 Johnson Against Cleveland The flashy Bengals receiver's numbers are down this season, so he has toned down his act.
Receiver Chad Johnson's statistics are down this season. So are his postage expenses. Johnson, who once sent a care package of Pepto-Bismol to Cleveland defensive backs to soothe their upset stomachs, had no such special delivery for the Bucs this week. He even declined to talk trash to the defensive backs.
"Tell Jermaine Phillips I said ... nothing, never mind," Johnson said. Why all the humility? It's a matter of timing. Unlike some receivers who grow louder as their statistics grow smaller, Johnson waits for the proper moment. He wants his play to justify his playfulness. Despite being classified as one of the NFL's diva wide receivers, Johnson purposely avoids anything that could be construed as destructive behavior. Sure, he's a narcissist, but in a cuddly kind of way. "No, I'm not a diva, man," he said. Johnson's antics incite laughter, not anger. He is refreshing and fun, not fingernails on a chalkboard. In addition to the Pepto delivery, Johnson has made headlines for sporting a hideous blond Mohawk, calling out volatile Steelers linebacker Joey Porter the week the AFC North rivals played, and keeping a list in his locker each season titled "Who covered No. 85." Two weeks ago, he even coaxed stodgy Patriots coach Bill Belichick into some playful verbal sparring. "Tell him we'd cover him one-on-one all the time, but he pushes off more than any receiver in the league," said Belichick, actually grinning. "He must be paying the officials not to call it, so we're going to have to double cover him some. ... Not that he can get open." Ba-dum-bump. Last season, Johnson's choreographed touchdown celebrations became must-see TV, including a darn-good heel-kicking rendition of Riverdance, dropping to one knee to propose to a cheerleader and using the end zone pylon to putt the football. "I think ultimately, Chad's No. 1 thing is that we win football games," coach Marvin Lewis said. "As long as that is the case, he's going to be okay and people are not going to get so hung up on anything else. He means well by the things he does. He doesn't mean to be cutting. But he does like to talk about it and have fun doing it." So far in 2006, it's not the NFL's new rule cracking down on celebrations that has Johnson out of sorts. It's the fact he has only one touchdown in four games. One measly chicken dance. In fact, all Johnson's numbers are down compared with last season, when he led the AFC in catches and yards, 97 for 1,432. He leads the team with 18 receptions, but for only 201 yards. Known for long receptions, his longest is 18 yards. Opponents are double- and triple-teaming him, refusing to let 6-foot-1, 192-pound Johnson beat them. The good news for the Bengals (4-1) is quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Rudi Johnson and receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh have more than picked up the slack. Meanwhile, Johnson stays silent. The sixth-year pro learned his lesson at halftime of Cincinnati's playoff loss to Pittsburgh last season, when he complained loudly about not getting the ball enough. Coaches spoke to him during the offseason about how to be a help, not a hindrance, when things go poorly. St. Petersburg Times http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/14/Bucs/Johnson_adjusting_the.shtml
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