Marvin Lewis and the Bengals are taking a “I’ll believe it when I see it” approach to Chad Johnson’s claim that he’ll be at next week’s mandatory minicamp.

The head coach spoke about his absent wide receiver after Wednesday’s practice and sounded resigned to the soap opera’s continuation. “I really think that’s not what was said. No.1, he’s not here. No.2, it’s something he said a while back, a long time ago. So it’s really not a concern. Chad has a contract to play football. He has to make some decisions on his own. We’re not concerned about those things, about players who aren’t here. When mandatory work begins, you have steps you can take.”

That sounds much more in line with Drew Rosenhaus’s announcement yesterday than Ocho Cinco’s proclamation earlier this week. Carson Palmer echoed his coach’s statements and longtime Bengal Willie Anderson told the Cincinnati Enquirer that however it plays out, it plays out.

“We played with (running back) Corey (Dillon). We didn’t have a problem with him. We played with (wide receiver) Carl Pickens. Basically you have to go with how he says things. Whatever he says he’s going to do you have to take his word that he’s going to do that.”

Ah, yes, the halcyon Carl Pickens/Corey Dillon era. I’m sure many Bengal fans are eager to relive those years which Ryan Wilson of the FanHouse points out resulted in exactly zero winning seasons.

ProFootballTalk.com