Miami Dolphins: Joe Philbin Not Wrong to Move Quickly to Cut Chad Johnson

The Miami Dolphins weren’t kidding when new coach Joe Philbin said character was going to be a priority on his watch.

It is why Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall was traded to the Chicago Bears last spring, and it is why, roughly 24 hours after landing in jail on a charge of misdemeanor domestic abuse, Chad Johnson is no longer a Dolphin (per FoxSports.com).

It was clear Miami didn’t want the distraction of dealing with Johnson as the case winds its way through the criminal justice system in South Florida over the next several weeks, so regardless of whether he is found guilty or not, the Dolphins kicked the former Ochocinco to the curb.

It makes sense from the Dolphins’ point of view. I mean, we’re talking about a 34-year-old wide receiver coming off by far the least productive year of his career in 2011 and who was on a non-guaranteed, one-year contract.

It cost nothing for the Dolphins to take a flier on Johnson.

Miami’s new coach was sending a message to the rest of the team, however, that all the discussion earlier this year about character meaning something to the organization wasn’t just empty talk.  

This is Johnson’s first legal entanglement since coming into the NFL, but it was enough to get him cut. For Johnson, it’s another red mark on a career that appears to be—if not completely done—on its last legs.

Johnson was a Pro Bowler six times from 2003 through 2009, missing only during an injury-marred 2008 season, but his productivity has been slipping for several years now.

Johnson had a fantastic run from 2003 through 2007, catching 90 passes in four of those five seasons, topping 1,200 yards every year and catching no fewer than seven touchdown passes in each of those seasons.

In that five-year span, Johnson averaged 92 receptions, 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. In the four years since, Johnson’s numbers have dropped precipitously to 52 receptions and 674 yards with four touchdowns on average.

Last season in New England, he basically fell off the map. Johnson admitted he struggled to learn the Patriots’ offense, and it showed: He finished with 15 receptions in 15 games and caught one touchdown pass.

It’s sort of an interesting reversal of fortune for high-profile and high-maintenance NFL wide receivers this summer. Randy Moss and Terrell Owens have both found gigs after each sat out the 2011 season because there was no interest in their services. Johnson and Plaxico Burress are out of work.

Burress did work out over the weekend for the Patriots (per ESPNBoston.com), but there was no immediate word on whether or not New England would extend a contract to the receiver who turned 35 on Sunday and returned to the NFL with the New York Jets last season after missing two seasons following a weapons conviction stemming from a 2008 incident at a New York nightclub while a member of the New York Giants.

It’s been a tough year for NFL players, with more than 30 players arrested so far in 2012. That’s an average of almost one per team, but of course, it hasn’t been that spread out. The Detroit Lions have had seven arrests this year, including Aaron Berry, Mikel Leshoure and Nick Fairley twice each.

Is it fair that Johnson lost his gig after just one run-in with law enforcement?

Karlos Dansby doesn’t think so. Dansby told Fort Lauderdale’s 640 Sports (h/t ProFootballTalk) that he disagrees with the decision to cut Johnson and said he believes he is speaking for the entire team.

When it comes to the legal system, a suspect is innocent until proven guilty. But that’s not the standard for a private employer, particularly not when one works in a very high-profile job that relies on the public to put down large piles of cash to come to the stadium and watch the employees do their thing.

Playing in the NFL is not a right but a privilege, and with it comes the responsibility to do a few simple things. Show up to practice, work hard, be a positive member of the community and, oh, yeah, not get accused of head-butting your spouse.