Cincinnati Bengals / Image: Zuma Press

A lot of teams would consider this type of coverage more of a distraction than anything else, but Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis isn’t one of them:

“I think our football team is beyond that point. I think we’ve got a mature group of guys that are fighting for jobs. They won’t notice the cameras. We know there will be special things that guys will be a part of; I think that way we’re mature enough. Steve (Sabol, NFL Films) has approached me before and we didn’t come to the same conclusion. This time I did because I think we’re in a different step in the team’s maturity and where we are. I think it’s great for our fans. I felt like we could handle this.”

I love this show. It’s easily my favorite reality series and it typically offers a very unique look inside an NFL organization. As a fan of the league, you’ve got to love that. You get to know a handful of the players quite well and it’s usually very compelling from week-to-week. Hard Knocks launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 (still the best season to-date), followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. After an unexplained five-year layoff, the series resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs (blah) and the 2008 edition, which received a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Post Produced Audio/Sound, featured the Cowboys for the second time.

I have to think the Bengals were way down on the list of teams HBO and NFL Films wanted to see on the Hard Knocks series. I mean, the Bengals are coming off a 4-11-1 season and I have little reason to believe they will be much better in 2009. I’m so discouraged by the choice, I wonder if we’ll see another season of Hard Knocks after this one? The reason is I’m not sure there will be any teams willing to allow this kind of insider coverage anymore. I hope I’m wrong, but by choosing the Cincinnati Bengals as their featured team, I think NFL Films is sending a bleak message: We couldn’t get anyone else to do it!

Nevertheless, I’ll be watching. Receiver Chad Johnson Ochocinco will keep things interesting and should be worth the price of admission alone. And it will be intriguing to see Dhani Jones back in his natural environment after observing him in his “world traveler” role on The Travel Channel’s Dhani Tackles the Globe. But the Bengals aren’t even close to having the cast of characters the Dallas Cowboys showcased last year. Not that the show needs that, but I’m wondering how entertaining the Cincinnati Bengals will be.

Source: Bengals.com

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Bengals Land HBO ‘Hard Knocks’ Series

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson — so full of love and kissing his coach and quarterback just a few short weeks ago — has been deactivated for tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for breaking an “unspecified” team rule. Well, let’s specify. Apparently, during a team meeting last night, Chad was a little sleepy and was slumped down in his chair like a college freshman who had been out too late the night before. Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski told him to sit up. Chad kept refusing until finally he just got up and left. Head coach Marvin Lewis went after him, the two exchanged heated words, and coach told Chad to go home.

Chad’s behavior is asinine. On one hand, as I’ve said many times before, he’s supremely talented on the football field (even so, he thinks he’s better than he really is). But he’s also the epitome of an NFL diva. He’s a crybaby. He’s immature. And the Bengals would be a lot better off without him.

Source: FoxSports.com

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Chad Johnson Deactivated

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

A few weeks ago, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco promised to kiss the star at Texas Stadium if he scored a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. He didn’t do either. But he made up for it today by scoring two touchdowns in a 21-19 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He then kissed head coach Marvin Lewis (as seen in this footage) and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He was also blowing kisses to the Bengals faithful. Why not? It was Cincinnati’s first win. But, as luck would have it, Chad and the Bengals get that loving feeling back right before a bye week. So much for momentum?

Source: NFL.com

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Chad Johnson Loves The Bengals

Yesterday was cutdown day in the National Football League. Every team had to trim their roster to 53 players for the upcoming regular season. Here are a few of the notable names who were cutdown victims and who are now looking for gainful employment with another NFL team as soon as possible:

Rudi Johnson, Bengals; Chris Simms, Bucs; Joey Harrington, Falcons; Ashley Lelie, 49ers; Jerome McDougle, Eagles; Willie Anderson, Bengals; John Lynch, Patriots; Fernando Bryant, Patriots; Adam Archuleta, Raiders.

I was probably most surprised by the Bengals parting ways with Rudi Johnson. Rumors have been swirling the past couple weeks that Rudi was on the trading block, but I didn’t think the Bengals would just cut him loose. When no interesting trade offers developed for the Bengals, that’s exactly what they did — the team simply released him. Their reasoning was largely because of a nagging hamstring injury that forced Rudi to miss much of training camp. Head coach Marvin Lewis said:

“We haven’t seen Rudi play (in preseason). I’ve seen Rudi practice very few times, and cut it loose very few times. I thought he had an outstanding offseason. I thought he had a great spring and was doing everything, but unfortunately, he seemed to suffer from the hamstring.”

It goes to show just how short-lived the career of an NFL running back can be. From 2004-2006, Rudi played in every game and exceeded 1,300 yards rushing and had 12 touchdowns in each of those seasons. When he was limited to 11 games and just under 500 yards in an injury plagued 2007 season, little did he know his days with the Bengals were over.

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Cincinnati Bengals Rudi Johnson Among High-Profile NFL Roster Cutdown Victims

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Apparently, Chad Johnson has had a change of heart. Over the past few months, he was nearly in tears as he exclaimed he would never play for the Cincinnati Bengals again. He said people were not taking him seriously but that he was, in fact, dead serious about sitting out the 2008 season if he wasn’t traded. It was, essentially, a trade-me-or-else threat. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis called his bluff saying that Chad was a man of his word and should, in fact, sit out the upcoming season if he wanted to. It was sarcastic, to say the least. Coach Lewis and the Bengals must be laughing now because in the latest edition of ESPN Magazine, Chad says:

“Am I coming back? Of course I am. I told my coaches I’m going to California to act, but the truth is I may come back to the Bengals as early as June. I may be crazy but I’m not stupid ….. It’s the reinvention of Ocho Cinco. I’m dead serious. People need to take me as I am because I just don’t give a [expletive] anymore. That’s how I’d sum up my attitude for the next season.”

Watch out. Chad is dead serious again. I think it’s all pretty funny. Chad Johnson will probably be very difficult to deal with this season. I think he’ll be a cancer in the Bengals locker room. And I think the team will suffer as a result of forcing him to play for them. The only reason he’s returning to Cincinnati is because he would get his rear end fined so bad he’d be broke by the end of the season. So, he’s coming back. And it will be fun to watch Chad make a spectacle of himself in the process.

Source: ESPN, Photo: Newscom

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Chad Johnson Says He’ll Return to Bengals

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

I know it seems like Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is being a big crybaby, but the team should just give-in and trade him. Despite all of Chad’s recent whining and complaining, the Bengals have remained adamant that they will not deal him. Several months ago, ESPN’s Chris Mortenson reported that Chad felt betrayed by head coach Marvin Lewis who apparently stopped talking to Chad halfway through last season. So, Chad’s feelings were hurt. It’s like dealing with a couple of children.

Earlier this week, after quarterback Carson Palmer told reporters in an open locker room session that Chad assured him he will be back in Cincinnati for any mandatory camp, the Bengals receiver sounded off with his strongest comments to date about a holdout and his desire to play elsewhere:

“I will not be at any mandatory camp. I will not be at training camp. I will not be anywhere in Cincinnati. I’m not sure where Carson got his information from, but I know I didn’t assure him of anything. I wish he’d stay out of this. He’s taking how I’m feeling as a joke because I think everyone else in the organization is doing the same. But let me be as clear as I can about this. This is not a joke. I really don’t want to play for the Bengals. Period.”

If the Bengals were smart, they would make Chad happy and land a bunch of Draft picks in return. But for some reason, they seem determined to make him play in Cincinnati or begin fining him for not showing up when practices become mandatory. It’s ridiculous for the Bengals to remain so bullheaded. Even if Chad does return (which he says he won’t), do they really think they’re going to get his best efforts on- and off-the-field? Teammate and friend T.J. Houshmanzadeh thinks not:

“If he’s not traded, it’s going to be a problem. I think he’ll eventually show up, but then you have to worry about how much of a distraction he’ll be.”

If the Bengals don’t make a move before the Draft, you can bet their phone will be ringing off the hook with trade offers for Chad a week from today. They would be wise to take those calls.

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Bengals Should Trade Chad Johnson

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Chad Johnson is a piece of work. You’ve most certainly heard that he is refusing to play for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008 even though he’s under contract to do so through 2011. (He already missed the team’s first offseason “optional” OTA.) I haven’t written anything about Chad’s displeasure yet, but in a nutshell, he feels underappreciated or betrayed or something and he wants a fresh start somewhere else. Apparently, when the going gets tough (as last season most certainly was for Cincinnati), Chad wants to get going — out of town.

Chad’s one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League — no doubt — but he’s turned into a high-maintenance prima donna. I’ve always liked Chad. He’s a likeable guy. And his celebratory antics have been harmless and entertaining. But his recent crybaby attitude is too much. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis says the team isn’t going to trade him and that if Chad wants to play in the NFL, he’ll have to do it in Cincinnati. Both sides appear determined to stay their course, so we’re at a standoff.

I would encourage the Bengals to trade Chad. At least listen to some offers because they’re out there. If he doesn’t want to be in Cincinnati, he’s good enough that the Bengals could get a boatload for him. Since he’s still under contract, heavy fines will eventually start to take their toll on Chad’s pocket book once training camp begins, so he’ll probably be forced to return or lose a ton of cash. But his heart won’t be in his work and he’ll be a cancer in the locker room. I say get rid of the guy while the getting’s good and assemble a team that wants to play and win in Cincinnati. Both sides will be better off.

Anyway, Chad’s obviously having trouble filling the hours, so he’s warmed to a new career. Acting. Or attempting to act. He’s done some “webisodes” for Degree deodorant (one of his endorsement deals) and most recently is guest-starring in the idiotic CW show “The Game.” Not to knock what he’s trying to do (you gotta start somewhere), but he’s under contract to play football and that’s what he should be doing. His teammates (that care) are working back in Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Chad is in Hollywood and seems to think he’s the next Denzel Washington. Watch this video. Confident is good. Arrogant is bad. And Chad is no longer confident and fun. He’s just arrogant and annoying.

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Chad Johnson Wants Out of Cincinnati