CINCINNATI — Chad Johnson stormed the national stage Friday in an attempt to talk his way out of town and off the Cincinnati Bengals' roster.
Live from Harrah's resort in Atlantic City, the star wide receiver played the role of victim during an appearance on ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" radio show.
"If I'm a cancer," Johnson said, "then as a team, we need chemo, and the problem needs to get dealt with."
Johnson, who signed a $35.5 million extension in April 2006 and is under contract with the Bengals through 2011, didn't demand a trade. But he wouldn't say he'd be returning to Cincinnati for the 2008 season.
"I'm not sure what's going to happen," Johnson told hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg. "It's been a very rough year. I've been labeled selfish, the reason we're losing and that I'm a cancer for our team.
"All I do is go out and have fun. I don't get in trouble off the field. I do everything the right way. I might play the game out of the norm a little bit, but to do me the way I was done, with not too many people really having my back within (the Bengals' organization), it was hurtful."
Johnson set the Bengals' single-season record for receiving yards (1,440) during the club's 7-9 season. He's the franchise leader in career receptions (559) and receiving yards (8,365).
But when the Bengals started 2-4, ESPN's Chris Mortensen sparked controversy when he reported that sources within the Bengals organization told him that Johnson could be trade bait in the offseason.
Johnson last spoke to the Cincinnati-area media Oct. 22, but has been a guest on ESPN several times.
"Things were said — the trade talk and everything — and nobody came to my defense," Johnson said Friday. "I kept my mouth quiet. I went out and put up my numbers and did what I had to do.
"Now the season is over. I've been a problem; I've been a distraction. Chad Johnson, the fingers were pointed at me. My celebrations, all this stuff was the reason we were losing.
"The only thing for me to do or say now is, if you guys, as a team and organization, want to further yourself in the playoffs, I think you need to get rid of what the problem was during the season."
The Bengals declined comment Friday.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253
or [email protected]
Live from Harrah's resort in Atlantic City, the star wide receiver played the role of victim during an appearance on ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" radio show.
"If I'm a cancer," Johnson said, "then as a team, we need chemo, and the problem needs to get dealt with."
Johnson, who signed a $35.5 million extension in April 2006 and is under contract with the Bengals through 2011, didn't demand a trade. But he wouldn't say he'd be returning to Cincinnati for the 2008 season.
"I'm not sure what's going to happen," Johnson told hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg. "It's been a very rough year. I've been labeled selfish, the reason we're losing and that I'm a cancer for our team.
"All I do is go out and have fun. I don't get in trouble off the field. I do everything the right way. I might play the game out of the norm a little bit, but to do me the way I was done, with not too many people really having my back within (the Bengals' organization), it was hurtful."
Johnson set the Bengals' single-season record for receiving yards (1,440) during the club's 7-9 season. He's the franchise leader in career receptions (559) and receiving yards (8,365).
But when the Bengals started 2-4, ESPN's Chris Mortensen sparked controversy when he reported that sources within the Bengals organization told him that Johnson could be trade bait in the offseason.
Johnson last spoke to the Cincinnati-area media Oct. 22, but has been a guest on ESPN several times.
"Things were said — the trade talk and everything — and nobody came to my defense," Johnson said Friday. "I kept my mouth quiet. I went out and put up my numbers and did what I had to do.
"Now the season is over. I've been a problem; I've been a distraction. Chad Johnson, the fingers were pointed at me. My celebrations, all this stuff was the reason we were losing.
"The only thing for me to do or say now is, if you guys, as a team and organization, want to further yourself in the playoffs, I think you need to get rid of what the problem was during the season."
The Bengals declined comment Friday.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253
or [email protected]
