NFL Rumors: Three Teams That Could Sign Chad Johnson
It appeared anything Chad Johnson might say or do could get him released by the Miami Dolphins. No one could really guess it would be a head-butting incident with his wife that would get him fired, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before the team realized their mistake and got rid of him.
After watching the first episode of Hard Knocks on HBO, it was clear Johnson was not going to mesh with Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin. Philbin was the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers for many years, a team that does not tolerate showboating or foul language in front of the media. It was evident Philbin did not want Johnson on the team but as a first year head coach he decided to give it a shot, as it would give the Dolphins an advantage in the AFC East.
Now that Johnson is gone for good, Miami can get back on track while it appears the wide receiver’s career may be in jeopardy for the first time. There are few teams that will tolerate Johnson’s antics but if you ask him, he would say he is a changed man who is determined to put last year’s embarrassment with the New England Patriots behind him and get back to being the great player we all know he can be.
As much as it may be hard to believe, I could certainly foresee a team that desperately needs a playmaker on offense to take a chance on Johnson. The following are three teams that could sign Johnson within the next couple weeks:
With Dwayne Bowe currently not in training camp due to him refusing to sign his tender, the Kansas City Chiefs would not be totally against bringing in Johnson. All the Chiefs need is an edge to win the AFC West, as the division has been up for grabs for the last few years. Bowe will eventually return to the team, but will be a little behind the rest of the offense. With Bowe lined up on one side and Johnson on the other, mixed with a proven running game, quarterback Matt Cassel may just have the weapons he needs to lead the Chiefs to their first postseason appearance since 2010.
The Raidershave been known to take chances on troubled players. Typically, it has not worked out for them, but who is to say Johnson wouldn’t? After witnessing Oakland’s horrible performance against the Dallas Cowboys during Monday night’s preseason game, the Raiders could use some playmakers. Yes, I know Carson Palmer is the quarterback and many people may feel the turmoil towards the end of his time in Cincinnati with Johnson may not be a good thing to reignite, but there is no denying the two had plenty of success together. I think Palmer would welcome the idea of being able to throw to Johnson again, especially since the wide receiver is determined to become a legitimate player without the clown show (aside from the whole head-butting thing).
The Jaguars desperately need to put fans in the stands or risk losing the team to another city. The best way to do that is to bring the side show that is Johnson to town and hope his craziness fills the stadium on game days. The Jaguars also need a playmaker to set the offense on fire in the passing game. On the other hand, it might not be the best idea to expose young quarterback Blaine Gabbert to the likes of Johnson. We all saw what Terrell Owens almost did to Tony Romo. Also, the last thing Jacksonville’s budding star Justin Blackmon needs is a role model like Johnson. It is clear the rookie out of Oklahoma State can cause enough trouble on his own.
