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CINCINNATI BENGALS
Chad the starring act in minicamp circus
Friday, June 13, 2008
CINCINNATI — Opening day of Bengals' mandatory minicamp can be summed up this way:
Three-ring circus.
Extras
All 86 players — including disgruntled wide receiver Chad Johnson, two months after his trade demand — were present for the double-practice session on Thursday, June 12.
Then the zaniness — starring Johnson and agent Drew Rosenhaus on one side, and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis on the other — unfolded in front of local and national media.
The circus began in the morning when Johnson chose not to participate in team drills. He sulked and moped with a towel draped around his head.
It ended in the afternoon with Johnson — who caught a few passes in drills, including one from quarterback Carson Palmer — engulfed by reporters as he walked through a gauntlet of fans from the practice field to the stadium.
Johnson refused to answer any questions, including a barrage from NFL Network's Scott Hanson. But the five-time Pro Bowler showed his playful side by kissing Hanson's head.
In between, Bengals coaching intern Charlie Collins brought sanity to the proceedings.
Collins, the receivers coach at Santa Monica Junior College who served in that same role when Johnson played there from 1997-99, was asked where Chad's head is at.
"By the time I'm done this week, it'll be in the right place," Collins said. "It's a slow burn, but he's getting there. He's going to come around. He's going to help the team. He's just got to get his mind in the right place."
Lewis said Johnson missed the morning practice because "he expressed to the medical staff that he had some sort of ailment, and we're investigating what kind of ailment it is."
Rosenhaus claimed Johnson has bone spurs in his ankle and decided to rest. The Bengals responded by saying Johnson passed a physical exam, didn't report any problems to the doctor and was cleared to practice.
"Later, after the physical was concluded, Chad told our training staff his back was sore," the club said in a statement. "He refused to practice."
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said Johnson "played most of last season on a tender ankle. We have been recommending to him since the end of last season that he have it cleaned out. He has chosen thus far not to do so."
Said Rosenhaus: "We're hoping (the ankle) gets better between now and training camp. He's a veteran player and it's not like he's got a lot to prove in minicamp and training camp. We're more concerned with his health and being patient with that."
Rosenhaus said the Bengals "are not boxing us in. It's just an ongoing dialogue as to whether or not we should (have the ankle scoped)."
Lewis knew the circus would arrive with Johnson.
"You're going to come and see if he's going to show up, and he did what he was supposed to do," Lewis said. "He came. He participated. And he's doing what he can."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or
cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
