Cincinnati Bengals: OchoCinco-ed Out

Coinciding with Cincinnati’s 6-2 start has been the reemergence of media starlet Chad OchoCinco. After a two-year hiatus marred by detachment and displeasure, #85 is once again filled with exuberance, smiling for the cameras, making audacious predictions, and sending rivals care packages before games. Pleased to have their crazy-but-lovable receiver back, a majority of fans have welcomed him with open arms.

And as a diehard Bengals fan, that makes me sick to my stomach.

In wake of the team’s success in 2004 and 2005, the proverbial “Bengal bus” had an obscene amount of bandwagon jumpers. These vile scumbags were immediately recognizable by two apparel items: pink Bengal gear (which sent the “females are real fans too!” movement back twenty years) and Chad Johnson replica jerseys. If anything, it was fitting: people who were oblivious to what being a Bengal fan was all about and who probably couldn’t name a single offensive lineman gravitated toward a flamboyant and flashy player who celebrated touchdowns with orchestrated dancing. Meanwhile, devout members of Bengaldom secretly waited for the other shoe to drop with Chad. Hadn’t we already seen how this act plays out around the league with Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens? Some rose up in defense of 8-5: “He’s not selfish, he’s just having fun.”

The first indication that something might be awry came after the Bengals lost to Pittsburgh in the 1st round of the ’05 playoffs. Reports started to surface that Johnson had lost his cool in the locker room during halftime, needing to be restrained by coaches. Which is exactly what you don’t want from your supposed “star” receiver during the ensuing mayhem when Carson was carted off the field, leading to the immortal Jon Kitna taking his spot. The next two seasons brought disappointment, despite employing what many outsiders called a gifted roster. This led to rumors of chemistry issues in the clubhouse, with Marvin Lewis fanning the flames with quotes such as, “Some guys in here need to grow up.” Although his name was never mentioned, the indication was quite clear: Chad was becoming a problem.

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Heading into 2008, matters reached a breaking point: Johnson wanted out. Unfortunately for Chad and his agent Drew Rosenhaus, the Bengals happened to be owned by the penny-pinching Mike Brown. Having the audacity to ask Brown to trade Johnson to another franchise while the Bengals would still be paying him? Ludicrous! So what if he was killing the collective soul of the team? Johnson would stay a Bengal as long as his contract played out. This led to a disinterested Johnson finishing the ’08 campaign with 540 yards and 4 TDs (compared to 1,440/8 the prior season), as well as a suspension for violating team conduct. In a related note, this was also the season where all the bandwagoneers had proceeded to jump off the train.

Yet with a “new” attitude and name-change, Chad is suddenly performing at an All-Pro level again. To his credit, he’s doing it without T.J. Houshmandzadeh or a true number 2 wideout (although the case can be made that Chad was never the top receiver when Housh played in these parts). And suddenly, all of his past sins are forgiven and is once again is a fan favorite.

I’m not sure how I want fans to react to Chad, but something just feels wrong about glorifying a man who did everything in his power to leave. Booing is not the right response, but how about after every catch from #85, fans just yell, “CARSON PALMER!” In my eyes, this man has done nothing to earn our admiration; if anything he’s lucky he gets to lace ‘em up in such a forgiving city. Imagine Johns, er, OchoCinco pulling these shenanigans in Philadelphia, a city that once belted Santa Claus with snowballs. I’m going out on a limb and saying they wouldn’t be too receptive of Chad’s trials and tribulations.

Just remember the next time Chad starts opening his mouth after a Bengals’ W, he wasn’t as vital to the gameplan as Benson controlling the clock, Zimmer’s defense shutting down another opponent, or Caldwell making another timely clutch grab. He might be the voice of the Bengals, but he sure as hell isn’t the heart of it.

By Joel Beall
ProFootball-fans.com Cincinnati Bengals Correspondent