By PFW staff
Jan. 14, 2008

Bengals WR Chad Johnson has again hinted he wouldn't mind playing elsewhere next season. "The only thing for me to do or say now is: If you guys, as a team and organization, want to further yourself in the playoffs, I think you need to get rid of what the problem was during the season," Johnson told ESPN Radio on Friday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. Before the season finale at Miami, Johnson made similar comments to Sirius. Johnson, 30, caught 93 passes for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns this season, but it was a turbulent campaign all the same for the Bengals' star, who was stung by criticism received after his sideline argument with QB Carson Palmer in a loss to New England on Oct. 1.  

The PFW spin

The Bengals can chalk Johnson's comments up to frustration about a disappointing season. That would be the path of least resistance, at least for the time being. Johnson is under contract until 2011, so ignoring the situation and hoping everything is better come offseason workouts and training camp is an option.

But you couldn't blame the Bengals for starting to explore what they can get in trade for Johnson, one of the game's best receivers no matter how often his actions overshadow his play. If they were to move Johnson, this is the time: He's still in the prime of his career, and a team trading for him would be reasonably assured they would be getting a player who: 1) will work very hard at his craft and 2) have a healthy chip on his shoulder in 2008. Johnson desperately wants to be great, and he wants to win.

If the Bengals trade Johnson, don't expect it to be for the pittance the Raiders received for Randy Moss (a fourth-round pick). Top receivers don't hit the market often. No matter the misgivings about Johnson, you would have to think there will be some team ready to surrender at least a second-round pick.

Even a second-rounder doesn't seem like enough for Johnson, but the Bengals need to weigh whether the benefits of having Johnson on the roster outweigh the strain he causes with the occasional outburst.