T.J.: Maybe best to trade Chad

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson's confidant, said Thursday that his teammate of seven years is serious about not playing again for the Bengals.

Houshmandzadeh told The Enquirer that it might be best, in spite of the salary cap hit, if the Bengals were to grant Johnson’s wish to be traded.

"If he’s not traded, he’s going to be a problem," Houshmandzadeh said.

He found himself talking to both Johnson and quarterback Carson Palmer on Wednesday, the day Johnson strongly refuted Palmer’s comment that Johnson had told him he would report to the Bengals when required.

"Honestly, it’s the same thing; he doesn’t want to be here," Houshmandzadeh said. "Will he eventually show up? I don’t know. Logic would tell you he would show up and get a credited season. Whatever month it is – September, October (or) November – it’s going to be a distraction."

Houshmandzadeh compared the situation to a husband and wife divorcing. If one spouse wants to leave, the only reason that spouse might stay is out of pity, he said.

"It’s going to be ups and a whole lot of downs," said Houshmandzadeh, comparing Johnson’s relationship to the Bengals. "It’s early. We’ve got May, June and July. We have 53 players on the team. Do you want to roll the dice and get him to Cincinnati and see if he will perform and be professional? But will it be such a disruption that it will be another season down the drain – a season when (esteemed right tackle) Willie Anderson doesn’t get to the playoffs?"

Houshmandzadeh, the team’s player representative, told Johnson that he faces more than $14,000 a day in fines for not reporting when required.

"He doesn’t care," Houshmandzadeh said of Johnson’s reaction.

By crossing swords with Palmer, Houshmandzadeh said, Johnson might have picked a fight he can’t win.

"Carson is the $119 million man," Houshmandzadeh said. "I talked to him (Wednesday). He said, `I don’t know what I said to (anger Johnson).'"