Lewis Says 'No' to Trading Ocho Cinco

The Cincinnati Bengals pick sixth in the NFL Draft this weekend. While there is a lot of talk about the Bengals drafting a lineman (either offensive or defensive), one has to look at the future of wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco and think that it has a lot to do with the team's draft plans.

After rolling out the tears to former teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Ocho Cinco may have thought he was closer to the trade out of Cincinnati that he seems to desire. Unfortunately for the receiver, his head coach doesn't see it that way.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Bengals boss Marvin Lewis said Ocho Cinco won't be traded. In fact, Lewis actually seems somewhat emphatic about it.

"I don't know why people continue with the speculation of moving Chad," Lewis said. "Many times we've reiterated, I don't know if we're keeping count on this, Chad's not getting moved."

This might upset Ocho Cinco, but I don't see the Bengals having a lot of options.

First off, he strikes me as the kind of player who might just flourish after he gets moved. However, as long as he's whining about his status in Cincinnati and making the lives of Bengals management difficult, Ocho Cinco carries little to no value on the trade market. Why would the Bengals want to get little in return for a guy who turns around and lights it up for his new team?

Not only does he have an attitude problem, but he's going to be 31. The 53 catches he posted in 2008 marks his lowest total since his rookie year of 2001 (28). The 10.2 yards per catch Ocho Cinco averaged is a career-worst. The Bengals went 4-11-1 a year ago and struggled in all facets of the offensive game.

With Houshmandzadeh gone to Seattle, Ocho Cinco could very easily resume his role as Carson Palmer's favorite target. However, that would require he shut his mouth, quit crying to get traded, and play football.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-21-2009 @ 2:18PM

Melvin said...

Letting Marvin Lewis evaluate personnel is like asking a moron to look at an X-Ray.
No clue. Out of his league. Doesn't even know what he's looking at.
Getting a few draft choices (2 & 3 maybe) for a guy past 30 who is not going to bring the Bengals to the Super Bowl in '09 would be smart if Lewis weren't worried about keeping his job and needing to go 9-7 in '09 to accomplish that. So this decision isn't about what's good for the team. It's about what's good for Marvin Lewis.

4-21-2009 @ 4:02PM

Marc said...

What did the Bengals gain by not trading Johnson last year? The Redskins (possibly the only franchise that can compete with the Bengals in sheer stupidity) were offering 2 (2!) first-round picks for this guy before last year's draft.

Every year the Bengals hold on to Johnson, both his production and his trade value decrease.

4-21-2009 @ 6:00PM

janandrick84 said...

Please keep him ...from a Browns fan with little to no hope here.

4-21-2009 @ 6:10PM

mcpetraits said...

why do the bengals want to keep a player who thinks he is bigger than the game. management just doesn't get it. another three win season.

4-21-2009 @ 8:30PM

Mr. wonderful said...

Johnson is an a$$clown.

4-21-2009 @ 8:53PM

mrbongo850 said...

marvin is a moron and chad is a cancer that must be cut out for the bengals to start winning again

4-21-2009 @ 9:04PM

rharrigfeld124 said...

I am no Chad Johnson fan, nor am I a Bengals fan. Quite honestly, I don't like him, but this decision shows how inept and idiotic the Bengals organization is. Trade the guy now while he still has some value left and stop making it a "we must win at all costs" thing. The guy's not going to play hard for you. He's shown that already, so do the best thing for your team and trade him for a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

4-22-2009 @ 1:09AM

jeremiah said...

just trade him. he is just going to be a cancer on the team if he stays. the team needs to get back to being a offencive jugernot and clearly Chad is part of the problem.

4-22-2009 @ 7:08AM

sg4146 said...

The Bungals aren't going to the playoff's anyways. Yes, I live in Ohio... Chad is a cancer, he disrupts the whole organization and was always overrated.

4-22-2009 @ 7:36AM

tienmoon said...

I live in Cincinnati all my life. They should have never hired Marvin Lewis at all.Lewis is a Joke to everybody in this town.Ocho stinko we hope falls dead on the field. I hope the Bengals pack up and leave for another state.

4-22-2009 @ 8:27AM

rick rossano said...

Hey stupid, 88 in Spanish is ochenta cinco. You are the biggest joke the NFL has ever had. Go flip burgers at Mickey-Dee's for a living, that's where you belong.

4-22-2009 @ 8:40AM

Brian said...

Hey stupid...He's # 85.

4-22-2009 @ 10:21AM

whoops, brain fart. Meant to type 85.

4-22-2009 @ 11:01AM

Jan said...

Everytime ocho whatever pans for the camera and those gold teeth, I am sickened. This guy is no use to cincy but the bottom line is...what idiot team would take him? He has zero value, zero ability and zero team spirit. I like Marvin but I am afraid he boo boobed on this one. No more cancer descriptions, he is beyond cancer.

4-22-2009 @ 10:58AM

steelers5812 said...

FUNNY !!!!!

WHAT ABOUT THE COACH, IF HE WAS WHITE, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AGO OR SO. HOW DO THESE NO SKILLS NO TALENT EMPLOYEES KEEP THEIR JOBS. I KNOW HOW BECUASE OF THE naacp, WHICH IS ANOTHER STORY. JOKE COACH AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT 88 MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST JOKE EVER IN PRO FOOTBALL, WITH T. CRYBABY O. RIGHT BEHIND HIM. WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THE CRIMANLS ON THIS TEAM, HOW MANY MORE OF THEM WILL WIND UP IN JAIL THIS YEAR? I KNOW IT DOES NOT MATTER TO THE COACH 88 OR THE naacp HOW MANY WIND UP THERE, AS LONG AS THEY GET PAID TO BE WHAT THEY ARE, CIRCUS CLOWNS. IF THE OWNER HAD ANY BALLS HE WOULD CLEAN HOUSE OF COACH AND ALL THE OTHER USELESS DEAD WEIGHT THAT HAS BEEN POISINING THIS TEAM FOR YEARS AND FORGET ABOUT WHAT THE naacp HAS TO SAY.

IN THE MEAN TIME THE STEELERS WILL BEAT THESE FOOLS TWICE AGAIN THIS YEAR AND WIN THEIR SEVENTH SUPER BOWL. HOW MANY HAVE THESE FOOLS WON? OH THATS RIGHT, 0. AND THEY NEVER WILL WITH THE TEAM BEING RUN THE SAME WAY YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. OH AND ABOUT 88 MAKING IT TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, HE THE CRIMINALS AND COACH ARE ALREADY IN THE HALL, THE HALL OF SHAME AND THAT IS AS CLOSE AS THEY WILL GET TO THE HALL OF FAME.

AS P.O. SAYS "GET YOUR POP CORN READY".

AND AS MY MAIN MAN DON KING SAYS "ONLY IN AMERICA"

4-22-2009 @ 11:44AM

ericray2002 said...

Ocho should get on the next plane and make the sorry Bungles trade him Nobody should be where they dont want to be at look who wants to be at the Bungles

4-22-2009 @ 12:01PM

DAN said...

they should free up cap space and get rid of chad , there are some good recievers out there , maybe go for a trade with the cards ( antwon boldin ) i'm sher i spelled his name wrong , just an idea , both recievers want out

4-22-2009 @ 12:48PM

big blue said...

Chad Johnson, T.O. Plax, and many many other rightous idiots are all in the same boat. What's the common denominater here=====Drew Rosenhaus. Think about it, he makes these guys believe they walk on water

4-26-2009 @ 2:44PM

Da GOON said...

They're just holding dude hostage there. Isn't it funny how he and T.O. are supposed be the same type of 'malcontent' material yet T.O. can't keep a team while Ocho Cinco can't leave his team.

If a player isn't happy AND YOU AREN'T HAPPY WITH HIM, then why keep him? Skins last year offered TWO (2) FIRST ROUND PICKS FOR HIM. They said NO.

THAT'S FOOKING STUPID!

The Bengals are IDIOTS!