Chad Johnson

The Chad Johnson off-season soap opera has finally come to a close…at least for now. Chad just had arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, a procedure that only figures to keep him out of action for 2-3 weeks and back in time for the start of training camp. However, the biggest news has been the comments he has made in the past few days, backing off his earlier trade demands and seemingly trying to make amends with Cincinnati.

He began by saying that his trades were not about money, although he “could use a little extra for gas.” He explained that his tirades were more about him venting after a 7-9 season and about the lack of improvement the Bengals have made on defense, “Yeah it was the losing it got on my nerves.” Johnson said the Bengals “have done things for me that have never really been done before. Like tearing me up (his contract) with four years left and re-doing me the first time. I’ve also done well by them, also.” “We have a bigger issue here. Money will take care of itself,” said Johnson, who has a contract here through 2011. “If I go out and continue to be way above here, then it’s going to have to happen.”

So Chad’s complaints really weren’t about the money? Really? I’ve been saying since day 1 that money wasn’t the problem, but the recent losing and amount of blame put on Chad for it was. Turns out I was right after all.

For the first time Chad also attempted to shoulder some of the blame, saying “I wasn’t right. I wasn’t technical enough. Nowhere near as sound as I have been. For what a (multi) Pro Bowl veteran should be,” he said. “I was very inconsistent.” He goes on to say “I played very poorly,” and “Even if I do mess up, I should be able to make a play. But I couldn’t with the screwups I was making.” A very different attitude than what we’ve been used to seeing out of Chad.

Finally, Chad did his best to win back the fans of Cincinnati, reiterating, “I love you Cincinnati.” “I love them. I hope they understand it’s just business,” Johnson said. “I felt in that three-month period the best thing for me was to get out of Cincinnati. I was just going through some things and I thought it was the best move for me. Obviously not. I’m still here.” CJ even had a few kind things to say about Bengals owner Mike Brown (which is a huge feet even for the most devout Bengals fans), “I did everything under the sun to get out of here,” he said. “I acted psycho. I posed my case. I talked with my owner, who loves me dearly. He must. Those offers were unheard of. And he still said no. Really, I’m not that good.”

The Chad Johnson from these comments is certainly a much different, much more humble guy than we’ve seen over the past few months, or even over the past few years. Has Chad finally seen the light and now trying to become a team player or is he just conceding defeat in his efforts to get out of Cincinnati? Honestly, it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is the fact that Chad will be playing for the Bengals this season and he will continue to be the player who had led the NFL in receiving yards over the past 5-year span. Now, if the defense can finally put it together under new coordinator Mike Zimmer, Chad’s final prediction may just come to fruition: “We’re going to be in Tampa.”