ESPN Hashmarks

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Here is your one-stop shopping around the AFC North:

• Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is taking heat from Bengals fans for his comments bashing Ohio State in a radio interview Thursday in Los Angeles. Palmer said, among other things, that he "cannot stand the Buckeyes" and that their fans "drives me absolutely nuts." Palmer's alma mater USC plays the Buckeyes in a big game in September.

Morning take: Hmmm. This puts Palmer in a very odd spot. Most Bengals fans in Cincinnati happen to be big-time Buckeye fans, which means Palmer is essentially criticizing his own fan base. Palmer usually thinks things through before speaking, but our guess is he probably didn't put those two things together. Buckeye Nation likely will let him hear about this one for a while, at least until the two teams play on Sept. 13.

• Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters he's unsure if linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs will sign the franchise tender and report to training camp with veterans on Wednesday. The two sides were unable to reach a long-term deal this offseason.

Morning take: This would be a bad move for Suggs. The deadline passed last week and there's nothing else that can be done. Suggs will make his point but at the risk of joining the team late and having a slow start to the season. If Suggs doesn't perform well in a contract year he will not get the type of money he wants next year, either. It's not worth it.

• Award-winning writer Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer points out the drastic change in optimism going into this year's training camp for the Browns.

Morning take: As a former Browns beat writer, I can say this is the most optimistic I've seen the team, local media and its fan base in a long time. It's not even close.

• Mark Curnutte of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that Chad Johnson finally is ready to move ahead with the Bengals.

Morning take: This was a predictable outcome to a bizarre offseason between Johnson and Cincinnati. The Bengals held most of the cards in this dispute from the beginning and played their hand well. Now, it's time for "Ocho Cinco" to focus on football.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

	Jason Bridge/US Presswire
	The Bengals were 5-3 with Chris Henry last season.

I know what you were thinking when you read the headline. You rolled your eyes. But hear me out.

The Cincinnati Bengals are still a good fit for free-agent receiver Chris Henry.

Wait, don't click on another link! Stop laughing and let me finish.

Thank you.

OK, where was I?

When the Bengals released Henry in April, their hand was forced. It was his fifth arrest in three years. Cincinnati was in the news too often this spring for all the wrong reasons, and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis became extremely agitated and less tolerant of questionable behavior.

Therefore, the team had little choice but to cut Henry before the judicial system ran its course, even if it did reek of the backward term "guilty until proven innocent." But charges of assault and criminal damaging were eventually dismissed and now the move looks premature.

The Bengals could certainly use Henry. They were 2-6 without him in 2007 and 5-3 with him during the second half of the season. Henry helps take Cincinnati's offense to the next level, and added with receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, new tight end Ben Utecht and quarterback Carson Palmer throwing the ball, they would be a matchup nightmare for any defense in the NFL.

Cincinnati knows Henry's talents better than any other team. Henry already knows the playbook and his role in the offense. He has never been a problem in the Bengals' locker room and gets along well with the players. Both Johnson and Palmer have publicly praised Henry's on-the-field talents, as well.

Henry and agent Marvin Frazier said there has been some preliminary interest from Cincinnati. It may or may not go beyond that point, but when talking to Henry on Thursday, he seemed sincere about the possibility of rejoining his former team.

"I wouldn't mind it happening because I loved playing in Cincinnati," Henry said. "I got real close with all the guys out there and I planned on being out there for a long time. I really had a good time playing ball out there in Ohio."

If the NFL reinstates Henry within the next couple of weeks, the league essentially is giving Henry a clean slate.

What's wrong with the Bengals taking the same approach?

In an interview with ESPN's Ed Werder, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer talks about expectations for the season, Chad Johnson and Brett Favre.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Here is a look at the best stories around the AFC North:

• Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports receiver Chad Johnson is taking it slow after ankle surgery and doesn't want to overdo it before training camp opens July 28.

Morning take: Despite his antics, Johnson is a very hard worker who hates missing practice reps. But this should be the year Ocho Cinco takes it down a gear or two in training camp. It also sounds like some of Johnson's issues with the team have simmered down, which is a good sign for Cincinnati.

• The Baltimore Ravens and rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco agreed to a five-year contract Wednesday night worth up to $30 million, with $8.75 million guaranteed.

Morning take: Flacco got his deal on time and the Ravens will get a fair chance to see who is the best quarterback on their roster. It's a victory for both parties.

• I missed this story earlier in the week, but it's a good one. John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the Steelers defensive line is aging gracefully. All three starters -- Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel -- will be 30 years or older this year.

Morning take: This is certainly something to watch in Pittsburgh. The starters are all very good but age is a concern, particularly in the case of Aaron Smith (32), who is coming off a torn biceps injury. There also doesn't appear to be a long-term replacement at nose tackle or defensive end waiting in the wings.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Henry

Time will tell if the Cincinnati Bengals made the right move in cutting wide receiver Chris Henry.

Following Monday's news of Henry's assault charge being dropped, his April release before the legal system ran its course could be viewed as premature. The incident led to his fifth arrest, which resulted in a swift termination by a Cincinnati team desperate to improve its image.

In all fairness, the Bengals were patient during Henry's previous four arrests since 2005. The fifth arrest told the team that, at the very least, Henry continues to put himself in precarious situations.

But what happens if Henry learns from his mistakes from this point forward? What if, after his suspension likely is lifted by the NFL, Henry finally "gets it" in what could be his final opportunity?

Coaches and former teammates often say if Henry's maturity ever catches up to his ability, he could become a quality NFL receiver. If that indeed happens the Bengals, who could be without starting receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2009, would turn out to be the biggest losers.

Owens

As James Walker indicated Thursday on the AFC North blog, we recently surveyed NFL head coaches on a variety of topics. In exchange for candid answers and brief eye contact, we granted them anonymity.

Coaches were asked to name a Pro Bowl-caliber player they wouldn't want on their roster. In a vote that would not have surprised me two years ago, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens received 14 out of 20 votes. (The other coaches declined to answer this question).

Chad Johnson, who is coming off a strenuous offseason of pouting, only received three votes. And the most notorious man not officially in the league, Adam Jones, received one vote. I think the low turnout for Jones has a lot to do with most of the coaches not considering him a Pro Bowl-caliber player after sitting out an entire season.

But the fact that 14 coaches said they wouldn't want arguably the second-best receiver in the game seems somewhat misguided. I've been one of T.O.'s harshest critics over the years, but other than an accidental overdose, he hasn't been much of a distraction for the Cowboys.

Former head coach Bill Parcells and wide receivers coach Todd Haley never warmed to T.O., but from my perspective, that was just as much their fault as his. When quarterback Drew Bledsoe sent T.O. a text that said, "Stay with me" following a poor game, you had a feeling that the relationship had already fizzled.

But once Bledsoe was benched, T.O. fell hopelessly in love with Tony Romo. The relationship has remained strong, as evidenced by the receiver's tearful defense of Romo following a playoff loss against the Giants last season.

The reality is that Owens has become a positive presence in the locker room. He's close to Romo, but he's also kept up his tradition of befriending low-profile players such as receiver Sam Hurd, whom he's mentored since the beginning of the 2006 training camp.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but T.O. has blended into a locker room that includes Romo, Tank Johnson and now Jones. Chad Johnson has always been supremely talented and quirky, but over the past couple of seasons, he's come across as petty and selfish at times. While he was stumping for a trade this offseason, T.O. was patiently waiting for a contract extension.

He never once seem worried about being in the final year of his contract because he trusted that owner Jerry Jones would take care of him. With that in mind, are there really 14 head coaches in the NFL who wouldn't want this guy on their roster?

My guess is that Owens is still the first name that comes to mind on this type question. But if the coaches thought for a little longer, I think there are more viable options.

The survey question was further debated Friday on "First Take."

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

This offseason ESPN.com did an anonymous survey of NFL head coaches that explored a variety of topics, including smartest offensive and defensive player, dirtiest player and owner with the best reputation.

Another question we asked NFL head coaches was which Pro Bowl-caliber player would they not want on their roster?

Of the 20 head coaches who responded, 14 voted for Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, who was the runaway winner. Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals was a distant second with three votes.

	Hunter Martin/Getty Images
	Fourteen head coaches said they wouldn't want Terrell Owens on their team.

But the question is why Owens, and why such a large margin?

When it comes to winning, there is no comparison between Owens and Johnson.

Owens led three different teams to the playoffs and has a Super Bowl appearance with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Johnson has just one winning season his entire career in Cincinnati and is 0-1 in the postseason.

Their styles of play vary but both are effective. Their numbers have been comparable the past several seasons.

Yet, a majority of NFL head coaches would rather have Johnson on their team over Owens, which is interesting.

It is clear that Owens rates much higher on the distraction scale with coaches.

Posted by ESPN.com's John Banks

Chad Johnson sat down with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith to discuss his contentious relationship with the Bengals.

"I'm crazy, but I ain't stupid," he said regarding showing up for minicamp.

The Hashmarks bloggers break down the week's biggest stories, including the ongoing sagas of Javon Walker and Chad Johnson, in the above clip.

In case you missed any of the earlier blog posts, AFC West blogger Bill Williamson has gathered all the latest notes on Walker while AFC North blogger James Walker was on Ocho Cinco watch.

The crew, which also included regular Hashmarks contributor Mike Sando, also touched on who is the best active left tackle now that Jonathan Ogden has retired.

Johnson

The Cincinnati Bengals advised Chad Johnson to have surgery to remove bones spurs in his ankles as far back as January.

At first Johnson denied he needed surgery. Then, as reported by ESPN's John Clayton, he decided to have it on Wednesday.

Why the Pro Bowl receiver waited so long to come to this conclusion is baffling. Johnson spent the past six months ripping the Bengals' organization and saying he wants out. Yet he wasn't taking care of his own ailment that eventually required surgery.

Keep in mind, bone spurs are not serious. They're just painful at times.

Many have played through this type of injury before and Johnson did so for most of last season. There is a short recovery time and Johnson even passed his physical before last week's minicamp.

But it's not the type of ankle injury that a receiver wants going into the season. So with more than a month before training camp remaining, Johnson finally made the right decision.

Posted by ESPN com's James Walker

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson once again didn't want to be interviewed by the media after Friday's morning practice. But he did have a brief message.

"I was in a good mood yesterday," Johnson said to the much smaller media group in attendance. "I don't have anything to be mad about. I'm happy."

Then Johnson walked away from his locker.

Indeed, Johnson was more chipper compared to the silent treatment he gave dozens of media Thursday. Johnson was constantly joking with teammates today and was in great spirits.

In other notes from practice, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis clarified that backup running back DeDe Dorsey suffered a hamstring injury. His status won't be known until training camp, Lewis said. Rookie receiver Jerome Simpson bounced back from a tough first day to make some nice catches Friday.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson did more of the same during Day 2 of minicamp. He did a few receiver drills at the beginning of this morning's practice but didn't participate in anything else.

However, Johnson appeared happier during practice than he was yesterday. He joked some with teammates and onlookers in his spare time. Perhaps fewer media in attendance looking for a sound bite helped loosen the mood.

The reason Johnson is limited this week is because he has bone spurs in his ankle. Although he passed the team's physical Thursday, agent Drew Rosenhaus said that Johnson is contemplating surgery for the ailment this summer.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson pulled a repeat performance Thursday evening.

Following the team's second practice, Johnson refused to answer questions from the throngs of media in attendance. Dozens of people with cameras and tape recorders followed Johnson on his way to the locker room.

Questions followed and Johnson remained silent.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus joined Johnson on the walk to the locker room and consoled the star receiver. Rosenhaus asked about practice, and Johnson replied, "I tried to do something."

Those were the only words that came from Johnson -- publicly -- all day. But he did manage to surprisingly smooch a reporter on the cheek on the way to the locker room to conclude a bizarre day in Cincinnati.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Here is more information on the history of Chad Johnson's ankle injury.

According to a source, Johnson played most of last season with a bad ankle. The Cincinnati Bengals recommended a cleanout after the season.

There was a document sent to Johnson by the team, saying he could benefit from the surgery. Agent Drew Rosenhaus and Johnson didn't agree with the Bengals, and therefore, refused surgery.

Fast-forward to today, when both Johnson and Rosenhaus said the ankle is holding Johnson out of minicamp. Rosenhaus told ESPN.com today that the injury is legit and Johnson is suffering from bone spurs.

Oddly enough, Johnson passed Cincinnati's physical several months after the team recommended ankle surgery.

Just another day in "The Jungle."

Tony Tribble/Associated Press

Now comes the latest layer in the Chad Johnson saga.

Johnson and agent Drew Rosenhaus claim the Pro Bowl receiver is bothered by ankle and back injuries.

The Cincinnati Bengals, after giving Johnson a physical this morning, don't seem convinced.

Here is a statement released by the Bengals:

"Chad Johnson was given a physical this morning by one of the Bengals' team doctors. He did not report any physical problems to the doctor, and he was cleared by the doctor for practice. Later, after the physical was concluded, Chad told our training staff that his back was sore. He refused to practice."

Either way, Johnson dressed for practice this morning but didn't participate. Today's second practice is about to get under way.

Stay tuned. This story is just getting interesting.

Update: Rosenhaus arrived in Cincinnati and says that Johnson's ankle injury is legit and was surprised by the Bengals' reaction.

"We talked about it since the end of the season and as recently as today,'' said Rosenhaus of Johnson's ankle, which has bone chips. "That's why Chad is not practicing. His back could be bothering him. I'm not saying that's not the case, but I know for a fact his ankle is.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is one of Chad Johnson's best friends on the team. Yet Houshmandzadeh says even he sometimes has trouble figuring out where Johnson is coming from.

After Johnson avoided the media this morning, Houshmandzadeh fielded question after question about his teammate.

The Pro Bowl receiver talked to Johnson today and wasn't surprised Johnson didn't practice. He said Johnson told him last night that he wasn't coming but showed up on time for today's 8 a.m. meeting.

"I don't know what he's thinking at all times, I really don't," Houshmandzadeh said. "He will tell me certain things, and sometimes when he tells me I'm like, 'Is that really what he's saying?'"

Johnson continued to send mix messages today. He showed up for practice but didn't participate. He says he has an ankle ailment, but the team was somewhat skeptical and said it will look into it.

Houshmandzadeh shrugged at the whole circus today, saying it will eventually work itself out.

"There's only two things that can happen, so it's not that complicated," Houshmandzadeh said. "Either it will get worked out or it's not. If it is, everybody is happy. If it's not, somebody is happy and somebody is not."

Palmer

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

It appears at least one Cincinnati Bengals player is tired of talking about Chad Johnson.

Starting quarterback and team captain Carson Palmer opened his news conference Thursday by saying he doesn't want to discuss anything related to Johnson. The receiver showed up but didn't participate in practice drills, so Palmer said he'd rather discuss players who were active.

Johnson and Palmer had their back and forth in the media in recent months over Johnson's comments about the organization. Today was the first time the pair were in practice together since the end of the regular season. The two didn't interact much on the field today, which makes you wonder if they've hashed out all their differences.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their first minicamp practice today and even without speaking, the Chad Johnson show was in full circus mode.

National media from ESPN.com, Yahoo Sports! and the NFL Network joined dozens of local media in Cincinnati to see what Johnson would do or say next. It was an ideal setting for Johnson to showcase himself on and off the field, but he refused to participate in practice or do interviews.

Johnson simply stood around for the nearly two-hour session without running a single route or catching a pass. According to Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, he expressed to the medical staff that he has an "ailment," which the team will check out later today.

"I kind of expected anything to happen," said Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. "So he's here and we'll go forward."

When the media converged on Johnson after practice, he didn't say a single word. Another attempt at his locker was met with no response. Johnson did joke with some teammates on the field and in the locker room, including T.J. Houshmandzadeh, cornerback Jonathan Joseph and safety Chinedum Ndukwe.

But the silence left other teammates to field "Ocho Cinco" questions.

"I knew he was going to be here," Houshmandzadeh said. "He told you and he told me two weeks ago, but you never know. He called me last night and said he wasn't coming but I knew he was lying."

Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson said he brought his own camcorder to record the scene. He dug in his bag and brought it out for further proof.

"I brought my camera to make sure he gives me an interview for my Web site," Anderson joked. "I'm going to be filming you all filming him and asking him questions, too."

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Johnson

After arriving for a team meeting at 8 a.m. this morning, Johnson showed up 12 minutes late for the 9:45 a.m. practice. When Johnson did arrive, he wasn't interested in running position drills or interacting with many teammates.

Friend and fellow receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the only player or coach to talk to Johnson during the early portions of practice. Johnson was whispering to Houshmandzadeh quietly enough that reporters and cameras nearby couldn't pick up the conversation.

Johnson didn't run routes with quarterback Carson Palmer or other signal callers during passing drills. First impressions from his body language are that Johnson is not happy to be in Cincinnati, but is doing what he can to avoid fines or penalties.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Can the Chad Johnson situation get any more convoluted?

Not long after ESPN The Magazine published the Cincinnati Bengals receiver's comments that he will rejoin the team, Johnson is spinning the declaration, saying his options are still open and his mind is not totally made up.

At this rate, Johnson is blowing with the wind and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is not playing games anymore. Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer Wednesday that he's taking a wait-and-see approach and "it's really not a concern" if Johnson shows.

Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp is just a week away on June 12, and there will be a group of national media -- ESPN.com's John Clayton and Hashmarks included -- making the trip to chronicle the potential circus.

But this latest odd chapter leaves a hint of mystery.

Perhaps "Ocho Cinco 2.0" likes it that way.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

It's obvious that Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson wants to turn in his orange jersey with black stripes.

It's also obvious that Johnson's comments about the Bengals make coach Marvin Lewis red in the face.

But at the end of the day, there's one color that matters most when settling disputes in the NFL:

That hue is green -- as in the color of money.

Our colleagues at ESPN The Magazine recently caught up with the embattled receiver at his home in Davie, Fla. Among other things, Johnson said that he plans to report to Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp on June 12 and that everyone will see "the reinvention of Ocho Cinco."

This declaration comes just six weeks after Johnson boldly told ESPN.com: "I don't intend on reporting to anything." Lewis quickly shot back during a news conference with Cincinnati media, saying, "I think he's a man of his word and says he's not going to play, so don't play.''

The major league staredown between Cincinnati's star player and coach resulted in Johnson blinking first.

Make no mistake, the fines of $8,000 per day for skipping minicamp and $14,000 per day for missing training camp were ringing in Johnson's head.

A holdout beyond that would have resulted in a loss of game checks. His $3 million salary divided over a 17-week regular season would have cost Johnson approximately $176,500 per week.

Those are the primary reasons Johnson backed down. His proclamation that "I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid" isn't a ringing endorsement that the Bengals are Super Bowl contenders.

With Johnson under contract through 2010 (with a team option for 2011), Cincinnati held most of the cards in this dispute. Threatening to hold out was Johnson's only wild card. He played it, and the Bengals guessed right by calling his bluff.

The good news is Cincinnati retains one of its best players and avoids a potential $8 million salary-cap hit by fending off Johnson's trade requests. But there are other questions that need to be answered.

Will Johnson become a bigger distraction or part of the solution?

How will his teammates receive him?

How will Lewis receive him?

"I'm dead serious. People need to take me as I am because I just don't give a [expletive] anymore,'' Johnson told ESPN The Magazine. "That's how I'd sum up my attitude for the next season."

In other words, let the circus begin.

Or in the Bengals' case, let the circus continue.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The eccentricities of a few high-profile NFL receivers give the position a bad name at times, but quite a few accomplished wideouts go about their business in a professional manner. Randy Moss, Anquan Boldin and Bobby Engram come to mind this offseason.

Moss quietly re-signed with New England even though he probably could have commanded more money elsewhere. He never publicly criticized the Patriots even though a deal with the organization didn't get done right away.

Boldin wants a new deal in Arizona and the Cardinals have indicated they'll probably give him one eventually. The receiver showed up for the postdraft minicamp and took a leadership role in mentoring younger players. The Cardinals appreciate his professionalism.

Engram isn't happy with his salarly in Seattle, to the point that he skipped voluntary practices. But in describing talks with team president Tim Ruskell, Engram put it this way to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "I understand Tim's position. I just hope he can understand mine." Knowing Engram, he probably agonized about saying anything even that vanilla.

We'll probably hear plenty more from Chad Johnson this offseason. Boldin and Engram will presumably take a lower-keyed approach. Moss has already done so, to the benefit of his bank account and the Patriots' organization.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Just finished reading my pal Peter King's Tuesday mailbag column, which included more rhetoric from Bengals coach Marvin Lewis in his public stare-down with Ocho Cinco.

"We've made it clear what the stance is," Lewis said. "It's not going to change, today or in August, whenever. You cannot allow a player to get up on his high chair with four years left on his contract and demand to get out. If you do that, you set a terrible example for the rest of your team, and we won't do that."

So who will blink first? My guess is the guy who stands to lose the most money, and that would be Chad Johnson. And did Lewis mean to say "high horse" or did he intentionally take a shot at Johnson's infantile behavior? These are the questions that Hashmarks will ask -- if anyone ever calls us back.

Also some interesting stuff on T.J. Houshmandzadeh in Peter's column. By the way, Peter has admitted to reading Hashmarks at least twice a week, although we're still waiting to appear in MMQB.

m

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley 

Things were starting to calm down inside Radio City Music Hall, in part because receivers from Coastal Carolina are now being taken. The great late Barry White's "Can't get enough of your love" is blaring over the PA system. Chris Berman started dancing to the music and fans in the upper deck erupted. It doesn't take much at this point.

Cal's DeSean Jackson is finally off the board. He was being projected as high as No. 20 in several mock drafts, but he goes 49th overall to the Eagles. He had some character issues, but the Eagles are thrilled to get him in the second round.

Donovan McNabb is a lot more accurate throwing down the field than on short routes. Kevin Curtis is serviceable, but he's not a consistent threat. Jackson is small (5-9), but he'll be able to make an immediate impact in the return game. The Eagles could've taken a receiver at No. 19, but that would've been a huge mistake. There was some belief that the Eagles were stacking up draft picks in order to make a run at Bengals' receiver Chad Johnson, but it's not going to happen. 

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

I will be in Cincinnati all weekend, and after doing some investigating it turns out there might be an additional reason the Bengals are standing firm on not trading receiver Chad Johnson.

Cincinnati paid Johnson a non-refundable option bonus of $1.75 million in January, which means they already have money invested this season before Johnson steps on the field. Add on the potential $8 million salary cap hit, and it's understandable why the Bengals refuse to listen to suitors.

Head coach Marvin Lewis said this week that Johnson informed the team after the season that he wanted out of Cincinnati. That is interesting because Cincinnati chose to pay the option bonus anyway, knowing the situation had the potential to get ugly. Even if Johnson holds out the bonus remains in pocket, but the team can begin to fine Johnson for missing mandatory activities.

Will there be a resolution this weekend? Not likely, but stay tuned.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News caught up with four former Cincinnati Bengals yesterday to get their take on trading "Ocho Cinco."

Interestingly enough, it was split right down the middle. Check it out here.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Hashmarks made some calls around the NFL this week and multiple league sources believe the Washington Redskins' trade proposal for Chad Johnson could open the floodgates for more to come.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been steadfast in saying they won't trade Johnson, which held off an initial rush of suitors after Johnson first went public that he wants out in February.

But Washington was the first to dive in anyway this week, putting up this year's first-round pick and a conditional third rounder in 2009. The conditional pick could be upgraded to a first or second rounder if Johnson meets performance incentives.

Now, with it public knowledge that Washington has an offer (and a pretty good one) on the table, expect other teams to be more aggressive.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys also have made brief inquires into Johnson's availability. Perhaps they will be the next in line to put together offers comparable or better than the one made by their division rival.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Redskins' willingness to part with the 21st overall choice as part of a package for Chad Johnson comes as little surprise. Johnson is close to a sure bet at this stage of his career. Not so for the typical player chosen 21st overall. The last 10 players chosen in that spot were: Reggie Nelson, Laurence Maroney, Matt Jones, Vince Wilfork, Jeff Faine, Daniel Graham, Nate Clements, Sylvester Morris, L.J. Shelton and a guy named Randy Moss. Current Redskins guard Pete Kendall was the 21st player chosen in 1996.

Purely from a production standpoint, would you rather have Johnson or would you rather reach into a hat with those other names? Given the pressures associated with coaching the Redskins, instant production might best serve that coaching staff.