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 > April > 22 > Entry
Marvin calls out Chad; Pollack to retire
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker David Pollack has decided to retire, head coach Marvin Lewis reported on Tuesday.
As for wide receiver Chad Johnson, Lewis denied an ESPN report that the Bengals turned down a trade offer with the Washington Redskins.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported the Redskins offered the Bengals a first-round draft pick this year and a third-rounder in 2009 that could turn into a first-rounder if Johnson reaches certain performance levels.
Lewis said the Bengals have not received any trade offers for Johnson.
“I think Chris (Mortensen) is probably a little errant,” Lewis said. “I don’t think (Bengals president) Mike Brown received a call.”
(Mortensen later said on ESPN that Lewis called to apologize and confirm that there was a trade offer.)
Johnson demanded a trade last week, saying he refuses to show up for the club’s mandatory minicamp in June and training camp in July.
“He’s made a statement that he’s not going to play and that’s the consideration I’ve been aware since the end of last season,” Lewis said. “It’s time to do just what you say you’re going to do, and we’ll move forward.”
Is Lewis concerned that Chad is going to be disruptive in the locker room?
“I’ve stated our case with Chad,” Lewis added. “He has a contract through 2011. He’s stated without an opportunity to go to a different team and a new contract, he wasn’t going to play. I think he’s a man of his word. He says he’s not going to play, so don’t play.”
Lewis said Pollack is preparing to call it a career after recovering from neck surgery. Pollack suffered a neck fracture on Sept. 17, 2006, when he collided with Cleveland Browns tailback Reuben Droughns.
“David has expressed to me that I believe where he’s headed is retirement,” Lewis said. “He is not completely comfortable with where (he is) medically, although he’s been given an opportunity, or released (medically cleared) to play football.
“We know the quality of the person, and he has such a bright future no matter what he chooses to do. We’re proceeding in that fashion as though he will not be part of this football team. At some point, obviously (he’ll) take the step which is to put the (retirement) papers in. But he spoke with me well over a week ago and that’s where things we’re headed.
“It’s been a tough, tough decision for David and his family.”
Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Homer J
April 22, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hello, the “source” cited for this report is clearly Drew Roesenhaus. This is a typical ploy to try and fool the fans into putting presure on the team to move Chad. This is not a realistic offer that only a fool would believe. T.O. was had for a number 2nd rounder, Randy Moss for a 4th, and we are supposed to believe that someone really feels Chad is worth 2 1st rounders. If you buy that I have some lovely swampside property I’d love to sell you.By Burt
April 22, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Let him sit out the whole season. If owners and coaches stuck to their guns we could get rid of crybaby players. Let’s see how he likes sitting at home not getting paid.By Burt
April 22, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
Let him sit out the whole season. If owners and coaches stuck to their guns we could get rid of crybaby players. Let’s see how he likes sitting at home not getting paid.By RavensRockNorth
April 22, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Please, please, please keep Chad on the team!! The resulting turmoil will tear this team apart. Go Steelers!! We Dey!!By Ft. Myers Foursome
April 22, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Let’s hope Marvin is also a man of his word and lets Chad sit without trading him. I like his stance and I’m sure Mike Brown gave his approval. It’s time NFL owners take a stance and let Rosenhaus clients know that a contract says what it means and means what it says. If Chad decides to report and becomes disruptive the team can suspend him or Willie and Levi can give him an attitude adjustment.By nullDoug R.
April 22, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Hey Chad,you really want to leave Cincinnati bust somebody in the back of the head with a beer bottle like your old buddy Chris did.By nullDoug R.
April 22, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Hey Chad,you really want to leave Cincinnati bust somebody in the back of the head with a beer bottle like your old buddy Chris did.By Drop-O Pass-O
April 22, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
I hope #85 does sit. I am tired of watching him run the wrong routes, drop perfect passes and seeing balls bounce off his helmet. He needs to be in the mini-camps more than anyone! Who Dey ‘08By preacher,franklin,ohio
April 22, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
YOUARECONTRACT,THROUCHO,2O11,GETER,DONE,FOR,JESUS,GOD,BLESS,YOU.By preacher,franklin,ohio
April 22, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
YOUARECONTRACT,THROUCHO,2O11,GETER,DONE,FOR,JESUS,GOD,BLESS,YOU.By preacher,franklin,ohio
April 22, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
YOUARECONTRACT,THROUCHO,2O11,GETER,DONE,FOR,JESUS,GOD,BLESS,YOU.By jay
April 22, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Ha ha ha. The cheap bengals have done nothing in the off season to improve the team in fact they have less talent on defense. send chad to Dallas where stars can be stars.By jay
April 22, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Ha ha ha. The cheap bengals have done nothing in the off season to improve the team in fact they have less talent on defense. send chad to Dallas where stars can be stars.By Irishguy
April 22, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
Keep Chad, bench him. Dear Steelers fans, We Dey doesn’t make sense.By Jason
April 23, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
Marvin’s act is wearing as thin as Chad’s. Why does he continually lie in the face of facts, a la Barry Bonds. To sit there and lie about the Redskins making a trade offer makes no sense. The only reason there can be is that he’s a compulsive liar who can’t help it. I’m on his and the Bengals’ side in this Chad thing, but come on, Marvin, just tell the friggin’ truth every once in awhile.By MICHAEL
April 23, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
I HOPE THE BENGALS STICK TO THEIR GUNS BECAUSE IF THEY DON’T WHO WILL BE THE NEXT TO DO THE SAME THING.WHY EVEN HAVE A CONTRACT IF IT MEANS YOU CAN QUIT ON YOUR TEAM AT ANY TIME.CHAD JOHNSON IS A VERY DISHONEST PERSON’REMEMBER THE TICKETS HE DIDN’T WANT TO PAY FOR,THE RAFFLE OF THE CAR AND NOW NOT WANTING TO HONOR HIS CONTRACT.CHAD JOHNSON NEEDS TO REALIZE HE WAS PART OF THE BENGALS PROBLEMS LAST YEAR AND STOP ACTING LIKE HE WAS THE ONLY ONE PLAYING GOOD LAST YEAR,LEARN TO CARE FOR YOUR TEAM INSTEAD OF IT BEING ALL ABOUT YOU.I DON’T WANT YOU ON THE TEAM BUT ITS TIME SOMEONE TAKES A STAND FOR WHAT’S RIGHT.By Otis
April 23, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Like Al Davis says, just win, baby. All this talk about Chad being dishonest is a bunch of BS. It’s odd how we tend to forget that NFL teams can cut players and basically nullify contracts at almost any time. The NFL Union is so bad, the players basically have no leverage. I don’t agree with all of Chad’s antics, but you can’t sit here and paint him as the devil and the NFL teams (as organizations) as saints. That’s just ignorant.By BB
April 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Is any true Bengal fan surprised that this trade did not happen? How long are we, the fans, going to support the “family”. The Brown family is a disgrace, and the Bengals will continue to be abysmal while they own the team. Please, as a life-long Bengal fan, somebody with football knowledge buy this team. I’m begging the NFL to strip the franchise away from them; anything.By pohlerbear
April 23, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
I am tired of this crap. Marvin Lewisand Mike Brown are a fools and couldn’t tell the truth if he had too. I have backed them long enough. They lie to us and try to make excuses. You have an oportunity to basicly get two 1 st round picks for a disgruntled worker and to try to make a point you keep that disgruntled worker and turn the offer down, that is just stupid. Chad is an a*s agreeing to a contract and trying to change it mid stream, that is wrong and I have no respect for that. He is disrepecting his team mates and letting them down for greed. The money he makes is crazy now just to play a game. That is why my season tickets are so expensive. I tell you now I am done with Cincinnati sports in general and sold my COA and season tickets yesterday. I am done thank you for nothing.By carrie
April 23, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
i would LOVE to see Chad sitting on the bench next year. But, with the way most Cincinnati fans feel about him at this point, he should probably keep his helmet on.By Larry
April 23, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
The consensus among the season ticket holders is let him sit unless another city is willing to offer numerous picks. He signed the contract. I have no problem letting him sit the next four years, repay his signing bonus, see what his marketability will be in 2012. The reality is that it is either the Brown family and the Bengals or nothing. Cincinnati is the third smallest market in the NFL and it is unlikely that the league would lose any sleep if the team left Cincinnati. L.A. and several other large markets the NFL would like to expand into.By Otis
April 23, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
//agreeing to a contract and trying to change it mid stream, that is wrong and I have no respect for that …// Sounds familiar. NFL teams do this all the time to players and are often praised for it. Even so-called “good/upstanding players.” The good-ole Pats signed a contract with Troy Brown (a rather good one) and changed their mind MID-STREAM and threatened to cut him if he didn’t renegotiate. Chad’s situation is not new. We call players cry-asses for complaining about their money all the while the owners of the franchises are making tons more and basically are getting over on the “fans.” The Bengals should feel even more proud because they scammed their way into a tax-payer funded stadium. As did Philadelphia pre-TO melt down. You may not like Chad … but don’t demonize him and players like him for playing the cards they are dealt (especially with that p**s-poor excuse for a union the NFL has).By linda
April 23, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
“see ya chad” is all I have to say…and when win without you, then you will see a real team play….