Houshmandzadeh says Johnson should be traded

[sa_butta]

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5652) said Thursday it would be best if the Cincinnati Bengals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin) and disgruntled receiver Chad Johnson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5483) parted ways.

"If he's not traded it's going to be a problem." Houshmandzadeh told ESPN's Bob Holtzman.
Houshmandzadeh told ESPN he talked with both Johnson and quarterback Carson Palmer (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6337) on Wednesday after Johnson demanded a trade from Cincinnati.
Houshmandzadeh said Johnson reiterated to him: "I'm not playing."
"I think eventually he'll show up, but then you have to worry about how much of a distraction he'll be," Houshmandzadeh told ESPN.
Johnson said Wednesday that he wants out of Cincinnati as fast as possible and he doesn't plan on reporting for any future Bengals functions -- mandatory or voluntary.
What spurred Johnson's immediate reaction was a statement made by Palmer that indicated Johnson had told the quarterback he would be at the team's mandatory minicamp in mid-June. Johnson said that wasn't true.
"I want to make this very clear,'' Johnson told ESPN.com's John Clayton on Wednesday. "I don't know where he got that. I made no assertion to Carson that I would do that. Nothing has changed from what I've been saying for three months that I don't want to play for the Bengals.''
Johnson made one of his strongest statements in saying he is not planning on reporting to any team functions because he wants to be traded.
"I want to be traded before the draft, and if that doesn't happen, I want to be traded as soon as possible,'' Johnson told ESPN.com. "I don't intend on reporting to anything.''
Houshmandzadeh told ESPN that Johnson spent most of the past few months not returning Palmer's phone calls. Houshmandzadeh said Palmer and Johnson have talked a few times recently.
Houshmandzadeh, who said he's talked to Johnson more this offseason than ever, revealed to ESPN that Johnson started talking about wanting out of Cincinnati during last season.
He said the Bengals are in a no-win situation.
"If we keep him and don't win, he'll tell everyone 'I told you so,' " Houshmandzadeh said.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3351518

[Whisky Dog]

Sure, go ahead and trade him. Then take the $8 million cap hit that'll further cripple your franchise and set the precedent that any disgruntled, spoiled, millionaire can call you out and you'll bow down to them no matter what it costs you.

Here's what you do. Demand that he be professional and honor his contract to the best of his ability or else take every possible punitive action under the CBA against him. If he shows up and acts like a bitch, don't play him and continue to pursue every possible thing you can under the CBA.

[san antonio spurs]

It's always been all mouth with chad. He'll be a bengal this season. He'll report late for sure, but he'll report.

[MajorMike]

Well, lets see, the #2 WR who has never gotten along with the #1 says he should be traded. Well, DUH!

[macdude06]

Hey Quick question on this...

since chad has already got the 8 million dollar signing bonus and that is the cap hit cincy would take..can chad pay back some of it to cincy to help with a trade? is that allowed? would a player do that?

[JMarkJohns]

Why are there cap hits from making trades? That seems silly and counterproductive...

[macdude06]

there is a cap hit b/c that 8 million is in a signing bonus..that has alreay been paid but its spread out over the cap..so its gotta count if it has already been paid

[T Park]

Sure, go ahead and trade him. Then take the $8 million cap hit that'll further cripple your franchise and set the precedent that any disgruntled, spoiled, millionaire can call you out and you'll bow down to them no matter what it costs you.

Here's what you do. Demand that he be professional and honor his contract to the best of his ability or else take every possible punitive action under the CBA against him. If he shows up and acts like a bitch, don't play him and continue to pursue every possible thing you can under the CBA.


How come a player can't say the same thing to the owner when the owner all of a sudden just cuts him?