Outraged Chad Johnson Continues Boycott Of Bengals

April 16, 2008 7:36 p.m. EST

Cincinnati, OH (AHN) - An infuriated Chad Johnson has all but declared war on the team that holds his contract. He will not be reporting for any team functions, practices or games.

"I want to make this very clear,'' Johnson said in a story on the ESPN Web site. "Nothing has changed from what I've been saying for three months that I don't want to play for the Bengals. ... I want to be traded before the draft, and if that doesn't happen, I want to be traded as soon as possible. I don't intend on reporting to anything."

Johnson has refused to talk with any Cincinnati-based reporters, but has been making the rounds on talk and radio shows, voicing his extreme disgust with Cincinnati fans.

In 2005, Johnson played a major role in securing his team the lead in the AFC North, though they lost to the Steelers in the wild card playoffs. Nonetheless, this showing hyped Bengals fans to heights not seen since their 1990 division playoffs against the Raiders.

Foremost in this hype was the charming, charismatic and cocky Johnson. He holds six franchise records: most receiving yards in a season (1,440), most receiving yards all-time, most receptions, most receiving yards in a game (260), most seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards (6) and most touchdown receptions in a game (3, tied with several other players).

However, Johnson is now struggling to leave the organization - and he blames the Cincinatti fans most of all for putting several key drops on him as the sole reason the Bengals did not repeat their playoff showing in the disappointing 2007 season.

"I get the blame; the so-called best player, I'm the problem," Johnson told Jim Rome. "Someone in-house is spreading this. Maybe they want me to quiet down [and] stop being me. That is not going to happen. I can't function that way. I tried it. It sucked. There was no excitement."

As for where Johnson is going, rumors and misinformation abound. The Washington Redskins are drooling over an opportunity to pick up Johnson, and conspiracy theorists believe there may be a secret deal in progress.

Johnson has lobbied off season for a possible trade to the Cowboys. The Cowboys have not made a public offer at this point, however. If it were approved, he just might meet "Pacman" Jones if the Titans approve his contract trade. The Cowboys may pick up two very talented players for a great price, and work with their bruised egos and reputations respectively.