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February 05, 2008
Chad Johnson a Panther? No way
Don't expect Chad Johnson to become a Carolina Panther anytime soon -- or ever.
Johnson, the talented Cincinnati wide receiver, spent Super Bowl week in Phoenix, making the rounds of the talk shows that set up shop in the city for the game. He essentially told anyone who asked that he wanted to be traded, that he felt like he was being blamed for the Bengals' struggles last season and that he wanted to play somewhere else.
I received several emails asking if the Panthers would be in the Johnson derby, should one develop.
The main reason they won't be is that Cincinnati wants to keep Johnson, and has him under contract through 2011. While ESPN.com reported that he was threatening to sit out 2008 unless a deal was made, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told the Cincinnati Enquirer that "Chad Johnson will play football in 2008."
Johnson, 30, is one of the league's best receivers, and gained 1,440 receiving yards last season. But while he is owed a base salary of $3 million for the coming year, his contract will count $6.3 million against the league's salary cap. If he were traded or released, that would balloon to $8.8 million. So you can see why the Bengals want to work this thing out.
But it's really about more than money. The Bengals already let running back Corey Dillon talk his way out of town in 2004, getting only a second-round pick from New England for him. To let Johnson go now would be as if Carolina let Steve Smith go; you only have so many great playmakers, and at this stage in his career, Johnson is irreplaceable in Cincy.
-- Stan Olson
Posted by Observer Sports on February 5, 2008 at 11:14 AM | Permalink
Comments
So won't he be going to the Panthers again l;ast time i check if a player want out of a team as a team you don't want that player back we can get him and Carolina growl been wrote on this story you guys are way late and do you think the Panthers will give Rucker another chance I mean he was a great player key word (was) I mean I like Mike but his time as come and the Panther has to say you been very great to us and sooner or later you will be in are wall of fame but I we are going another directoin we looking for a championship this year .
Posted by: Telling It Like It Is | Feb 5, 2008 11:54:19 AM
Wow, that is the longest run-on sentence I have ever read. Let's try punctuation next time. Thanks.
Posted by: wow | Feb 5, 2008 11:58:16 AM
I second that motion...
Posted by: definitely | Feb 5, 2008 12:16:20 PM
I'd love to see 85 in a Panthers uniform but he'll probably be playing in Cincy next season. If the Bengals DO decide to trade him, they better get some defensive help back in return because their defense is a joke.
Posted by: Al | Feb 5, 2008 12:21:27 PM
It would be worth our first round pick, we'd have to pay that player a similar amount to what we'd pay ocho cinco. Just because its improbable doesn't mean we should try our hardest to make it happen. New England got Moss for a 4th rounder. San Diego got Chris Chambers for a bag of magic beans, so a trade on this level isn't impossible....if you have an ownership committed to winning. Remember the phrase "Superbowl win in ten" somehow that got morphed into "superbowl trip in ten." I hope ownership hasn't gotten sofT.
Posted by: Neu | Feb 5, 2008 1:03:46 PM
After watching the playoffs and Super Bowl, aren't we glad we got Jarrett from USC instead of Steve Smith from USC? Smith was actually on the field during the Giants playoff run contributing some big catches while Jarrett rode the pine all season. Nice Job Panthers!
Posted by: Jack | Feb 5, 2008 1:53:12 PM
I don't know much about Ocho Cinco but as far as I know he has never punched a teammate in the face.How bout you Ocho Nueve?
Posted by: Slak | Feb 5, 2008 2:00:42 PM
Ugh. Other papers covered this story way earlier and far better than the Observer (what a shock)...but the idea that Johnson is "irreplaceable" in Cincinnati is pretty ridiculous. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has arguably surpassed Johnson as a receiver and remains a much better team player. The word is that the locker room has openly endorsed trading Johnson, with the realization that sometimes talent takes a back seat to chemistry. And the Bengals' chemistry problems last season were well-documented. At this point, I'm not sure that the Bengals wouldn't be intrigued by a second-rounder for Johnson, with maybe a late-rounder or future considerations thrown in. Or maybe a trade package featuring Kris Jenkins or Ken Lucas?
Still, all told, I'd rather trade for Roy Williams.
Posted by: JF | Feb 5, 2008 2:11:06 PM
Please stop talking about Chad Johnson. We already have a number one receiver. There are so many other things we need to add to this team before we add another loud mouth receiver. They cut Keyshawn for running his mouth, but you guys think there is a shot at getting Johnson for 8.8 million dollars. Move on and think realistically.
Posted by: LeeL | Feb 5, 2008 2:16:26 PM
Wow, that first comment gave me a headache.
Anyway, Neu, exactly how would Johnson be "worth" the Panthers' first round draft pick? They don't need him; what they need is a quality receiver to complement Steve Smith and an impact defensive end to replace Rucker. They have a shot at addressing the latter of those two needs with their first selection in April, but not if they give it away for an aging receiver who's just going to cause problems here. Trading for the biggest name receiver you can find doesn't necessarily mean a championship. Just ask Boston fans.
On the other hand, if the Patriots decide not to give Donté Stallworth $6 million in bonus money this offseason, he's someone at whom Carolina would definitely want to take a serious look. Even Devery Henderson from the division rival Saints could be an attractive option, and one whose services might be available at a discounted rate after New Orleans' disappointing season on the offensive side of the ball.
The direction in which this team wants to go is clear, and Chad Johnson does not fit into those plans. The Panthers have an opportunity to start drafting well, something they haven't done often in recent years, this April. The draft is so deep at running back, that they should be able to get their smashmouth, power rusher in the third round. That leaves rounds one and two for defensive end and offensive tackle, and the fourth round for upgrading their secondary with a young safety. They may even get lucky and find a receiving tight end in the later rounds, but mortgaging their future for Johnson's services now would be foolish.
Posted by: Compulsive Collector | Feb 5, 2008 2:26:43 PM
I really wish some of you would shut up yourself with all that Chad Johnson loud mouth mess. It's a free country(so they say) we have freedom of speech. If I lead the franchise I play for in receptions and my team in yardage almost ever year and be a top five wideout in the league, I would talk some too. He's grown get over it. That man is not a child! Ya'll say what you feel when you get ready don't you? What's so different bout his case?
Posted by: EG | Feb 5, 2008 2:42:19 PM
First off we have a chance at drafting well, no. Beason good draft pick, who else? Not Jarret, not biakabutuka, not injured dan morgan. All i am saying is, why would we start drafting smart this year? Why didn't we start last year? Same coach, same attitude and strategy. Pound the ball, draws on third and eleven and the most important thing playing well and winning at the end of the season when there is no chance to make the playoffs (why not play second and third string instead we play starters against others 2nd and 3rd string and all it does is make our draft position worsen... TWO YEARS IN A ROW
Posted by: WOW2 | Feb 5, 2008 2:53:39 PM
Chad Johnson would never play here; most Panther fans know it; Fox knows it; Hurney knows it. How about a blog on a topic of some relevance? What do the Panthers do with Mike Rucker? What will management offer? What will Ruck demand? I'd love to have him back, but at minimal cost and in a backup role.
Posted by: Brian | Feb 5, 2008 2:55:43 PM
LeeL, One sucky superbowl and all of a sudden the Moss move was a bad one for New England? You must have missed there first 18 games. Chad Johnson's talent upgrades every other position on this team. Steve Smith will have one on ones, Jake Delhomme will have options, Fox will be able to run his welterweight backs like heavyweight ones and they'll gain 4 to 5 yards a carry. The offense would hold the ball long enough to keep the defense fresh. It would be a great and bold move that would capitalize on the talent of our already aging stars. One more question for you, you stated that the team has a clear direction that its going in...are you serious?
Posted by: Neu | Feb 5, 2008 3:30:00 PM
JF, on the one hand, you write that the Bengals' locker room wants rid of CJ; then you wonder if the Panthers could trade a second-rounder, or some other guys for him. Carolina hates bad character guys, so if you're right on the first part, that trade won't happen.
Brian, wrote about Rucker today. I could see Carolina bringing him back one a one-year deal as a backup, on a veteran minium deal (well under a million). That might be cost effective, considering his experience and locker room value.
Posted by: stan olson | Feb 5, 2008 4:09:18 PM
Neu:
Chad Johnson is a good player but not a good fit for the Panthers.The Giants showed last Sunday that you don't need two number 1 WR's to win a super bowl.If you have a number 2 WR's that can my tough catches & a TE that can my plays that take pressure of S.Smith.C.Johnson at 8.8 million & 30 years old isn't high on the Panthers to do list I'm willing to bet this.
Posted by: Damon | Feb 5, 2008 4:13:04 PM
Stan, I'm not saying that the Panthers would trade for a guy with character problems. What I'm saying is that I don't agree with your argument that Cincy would consider Johnson irreplaceable, especially if the locker room is hoping for him to leave. I think the Bengals might realize that their biggest problem isn't moving the football through the air -- it's erasing horrible team chemistry (and secondly, to figure out how to repair a horrendous defense). At this point, trading Johnson for picks or players might markedly improve Cincy's playoffs chances, not hinder them.
Posted by: JF | Feb 5, 2008 4:46:25 PM
Neu:
Did you just make stuff up or did you read what I wrote? I mentioned neither Moss nor a "clear direction" for the team. What team had better wide receivers: the Giants or the Bengals? The Patriots or the Bengals? The Chargers or the Bengals? The Bengals probably have the best receiving corp in the NFL, but they watched the playoffs from home. The constant for those teams is a solid offensive line.
Further, I'm saying reasons why the Panthers won't sign him: Because he's a loudmouth.
EG:
Please learn constitutional law b/f you speak about the first amendment. If someone is a disruptive employee they can be fired or told to be quiet. I respectfully request you exercise you freedom not to speak from here on out.
Posted by: LeeL | Feb 5, 2008 4:46:39 PM
please inform the readers why it took the Observer so long to post a Chad Johnson related story!
Posted by: mattdaddy | Feb 5, 2008 4:48:22 PM
Yeah, we drafted TERRIBLY last year:
"With their first four picks the Panthers landed guys who were all considered to be potential first rounders at one point or another and on Day Two they did a nice job of upgrading their depth and finding role players to supplement an already talented roster. Few teams did a better job this year than Carolina and it's a good bet that at least four guys from this class will be starting for them a year from now and that is a great job for anyone, let alone a legitimate contender.
GRADE: A-"
--NFL Draft Countdown
I'd challenge you to find a dissenting opinion.
Additionally:
Kindal Moorehead
Michael Gaines
Drew Carter
Adam Seward
Geoff Hangartner
Jeff King
Will Montgomery
Stanley McClover
Dante Rosario
What's the connection? Each of these players has played a major role (most having started at one point or another) despite having been drafted in the 5th round or later by the Panthers since 2002.
Furthermore, both of our young backup QBs (Matt Moore and Bret Basanez) are UFAs picked up by the Panthers before their rookie season. You're barking up the wrong tree, buddy.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Feb 5, 2008 5:04:12 PM
Will Montgomery? Are you joking?
Geoff Hangartner? Maybe as a return man, but hasn't gotten a chance to prove anything on the O-line really ...
Adam Seward??? Predominately a special teams player who broke his foot his rookie season ...
Michael Gaines????? One good catch here and there, but no Wesley Walls by ANY stretch ...
I'll give you credit for Kindal Moorehead, Drew Carter and Jeff King, but the rest?
Second of all, why trade for Chad Johnson when the team could get Roy Williams for a 2nd rounder?
Posted by: Shane Dunaway | Feb 5, 2008 7:04:34 PM
It's no secret that the Panthers need an additional playmaker on the offense and someone to take the pressure off of Steve Smith. Chad Johnson probably not the best choice. Roy Williams is an interesting suggestion. I'm not really sold on anyone in free agency, because if they're so good why aren't they re-signed. Here's an interesting thought, although maybe as detrimental to team morale as ocho cinco: what about Jeremy Shockey?? I firmly believe the Giants are going to trade him over the offseason and yeah he's a loudmouth, but he plays hard and definitely has talent. Maybe a change of scenery would do him good, and having a big time receiving tight end opens up alot of the field and creates tons of mismatches. He'd do better here than in New York because we have a top flight receiver to force the defense to stick only linebackers and the occasional safety on Shockey. Just a thought.
And what's all this nonsense about needing a power running back?? Just because Stephen Davis had one great year here everyone thinks that's the type of running back we need here. WRONG. Especially if he's big and not fast, like Davis. The NFL is all about speed, on defense and offense. We could use a good fullback to block and for short yardage, but we don't need a hammer back to take up a spot on the roster just for short yardage packages. Speed is king. Fox needs to get over his old power running philosophy and learn to make half-time adjustments.
And one more thing, yeah we had a problems rushing the passer, definitely needs to be fixed. But LT is much more important than DE, period. Once we lose Wharton we need to address OT in the first round, simple as that.
Posted by: Christian | Feb 5, 2008 7:22:16 PM
Oh yeah, and New York happily proved my point a few threads ago about blitz schemes. Do you see what a good d-coordinator can do to a QB like Tom Brady when he blitzes often and mixes up different looks to confuse the QB? Did New York get burnt deep because they were blitzing so much? No. Because Tom Brady was so rattled that his deep passes (which are hard passes to complete to begin with) were way off. Panthers fans, it's not your personnel to blame for our mediocracy, its our coaching staff. Come to grips with reality.
Posted by: Christian | Feb 5, 2008 7:29:04 PM
No. This team does not need Johnson. He is a headache. The team does not controversy in 2008. They need team leadership and some wins.
Posted by: Par404 | Feb 5, 2008 9:35:20 PM
No. We do need Johnson in a Panther uniform. We need more leadership in the locker room and more wins.
Posted by: par404 | Feb 5, 2008 9:42:08 PM
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