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So now Ocho Cinco is Ocho No-Show, skipping Cincinnati's offseason workout program in an attempt to force the Bengals to trade him. It's a valiant if unoriginal move, and it's destined to fail.
The reason: Cincinnati cannot afford to let Chad Johnson go.
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| Will Chad Johnson sit out the season as threatened? Doubtful. (US Presswire) |
For years the Bengals set the league standard for frugality, which is another way of saying they were cheap. They're better on that score now (see Antwan Odom), but their chances of writing off $8 million just to satisfy the selfish interests of one player are about as good as an Oscar nomination for Deuce Bigalow.
Sulk. Pout. Disappear. It doesn't matter what Johnson does. He's under contract to work for a bottom-line operation, which means he can moan all he wants about how important it is for him to get out of Cincinnati.
He's not going anywhere.
Johnson doesn't like the sound of that. He said he was unfairly blamed for last season's shortcomings and needs a new start in another city, but there's something he's forgetting: He's not driving the bus; Cincinnati owner Mike Brown is.
Johnson doesn't make the policy around the Bengals. Brown does, and for now he's doing nothing about Johnson.
That is the way it should be. Workouts are voluntary, Johnson doesn't have to be there, and the last time I checked there was no law against freedom of speech. So Johnson can rant about life being unfair because he's under no obligation to be anywhere other than where he wants to be.
For now.
Of course, once we get to mandatory minicamps and training camps the situation changes. If Johnson stiffs the Bengals then, we have a problem. Only it's not Cincinnati's problem; it's Johnson's problem.
He'll get fined. And he'll continue to get fined until he appears or the conflict is resolved.
Let's say he refuses to show up. Then what? Well, then the Bengals continue to practice. Games continue to be played. And Johnson continues to be fined.