Are we talking about Chad again?
Chad Johnson may be
a problem; but he's not
the problem. It's a culmination of several things IMO. Many of which have been sighted throughout the course of this season (i.e. defense, injuries, lack of discipline). So there is no need to rehash all of that.
When I hear Lewis, as well as some of the players, talking publically about selfishness, and they define that selfishness as guys complaining about their playing time, not getting the ball enough, or not getting paid what they think (contracts) - and these are all things that the above have alluded to and it has come out during the course of this past season - then where there is smoke there is fire. You can't simply shrug your shoulders and blow it off when the head coach and various players have stated such.
And from what I've seen (and heard), every time these things have come out
and names are never mentioned, for the most part, it's mostly Chad who feels he has to have a press conference or go to the media and counter or address these "accusations" as if he feels they are directly aimed at him. Guilty conscience, or just over-reacting and paranoid? There has been one exception I remember when TJ also came out and made a statement after one of Lewis' press interviews. But for the most part it has been Chad. And then again, maybe it's the media going after Chad to see how he'll react. Either way, Chad still doesn't do well with his mouth.
But going on ESPN's Mike and Mike, regardless of what people may think of them and their show, and then Johnson airing his complaints about the Bengals, and IMO, appearing AGAIN to try and garner sympathy and get people to feel sorry for him, just further exasperates the situation. It really serves no good IMO.
The guy is a talent. No denying that. But he is also emotionally high strung. And IMO he wears those emotions on his sleeve. He's his own worst enemy as far as I'm concerned.
Set aside and separate the elaborate and planned TD celebrations and various other attention-getting antics he has done (the haircut, Ocho Cinco Jacket, etc). Fans say he's just having fun and being entertaining. Fine. You still just can't explain away the various situations that have occurred between Johnson and the head coach, coaching staff, and Palmer, beginning with that halftime display vs the Steelers a couple years ago, and the various on-field and sideline altercations that have occurred since when they are seen on camera.
They could trade CJ tomorrow and the problems the Bengals incurred this past season aren't going to go away. Again - he may not be the root cause; but he does seem to exasperate them. I'm sorry, but I don't think the guy's personality allows him to be a team player.