Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > March > 12 > Entry
Chad’s blues; draft talk; Giants join Hoyng workout
CHAD’S GOOD DEAL GONE BAD
If you thought Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson was upset before, what about now?
Now that Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald has signed a four-year, $40 million contract.
While Fitzgerald breaks the bank with $10 million per year for four years, Johnson is boxed in by a contract that went from good to bad in a hurry.
“Chad’s got to be crying,” one NFL insider told me.
Why? Because he’s between a rock and a hard place … for the next four years.
The $35.5 million extension Johnson signed in April 2006, which included a fat $10.75 million signing bonus, looked great at the time. But it doesn’t look so good anymore compared to Fitzgerald’s monster deal.
Johnson is due to earn $3 million in 2008, $4.5 million in 2009, $5 million in 2010 and $6 million in 2011. That’s $18.5 million.
In that same span, Fitzgerald will make $40 million — $22.5 million more than Chad.
Chad cannot be happy. But he has only two people to blame: himself and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Instead of waiting for Chad to reach free agency in 2009, they leaped on the Bengals’ six-year extension in 2006.
The following are Rosenhaus’ quotes I wrote in the Dayton Daily News back on April 20, 2006. I laugh every time I read them:
“It’s a great day for Chad and the Bengals for him to be able to finish his career as a Bengal. It was a very smooth process. We’ve been working on it for a year. It’s a great victory for everybody involved.
“I can’t really think of any deal like this. I give a lot of credit to the Bengals for reworking a contract that had four years left, and you’ve got to take your hat off to Chad. He’s a great player, on and off the field, to merit this type of unique situation. It shows you what a phenomenal player he is.”
The Bengals are shrewd negotiators. They dangled the carrot on the string, and Rosenhaus-Johnson swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
DRAFT HOT STOVE TALK
NFL.com’s Vic Carucci just posted his latest mock draft and he has the Bengals selecting USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis at No. 9.
If Ellis is there, the pick is a no-brainer.
If Ellis is not available, the Bengals should grab USC linebacker Keith Rivers in the first round, and then Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws in the second round.
As one NFL scout told me at the Combine: “Trevor Laws is the kind of guy that if you poke him in the left eye, he’ll say, ‘Please poke me in the right eye.’ He’s one tough customer.”
Carucci’s top 10:
- DE Chris Long (Dolphins); 2. OT Jake Long (Rams); 3. DT Glenn Dorsey (Falcons); 4. TB Darren McFadden (Raiders); 5. OT Ryan Clady (Chiefs), 6. DE Vernon Gholston (Jets); 7. CB Leodis McKelvin (Patriots, from San Francisco); 8. QB Matt Ryan (Ravens); 9. DT Sedrick Ellis (Bengals); 10. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Saints).
Check out Carucci’s mock draft at:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80721d2b&template=with-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0005
KEVIN HOYNG UPDATE
I tip my cap to State Farm agent John Devine, who alerted me this morning that his brother — New York Giants scout Steve Devine — will be on hand along with the Bengals for Kevin Hoyng’s workout at the University of Dayton on Friday morning, March 14.
Out of courtesy, Steve Devine called the Bengals and asked if he could be included. Permission was granted.
I met Steve Devine, a former Ohio State and Bowling Green assistant, only once. It was the day he came to Dayton Dunbar High School and signed linebacker Michael McCray for the Buckeyes.
Here’s an email from a huge Hoyng fan:
“Hello, Chick. Your coverage of Kevin’s NFL quest has been absolutely outstanding! Frankly, this is one of the most exciting things to happen relative to UD football in years! Please keep up the excellent work! Best Regards, Dave Marnell, UD ‘84.
HOYNG ON WONE-AM (980) RADIO
Hoyng and his agent, Ron Todd, are scheduled to be interviewed by Mark Schlemmer on WONE-AM (980) radio between 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday.
Stay tuned to “Chick Ludwig At Large” for more details.
Until next time, this is “The Chickster” saying: Make Love, Not War; Give Peace a Chance; and Strawberry Fields Forever.
email cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By steve
March 12, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
I talk almost daily with Jerry Jones and also love laws,as does Jerry,but very unlikely he is available in the 2nd.The Bengals go to last from first in the first round among the 7-9 teams picking,around 17th,I think,and Laws is too good to be available.By steve
March 12, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
Maybe by dangling a 3rd to move up to the EARLY 2nd round,MAYBE THEN.By null
March 12, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
Chick, This blog entry just further cements you're worthlessness. Rather than discussing worthwhile football news, you continue to resort to trying to instigate the likes of Marvin and Chad so that you can make a name for yourself. It's a disgrace to the area and fans that you mistakenly "claim" to represent. You don't represent us Chick. You embarass us.By Jon
March 12, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this
I fully agree with you Mr. Ludwig. It’s ironic that Chad signed this deal with his snake of an agent a couple of years ago and now is crying foul how he was overpaid. Karma has a funny way with some people although I’m sure right now Mr. Johnson is not in a laughing mood.By Done with the Bengals
March 12, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
Null is a dumbass. Having said that, Chick keep doing what your doing. Chad needs to go. He is not a team player. It does not matter though. Mike Brown can not, has not and never will build a team that will improve and compete for division titles yet alone Superbowls. The man is a freakin idiot. He makes $ for the family business. He is a waste of space. The only reason he is in football is because his dad was Paul Brown. Look at the Bungles record since douche bag took control. I used to have hope. Now I pity anyone who thinks this is the year we are going all the way. Mike Brown is the sole reason this franchise has sucked for 16 out of the last 17 years. You people keep going to the games though. He keeps making $ so he considers himself a winner because he is living large. His passion is $. He has no clue about building a team. If I were given a team to run the 1st thing I would do is hire a competent GM. Common sense, right? After 17 years he has fielded one team that made the playoffs. This is one incompentent individual. F Mike Brown and F the Bengals.By BIG AL
March 12, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
WELL I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING MARVIN LEWIS AND I DO BELIEVE THE BENGALS WILL BE GOOD AGAIN AND IT WIL BE THIS YEAR HANG IN THERE TRUE BENGAL FANS MARVIN WILL TAKE US TO PROMISE LANDBy Frank, Linda, Bogey & Coco
March 13, 2008 4:02 AM | Link to this
Hello from sunny and I might add, WARM Ft. Myers, Fflorida. This is a little off topic, but how about replacing David Pollack’s photo on the web page. It seems like it’s been up there forever.