs," Ochocinco guaranteed during Thursday's opening of mandatory minicamp. "We're going ... We're making progress. I mean, I see it, and I can come out on a limb and say what we're going to do." Ochocinco said he's happy, his mind is clear and everything feels right with the 2009 Bengals. The former Pro Bowler spent most of the offseason working out independently in Los Angeles before joining the team and looks in great shape. Ochocinco also said this year's team ..."

Chad, Carson getting along just fine, so far

Comment

June 12

Dayton Daily News

"As far as I'm concerned, Bengals stars Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco are like an ol' married couple. They argue, fuss and fight - we've all seen the sideline and on-field in-your-face animation between the two competitors. But at the end of the day, it's love. Chad has said it often, and he repeated it in the Bengals' open locker room after the club's Organized Team Activity practice at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday, June 11: "There is no 85 without 9, and there is no 9 without 85." These two talented cats can't seem to live with one another or live without one another. Palmer, of course, disagrees vehemently with my marriage theory. "All that squabbling, it's all hype," Palmer said. ..."

Chad reports to Bengals

Comment

June 9

Cincinnati Enquirer

"A week earlier than anyone expected and in a much more low key manner than last year, Chad Ochocinco reported to the Bengals today. Ochocinco arrived in Cincinnati this morning after taking a flight from Los Angeles. He took his physical and then joined his teammates for their OTA session. The practice was closed to the media. The team will practice twice this week with Thursday's session open to the media. The ninth-year receiver told the team's official website on Monday that he talked coach Marvin Lewis last week and that he had his first conversation with quarterback Carson Palmer yesterday for the first time since the end of last season. "I know people are trying to say we're mad at ..."

Chad admits to performance issues

Comment

June 6

Cincinnati Enquirer

"What seemed to be Chad Ochocinco week on the NFL Network wrapped up Friday with a blunt admission from the Bengals wide receiver about his performance last season. "I'm not even going to lie to you, I'm going to say it. Last year, the offseason, I didn't lift one weight, I didn't run one route, I didn't exercise. I didn't do nothing because my focus was on getting out of a situation I didn't want to be in. I'm not going to lie," Ochocinco said. "And the result of my season, whether we as a team did bad or not, that's what I get. I get hurt in the preseason. I didn't lift no weights. If I had been on my right regiment, I guarantee you my collarbone, my shoulder wouldn't pop out of place. ..."

Chad says he'll be at minicamp

Comment

June 3

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Besides warmer weather, what is another sure sign that Bengals minicamp is drawing closer? Talk about a wide receiver not at the team's OTAs starts to dominate the conversation. With an NFL Network crew in attendance, the main topic wasn't about Carson Palmer's elbow, the addition of Laveranues Coles or Tank Johnson or the progress of Andre Smith and Rey Maualuga. Instead, it was on Chad Ochocinco and why he wasn't here. Such is life when the national cameras are around, but NFL Network's visit coincided with another development - Ochocinco gave an interview … to NFL Network. In his first interview since Super Bowl week, Ochocinco, who called last season humbling, an embarrassment and a ..."

Palmer: We still need Chad

Comment

May 31

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Carson Palmer has always been about loyalty, which is why during the past two weeks he has talked about the progress of the receivers who are participating in the Bengals offseason program. But don't think for one second that means he doesn't need Chad Ochocinco. For anyone who thought that, Palmer put a rest to those assumptions on Thursday when he appeared on Fox Sports Radio's Petros and Money Show. "He's a damn good receiver - that's obvious, everybody knows that - but the guys that are working here and busting their butt here deserve a shot," Palmer said. "When he shows up he'll show up and hopefully he's in great shape and he's ready to play. "But I never once said anything about not ..."

Palmer diplomatically disses Ochocinco

Comment

May 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The verbal salvos from Carson Palmer about Chad Ochocinco's absence from the Bengals this offseason have intensified. On Sirius NFL Radio on Tuesday, Palmer issued his strongest criticism yet about the absence of the ninth-year wide receiver. "It's definitely a new look for the Bengals receiver corps but I couldn't be happier with the guys we've got," Palmer said. "T.J.'s (Houshmandzadeh) gone and Chad's pretty much gone, he hasn't been here, so we've got guys that want those two spots, guys that compete day in and day out, when we're out there on the field, running, conditioning and in the weight room lifting. They're guys that want to take over for those two spots. They look every bit ..."

Ocho Cinco unlikely to be traded

Comment

April 12

Cincinnati Enquirer

"With the draft two weekends away, the amount of e-mail from curious fans has increased. And most of it has focused on one player, Chad Ocho Cinco, and one question: Will he be traded? The short answer is probably not. Barring a major change of course, he will be here after draft weekend and should be in Georgetown, Ky., for training camp. Since Ocho Cinco did not show for the voluntary offseason workout program March 30, the rumor mill has increased about the wide receiver's future with the team. Things went into overdrive last Saturday when a blogger had Ocho Cinco traded to the Raiders for a second-round pick and running back Michael Bush. Then on Tuesday, Michael Smith of ESPN reported ..."

Chad-to-Raiders report debunked

Comment

April 5

Cincinnati Enquirer

"There have been a lot of rumors and speculation the past week about Chad Ocho Cinco's future with the Bengals. First, he didn't show up for the beginning of offseason conditioning workouts on Monday. Then, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports on Thursday had a list of 10 players who could be traded before the draft, with Ocho Cinco at No. 2 On Saturday, a blogger on BleacherReport.com reported the Raiders and Bengals are hammering out a trade to send Ocho Cinco to Oakland in exchange for running back Michael Bush and a second-round draft pick. According to the blogger, Kushy Williams: "I got a quick minute to ask (new Raiders coach Tom) Cable about this trade, and he responded by saying this move ..."

Ocho Cinco absent from workouts

Comment

March 31

ESPN.com

"Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was absent from the start of the team's offseason program Monday, quarterback Carson Palmer said. After a down year in 2008, Palmer and the Bengals hoped Ocho Cinco would be present. "I'm not worried about him; I'm worried about the guys we have here," Palmer said at a news conference Monday. "The guys that want to be here and want to work now are the guys who are in the locker room right now and are here today." Despite Palmer's confirmation, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis would not say what players were present. Palmer did sound more upbeat when asked about other receivers such as Laveranues Coles, who was present."

Will Chad show for offseason workouts?

Comment

March 29

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The offseason conditioning program for the Bengals begins Monday at Paul Brown Stadium, which means we're close to answering everyone's favorite question - will Chad Ocho Cinco be there? The short answer, at the moment, is we don't know. "I plan on everyone to be here until I hear that they're not," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Now, there are some guys in weddings or classes who won't be here the first week but will the second, and vice versa. We should be at 90 percent or better in terms of attendance." If Ocho Cinco adheres to his word, he should be at PBS on Monday. During Super Bowl week, the wide receiver said he would participate in all offseason activities, which would be a ..."

Palmer out; Chad likely out

Comment

December 23

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Quarterback Carson Palmer will not play Sunday at home in the Bengals' season finale against the Chiefs, and it's unlikely wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco will play. Ocho Cinco missed the game Sunday at Cleveland because of a low hamstring injury sustained Thursday in practice, and he said today that he didn't want to push it late in the season. Palmer will miss his 12th game of the season and his 11th in a row with the inflamed throwing elbow. "Carson will participate in practice in limited fashion, where he would not be contacted by anybody," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. Whether Palmer will have surgery remains his decision. "Carson has to be the one who has the feeling; we don't feel ..."

Lewis sits Ocho Cinco

Comment

December 8

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Chad Ocho Cinco did not start for the Bengals, though they opened in a three-receiver set - with T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell on the field.

The Bengals said the decision not to start Ocho Cinco was not "medically related" but was simply a coach's decision. Ocho Cinco has started 10 of the team's 13 games. In the second quarter, on a drive that resulted in a Cincinnati field goal, Ocho Cinco had a 26-yard reception - his longest of the season and the first for him of more than 20 yards since the first game of the season. "I chose not to start him," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "It was my decision not to start him but to play the other guys.""

Ocho Cinco won't play tonight

Comment

November 20

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco will not play in the Bengals game tonight at Pittsburgh because he violated an undisclosed team rule, the team announced this morning. The Bengals will play at 8:15 p.m. in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. Chris Henry is the likely replacement for Ocho Cinco in the starting lineup opposite wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Bengals had placed No. 3 wide receiver Antonio Chatman on the season-ending injured reserve list Wednesday with a back injury. Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the team would have no additional comment until after the game about Ocho Cinco's benching."

Chad takes measure of Mathis

Comment

November 3

Cincinnati Enquirer

"On the stat sheet, Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis, playing with an injured foot, seemed to have a good day against the Bengals' talkative wide receiver, Chad Ocho Cinco. Ocho Cinco, formerly Chad Johnson, caught only five passes for 37 yards and his longest catch was for only 11 yards. But Ocho Cinco made two short touchdowns catches of 2 and 10 yards in the first 20 minutes and that was the difference in the Bengals' 21-19 victory over the Jaguars. "I was right there,'' Mathis said of both of the touchdown passes he allowed. "It was just a good catch (both times). I'm the type I've got to show up. I've got to find a way to get my hand in there. Any other day I may get my hand in there. ..."

Even at 0-8, WR finds the fun angle

Comment

October 31

Jacksonville Times-Union

"Considering Cincinnati's winless record and status as a league cellar-dweller, you'd wonder why Chad Ocho Cinco (aka Chad Johnson) would say such things. The receiver's outspoken antics are no mystery to Jaguars linebacker Mike Peterson, who explained it's "just Chad being Chad." In a conversation with Jacksonville reporters about his team's chances Sunday against the Jaguars, Johnson explained why cornerback Rashean Mathis needs to pay his "tithes," the Bengals' struggles, and his need to return to being the fun-loving Ocho Cinco of old: So, can you put a finger on why your team has struggled so much? I can't put a finger on it. I would need a number of fingers [to point out] some of the ..."

In search of Chad Johnson

Comment

October 28

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The Chad Ocho Cinco of today isn't playing like the Chad Johnson of last season. He has 15 fewer receptions, 467 fewer yards and one less touchdown than he did in the first eight games of 2007. The numbers pale further when compared to his career figures after a season's first eight games. His 32 catches thus far are his fewest since 2002. His 312 yards are the least since his rookie season - and that includes three games he was inactive. So what gives? Ocho Cinco has said his play hasn't changed, despite a June ankle surgery and August shoulder injury. Days after catching only three passes at Dallas, the five-time Pro-Bowler was asked about his low numbers. He said they've been ..."

Texans WR Johnson faces pal Ocho Cinco, Bengals

Comment

October 26

Houston Chronicle

"When Texans receiver Andre Johnson runs out of the tunnel this morning for pregame warm-ups, Chad Ocho Cinco will be waiting for him. Every game against the Cincinnati Bengals has been the same. Ocho Cinco will seek him out to ask where the Texans cornerbacks are. If they aren’t on the field, he’ll load Johnson up with messages to send back to them in the locker room. "Every time I play against him, he’s always saying something crazy," Johnson said. "I think that just amps him up for the game. That’s how he gets himself ready to play. A lot of people take it the wrong way, but whatever you do to get yourself ready for the game, that’s what you do." Johnson laughs each time he talks about ..."

Jersey says Johnson for zero ocho season

Comment

October 24

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Chad Ocho Cinco will keep his dual identity for the rest of the season. The Bengals receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson said Thursday he'll wear his old name on the back of his jersey for the rest of the season. It would have cost him a lot of money to make the switch for this year. "We've just left it alone," he said. "I'll just wait and do it next year." The Pro Bowl receiver legally changed his name to Ocho Cinco last August, shortly before the start of the season. Reebok, which produces NFL jerseys for sale to fans, had a large inventory of jerseys with his old name ready for sale. The league respected the name change, but said he couldn't wear "Ocho Cinco" on the back of his ..."

No Ocho Cinco this year

Comment

October 23

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Chad Ocho Cinco will keep his dual identity for the rest of the season. The Bengals receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson said today he'll wear his old name on the back of his uniform for the rest of the season. It would have cost him a lot of money to make the switch for this year. "We've just left it alone," he said, in an interview. "I'll just wait and do it next year." The Pro Bowl receiver legally changed his name to Ocho Cinco last August, shortly before the start of the season. Reebok, which produces NFL jerseys for sale to fans, had a large inventory of jerseys with his old name ready for sale. The league respected the receiver's name change, but said he couldn't wear "Ocho ..."

Johnson on pace for worst season since 2001

Comment

October 15

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Chad Johnson is on pace to have his least productive season since 2001, and the Bengals wide receiver said today that may have something to do with his offseason demand that Cincinnati trade him. "I think it's somewhat deserving of my actions this offseason," said Johnson, who has been an afterthought in the Bengals' offense through their first six games. "I won't say it's somewhat of a punishment but you open your mouth and this is what you get and I understand that. "To rant and rave in the offseason like that and to expect to be productive or expect them to use me the same way they used me in the past is very unlikely. I made my bed and now I have to lay in it. I've apologized about it ..."

Reason for Chad's slow start? 'The monster'

Comment

October 9

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, who has 14 receptions and one touchdown in five games, offered this explanation Wednesday for his low numbers. "My ankle's fine, my shoulder's fine, but for those who don't know why I'm not getting the ball, I have my own little philosophy on what's going on," Ocho Cinco said. "And I broke it down like this: Never, ever, ever, ever go against the monster because the monster always wins. Get it? So y'all put that in your own perspective and you'll understand where I'm coming from and why things are going the way it's going right now. OK, what else you want to talk about?" Is head coach Marvin Lewis, whom you kissed during the Dallas game, the monster? "No, ..."

Ocho Cinco's call of the wild

Comment

October 5

Arizona Republic

columnist Bob McManaman

"Every Wednesday in the NFL, head coaches andplayers hold conference calls with reporters. Sometimes, the conversations are trite and repetitive. But every once in a while, these calls become gut-busting hilarious. Such was the case last week when Cincinnati receiver Chad Ocho Cinco (formerly known as Chad Johnson) entertained the media by discussing Sunday's game between his winless Bengals and the 3-1 Cowboys at Texas Stadium. During his 20-minute phone call, No. 85 talked about everything from a possible Bengals upset victory to his plan of kissing the Cowboys' star logo at midfield should he score a touchdown. But mostly, he just talked and talked and talked. Ocho Cinco began the call ..."

Chad talks ... a lot

Comment

October 2

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Chad Ocho Cinco, who has largely held his tongue this season, let it rip Wednesday in a conference call with reporters that cover the Cowboys and later in the Paul Brown Stadium locker room. "That's America's team. It's one of the greatest organizations ever," Ocho Cinco said of the Cowboys. "This week, to show my respect for Dallas and its owner, Jerry Jones, I'm going to score and I'm going to kiss the star. I'm telling you, I'm not being rude about anything. I'm going to kiss the star. It's going to be fun. I'm excited to go to Dallas. You know, T.O. (Terrell Owens), you've got two of the don't-know-what-is-going-to-happen-next receivers playing. It's going to be fun." The wide receiver ..."

Bengals' Ocho Cinco hopes to do a number on the Giants

Comment

September 18

The Journal News

"The exploits of Chad Ocho Cinco are choreographed to make heads turn or eyes roll. It's all in the name of fun. And the zany Cincinnati Bengals wideout has no other explanation for legally changing his name this summer from Chad Johnson. "Just fun," he said. "Has it ever been done before?" There's a boxer who used to be known as Cassius Clay. "Oh," Ocho Cinco said. "I guess that'll work." He's otherwise known to be an NFL original, for better or worse. The end-zone celebrations often incite laughter. The sound bites usually spark controversy. Either way, he's the center of attention, which is what drives this crusade. "I hear it everywhere I go," Ocho Cinco said. "How in the world do they ..."

He'll Low-Key It vs. Jints

Comment

September 18

New York Post

"Believe this at your own risk. If he scores a touchdown on Sunday against the Giants, Chad Ocho Cinco says he'll do, well, nothing. "There won't be any celebrating right now," said Ocho Cinco, the Bengals receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson. "If I score, I will probably be handing the ball to the ref and going to the sideline and getting ready to see what we are going to do next. I have no room to do any celebrating, you guys know that." Sure. And it's a great time on Wall Street. There is no more colorful and polarizing figure in the NFL than Johnson, oops, Ocho Cinco, who legally changed his last name to correspond with the Spanish equivalent of his uniform number, 85. That bizarre ..."

He'll Low-Key It vs. Jints

Comment

September 18

New York Post

"Believe this at your own risk. If he scores a touchdown on Sunday against the Giants, Chad Ocho Cinco says he'll do, well, nothing. "There won't be any celebrating right now," said Ocho Cinco, the Bengals receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson. "If I score, I will probably be handing the ball to the ref and going to the sideline and getting ready to see what we are going to do next. I have no room to do any celebrating, you guys know that." Sure. And it's a great time on Wall Street. There is no more colorful and polarizing figure in the NFL than Johnson, oops, Ocho Cinco, who legally changed his last name to correspond with the Spanish equivalent of his uniform number, 85. That bizarre ..."

Finnegan's shirt a salute to Ocho Cinco

Comment

September 16

Tennessean

"Turns out Cortland Finnegan does have some off-the-field attitude. The Titans cornerback said he picked out the T-shirt he wore to Monday afternoon's media session at Baptist Sports Park well in advance of Sunday's 24-7 win at Cincinnati. The shirt is blue with No. 85 painted across the chest in orange letters. It's Finnegan's tribute to Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, his opinionated-yet-friendly adversary. "I got it about a week ago, in hopes that this game wouldn't go south," Finnegan said of the T-shirt and his planned tribute. "It didn't, so I could wear it today." Ocho Cinco, who was defended by Finnegan, caught four passes for 37 yards Sunday and was kept out of the end zone, a ..."

Chad Ochocinco Is Right, NFL Wrong

Comment

September 11

cbs4denver.com

columnist Reggie Rivers

"I'm not a big fan of Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco (formerly Johnson), but I'm on his side in the battle that he's having with the NFL over his new name. This started in October of 2006 when, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Johnson announced that he would prefer to be called "Ocho Cinco," which is 8-5 in Spanish, a reference to his jersey number 85. That week he had an "Ocho Cinco" name plate created for his jersey and wore it during pre-game warm-ups. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer ripped it off before kickoff, but Johnson was still fined $5,000 by the league for illegally altering his jersey. Nicknames are not allowed to adorn jerseys in the NFL. Now we fast forward to Aug. 29 ..."

Name tag has high price tag

Comment

September 10

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco is learning first-hand how seriously the NFL takes its ability to license players and their names. Before he can wear a jersey with his new surname emblazoned on the back, he first must buy every "C. Johnson" jersey for sale nationwide. And there are thousands of "C. Johnson" replica jerseys available, with a production cost of about $48 apiece. "When a player requests a name change or a number change, the player is responsible for that unsold inventory," NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said. Ochocinco (one word) became the receiver's legal surname Aug. 28. But he is called Chad Ocho Cinco (two words) on the team's official roster. Replica jerseys are ..."

Bulluck revved up for rematch with Ocho Cinco

Comment

September 9

Tennessean

"The player formerly known as Chad Johnson won't have much to celebrate this time around if Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck has anything to say about it. Bulluck had a playful but stern message Monday afternoon for Cincinnati's five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver: the Titans haven't forgotten last season's 35-6 loss. And Bulluck definitely hasn't forgotten how Ocho Cinco - last week Johnson legally changed his last name to a rough Spanish translation of his jersey number, 85 - grabbed a network television camera and pointed it at the Paul Brown Stadium field after scoring one of his three touchdowns. The Titans (1-0) return to Cincinnati (0-1) on Sunday. Bulluck doesn't like Ocho Cinco. He ..."

Hoping more than name has changed

Comment

September 7

Cincinnati Enquirer

columnist Paul Daugherty

"Chad Javon Ocho Cinco will be very good this year, bad shoulder and all, because he has to be. If he isn't, the circus will find another tent. There's always another tent. Chad knows this because above all, he is wise in the ways of self re-invention. "I have to stay an attraction and be extraordinary in what I do," he said the other day. True that. It's amazing the hold one player can have on a team and its psyche. Ocho Cinco might have been reeled in momentarily by Mike Brown. But his calculated and perfectly timed name change has him back in the driver's seat. Chad does what Chad wants. If the Bengals win games and he catches lots of passes, Chad's influence on the room will be ..."

No longer at sixes and sevens

Comment

September 2

Cincinnati Enquirer

"A serious, focused Chad Johnson - ah, whatever his name is - showed up to work Monday morning at Paul Brown Stadium. He didn't want to talk about his legal name change to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco. Football and the Ravens were the topics Johnson wanted to discuss. He was all business with the opener at Baltimore six days away and an offseason of discontent - he hoped - far behind him. Asked about his serious demeanor - the early application of his game-face - Johnson said he had no choice. "I got to be super extra focused," he said. "I have a lot of making up to do to a lot of people - not only my teammates, coaches, you know, from the top all the way down. I (upset) a lot of people all ..."

Chad: Shoulder's ready to go

Comment

August 26

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Amid rumors that his sprained left shoulder might require surgery, Chad Johnson did 20 push-ups for media assembled at his Paul Brown Stadium cubicle Monday. "Want me to do 20 more, 100?" he asked. Johnson again insisted he would not have surgery and would be ready for the first regular-season game. He was on the field catching passes at practice Monday afternoon but was not wearing his helmet or jersey. The Bengals wrap up their preseason Thursday night at Indianapolis. "I asked (head coach) Marvin (Lewis) to play Thursday, just to not to prove a point but to show that I'm ready to go, and he told me no," Johnson said. "There's no need. I already got hurt in one preseason game, there's no ..."

Chad's in camp; Rivers isn't

Comment

July 28

Cincinnati Enquirer

"And they're off - to meetings, that is. Still a day away from practicing for the first time, Bengals players reported this morning to training camp at Georgetown College. Head coach Marvin Lewis gave his reporting day benediction of what his sixth Bengals team needed to do in order to rebound from the disappointing 7-9 showing in 2007. "I think the thing that we really worked on this entire offseason is, No. 1, take care of the football and, No. 2, don't give up explosive plays, and be good at first down and third down," Lewis said. "That's where things start with winning football games. You've got to overcome injuries. We've got to make sure we get in position to be a stronger, a deeper ..."

Marvin and Chad make up

Comment

July 23

Dayton Daily News

"Amid all the offseason controversy involving Chad Johnson — his request to be traded that escalated into a demand — Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis never got a call from his star receiver until recently. Now Johnson is overloading Lewis' cell phone with text messages, a positive sign the two are growing closer. Like an ol' married couple, the player and coach have patched things up in time for the Bengals' Sunday, July 27, arrival at Georgetown (Ky.) College for training camp."

Chad focused on the season

Comment

July 22

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The phone interview had been set up with Chad Johnson to promote the new Warner Home Video DVD release he narrates about big-time NFL playmakers, but the Bengals wide receiver wanted to talk more about the offseason past and the season ahead of him. Johnson, who had arthroscopic ankle surgery in mid-June, less than a week after he was limited in the team's mandatory minicamp, said he was progressing well but not sure when he would be 100 percent and back on the field. "My whole focus right now is on Baltimore," Johnson told The Enquirer about the Bengals' opening game Sept. 7 in Maryland..."I do apologize. I'm back. I'm going to give a double-dose of Chad.""

Chad will be on time for training camp

Comment

July 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Receiver Chad Johnson says he'll report on time for the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp next weekend, but his surgically repaired ankle will probably prevent him from fully participating in practice. Johnson also said today that he wants to move on from the fallout of his lobbying for a trade, which included threats to sit out the season if the Bengals didn't deal him. The club refused, turning down a lucrative trade offer from Washington. The Pro Bowl receiver said he's going to be as flamboyant as ever this season. He hopes Bengals fans still support him, and promised to put on a show for them."

Settlement reached in lawsuit against Chad Johnson, comedy club

Comment

June 26

Dayton Daily News

"Days before a trial was scheduled to begin, a settlement has been reached in a lawsuit against Chad Johnson and a comedy club. Plaintiffs have agreed to a $100,000 settlement against Bengal's wide receiver and the Funny Bone Comedy Club in Newport. The suit claimed Johnson and the Funny Bone drew people into the club with the promise of prizes, including a car, but never delivered. Johnson has said he's done nothing wrong, and never had an agreement with the club."

Surgery won't affect camp

Comment

June 19

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Chad Johnson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle Wednesday morning and is expected to be ready to participate in training camp July 28, the Bengals announced. The procedure was performed by Bengals orthopedic surgeon Angelo Colosimo and was completed without complication, the team said. The ankle problem has lingered since the end of the 2007 season, coach Marvin Lewis said last week during the team's mandatory minicamp."

Ankle surgery ahead for Chad

Comment

June 18

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Limited last week at the Bengals' mandatory minicamp because of a tender ankle, wide receiver Chad Johnson will undergo arthroscopic surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp on July 27. Johnson, who has been unhappy with the Bengals since the end of last season, reported in time for minicamp but did not participate fully in the two practices last Thursday, though he passed a physical that morning."

Johnson to have surgery

Comment

June 17

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Limited last week at mandatory Bengals minicamp because of a tender ankle, wide receiver Chad Johnson will undergo arthroscopic surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. It opens with reporting day July 27 and the first two practices July 28."

Bengals minicamp showed promise

Comment

June 16

Dayton Daily News

"Day 1 of Bengals minicamp was described as a circus when flamboyant wide receiver Chad Johnson showed up for his first day of practice. I can assure you that this spectacle was nowhere near the Ringling Bros. and Barnum"

Chad returns, looks 'rusty'

Comment

June 15

Dayton Daily News

"Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has come full circle. He completed Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp Saturday, June 14, right where he finished the 2007 season — in the starting lineup. Standing out like a neon sign on the Vegas strip, Johnson — in white stretch pants — ran with the first unit as the Bengals wrapped up their three-day extravaganza at Paul Brown Stadium. "He was going to practice (Friday) afternoon, then got rained out," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "He worked very hard. He's rusty, rusty. I told him he looked rusty. Nobody likes to hear that." The Bengals' in-your-face defense under new coordinator Mike Zimmer wasn't about to let ..."

Little talk, more action from Chad

Comment

June 15

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Chad Johnson remained quiet off the field Saturday after the last of the Bengals' five minicamp practices, declining interview requests, but the wide receiver participated more fully and flashed some of his familiar energy and personality during the two-hour workout. He ran with the first-team offense, caught passes and even practiced blocking. Still, there is the issue of Johnson's lingering ankle injury to address - not to mention whether the unhappiness he had expressed since January is in the past."

WR plans on training camp

Comment

June 14

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The Bengals can book a room at Georgetown College for Chad Johnson. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said that the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver will go to training camp in July. "Chad is going to do the honorable thing," Rosenhaus said in an ESPN interview. "He'll be at training camp.""