A Change of Heart?

Chad Johnson has been unable to talk his way out of Cincinnati this offseason and a new report indicates he's going to stop trying. That should be good news for the Bengals, shouldn't it?

Nothing like being told “No” a few times to bring about a change of attitude.

Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, in an interview with Dave Fleming of ESPN The Magazine, says he will be at the team’s voluntary minicamp this month and that he is prepared to play this season without talking.

“Look how well I've done while talking every week and calling people out and making things so hard on me with all this attention," Johnson told Fleming Tuesday. “I've been thinking a lot lately about what I could do if I just played and didn't talk? Things would be a whole lot easier on me. And think of the numbers I could put up. Then what would people say about me?”

Johnson, the franchise’s all-time leader in both receptions and receiving yards, has been lobbying for a trade or release from the Bengals since the 2007 season ended. He caught 93 passes for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns last season but felt he too much of the burden and blame for the club’s disappointing 7-9 finish was placed on him.

He stopped speaking to local media the week after a 38-31 win against the New York Jets on Oct. 21, the same day reports surfaced that some members of the organization were unhappy with his on-field antics and would look into the possibility of trading him in the offseason. Johnson began a full-court press on the national media, however, during Super Bowl week in Phoenix letting anyone who would listen that he’d rather be in their town playing for their team. He even threatened to sit out all or part of the season.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has been steadfast the entire offseason that the team would not trade Johnson.

“I think he’s made his statement that he’s not going to play and that’s the consideration I’ve been aware of since the end of last season so I think it’s time just to do what you say you’re going to do and we’ll move forward,” said Lewis on April 22 during a pre-draft press conference.

The Bengals declined comment on the story through team public relations director Jack Brennan.

The Bengals used three draft choices on wide receivers, including taking Jerome Simpson in the second round and Andre Caldwell in the third round.

Johnson is one of four offensive starters who have not participated in the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning program or the first three weeks of organized team activities (OTA), also known as on-field coaching sessions. Fellow wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has also been absent, as have been left tackle Levi Jones and right tackle Willie Anderson.

This is the second year Houshmandzadeh has passed on working out in Cincinnati to instead train in Los Angeles and attend to family and personal matters. He is entering the final year of his contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. Anderson, who is the dean of Bengals players readying to enter his 13th season, has stayed at home in Atlanta on a regular basis the past few seasons.

Jones has been upset over his role with the team the past year as he rehabbed from knee surgery last offseason and was limited through training camp, preseason and the first couple of months of last season. He did approach management about a trade but that request was rejected.

Johnson has four years remaining on his contract, a six-year extension he signed in 2006 that paid him $16 million in new money the first two years of the deal. He is due to make a base salary of $3 million this season, well below the market value for a player of his accomplishments but also a salary he agreed to when he signed the contract.

"If we want to be like Indy and New England, we have to pay and bring in some difference-makers on defense," Johnson said. "Our offense is fine. But if they're fussing about paying a guy like me, a guy among the best in the league, you know damn well the Bengals aren't gonna supply the defense with what it needs. So I just said, 'If we aren't gonna do what we need to make us win – can I please leave?' It's simple. I just told 'em: 'If ya'll won't change, then I have to.' "

The Bengals continue their OTA sessions this week before holding a three-day mandatory minicamp on June 12-14. Training camp at Georgetown College opens on July 27.

"It's the reinvention of Ocho Cinco," Johnson said. "I'm dead serious. People need to take me as I am because I just don't give a [expletive] anymore. That's how I'd sum up my attitude for the next season."