Back to football

For now, today, Chad Johnson is quiet.

If the tour of radio row and NFL Network at the Super Bowl, as well as the scripted message delivered Wednesday by Johnson, were the ideas of agent Drew Rosenhaus, credit Rosenhaus for doing his job.

If Johnson wants a new contract with a new team, he hired the right man in Rosenhaus. Look at what the agent has done for client Terrell Owens and many other NFL players. He's made them very rich men.

Some thoughts:

-- Chad Johnson was not the reason the Bengals were 7-9 last season. Coach Marvin Lewis and team president Mike Brown both defended Johnson from media criticism and talked of his value to the team.

-- If the Bengals are my team, I build around quarterback Carson Palmer. As long as he's throwing the ball and running the offense, you have a chance to win.

-- I take a serious look at going to the three-four defense with four linebackers. Odell Thurman appears to be on his way back from league suspension. He will have a chance to work with new position coach Jeff FitzGerald and coordinator Mike Zimmer, both self-described taskmasters.

-- If I were a Bengals fan, I like the fact that Zimmer ran into linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the locker room a couple of weeks ago doing rehab on his surgically-repaired groin. A second productive offseason in a row from Brooks is a harbinger of good things for the Bengals defense.

-- Add bodies to the offensive line, defensive line and secondary in the draft and free agency.

-- Re-sign linebacker Landon Johnson and safety Madieu Williams. Bringing Williams back allows the Bengals to let Deltha O'Neal go (he wants out with one year left on his contract) because Williams could work as the third cornerback or the nickel defender. Williams worked in that role in training camp last season.

-- Besides leading the defense in tackles three of the past four seasons, Johnson has worked on the punt cover team as the signal caller in front of Kyle Larson.

-- Run the ball next season. Make sure Rudi Johnson, Chris Perry and Kenny Irons have productive rehabs this offseason. Bring Johnson to training camp and see how he looks.

-- Keep close tabs on the health of offensive tackles Willie Anderson and Levi Jones.

-- If swingman Stacy Andrews is asking for starter's money, pay him. He is an invaluable sixth man on the offensive line and has a perfect attitude and work ethic.