Chad On the Shelf? Rudi on the Block? Marvin Out of the Loop?

ESPN reports that Chad Johnson's injury is more serious than originally anticipated, the Bengals have called teams to see if they can trade Rudi Johnson and Marvin Lewis doesn't know if Mike Brown has made any phone calls about any potential trade.

Chad injury more serious than originally anticipated.

Not much of a surprise.  Most felt the shoulder was not simply sprained as it looked to pop in and out of its socket.  ESPN is now reporting that it is a partially torn labrum stating that Chad is expected to wear  a harness to protect the shoulder rather than undergo surgery.  By the way, for those of you wondering what a labrum tear is, please see the diagram to the right.  You see that?  Biology and shit.  A couple thoughts on Chad:

(1) This certainly has to cut down on Chad's reach for the season.

(2) If it is Chad choosing to forego surgery, you kind of sort of have to maybe a little bit in a sense hand it to him (had to use all those qualifying words given the offseason he put us through).  As unhappy as he was this offseason, he is not yet taking the Stephon Marbury approach and asking for surgery to get out of the season while still getting paid.  Instead, for now, Chad insists on playing.  WDR wonders how long he can last whether that means physically (shoulder coming out again) or mentally (us going 0-3 to start the season).

(3) Chad...hurt, TJ....hurt, Maxwell...hurt and gone, Henry...suspended, Caldwell...hurt, Chatman...sucks.  Do the 2007 Linebackers equal the 2008 Wide Receivers?  Let's pray not.  If we start signing college all stars from Ohio State and Notre Dame at the position, we know it's come full circle.  Ken Yon Rambo and Joey Getherall are potential equivalents to last year's Anthony Schlegel and Corey Mays.  If these two sign at any point in 2008, we are there.

Team trying to dish Rudi?

This, on the other hand, is a surprise.  From all the talk that Rudi was in phenomenal shape and retooled his body yet again, you'd think we were primed to give him another opportunity.  Instead...

(1) Could this possibly be the see what you can get, if anything, before axing a guy?  (see Shaun Alexander, Lamont Jordan, etc.).  With Perry's return from injury, Watson looking good last year and James Johnson and Dede Dorsey also fighting, perhaps the team has decided to save $2,950,000 by cutting Rudi J.  I can't say that this is a bad move...just an unexpected one.  It's very un-Bengal to cut aging veterans who have fallen off and we should welcome the practice.  Now, we'll be set for 2008 as long as we invent a time machine and not give an aging veteran tackle a contract extension rather than a young stud, line solidifying guard.

(2) Cue phone calls from white trash inventing outlandish, if not galactically stupid, trade offers.  "Uh...hey Lance, why don't we trade Rudi Johnson for Albert Haynesworth?"  This will be followed by the undeniably genius justification of "We need a pass rush."  "Uh..hey Lance, I just don't see why we don't trade Rudi Johnson for a number one and number two draft pick next year.  The season's a wash and we could use the help next year."  These calls will be from the same people wondering why Ethan Kilmer got cut, whatever happened to Adam Kieft and when the hell Peter Edward Rose will coach the Cincinnati Reds again.

(3) This report is coming from Chris Mortensen who could very well be full of shit as evidenced by his false report last year during the season that the Bengals may trade Chad Johnson, which sparked a local reaction, which caused Chad to ignore the local media and make multiple trade demands only to have our front office refuse to do so basically confirming that we never thought of trading him.  During the course of this Mort also admitted that the Bengals dealing Chad Johnson was based on his own speculation.  Solid job Mort.  We haven't forgotten your shotty journalism from last year.  Luckily, the repurcussions would never be as great this time around given that the player involved does not use a pacifier.

(4) All in all, this is interesting.  I don't see us getting anything for Rudi considering Seattle didn't get anything for Shaun Alexander and he is still not signed and Rudi averaged 2.9 yards a carry last year for 497 total yards.  To WDR, it's just a question of if we're going to cut him and not if we're going to trade him.  That being said, the Bengals are right to see if there's any sort of a market for him, however unlikely, before dishing him.

Marvin not Ruling out that Mike Brown made Phone Calls on Rudi Trade

A Bengals source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen, however, that head coach Marvin Lewis was "totally unaware" of any attempts to trade Rudi Johnson, but he didn't rule out that president and general manager Mike Brown directed the calls.

Remember when Marvin took the stance that if he didn't know about something then it didn't happen as   far as the press was concerned?  For the second time in two weeks, he is now saying that Mike Brown has the muscle.  We knew this but we listened to the facade previously and some were convinced (including at times me).  First, last week, Marvin says Mike wanted Chris Henry and so, they got Chris Henry.  Now, Marvin is saying it's possible Mike is shopping Rudi without Marvin's knowledge.  This squib may be the most telling portion of the article.  Never has Marvin so freely admitted this.  You have to wonder if he has grown despondent in the past few weeks given Chad-gate and the Chris Henry debacle.  Has anything really changed from Coslet to LeBeau to Lewis?  Marvin Lewis does not appear to be a happy man at the moment.

Comments

[Paul Katz]

When is Pete gonna get the his chance to coach? The Reds would not be in the cellar right now if Bud "Fuck Me In The Ass/Steroids? What Steroids?" Selig would loosen his grip on the only stance he has ever taken as commissioner.

[Akili Smith]

I don't know what is up with Rudi, but I think he is gone.
WDR is dead on - no one wants an old, injured, ineffective RB. I don't know what the Bengals could get for him. In WDR's own words - perhaps to Atlanta for rights to Michael Vick.

Rudi's comments to the media suggests he thinks he is going to be traded. He is delusional and should be spending his time figuring out how he is going to get on the field thursday night, run for 125 years, and re-establish his worth to the universe. He should have perceived that with a health Perry and "No-respect" Watson that his ass is in big trouble.

He is cut later this week and Kenny "No-respect" Watson will get to tag team with Chris Perry.