Chad Johnson is good for marital harmony

[OldRightHander]

My wife used to leave the room or go shopping between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 every Sunday during football season. She also used to get a little miffed that I was always wanting to come home right after church to watch the game. She would say that since I don't see every Reds game, it wouldn't hurt to miss a Bengals game or two. My argument was always that they only play once a week and there are only 16 games in the season, so it's not the same as missing a couple baseball games out of a long season. A few weeks ago she happened to walk into the room when Chad was doing one of his end zone dances and she had a really good laugh about it. Now she stays in the living room with me when I'm watching the game because she wants to see what Chad is going to do if he scores. It amuses her and she thinks that he looks like he is having a lot of fun on the field. I won't say she's becoming a fan, but having her at least passively watch the games with me is something of a start.

[Blimpie]

This may be somewhat verboten to mention around these parts...but I, for one, am getting a little tired of Chad's endzone antics. He is so exciting to watch play football, I would just hate to see him evolve into a caricature of himself (and no, I did NOT mention Ickey Woods).

ORH: I am all for doing whatever it takes to ensure marital bliss, but I just wish Chad would gear it down a few notches. Act like you've been there before.

[flyer85]

The game has changed so much. I think the real reason guys didn't celebrate like that 40 years ago was because they were guys like Sam Huff, Chuck Bednarik and Dick Butkus patrolling the middle of the field. Clotheslining was legal back then.

[gonelong]

I appreciate the guys that just hand the ball over to the official as much as I appreciate the guys that are having some good clean fun.

I detest the guys that are dancing after knocking down a pass after they have given up 2 TDs and have their team down 14-0 in the 1st quarter.

GL

[WrongVerb]

I appreciate the guys that just hand the ball over to the official as much as I appreciate the guys that are having some good clean fun.

I detest the guys that are dancing after knocking down a pass after they have given up 2 TDs and have their team down 14-0 in the 1st quarter.

GL

here here!

I concur completely with what you said.

[Hoosier Red]

I'm not necessarily against those who just hand the ball to the referee, but who or what does Chad Johnson take away from when he does his celebration?

While I agree it can be taken to extremes, I don't really see the harm.
Does it call attention to just Chad, probably but his teammates don't seem to mind. (TJ and Rudi seem to be just hand the ball to the official types, and they really get into it when Chad does his thing.)

Does it anger the defense? Again probably, but since the Pepto Bismol disaster last season,(which Chad appears to have learned from,) it hasn't exactly inspired anyone to stop him.

All the while, there are a number of people who otherwise wouldn't be interested in football, who will watch just to see what Chad will do next.

And apparantly I'm alone in this, but I really wasn't impressed with the putter bit last week.

[GAC]

I detest the guys that are dancing after knocking down a pass after they have given up 2 TDs and have their team down 14-0 in the 1st quarter.

Or the guy who finally makes a catch after dropping three. I guess that is justification to celebrate.... "I finally caught one!"

[Blimpie]

Granted, sometimes I frighten even myself with curmudgeon-like tendencies. I cannot explain it, but it just seems all too cartoonish for me to stomach.

Maybe it's because it all harkens back to the T.O. Sharpie thing. What I thought initially as a goofball T.O. stunt has evolved into a egotistical competition amongst Chad Johnson, Randy Moss, Steve Smith, Joe Horn...blah blah blah. One thing for a WR/RB to do something for the benefit of the fans in attendance. Quite another to have a celebration "broken down" for technique by Stuart Scott.

Am I that far gone? I am only closing in on 38--not 58. But it seems like it was more like football only 5-6 years ago when Barry Sanders was scoring three TD's per game and handing the ball to the referee.

[savafan]

I sent the url for this thread to Chad, he should get a kick out of it.

[redsfan30]

Chad Johnson is good for the game of football. He is an outstanding talent and his endzone celebrations are in good, clean-natured fun. The celebrations alone have some people watching the games that normally wouldn't (ORH's wife). Chad Johnson does nothing but promote the game of football and the Cincinnati Bengals.

There are actually some Browns fans in my town that swear up one side and down the other that they would not want Chad Johnson anywhere near thier team because of his endzone celebrations. They say he is a cancer who only cares about himself and even with his stats, they would not take him as a member of the Cleveland Browns. My reponse to them is always well it's no wonder your team is consistantly at the bottom of the league with such foolish thinking as that.

[Blimpie]

Chad Johnson is good for the game of football. He is an outstanding talent and his endzone celebrations are in good, clean-natured fun. The celebrations alone have some people watching the games that normally wouldn't (ORH's wife). Chad Johnson does nothing but promote the game of football and the Cincinnati Bengals.

There are actually some Browns fans in my town that swear up one side and down the other that they would not want Chad Johnson anywhere near thier team because of his endzone celebrations. They say he is a cancer who only cares about himself and even with his stats, they would not take him as a member of the Cleveland Browns. My reponse to them is always well it's no wonder your team is consistantly at the bottom of the league with such foolish thinking as that.

Chad Johnson is 100% in the business of promoting Chad Johnson. He would be the first one to admit that to you.

Let me qualify this more specifically: I agree that Chad's personality is much more palatable and fan friendly than Terrell Owens. They both practice hard, want to win and leave it all on the field. That said, they are most definitely cut from the same cloth. No, I do not say this simply because they have the same agent either. It is because they both crave the same thing: individual attention.

Now, one could argue the differences between their individual creativity and how that manifests itself in terms of their respective endzone celebrations. I couldn't care less about that. My whole problem is that during some game...somewhere...but, even if for the briefest of moments...these guys are inevitably having difficulties focusing on the task at hand. You think this hasn't crossed the mind of Marvin Lewis?

This team has the distinct chance to make some noise in the playoffs this year. If anything, they would be better suited to fly under the radar against teams. That's far better than baiting DBs into playing career games against you. This team doesn't need the hype. They just want the W's. If you don't think so, then go ask Willie Anderson. How many bad Bengal teams has he had to endure over the years? He isn't gonna let anyone or anything upset this apple cart.

Picture this: Playoff game on the road this year against deafening fan noise. I dunno, say Pittsburgh, Denver or even Kansas City. I would hate to see the play occur where Carson calls out an audible to make Chad the hot receiver. Chad misses the audible because he's preoccupied trying to remember in which endzone he has stashed his inflatable Champ Bailey doll.

Just sayin'

[savafan]

I think you've got the wrong impression of Chad Johnson there Blimpie.

Chad loves football. He loves playing the game. He plays to win, but he also plays to have fun. He genuinely wishes there were more guys who played for the love of the game rather than the paycheck. Chad's number one priority is to get the Bengals into the Superbowl right now, not next year or the year after.

[Blimpie]

I think you've got the wrong impression of Chad Johnson there Blimpie.

Chad loves football. He loves playing the game. He plays to win, but he also plays to have fun. He genuinely wishes there were more guys who played for the love of the game rather than the paycheck. Chad's number one priority is to get the Bengals into the Superbowl right now, not next year or the year after.

I agree with EVERYTHING you just posted. But I would also add that if a Super Bowl is priority # 1, then #1A would have to be self-promotion. I am trying really, really hard to convey the point that I am not a Chad hater. I like the guy, I would just like to think that he is above all of the antics.

Play hard. Have fun. Bring home the trophy.

If this happens, then the world will be his oyster. He will have plenty of opportunities to get his "message" out to the faithful brethren.

[redsfan30]

Chad Johnson is 100% in the business of promoting Chad Johnson. He would be the first one to admit that to you.

Let me qualify this more specifically: I agree that Chad's personality is much more palatable and fan friendly than Terrell Owens. They both practice hard, want to win and leave it all on the field. That said, they are most definitely cut from the same cloth. No, I do not say this simply because they have the same agent either. It is because they both crave the same thing: individual attention.

Now, one could argue the differences between their individual creativity and how that manifests itself in terms of their respective endzone celebrations. I couldn't care less about that. My whole problem is that during some game...somewhere...but, even if for the briefest of moments...these guys are inevitably having difficulties focusing on the task at hand. You think this hasn't crossed the mind of Marvin Lewis?

This team has the distinct chance to make some noise in the playoffs this year. If anything, they would be better suited to fly under the radar against teams. That's far better than baiting DBs into playing career games against you. This team doesn't need the hype. They just want the W's. If you don't think so, then go ask Willie Anderson. How many bad Bengal teams has he had to endure over the years? He isn't gonna let anyone or anything upset this apple cart.

Picture this: Playoff game on the road this year against deafening fan noise. I dunno, say Pittsburgh, Denver or even Kansas City. I would hate to see the play occur where Carson calls out an audible to make Chad the hot receiver. Chad misses the audible because he's preoccupied trying to remember in which endzone he has stashed his inflatable Champ Bailey doll.

Just sayin'

Football is the ultimate team sport. But that being said, there is a certain amount of personalism involved. A mainstay spectical in the NFL is the Pro Bowl. How do you make the Pro Bowl? By putting up individual numbers. Yes, Chad is promoting himself, but nearly all NFL players do in some respect.

However, you will not find a more team oriented guy than Chad Johnson. How many players do you know of that sleep at the stadium because they are watching film ad nauseum? How many players do you see make trips with thier quarterbacks to see the very best interact so they can be at that can learn from them? Chad wants to win badly. If he were as self promoting as you say he is, he wouldn't care what the win-loss record is just as long as he gets the ball.

[Blimpie]

Football is the ultimate team sport. But that being said, there is a certain amount of personalism involved. A mainstay spectical in the NFL is the Pro Bowl. How do you make the Pro Bowl? By putting up individual numbers. Yes, Chad is promoting himself, but nearly all NFL players do in some respect.

Exactly. It's funny that you mentioned the NFL Pro Bowl because I was just going to do the same thing. Unlike the MLB All-Star Game where the fans screw up the voting each and every year, the Pro Bowl is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its teams. Each of those three components are given the same relative importance (1/3) in weighing the votes.

Chad Johnson will be a perennial Pro Bowler because of what he accomplishes between the sidelines. Period. If player and coaching votes combine to be worth 67% of the total, then why bother with any self promotion at all?

Players and coaches aren't going to have their votes swayed because of the Riverdance. They are gonna vote for him because he gives them nightmares after watching his game film.