Clayton: Eagles "express interest" in Chad Johnson

by JasonB on Apr 19, 2008 12:16 PM EDT in News Comment 31 comments

Receivers wanted: If the Bengals want to trade wide receiver Chad Johnson -- which they don't -- it won't be hard to find takers. The Cowboys, Eagles and Raiders are among several teams who have expressed interest in the Pro Bowl veteran. At a function in Dallas Wednesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters he's looking for a veteran receiver. The problem is Johnson, Roy Williams in Detroit and Lee Evans in Buffalo aren't being shopped.

The part that jumps out to me is Jerry Jones. Is this guy the worst poker player on earth? Apparently he simply doesn't buy into the secrecy strategy that pretty much every other NFL team uses.

Anyway, does anyone think this interest is real?

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Boldin!

I would love to see Boldin in green over the other two. That said, I would be happy with any of them.

by SaxManNate on Apr 19, 2008 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jones/Johnson/Boldin

Jones is an ego-maniac, and he can't help but tell other people about all of his great plans.

I think the Eagles would be interested in Johnson -- there really is no harm to come of asking the Bengals.

But keep in mind it could be for ulterior motives -- like driving up the cost for the Cowboys or anyone else.

As for Boldin... how did he come into this coversation?

http://www.sportsdork.com

by BFH on Apr 19, 2008 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

why

is jerry jones looking for a veteran wide receiver? that seems to be the fastest way to piss off TO beyond belief.

by eagleyosh on Apr 19, 2008 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Receivers "available"

From what I've seen, the three receivers with the biggest chance of being acquired in free agency are Chad, Anquan, and Roy williams. That's where boldin came from.

by SaxManNate on Apr 19, 2008 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Boldin

His name came up from the media's assumption that since the Fitzgerald got a new deal it must be that Boldin also wants one... but the Cards wouldn't pay big money to both WRs. So therefore Boldin must want out/be available.

I don't believe there's ever been any actual indication that he's available/wants to leave/has been approached.

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by JasonB on Apr 19, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

I believe it. I mean, they went after Randy Moss right? I don't believe that they did this just because he was an amazing player. I think they're looking to acquire a top-notch wide receiver. I know I'm in the minority here but I want Johnson on this team!

by ajay on Apr 19, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Minority

I think that's the majority. just look at pole on the side. I think its like 2 thirds whant him here.

by NickPampani on Apr 19, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chad's Interesting

That's for sure, but I sure hope the Birds aren't going to do anything rash. I'm just not a fan of the prima donna. Will Chad be happy when DMac throws his way on 8 of 35 passing plays? What I really wish for this team, a quiet year without major injury. With the Chad, is that first part remotely possible? If the Eagles trade for any wideout at this point, let it be Roy Williams or Anquan Boldin. I'd be happy with one high in the draft.

Jerry though, he's trying to deal for Pac Man and his two top wide outs aren't getting any younger. Weren't they both drafted in '96? The Cryboys are absoutely interested.
cheers
J

by cavortingEagle on Apr 19, 2008 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

veteran?

i don't understand Jones saying he wants to bring in a veteran...
TO, Glenn, Crayton and Witten are all veterans. Seems to me what Dallas needs is a Limas Sweed type guy with the 22nd or maybe a James Hardy (deshean if he falls) at 28.

by vliardi on Apr 20, 2008 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of Owens

If we do get him (ugh), I demand:
A) He is never allowed to talk to the media in any way, shape, or form
and
B) He hold hands and sing Kumbaya with Donovan for 45 consecutive minutes at least once every three hours.

This "I don't want to go anywhere" situation he has going where he then says, "I want out" reminds me far too much of T.O.

by Alon on Apr 20, 2008 1:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnson

I personally think Johnson is a little overated. He will disappear for a couple games each year, plus he annoys the shit out of me! I really would like to see the eagles get a big red zone target. Johnson is to similar to Reggie Brown in a lot of ways in my opinion.

by Jkreck on Apr 20, 2008 8:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to disagree

It;s hard to argue with the kind of production CJ gives you. His numbers consistently put him around the top 4 or 5 WRs in football year in and year out.

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by JasonB on Apr 20, 2008 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What?!

I don't particularly want the Eagles to go after Johnson, but the only similarity he has with Reggie Brown is position. Brown has never shown the ability to take over a game or consistently draw double coverage.

by Tracer Bullet on Apr 20, 2008 9:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Comparison

What I meant as a comparison is Johnson is not a great target when you are in the red zone. He is great at getting you there and will rack up tons of yards. It a whole different game when you get near the goal line and we havn't had the guy you can feed the ball to. Not since TO at least!

Who would you guys rather have out of Williams, Boldin or Johnson? I watched some highlights of James Hardy and he can go up and get it!

by Jkreck on Apr 20, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

dont want him

First of, now that tax season is over, its nice to be back to bloggin... missed it!

Anyway, I should of replied to the above post... CJ reminds me wayyyyy to much of TO! I mean seriosuly, if he's doing this crap in cincy, hes gonna here too... we just want a receiver so bad that we dont care... again, reminds me wayyyy to much of TO.

I don't want him, and frankly I'll be shocked if reid and co go for that one. Somehow Moss seemed different. CJ is media frenzy that would be even worse in philly that it would be in cincy. the reporters would be salivating to get him to talk like TO did.

Its a new season!

by 700 Level on Apr 20, 2008 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

Moss would be different. Everyone was talking about how much of a baby moss was when left Minny and then how he destroyed the Raiders and never played hard. Since he had a record breaking season with minor issues he is different than T.O. or Chad Johnson. Bullsh*t.

Chad Johnson is different from T.O. in one way and to me it is the most important. He has not yet attacked his teamates. I want this guy here he wants to win no matter what. Does he get mad that he is the number one reciever on his team but had less receptions and TDs than Whosyourmama? He got upset when they released Chris Henry the guy drafted to be his replacement.

I don't mind a guy trying to get out of a situation when he feels it is time. If I didn't like my job I could just quit, these players can't do that. To me he is doing this the right way ... T.O. just tried to tear the team apart ... successfully.

I'm not saying Chad won't do this you never know but I'll stick up for him until the day he does.

by Whodie126 on Apr 21, 2008 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This goes with my theory

I have always had a theory that Andy Never wanted to get rid of TO. I recall multiple interviews with TO after he left Philly. He would always talk of how he had a conversation with Andy when he was suspended. Andy told him to wait a bit while to team sorts out a resolution. He calls TO an hour later and says "No Deal".

TO was under the assumption that Andy and him came to an agreement for his return to the team. It seems as if Andy went to his QB to see how he fealt about the situation. 5 wasn't buying it. TO was gone after that.

The point is, Andy really didn't want to get rid of TO!!! Donovan did. Andy goes into the next years draft and was considering drafting Matt Linart if he fell to 13 (We draft Bunkley instead). A year later, Andy drafts Kolb...
I think the drafting of Kolb also lends to the belief that Andy wasn't happy with Donny Mc and was looking for his replace, not only due to his injuries history.

Also during an interview with Howard Eskin this year. Andy was commenting on Moss, and was asked about TO. He said that it wasn't Donny Macs idea to aquire TO. He said that it was actually his idea.....HMMMM. Andy wanted TO, Andy wanted Fitsy, Andy wanted Moss, Andy wanted Stallworth, Andy wanted Freeman, Andy wanted Burress. Darn it, Andy just wants a stinking receiver.

If money was the only issue with Owens, the Eagles would have restructured his contract. During and interview with Banner. He said that "you never know what kind of things could be done you approach them the right way". If Owens just would have talked to banner for money, it could have been done. It was never about only cash, Donavan didn't like the cat.

If the issue with Johnson is cash, just give him 7 or 8 a year, Bang!!! You have a player happier that a fly in crap. As long as he gets along with Donovan.

Dallas Sucks

by yophillybro on Apr 21, 2008 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Andy gets what he wants

He's the GM of this team and his final say on who comes and goes.

So I don't really buy "Andy wanted this guy or that"

We know he wanted TO and Stallworth because he got them. We know he wanted Moss because he said so

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by JasonB on Apr 21, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

Andy does have final say, but he has to consider team chemestry when his scouts possible aquisitions. Owens and McNabb had beef, one had to go. It think Donovan won that one.

I do worry a little with Johnson, after all this guy did punch his own coach. He is the football lovechild of Dennis Rodman and Letrell Spreewell. A flashy diva who chokes his coach. Money wasn't the cause for that type of reaction. Also, he didn't have to dis' Palmer like he did. This guy is a pure smacked rear end. But boy can you play.
Maybe Andy feels that a change of location and being part of a structured respected organization could straighten him out. I'll be interested to see what happens.

Dallas Sucks

by yophillybro on Apr 21, 2008 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

subject

For anyone who has missed the entirety of football over the last 4 years, neither Chad Johnson's nor Terrell Owens' outburst were because of money.

by yomjoseki on Apr 21, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point

And I dont care how good the guy is honestly... I just dont want another guy who's gonna yap his mouth to reporters... and CJ is even worse than TO... CJ Can hardly even form sentences that make sense.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vkk-_uon4iM

I seriously am BLOWN AWAY that you guys want this again so soon after the TO debacle.

Its a new season!

by 700 Level on Apr 21, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and further more

not to use a bad anology, but these situations remind of a girl who cheats. When they're cheating on the current dude to be with you, ya love it... It's exciting and all the good stuff... problem is, that same chick is gonna do the same shit again and when she's screaming to the media about you, its the worst thing ever....

Again, I'm sort of lost as to how fast everyone forgets how this works

Its a new season!

by 700 Level on Apr 21, 2008 11:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

With you man...

I'm with you on this one. This has nothing to do with money... it's the attitude problem. Number one, you don't just throw money at problems and hope they go away. If your answer is to throw a ton of money at any problem player and "hope" that it takes care of the problem, I think you'll be in for a rude awakening. If you feel that Johnson is different from T.O. because he's not attacking his teammates and is just mad because Cincy sucks and you feel he'd be different in Philly... yeah I'm gonna have to call bullshit on that one. Want to know what Chad Johnson cares about??? Chad Johnson... and that's it. All of that "Future Hall of Famer" jacket, big gold grills, "Ocho Cinco" peal off name plate, and now the pissing match between him and the Bengals shows that he cares about Chad Johnson and that's it. He feels his team isn't any good because their defense gets torched? Here's an idea Chad, maybe you should spend less time coming up with all of that bullshit and try to help your team if you care that much. What's that Chad, you're one of the best recievers in the league and Cincy's starting secondary blows? Maybe if you cared you'd spend some of your free time with these boys and teach them coverage skills. I mean, if they could learn to cover you they should be able to cover anyone right? What's that Chad? You think Cincy needed some big time free agents? Well maybe if it wasn't such a damn circus act there people would want to play there...

Then there's the impending media shitstorm that would occur. All of the T.O. related questions and comparisions... I'm pretty sure it'd go something like this:

Reporter: "Chad, given the Eagles' past with T.O., what are you going to do to show that you aren't going to be counterproductive person in Philly?"

Chad: "Man, Chad Johnson is here now. Why don't y'all come on down on Sundays and watch the Chad Johnson show. Chad Johnson is already making his travel arrangements for the Super Bowl this year..."

With players like this there will always be something that starts a fiasco... another teammate, the city, management, not getting the ball enough, money... something... He will just be a ticking bomb...

But bringing him to Philly will change everything right? Maybe after he gets here, he'll start going to church every week, go become a Big Brother for a youth, open an animal shelter, sponsor a "Find a Cure" walk, donate some time at the local Soup Kitchen, and give 50% of his yearly salary to adopt 100,000 of those kids on TV that you can feed every month for only $1 a day.... Because once he gets off that plane in Philly, he'll be a saint... right?

by foos05 on Apr 21, 2008 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is nuts

I understand the Looks like a duck quacks like a duck thinking and you guys are right. It's a huge risk to bring a guy like this in. But his talent makes it worth it. Plus as much as you can claim he will be the next T.O. he hasn't done this before and to be perfectly honest I don't think he has done anything wrong.

I keep going back to the every day Joe who is unhappy with his employer and just quit and go work for another company even a competing company no strings. In the world of pro sports you can do that you need to force your way out. I have quit a couple of jobs because management blew I would be doing the same damn thing if I was in a bad situation and needed out.

Everyone said that Moss was going to be trouble in NE he hasn't yet and might not be. Everyone says it's only a matter of time before T.O. destroys Dallas but he hasn't yet and might not.

I agree we must learn from the past or we will only repeat it but you can't become a complete pansy and not take risks. If the Eagles are truly talking about going balls to the wall this year with the thought that if they don't win the superbowl they will cut ties with older players and go from there then this isn't a bad decision.

Again I understand your reluctance but at the same time I think it's worth a shot.

by Whodie126 on Apr 21, 2008 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree and disagree

When you said that he hasn't done anything like this before... I agree with that... Also, T.O. hadn't done anything like T.O. before; until he did and promptly got himself sent packing to Baltimore... err back to the 49ers... er to Philly... And then he did it again; here. I understand that these guys simply can't "quit" and find another job and that at some point they may find the need to force their way out of a situation. I have no problem with that. My problem is with how he's doing it. If he has a serious problem with how the team is being run; fine, make a public; professional statement. Tell everyone how you feel and say you'd like to be traded and don't plan to play in Cincy and then shut your mouth. Instead, at this point, he's basically going out of his way to talk to the media and spouting the same stuff over and over and turning this into a disaster. Here's a phrase Chad Johnson needs to learn.... "NO COMMENT".... here's a scenario in which I'd have no problem with Chad Johnson...

Chad makes statement at press conference regarding his feelings about the poor steps the Bengals are making and announces his wishes to be traded. Says he will not play for Cincy.
Chad is asked multiple questions regarding his personal dealings with other players/staff/coaches. Chad is also asked about money and contract. Chad's response is "No Comment".
It has now been a month and Chad Johnson has made no more public statements. When contacted through the media, the only response Chad has to his current contract/playing situation is "No Comment."

If that were the instance, I'd say to myself... "Wow, this guy just wants to go to a better team. He told everyone how he feels and that he doesnt' intend to play again for the Bengals and it seems like he's sticking to his guns. Mostly, he's doing it the right way, letting everything happen behind closed doors and keeping it out of the media." It would even make me consider giving him a free pass on some of his other attitude issues I have. But the way he's handling this situation only re-afirms my stance the he will always be a self-absorbed, selfish, whiny little media-whore who will be a poison wherever he goes.

I do agree with you that this is the NFL and we need to take chances with players in certain situations, but I also limit my risk. Everyone points to Randy Moss and says that NE took a chance on him. Really? How much risk was actually involved? A 4th round draft pick and one year's salary... If Moss self-destructed, he would have been a speedbump for one year. That's it. This is a different situation. It would definitely cost a high draft pick and a decent current player and probably would also require a new deal for Chad with us. I'm all for taking risks, but you've got to know when the potential rewards aren't worth the risk...

Also, hind-sight being 20/20 and all, but should we maybe have seen the T.O. incident coming? We saw what he thought about his teammates in S.F. and then wanted a trade and when the trade wasn't to his liking, he basically self-destructed it and made S.F. send him to Philly.

by foos05 on Apr 21, 2008 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

great post

I'm glad I'm not alone on this one

Its a new season!

by 700 Level on Apr 21, 2008 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let the record show

that I agreed with foos

Its a new season!

by 700 Level on Apr 21, 2008 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

look

look at TO CJ and Moss they all were/are on a team that they were not happy with and wanted a real chance with a real team. the difference between to and moss is to was on a real franchise at San Fran oakland was and still is crap. moss was unhappy because of the team to was just an ass. now look at CJ he is in cincy who has a BS of a franchise and always did. just look at this...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3325687

its the 50 worst draft busts and cincy has the most. cant CJ just truly be unhappy because of his team. his cureer is almost ending and who wants to be known as a Bengal.

i think yes he has an ego but he most of all wants to be on a real frnchise that realy has a chance.

by NickPampani on Apr 21, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

off the subject,

but whats the deal with Jerry flipping jones trying to the be steinbrenner of the NFL... Is there a big name player that the cowboys havent been reported as having interest in?

ahhh yes... my monday just got better as i have now remembered once again that its been 11 years since they won a playoff game... and as someone else put it on here the other day, 2007 brought the worst dissappointing collapse in the nfc in 30 years

I cannot wait until week two!

Its a new season!

by 700 Level on Apr 21, 2008 6:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs