Chad Johnson Trade Rumors

By Adam Kiefaber

Right when you want to start talking defense in Cincinnati, the topic quickly turns to Chad Johnson trade rumors.

I know, according to Marvin Lewis, Ocho Cinco won’t be traded.

However, to get the best value in return, Lewis wouldn’t say that his team’s all-time leading receiver is on the block.

A post on yardbarker.com rumors that the Bengals are entertaining offers for Chad Johnson.

The post doesn’t link sources, which doesn’t bother me because Chad Johnson has been refusing to talk to the media. He won’t talk to the Cincinnati media because he feels that they have turned the fan base against him and he won’t talk to ESPN because they were speculating too much on a possible trade.

However, the post bothers me because it says, “now that the Eagles have signed CB Asante Samuel a deal could be in the works.”

Basically that destroys any creditability that this post could possibly have, because it implies that the Bengals sat on their hands and watched the Eagles sign Samuel so they could trade for him.

If you are interested in knowing it says “teams who have been asking most about Chad are Tampa Bay, Washington and the Eagles.”

We all know that the Washington Redskins are interested. Another team that could be interested are the Oakland Raiders, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

The article discusses that the possibility of trading the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft for Chad Johnson.

According to the article, Oakland needs “an experienced deep threat to take advantage of rookie JaMarcus Russell’s big arm and keep opposing defenses from loading up against the Oakland running game.”

Because there is a weak wide receiver class in the draft and with practically all of the best free agents at that position already signed, does team president Al Davis give the Bengals a call?

It doesn’t seem that far fetched.

As bengal fans, would we toss out Chad Johnson’s record breaking career with the team (all-time leader in receptions - 559 - and yards - 8,365) and jump at the opportunity to have the No. 4 overall pick?

If Cincinnati would be able to keep the No. 9 pick and acquire the No. 4, the deal would be impossible to pass up. Right?

Nonetheless, trading Chad Johnson would cost the Bengals more money than paying him to play this season. According Cincinnati Enquirer’s Bengals beat writer Mark Curnutte, “The Bengals would have about $8 million in dead money on their salary cap in 2008 if they traded or released wide receiver Chad Johnson.”

That being said a deal isn’t likely, but is still fun to talk about.

Another deal that won’t likely happen:

I have heard from quite a few people in Cincinnati lately that the Bengals could trade for Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

The idea being the Bengals package a deal with Deltha O’Neal or Dexter Jackson with a pair of draft picks.

Personally, I don’t think the deal makes any sense. Especially since the Bengals have used first-round picks in back-to-back seasons on cornerbacks.

It would also be nearly impossible to afford the cornerback. Not only would Cincinnati have to get rid of O’Neal and Jackson, the team would probably have to cut other players to afford a player that doesn’t fulfill any drastic need.

However, having DeAngelo “Fall” might make Ocho Cinco happy.

The most popular rumor concerning Hall has the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback going to the New York Giants.

Rumors that may happen:

- Bengals getting Big Rob -

Call me crazy, but I still think the Bengals will land defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson.

Cincinnati obviously likes Robertson. Marvin Lewis was one of the many coaches blown away by the UK standout prior to the 2003 NFL Draft. I think Cincy went with the right pick in quarterback Carson Palmer that year, but with Robertson going No. 4 overall to the New York Jets the Bengals looked at him as well.

When the Bengals cut their list to two prospects that year, one was Palmer and the other wasn’t Robertson. The other prospect that Cincinnati really wanted was cornerback Terrence Newman.

Anyways, the New York Jets can’t afford Robertson and the Bengals seem to be the only team really interested in acquiring the tackle.

I have been following the Robertson ordeal on Rich Cimini’s Jets blog titled The Jets Stream. Cimini writes for the The New York Daily News. This is by far the best source I can find.

- Bengals drafting defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey -

Just prior to the NFL combine, the rumor was that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden’s stock was falling in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Well, McFadden blew everybody away when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds.

It is safe to say his stock is back up.

However, now the rumor is that Glenn Dorsey’s stock is falling.

Dorsey showed up at the NFL Scouting Combine and took tests, but didn’t work out. According to one source, which got its information from the wire - “An NFL team doctor said there are serious concerns over the lingering effects of a stress fracture in the right tibia, an injury Dorsey suffered in 2006. Dorsey also had nagging hamstring, knee and lower back injuries in 2007.”

Even if Dorsey can’t play this season, which I bet he will since he played through last season, he would be a smart pick at No. 9.

The Bengals could miss out this season, but be getting one of the league’s premier defensive tackles.

I leave you with this video:

Oh Chad if you want to talk to someone that will treat you fair in the media - shoot me an email - I will get your story online, on television or in print - I will make it happen