Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is unhappy in Cincinnati, but if there was ever any doubt that he will, in fact, play in 2008, he erased those doubts in an ESPN interview.
"My plans are to show up and embarrass everybody that tries to cover me," Johnson said when asked if he'll be there for the Bengals' first mandatory practice. "If they're satisfied with what we have, and think that's gonna get us where we need to go, then so be it."
Really, Johnson has no choice but to show up: Does anyone think he's going to skip the season and the 17 weekly paychecks that come with it?
At the beginning of the interview, ESPN's Brian Kenny read to him a quote in which Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said a lot of people had affection for him, and Johnson seemed to take issue with it:
"Affection? That's the problem right there," Johnson said. "The player is not gonna change. Chad has to do what's right for Chad... That's why (Lewis) made the comment. He thinks I'm worried about people liking me. Those days are over. I'm not worried about them anymore, because I have to do what's right for me."
Video of the interview is after the jump.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-03-2008 @ 9:27AM
Krom said...
I dont see what Chads problem is. Sure he makes a big loud name for himself and that gets him public attention, in turn, that gets him votes for the pro bowl. Or should we call it the popularity bowl. Either way, he is digging his own grave by being such a whinny bich. Lets see him get the peoples vote for pro bowl this year. Some of the comments he is making makes him sound tottaly stupid. He's under contract. the bengals can do what they want with him, and he can't play for another NFL team if the bengals dont trade him or kill that contract. So i say, have fun in the CFL u bitch.
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4-03-2008 @ 12:10PM
LB said...
The Bengals have a bad coach and organization. They are using their best player as a scapegoat. I can see why he is putting the heat back on them. No one wants to be blamed when it isn't their fault. But he should just ask to be traded and leave the rest of it alone.
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4-03-2008 @ 12:11PM
LB said...
Brian Kenny is a jerk.
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4-03-2008 @ 12:43PM
drew said...
What is up with that interviewer? He was being so condescending and rude. He was blatantly patronizing Chad with the way he asked some of those questions. Why would somebody treat an athlete like that when his job depends on being able to get people like Chad on his show to interview? I know one thing; If I was an athlete and saw that interview, I would NEVER go on that man's show to be interviewed for the simple lack of respect given. By the way, as a Cincy fan, I'm glad Chad is speaking out. Something is wrong when Lewis keeps giving Henry chances to "do-over" and wants to pin Chad with causing "bullets that need to be dodged".
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4-03-2008 @ 2:15PM
Jennye said...
When has the Bengal's organization pinned the blame on Chad Johnson??!! It's the flippin' media that started that line of thought and I'm really getting tired of this. Chad needs to zip his lip and play football. If he needs to be Chad, then he needs to be Chad and stop listening to what the media saya and do his thing. Before all this happened, the majority of Cincinnati liked him and had "affection" for him. But since the offseason he has really made it hard for anyone to like him. He doesn't make any sense in his interviews which is why that guy might have sounded "rude" to him. He didn't answer his questions with clear answers, but went on some sort of third person mono-tribe that was practically unintelligle. He's not helping himself. It has been made clear he will not be traded and if what he says is true and he's going to show up and play, there is no point to him creating drama anymore. Chad needs to grow up and become a professional. And if that aint' Chad, he's going to have a hard time being productive anywhere in the NFL.
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