So Chad Johnson wants out of Cincinnati in part because of what some columnist wrote about him?  Sensitive guy. Lucky he doesn't play in New York.  Seriously, though, the Bengals are in a tough spot if they actually intend to trade Chad. No way they'll get fair market value if it appears they are up against the wall.

And dream on if you think you're getting a first-round draft choice and a starter for him. The time to trade him was last year, before he went completely off the rails and started boycotting workouts and talking about playing arena ball. But who could have foreseen this kind of meltdown?

You've got to feel for quarterback Carson Palmer, whose two starting receivers are skipping the voluntary offseason program. Palmer's a class act who just wants to win, and he's surrounded by clowns.

Ten things that happened during the Bengals' open locker room at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday:

1. NO SHOW: As expected, wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh were absent. Johnson wants to be traded, while "Housh" is working with a personal trainer in California — like last year.

"I wish they were here, but we're going to work with what we've got," said quarterback Carson Palmer, pointing to Chris Henry, Antonio Chatman, Glenn Holt and Marcus Maxwell.

"I've got a lot of work to do, getting my timing down with them. It's a great opportunity for those guys, and when Chad and T.J. get here, they'll be in shape and ready to roll."

2. SETTLING DOWN: With a girlfriend and two children at home, Henry is showing signs of maturity.

March 24 — Team began 13-week voluntary workout program, consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training, at Paul Brown Stadium

April 26-27 — NFL draft (First 2 rounds Saturday; final 5 rounds Sunday)

May 2-4 — Rookie minicamp (For drafted players and college free agents)

May 13-15 — OTAs (Organized Team Activities; on-field coaching sessions)

May 20-22 — OTAs

May 27-29 — OTAs

June 3-5 — OTAs

June 12-14 — Mandatory full-squad minicamp

July — Training camp opens, reporting date TBA (12th season at Georgetown College)

Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson already has stated he does not plan to attend the Bengals' voluntary offseason conditioning program that starts Monday.  But he is not going to be alone.

Cincinnati’s other Pro Bowl wide receiver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, also is expected to skip the start of the voluntary conditioning program for some of the same reasons Johnson is not attending.  It sets up one of the stickiest situations in the NFL, an issue that threatens to hang over the team until and through training camp.  Cincinnati has two Pro Bowl wide receivers, each of whom believes he is underpaid, each of whom wants a new deal, each of whom is expected to be absent from Paul Brown Stadium for the start of Monday’s offseason drills.

Houshmandzadeh is in the final year of four-year contract that is scheduled to pay him a base salary of $2.525 million. He failed to show up to the Bengals' offseason conditioning program last season and, without a new deal before this year’s offseason conditioning program, Houshmandzadeh is not about to attend now. It is the reason he is not expected Monday or anytime shortly thereafter.

Bad draft day decisions could spell disaster for Bengals defense in 2008 and for a long time to come

In order for the Bengals to compete this season and really make a run at the playoffs, Bengals Management and Coaches are going to have to come up big in the draft.  The Bengals 2008 draft may be one of the most important drafts the teams has had in years. 

The Bengals have a lot of needs going into the 2008 draft.  They key to the draft will be finding players that can have an immediate impact on the team especially on the defensive side of the ball.

The Bengals have to focus on needs and not the best available talent.  This has been hard for the Bengals in the past.  How many times in the past (pre-Marvin era) were the Bengals in desperate need of one key position, but instead of fulfilling that need they decided to go with the best available talent in the first round?  The Bengals need to focus on defense.  With the loss of Madeui Williams, Justin Smith, and Landon Johnson the Bengals bad defense has just gotten worse.  Bengals fans, before you hit the panic button just yet, there is some light at the end of the Bengals dark defensive tunnel.