Ocho Cinco? Stupid, stupid rumors

by Ed Valentine on Jan 25, 2009 7:00 AM EST in News Comment 39 comments

Ridiculous! Complete, utter nonsense! Lunacy! Irresponsible off-season rumor-mongering at its absolute worst -- or best, depending on your point of view.

That's my reaction to the off-the-wall rumor from Pro Football Weekly that the New York Giants have interest in the egomaniacal Chad 'Ocho Cinco' Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Chad Ocho Cinco to the Giants? Hang on a minute. Yes, rumors have floated that the Giants might be interested in adding a receiver, especially given Plaxico Burress’ legal situation and the fact that Amani Toomer is a free agent and not likely to be back. But as much as GM Jerry Reese likes talent, we hear there might be some people in the organization who would oppose the move, given Ocho Cinco’s histrionics and the potential clash it might cause with the businesslike atmosphere head coach Tom Coughlin has worked hard to establish. That said, the Giants would be buying low. Ocho Cinco is coming off his worst season since becoming a star, and the Bengals are said to be willing to move him at a friendly price.

Rumor? From where? The devious mind of some bored, attention-starved editor at PFW?

This makes no sense at all, and will never happen. Going out of their way to trade for trouble is simply not how the Giants do business, and I can't imagine there being anything real to this.

It's probably not even worth the time and effort I have already wasted getting all worked up about it. If the Giants want a headache, they can just keep Burress.

-- Kudos to 'Giants Gab.'

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it not to bad

you have to go against the grain every now and then. i would welcome chad (ocho cinco) johnson. i would give up any first day picks for tho. the guy is a productive wr. just remember the guy was playing with a partially torn labrum since the preseason, and he still put up better numbers than any of our wr. 53 540 4td’s. just imagine if the guy was healthy. the guy is one of the most exciting wr in the league when healthy. i wouldnt mind seeing the river dance in the endzone. the guy had 93 1440 and 8td’s the year before he got hurt. not to mention he is 31yrs old , he has atleast 3-4 years left in the tank. bottom line passionate reciever that wants to win. winning cures everything.

by rumble27 on Jan 25, 2009 9:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Are you kidding?

I could care less about the talent. The guy has been a selfish idiot his entire career, exactly the opposite of the kind of player and kind of team Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese built a championship team with. He is as far from ‘team before self’ as you can get. There is a reason why the Bengals stink, and his attitude is part of it. Guys like him and T.O. destroy teams, they don’t help them.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 25, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 25, 2009 9:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

IF you don’t have to give up too much for him and you put him on an extremely short leash, this is a very easy decision!

Talent like this doesn’t shake loose very often. If the Giants have a chance at this, how can you not do it?

And besides, aside from his vocal unhappiness in Cincy, what has he done that’s so bad? Even classy HOF’ers like Tony Gonzalez express disappointment with situations. If you want to critique his end zone celebrations, go ahead. But I happen to love them and watching “ocho-cinco” in his prime was simply can’t-look-away TV. The list of CB’s he planned to brutalize throughout the season that he crossed off one by one? Hilarious! I don’t think it would kill the team to have a guy like that around.

And besides, if you want an example of a guy that everyone thought was a classless egomaniacal “Me first” WR, look no further than Randy Moss and the way he has matured and played so well in New England.

This rumor, if true, would be a GREAT move for the Giants (again, short leash, zero tolerance, etc., etc.) – he’s a talented guy with a lot left in the tank and now he’s got a chip on his shoulder.

by Cody K on Jan 26, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i see no problem with ocho cinco

i think the rumor is probably completely unfounded but chad johnson is awesome. hes one of the most popular players among fans and other players. hes a little crazy but that makes him fun. so yeah, the trade is probably made up nonsense but johnson would be a great player to add to the team.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Jan 25, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Am I the only one who thinks Plax will be back?

And all this speculation is complete nonsense?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 25, 2009 9:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you

As long as he doesn’t face jail time other serious repercussions he’ll be back. Hey, it had to be humbling to shoot himself, and he already has had considerable time to think about what’s important to him. Why should some other team benefit from his talent and possibly straightened priorities?

by edzilla on Jan 25, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hes still the best option

As a trade for a top WR isnt likely

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 25, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i sure would like plax to be back

tuck was interviewed by dan patrick in one of the latest SI’s and he says the team, coaches and management would all basically welcome him back on the understanding that he makes some changes in his life and attitude and would be on a short leash. so hopefully he avoids jail and he gets another shot. er, another chance.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Jan 25, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When is his trial?

I thought it wasn’t until May. That’s a long time to wait.

by TerraByte on Jan 25, 2009 8:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

march31

by shenkthetank92 on Jan 25, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I definitely agree

that Plax will be back if he’s available to do so.

by potroast on Jan 26, 2009 6:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you too

There is NO way that the Giants will be stupid enough to let Plax go if he can get by his legal troubles and he will. And let him go for nothing??!? If they evem think about letting him go for less than a number 1 pick, they are nuts. Now THAT would be pure lunacy. We’ve all now seen with our own eyes what Plax brings to the WR position. A Superbowl appearance, that’s what. All they would be doing is handing him to the Eagles or Cowboys, so he could rub it in our faces twice or more per year.

by MJ20 on Jan 26, 2009 9:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It might not be that much of a risk.

Remember the Pats took a risk going into 07 on a selfish WR who was coming off his worst season ever and all they gave up was a 4th round pick because of his issues. I think that Randy Moss trade might be one of the more lopsided ones in recent memory. The Giants will have to give up in a trade for Boldin or even Braylon Edwards for that matter and there is no other Big WR option available on the market so Chad Johnson might be the best option. If he acts like a jerk, just get rid of him.

by Landeta on Jan 25, 2009 11:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hope for the best, plan for the worst

The reality of the situation is that Plax may not even be available, given the situation. There’s little possibility of his pleading innocent(the evidence is clear) and the law leaves no judicial discretion, meaning he has a 99.9% chance of doing time. Besides that we already know he’s too emotional to seperate himself enough from the situation to perform at his level of ability. So we have to plan for Burress to not be here, unless, of course, you consider a roll of the dice as a prudent strategy.

He wasn’t even playing that well, this past season, before any of this happened. Add to that the fact that Coughlin does not want him back, and unless TC has a big change of heart, he won’t. Ability aside, this kid does not really buy into the “team first” concept that won his team a Superbowl. Sure, he played outstandingly on a hobbled leg, but he was also playing for a contract restructuring and would have been gone from the roster if he sat out too many games.

Now to the Ocho Cinco rumor. It is exactly that, a rumor. He also may be the only true #1 receiver available with any legs left under him, but he will come at a cost that will not even be considered past the typical “we consider all possibilities” approach of Reese. Unlike Jerry Jones, JR considers his coach’s input before pulling any trigger on deals.

Let’s see who else might be out there. Marvin Harrison will most likely be available, but he is on his last legs and lacks the size we desire. T.O. will probably be released, but refer to #85 and declining abilities, nothing else needs to be said. Houshmandzadeh is a UFA and a beast, but is a possession receiver and we already have one or more of those in Hixon and Smith. Other than that, there is no single player worth mentioning.

It is obvious that the team is going in the direction of youth and speed. We already have a possible fit in Micah Rucker, who, with some speed training, could be a diamond in the rough, ala Brandon London. Then there is the Draft and the gems JR seems to find in other teams discards, referring to Ward, Hixon and Hedgecock. Heywood-Bey and especially Kenny Britt are good prospects, but they will be rookies. Only time will tell and we’ll just have to wait and see what our genius GM can pull off. It’s a long way until June.

Landeta- comparing Randy Moss and Ocho Cinco is apples and oranges. Moss- one of the best ever with a bit of an attitude. Ocho Cinco- one of the biggest egos/attitudes to ever play the game with alot of talent.

Bleeding Blue since 1962

by sunlion333 on Jan 25, 2009 11:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thoughtful analysis, 333.

Likewise, TF, exept I believe Hix’s biggest problem on long balls were the throws made by Eli, most of which couldn’t have been caught by Plastic Man. To me, grabbing OC would be a roll of the dice. It would be foolish for the Giants to do so.

by blue gonz on Jan 25, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sunlion333

I’m not comparing the players as much as I’m comparing a possible trade of a low draft pick for a talented reciever who is considered finished to a team that needs one. If the Bengals want to unload Johnson for a cheap price and lets say all that is is a 4th or 5th round pick it has to be considered. I’m not saying give up top round picks or a big name player nor am I saying Chad Johnson is Randy Moss but I think your forgeting just how bad Randy Moss’s last couple of years in Oakland were. His Stats were awful. People were saying he doesn’t have the speed anymore or the desire to be a top level player. Remeber how he just walked off the field when he was in Minesota while the game was still going on and while in Oakland admitting he did not want to be there or for that matter how he never gave any effort to block on even run routes on plays that were not designed for him. That sounds like a little more than a “bit” of an attitude. I think like most people your lettting his brilliant 07 and 08 seasons w/ a good team make you forget how washed up and selfish of a player he was considered at the time. The Pats were smart they gave up a mid round pick for maybe the most talented player ever at his position who at the time was considered a bad team player w/ declining skills and it worked out. Remeber the day of the 07 draft, the NFL experts were actually debating wether the Pats did the right thing because of Moss’s attitude problems. Think about it a 4th round pick for Randy Moss! and the Pats were the only team that considered it, thats how much of a problem most of the NFL thought of Moss at the time. Moss was a jerk in Minesota and a Jerk in Oakland but when he got to the Pats he shaped up. Chad Johnson just a couple short years ago was a top 5 WR in the leauge and has played for a dysfunctional franchise in the Bengals like Moss in Oakland. Maybe if he came to a winning franchise with strong team leaders like Tuck, Pierce, Ohara, Jacobs he won’t act up and if he does you keep him on a short leash and let him know that the second he walks in the door. I’m not saying I even want the Giants to do this, but it’s obvious Eli needs a big reciever, and all options must be considered. To not consider trading a 4th or 5th round pick for a guy that is the same age as Plax, hurt for a good portion of 08, and in 07 caught 93 passes for 1,440 yards and 8 TD’s would be foolish.

by Landeta on Jan 26, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like your arguements

but I just don’t think they apply to Johnson. It sure sounds like TC doesn’t want Plax back, no way does he want Chad Johnson.

by queler on Jan 26, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it doesn't matter that the law is clear

what’s he charged with is not what he will plea to. No way he does more the 6 months, I’d probably wager 3.

by queler on Jan 26, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mandatory Sentence laws

They might not let him plea, it sets a bad legal precedent.

The mandatory sentence for an incident with an illegal firearm is 3.5 years.

by Woogie526 on Jan 26, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

trials cost money

and burress is still a popular guy in NY. Drug Dealers get to plea. Gangbangers get to plea. Plax will plea out

by queler on Jan 27, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe, q.

Politics (internal and external) will decide whether Plax goes to trial or not. Bloomberg has already publicly stated he wants to make an example of Plax. Does the DA want to oppose the clear wishes of a hugely popular mayor?

by blue gonz on Jan 27, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd pass, if it's even really an option

Unless Ocho Cinco, or whatever he decides to call himself next year, comes really cheap, I’d rather not take the chance. If Burress doesn’t go to jail, I’d rather give him another shot. Clownish antics will wear thin quickly. Whatever happens though, I’m not so sure that with a whole off season and preseason to plan an offensive scheme that suits the present receivers we might be ok as is. Hixon’s biggest problem was a case of the drops on the long balls. But he got open deep quite a bit. I’ve seen him make some tough catches, so I think he’ll catch his share of the long ones. Sure he’s not physically dominating like Burress, but I think he’s faster and shiftier. Or perhaps we can retool the passing game to focus more on the middle of the field and the medium range game, where Hixon, Boss and Smith all performed well. That’s more Manning’s comfort zone anyway. I have no problem drafting a big receiver like Britt and letting him work his way into the existing mix as quickly as he’s ready.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Jan 25, 2009 12:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ocho Cinco

I throw him more in the clown category than the attitude problem category. If he were willing to submit to Couglin rules I would support it.

by DoctorK16 on Jan 25, 2009 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think Chad is a huge problem

The only reason he made such a big fuss this year is because he wants to win. Marvin Lewis is such a huge pushover and it’s obvious that he can’t control his players. With a solid locker room to tell him when to shut up, I think he may tone it down. I also think he’d be pretty good with the media. The Giants have also proven that they work very well with Rosenhaus, hence the fact that they are not afraid to draft/sign his clients. If you put chad on the cowboys, it would be bad news.. but the Giants who have arguably the most stable locker room in the league may be able to work with him.

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 25, 2009 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, 85,

if and may = crap shoot. It’s the old story—whatever TC and JR choose to do, I support.

by blue gonz on Jan 25, 2009 6:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

teensy weentsy

All this is moot, fellas. Ocho Cinco is only 6’1" 195lbs. He’s not the physical presence the Giants want in that position. To top that off he’s a head case. The moment things don’t go his way he’ll be disruptive. As good as he has been (and there’s no guarantee he’s still got it) he just not worth it.

Bleeding Blue since 1962

by sunlion333 on Jan 25, 2009 7:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I guess were not on the same page about this

Size does not matter as much as the ability to draw coverage to that player. It doen’t matter that Chad’s not 6’6 like plax what matters is he needs to be doubled teamed and if he’s not the defense will get burned by hime all day. The Giants were 6-2 since 05 vs the Eagles w/ Plax in the lineup and even in the 2 losses he had big games and the O moved the ball and scored at least 20. Point is the Eagles rely on 8 guys in the box to stop the run and rush the QB which leaves man coverage on the outside WR’s and a guy like Chad Johsnon can beat man coverage most of the time unlike Hixon or Smith, this then leads to big plays and forces the Eagles into more DB’s and then their small d-line and LB’s cant handle the run without that extra man in the box. Steve Smith of the Panthers is 5’7 and teams have to double team him (even the Giants) because of his playmaking ability. Most WR’s are not 6’6 like Plax, if a WR is 6’4 he’s considered tall so 6’1 is about average to a little below average.

by Landeta on Jan 26, 2009 10:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

double teaming

and the bracketing that teams were doing to Plax are different things. I know Plax didn’t do much when he was doubled, but I contend he took the safety completely out of every play. Johnson has folded to a double team his entire career. trust me, he has cost me so many fantasy leagues, I’ll never own him again

by queler on Jan 26, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by NYERinSF on Jan 25, 2009 10:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Crazy Stupid

Heck they might as well go after T.O!

They’d be better off footing Plaxico’s entire legal bill and do everything to get him back. At least the Devil you know is better than the Devil you don’t know.

by John W on Jan 26, 2009 9:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs