Chad Johnson: Recent Release from Dolphins Means WR's Career Is at Crossroads

Chad Johnson was released by the Miami Dolphins on Sunday after he was accused of head-butting his wife and subsequently charged with simple domestic battery (via ESPN).

Johnson and his wife, Evelyn Lozada, married about a month ago and it didn't take long before their marital problems affected Johnson's career.

It doesn't matter what actually happened or who was in the wrong. Well, it only matters in a court of law.

As far as the impact on Johnson's career? That has all but been decided.

The 34-year-old wide receiver has hit the ultimate crossroads in his career. No, despite what you may think, that crossroads didn't come when he was traded from the Cincinnati Bengals to the New England Patriots.

His numbers tailed off a bit towards the end of his career with the Bengals, but he still had the necessary talents to compete in the NFL. His output with the Patriots was nothing short of a colossal failure, but you can chalk that up to Johnson being incompatible with the system or his incompatibility with Bill Belichick.

Either way, Johnson can still catch passes—or at least that's what it looked like during training camp. He seemed to be in his usual upbeat mood with the Dolphins on HBO Hard Knocks, relishing in his role as the center of attention.

Now he finds himself unemployed. He is the antithesis of a hot commodity now that he has the reputation of law-breaker to go with his diva status.

Johnson may have just blown the final opportunity he had to play in the NFL. A few months ago, there wasn't a person in the country that would have expected Johnson to sign with the Dolphins.

One of two things are going to happen: Johnson is not going to re-sign with another NFL team this offseason and fade into obscurity, never to be heard again. Or, he is going to re-sign before the season starts and make one last-gasp attempt at finishing his career on a high note.

That surely is a frightening revelation for a wide receiver that was once one of the best in the league, or at least it will be when he realizes it.

Terrell Owens hit this same kind of crossroads (twice!) and bounced back from it. Surprisingly, he's looking to be in the best shape that he has been in awhile and has been granted a shot with the Seattle Seahawks.

Randy Moss went through a similar situation, and now he has another job with the San Francisco 49ers at the age of 35.

Johnson would be luckier than most if he can find another job opportunity with the NFL, and for now, there is no guarantee that will happen.