{mosimage}  Say what you want, but Chad Johnson is a publicity addict.  He should just go ahead and stand up, state his name and admit to being addicted to needing publicity.   After officially changing his surname this week to Ocho Cinco in an attempt to sell more jerseys and gain the attention for some reason he so desperately needs, Johnson has placed a bull’s eye squarely on his back with Cincinnati Bengals fans. 

As you might recall this is the same Chad Johnson who was calling for a trade by the Bengals this past off season.  He was done with the city and done with the team.  He wanted out.  Some how he came to his sense (apparently after Marvin Lewis began to encouraging him to go ahead and sit out the season and forgo getting his millions of dollars this year) Chad began to realize this was an Ocho “No Go” situation, and he  came to his senses.

The Pro Bowl Wide Receiver did not win any friends in Cincinnati with his antics in the off season.  As a matter of fact, we at Growlzone have never seen a Bengals jersey being shed as fast as we were seeing Chad Johnson jerseys discarded this off season. 

The fans of Cincinnati have always been very forgiving.  Face it, the Bengals have been one of the worst teams in football for 15 years now, but something about their prodigal son turning on them and taking his silly trade antics to the national audience has soured the Cincinnati fans on Johnson.  He was immediately showered with a variety of boos in the preseason when he missed his first catch.  Incidentally, it was the same play that he injured his shoulder on.

Chad Johnson, or should I say Ocho Cinco has been a great Wide Receiver for the Bengals there is no doubt about it, but his antics have really began to wear on Cincinnati Bengals fans.  Even more so, his lack of loyalty to Cincinnati has out weighed his ability to catch an air filled leather ball on Sundays in Cincinnati. 

His latest antics this week got very little air play in Cincinnati.  I think the fans are really just tired of hearing about this guy and seeing his need to do anything it takes to get attention.  You see Bengals fans were fine with Johnson’s antics when the team was good, and when his game was the focus rather than the antics, but now that the antics have become his primary play.  Bengals fans are growing tired of the faces of Chad and never really knowing who is going to show up week to week.  There is actually one of the local major memorabilia companies that has recently began discounting his autographs and photos because quote “they just can’t sell his stuff in Cincinnati”.  “People do not want Chad Johnson items in Cincinnati”.

As we all know, all will be forgiven if Chad finds a way to come out and help the Bengals win.  Winning is everything in the NFL, and in Cincinnati it is no different.  In the event that he can’t perform or heaven forbid simply does not perform, I wish the guy all the luck in the world because he is going to face a steady rumble of boos insults, and aggravation from Cincinnati Bengals fans. 

He himself and only himself has placed a target once again squarely on his back, and this time it is a huge one.  Johnson had better put his money where his mouth is or Ocho “No Show” is going to find out just how bad things can get in Cincinnati. 

Chad is a big boy with a reputation for performing.  Let’s hope he still has the ability to make his on filed play overshadow the silly things he feels he must do when the camera is rolling.   Time will only tell for Johnson and the Bengals.