Chad Johnson's return to Cincinnati, reviews are promising; Johnson says "Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"

by Kirkendall on Jun 11, 2009 6:40 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (9) stands with receiver Chad Ochocinco during a voluntary football workout, Thursday, June 11, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

4 months ago: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (9) stands with receiver Chad Ochocinco during a voluntary football workout, Thursday, June 11, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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Chad. Chad. Chad. We're talking about him again. Why not? After all, we spent the past year wondering a bunch of things ranging from trade demands, motivations, injury, Oil Slick, mentalities, perceptions and perspectives. So it's only fair that, while we may recite our holier than thou passages, that we acknowledge the unexpected turn. Chad works out in Los Angeles and decides to miss several OTAs. Suddenly, he takes a flight to Cincinnati. Gets a physical. Takes the field. Now? Now he's back to being a Bengal.

Ochocinco made a nifty double move on cornerback Leon Hall on a 25-yard pattern, hauling in Palmer’s pass just inside the end zone's front pylon, then got the better of Geoffrey Pope on a route in the middle of the field.

He added a nice block on David Jones following a quick receiver screen to Antonio Chatman.

“It’s really only my second day. There are a lot of new wrinkles that I’m not familiar with,” Ochocinco said. “I’m really not comfortable going with the ones (first team) at the moment. The plan was to go in and get ready for minicamp and get up to practice speed.

“I knew I had a lot of catching up to do. This was my plan all along, to come back when I thought I was in the shape I really needed to be in.”

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski says, "happy days are here again." Andre Caldwell notices an improved Chad already.

"He's in a lot better shape; you can look at him and see it," said second-year wide receiver Andre Caldwell, who only saw Ochocinco play in his dismal '08 season. "He's looking a lot quicker, faster. He looks like the Ocho I've seen on TV and the highlights."

Then you have a glorious nugget by Johnson. Remember when Eric Ghiaciuc said that the Bengals lockerroom had a lot of distractions? To which Johnson replies: "Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction. Of all people to call me that."

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"Guiaciuc's Play was a distraction..."

Chad must read Cincy Jungle.

"Ryan, Things in here don't react too well to bullets." - Marko Ramius

by TarZander on Jun 11, 2009 8:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good quote.

by indesignkat on Jun 11, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

When are we going to explain to Leon Hall what a double move is?

by benf24 on Jun 11, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Zing

LOL nicely done Chad. Lets just hope he can regain 2003-2007 form

by CincyMike56 on Jun 11, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Least god awful?

Let’s call this one a scratch. BOTH looked like they were taking a dive.

by bodacio on Jun 12, 2009 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2010 draft need: QB?

There’s something I hear from more and more Bengal fans which has gone unnoticed and is generally forbidden to be spoken of in “Bengals Nation”. The more I review recent Bengal campaigns and the continual frustration the team, fans and city have had, the more I look at Carson Palmer. Speaking with other fans recently, no one could think of a game that meant something where he came through and won it in the clutch. I can think back to December 5, 2004 in Baltimore when I thought we had the second coming of John Elway, Troy Aikman, etc. Now he looks more and more like Drew Bledsoe. I don’t care if fans worship him and see him as untouchable. Was 12/5/04 the last fourth quarter/overtime comeback this team has had? How many close games can you remember where the offense with Bob Bratkowski and Carson Palmer failed miserably on a final drive that would have tied or won the game?

by michaelallenstowe on Jun 12, 2009 12:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not going to badmouth Carson but

I do have to agree that a 1st round QB in 2010 makes sense to me.

by UpStateMike on Jun 12, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed a QB is needed but a happy medium will do. No need for a 1st rounder but don’t wait until the 6th or 7th either. A 3rd would be nice. Someone that is capable of stepping up if Carson get hurt but I don’t think anyone needs to chalange him for a starting job.

by smoormandiddy on Jun 12, 2009 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well stated....

No need for a #1 pick

by laibach on Jun 12, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

QB-engineered comebacks aren't ...

a one-player effort. There’s a reason QBs on good teams always do it, and the reverse is true for QBs on bad teams. For the most part, Palmer has played on bad teams. Had Palmer been QBing the Patriots the past 6 years, he’d have more than a few clutch wins.

by Timzilla on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+9

by TheWalrus1971 on Jun 12, 2009 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

RE:

Well, you’re asking for a quarterback that’s generally not available every NFL draft. Think of it this way, do you think Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez can do what your asking?

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Jun 12, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

got to agree with chad

best quote from him all year too

by palewook on Jun 12, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed, Ghiaciuc’s play was a distraction. While Carson was healthy, Ghiacuc’s inability to pick up the blitz stopped Carson from looking down field. This without a question really hurt the offense.

by Greener's eyes on Jun 12, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs