Lewis on NFL TV: Chad a Bengal

A transcript of an interview Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis did Monday on NFL Network, the league's in-house TV channel:

(Host) Rich Eisen: Last week, Chad Johnson was a guest of our program and once again making it well known that he feels unappreciated in Cincinnati and wants to go somewhere else. It appears from the outside that differences seem irreconcilable – how is it from the inside?

Marvin Lewis: There really are no differences because if Chad wants the opportunity to play professional football, this is his opportunity right now to play here in Cincinnati. Despite his feelings and whatever he says when he comes on your show, he doesn’t have a choice in the matter. He signed a contract, which is a very long-term contract, he’s been very well compensated since 2003 under two different contract since then. So that’s the case right now. He’s got an opportunity to play professional football here or do what he says he’s thought about doing, which is sit out and that’s fine. Our football team will move on and be ready to go just as we would if someone got injured. You talk to your team all the time about being one play from being injured and without a certain player and if that the case, we’ll be fine and move on.

(Co-host) Solomon Wilcots: We’d heard Chad linked to a number of teams, at least that he’s talked about, from the Miami Dolphins to the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys…

Lewis: He’s linking himself, because that would be tampering.

Wilcots: But from the Bengals’ perspective are you willing to part (with Johnson), would you listen to other teams’ if they were interested in Chad?

Lewis: No, we are not going to trade Chad Johnson as I’ve said. We’re not going to trade Chad, I’ve made it clear and our owner has made it clear. Like I said earlier, if he’s going to play professional football, he’s going to do it in Cincinnati.

Eisen: He’s been dancing around the concept that he’s unappreciated there in Cincinnati and that he feels as if he’s been treated like a cancer of the team. Where would he get that idea from?

Lewis: I don’t know. I can’t take the heat on both sides of the coin here, because at some point last year people said I don’t do a very good job and I enable Chad, so I can’t be on one side with him, then on the other side with him. I coach Chad, I love Chad as a player and as a person and want the very best things for Chad.

Eisen: So coach, what is the issue that you’re facing right now?

Lewis: There really is no issue, Rich. There’s two choices. I think Kobe Bryant went through a little of this in the offseason. The Lakers said you’re going to be a Laker and he said, well let’s play and let’s go to the playoffs. Kobe has led his team to the playoffs and I think that’s what Chad has an opportunity to do. To stay on the positive and get things right. If indeed the things that he says and tells people that I hear and read about going to the playoffs and winning a playoff game, those are right in line with our goals. So he needs to do his part, put the team on his back and go to work.