The Circus Comes to Town

As expected, Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson was the attention grabber during Day One of the team's mandatory minicamp on Thursday. JungleInsider.com was there and has the story of the disagreement between Johnson and the team.

The Big Top covering the saga of Chad Johnson and the Bengals became a little larger in between practice sessions on the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp Thursday.

Johnson participated in only one position drill during the morning practice after coming out late. He stayed away from the action, opting out of practice with an ailment that differs depending on who one talks to. Johnson’s participation in the afternoon workout was only slightly greater. He caught a couple of passes in individual drills but was not part of any team drills.

Johnson, who has been seeking a trade all offseason and threatened to not play in Cincinnati again, did not speak to the media Thursday. At one point he attempted to ward off questions from a TV reporter by smiling and giving the unsuspecting fellow a kiss on the forehead.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said during a press conference following the morning practice that Johnson told the medical staff he had an ailment and couldn’t practice. Drew Rosenhaus, Johnson’s agent, told reporters that Johnson’s ailment was a bad ankle that would require exploratory surgery and that he had possession of a letter from the team stating they believed he should have it.

“Chad Johnson was given a physical this morning by one of the Bengals’ team doctors,” read the Bengals’ statement in response to Rosenhaus. “He did not report any physical problems to the doctor, and he was cleared by the doctor for practice. Later, after the physical was concluded, Chad told our training staff that his back was sore. He refused to practice.”

The team, through public relations director Jack Brennan, later confirmed Rosenhaus’ claim regarding the letter, saying they sent it to him after the end of last season. Brennan said the team also received a letter from Rosenhaus and Johnson that indicated they didn’t believe surgery was necessary. The team said the injury Johnson has to his ankle is the same one he had last season, an injury that did not keep him from playing any games although he was held out of some practices in the second half of the season.

Any surgical procedure would enable Johnson to practice and play with less discomfort in the ankle.

“We’re hoping that it gets better between now and training camp, obviously,” said Rosenhaus. “I don’t know when we’ll make the decision but we obviously want him to be ready to go for training camp. He’s a veteran player and it’s not like he’s got a lot to prove in minicamp and training camp. We’re more concerned with his health and being patient with that; it’s not like he’s got a game to play coming up.

“(The Bengals) are not boxing us in. It’s just an on-going dialogue as to whether or not we should (have the surgery.)”

If there is one thing the Bengals and Johnson have going for them is the presence of Charlie Collins at minicamp. Collins was Johnson’s coach at Santa Monica Junior College and is a confidant of the wide receiver. He is working with the Bengals as part of the NFL’s coaching internship program.

“By the time I’m done this week, it’ll be in the right place,” said Collins about Johnson’s state of mind. “It’s a slow burn but he’s getting there. He’s going to come around. He’s going to help the team. He’s got the talent… He’s just got to get his mind in the right place.”