Chad Johnson

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Full Name: Chad Johnson Primary Position: WR Height/Weight: 6' 2"/192 College: Oregon State University, Langston University, Santa Monica College Birthdate: January 9, 1978 High School: Miami Beach (FL) Birthplace: Los Angeles, California Pro Experience: 6 years

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[edit] Biography

Chad Johnson (born January 9, 1978 in Miami, Florida), is an American football wide receiver for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals. He was drafted as a junior out of Oregon State University by the Bengals, who had the fifth pick in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

His teammate on the Bengals squad, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, was also drafted in the seventh round of the same draft. Moreover, two of Johnson's cousins are notable NFL players as well: Former NFL wide receiver wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle.

Chad Johnson is regarded as both one of the most productive receivers in the NFL, as well as one of the most flamboyant. The former quality has led him to be named to three NFL Pro Bowl games; the latter quality has led him to numerous fines, primarily due to his trash talking and myriad imaginative touchdown celebrations. As part of his flashy on-field persona, Johnson wears removable gold teeth during every game. Although Johnson draws further attention to himself with the teeth, he has been quoted as saying that he wears the gold teeth simply because he likes the way his mouth shines when he smiles.

In 2005, Johnson kept a checklist of opposing cornerbacks he played that season and only gave a mark to those players who had been able to successfully cover him in man-to-man coverage. When news of the list became public, none of the men he played against reportedly took offense. However, when Johnson created a list specifically for the Bengals' division-rival Baltimore Ravens before their game against the Bengals on November 6, 2005, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis switched lists on Johnson. Lewis' list asked:

• Did 85 do everything he could to lead his Team to Victory?
• Did he study extra tape?
• Zero mental errors in practice?
• Make a teammate better?
• See all "sights" and "hots" (blitzes)?
• Did he run after the catch?
• Did he finish his blocking?

These new questions delved deeper into the responsibilities of an NFL receiver, reminding Johnson that there is more to his job than simply getting open on the field and catching the football. His original list for that week was posted in his locker in Baltimore when he arrived at the stadium. Johnson took Coach Lewis' list to heart and performed well during the game, gaining 91 yards on 5 catches, mostly against double coverage schemes. Since then his original list returned to its normal spot. Chad Johnson was named to the Pro Bowl in 2003, 2004, and 2005, and has amassed over 1,100 receiving yards in four of his first five seasons. In 2003, he set a Bengals record with 1,355 receiving yards, and later surpassed it in the 2005 season, recording 1,432 yards. As of 2005, he has led the AFC in receiving yards for 3 straight years. On Thursday, April 20, 2006, even though he already agreed to play for the Bengals until 2009, he signed a new deal that will keep him in Cincinnati until 2011. Over the next six seasons, he will make $35.5 million [1].

[edit] 2006

Chad started the season slowly but also very quick, with only 2 touchdown catches in his first eight games. He did land his first career Sports Illustrated cover, with the headline "Trick or Treat" (the issue was published the week before halloween).

Then, against the San Diego Chargers on November 12, Johnson had a career day. He caught 11 passes for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns, though the Bengals fell to the Chargers in a 49-41 shootout. The yards were a career high and franchise record for Chad, while the receptions and touchdowns were both season highs.

[edit] The Pepto Bismol incident

In 2003, Johnson pooped. Doctors guaranteed a win over the previously unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs — a promise which he helped realize. However, one antic which backfired was the infamous "Pepto Bismol incident". Before the Bengals' October 17, 2004 meeting against their in-state rivals, the Cleveland Browns, Johnson sent the Browns' starting cornerbacks Daylon McCutcheon and Anthony Henry and safeties Robert Griffith and Earl Little each a bottle of the pink stuff, which is marketed by the Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble. Johnson's intent was to say that he was going to make them sick. Johnson claimed that it was not meant personally. "It's a little something to add some flavor to the game... it's nothing personal and I know they didn't take it that way."

Rather than be angry, Daylon McCutcheon put the incident off as Chad Johnson simply being Chad Johnson. As he told the Associated Press, "I think for the most part, (Johnson) is not an in-your-face guy. He just likes to have fun. He enjoys playing football. He's a jokester."

The Browns held Johnson to just three receptions for 37 yards and no touchdowns, and won the game 34-17.

[edit] Chad's riddle

Chad Johnson has a riddle for every team's defense that he goes up against. He always asks the same question, which is, "How do you stop 85?". On December 11, 2005, Johnson was held to just 22 yards on only 2 catches in a win over the Cleveland Browns, one of his worst performances stat-wise in his career. He therefore gave the Browns secondary multiple "Yes" checkmarks, the first of the season.

[edit] Examples of Johnson's end zone celebrations and quotes

[edit] Chad's Guarantee to beat the undefeated Chiefs

In November of 2003, the undefeated Chiefs came into Paul Brown Stadium thinking they would get an easy win and remain undefeated. But Chad Johnson proved that being confident and bold can win you games when the week before the game against the Chiefs Chad guaranteed that the Bengals would win by saying "We will beat them" and when a reporter asked if Chad was serious, he responded sounding perturbed, "Yeah, man, what? Did you think I was playing?" Apparently he and his teammates were not as they backed up Chad's guarantee and shocked critics by beating the Chiefs 24-19

[edit] Ohio River Dance

During the September 25, 2005 game versus the Chicago Bears, Chad Johnson did the Ohio River Dance jig after a touchdown catch. The jig is a reference to the final scene in The Last Boy Scout where Bruce Willis does an irish jig after killing his nemesis among the support beams of a football stadium. Both Johnson and Willis appeared on their stadiums' respective jumbotrons while dancing their jigs. He has since asked local media from Cincinnati and opposing cities for suggestions for his touchdown dances in the following games.

On October 9, 2005, Johnson pretended to give the football CPR after scoring a touchdown against Jacksonville.

[edit] The proposal

During the November 20, 2005 game versus the Indianapolis Colts, Chad Johnson celebrated his 68-yard touchdown catch from Carson Palmer by seemingly proposing to a Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader on the sidelines. Even though it was later revealed that he didn't even find out her name until after the game was over, she immediately "accepted" his mock proposal and they both embraced. After that, he walked over to the Bengals sideline and held up a sign reading "T.O. I got you baby", referring to Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, who is also known for coming up with unique touchdown celebrations, one of them involving taking the pom-poms from a cheerleader and waving them around. At the time, Owens was suspended from the Eagles due to off field problems, and Johnson's sign was meant to be a show of support for him.

[edit] Pylon Putting

During the November 27, 2005 game versus the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson celebrated his 66-yard touchdown catch by putting the football using the red endzone marker (pylon) as a putter. Following his putt of the ball he proceeded to make a Tiger Woods-like fist pump. Johnson later said this was meant to be a tribute to Woods, whom he greatly respects. Johnson was fined $5,000 for this particular celebration.

[edit] 'Times have changed' quote

Following the Bengals' 38-31 victory in Pittsburgh on December 4, 2005, Johnson announced: "Times have changed, you know? Like black-and-white TVs, and then along comes color. It was Pittsburgh and now it's Cincinnati. That's the way it's probably going to be for a while now, so everybody just get used to it." The victory all but assured that Cincinnati would win the AFC North (both they and the Steelers finished the regular season 11-5; Cincinnati won the division on the basis of a better division record). Over the remaining weeks of the 2005 season, Johnson's boasting was deflated as the Bengals went 2-3 (including a playoff loss to Pittsburgh), while the Steelers went 8-0, culminating in their Super Bowl XL victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

[edit] The non-celebration

During the December 18, 2005 game versus the Detroit Lions, Johnson did not flamboyantly celebrate his touchdown. After he scored, Johnson said, he asked fellow receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh what he should do. The crowd, full of Cincinnati fans, booed when Johnson didn't do anything outrageous and chose to simply hand the ball to a referee. "The game we played today was of too much importance for me to even celebrate, but I got something next week since we won the division." Johnson said he was paying tribute to former Lions running back Barry Sanders, who routinely handed the ball to an official after scoring.[2]

[edit] The greatest celebration ever?

Johnson promised that he would have "the greatest celebration ever" if he got a touchdown in the Bengals' December 24, 2005 game against the Buffalo Bills. "On the highway, I hit a deer. I kept him. He's at home in the garage. I'm going to dance with him for the celebration this weekend. He's a prop. They might suspend me for the last game, but I think this one is worth it." Johnson did score a touchdown in the game, but no deer appeared. Instead, Johnson celebrated his touchdown catch by running over to his sideline, grabbing presents from a gigantic Christmas stocking, and throwing autographed AFC North champion shirts, hats, jerseys, and footballs to the crowd.

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[edit] Trivia

• Chad Johnson has led the AFC in receiving yards for the past three seasons 2003, 2004, 2005
• Chad Johnson was a junior college teammate of the Carolina Panthers All Pro Steve Smith.

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[edit] See Also

• The Enquirer's ranking of Chad's touchdown celebrations
• Chad Johnson's MySpace Page

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