The Effects of Chad Johnson

The recent trade rejection by the Bengals to the Redskins gives a glimpse into the future of the franchise.

Here is scenario one:

The Bengals refuse to trade Chad Johnson. 

Right now this seems to be the most likely scenario. Johnson is signaling that he will hold out if he is not traded. 

If this does happen, I understand the mindset of the franchise which is we are better with him than without him.  The problem lies within the previous statement.

The Bengals are better WITH Johnson, if he sits they are technically without him.  The way things are set to go right now, if No. 85 sits, it will set off the following chain of events.

1. The Bengals will have a very tough season, most likely a sub-.500 year.  Remember, you are not losing just another receiver, you are losing one of the best in the league, plus the Bengals lost (kicked to the curb) Chris "I want to cause more problems than PacMan" Henry. 

2. The losing season will force the Bengals to re-evaluate and probably fire Marvin Lewis.  Sure, he is a very good coach and will find a job somewhere else, but the Bengals want to win now.  The franchise can not afford to take steps backward.

3. The firing of Marvin Lewis will cause friction inside the locker room, most notably with the QB (Carson Palmer) and new star WR (T.J. Houshmandzadeh). 

T.J. will be looking for a trade to a team that has an opportunity to win, leaving Carson questioning sticking around himself.

4. After the firing of Lewis, Johnson will get what he asked for, which is the true tragedy in all of this. 

In the end, it will cause Lewis to lose his job over being bull-headed about the trade.  Of course you want to keep your marquee players, but sometimes they are not worth the headache.

It is reported that the Redskins offered their first round pick this year and a conditional third for next year that could turn into a first. 

This is a great trade scenario considering if the Bengals were showing their readiness to trade a disgruntled star WR, they would normally get much less than the player is worth. 

Here they would get possibly two first round picks for a player with maybe two more All-Pro years left.

The only thing that can save Lewis' job is a winning season or compassion given the situation.  If No. 85 is not traded, the Bengals are going to take a giant step backward in losing a good coach and an even better player. 

Scenario two is much easier on the franchise:

If Ocho Cinco is traded, the Bengals would have another first round draft pick allowing them to possibly find a suitable replacement. 

The Bengals could finish at or above .500 if they hit in the right spots in the draft.  They already have key elements in a franchise QB, a star WR, a reliable running game, and an above average offensive line. 

Their defense is where the draft really needs to pay off for them. 

I do not believe that Johnson is the best player on that team.  I do not believe his departure should affect them the way it most likely will. 

This is a bad relationship that should be ended immediately. 

The Redskins offered an easy way out and the Bengals shot them down.  Hopefully for Bengals' fans, things can be reconciled in a way that can benefit both sides.