Chad Johnson's most daring leap - 'Dawg Pound' his next target

[clevfan]

Chad's most daring leap
'Dawg Pound' his next target

By Kevin Goheen
Cincy Post staff reporter

Chad Johnson is a trusting soul. At least when it comes to the fans of Cleveland Browns Stadium and the end zone better known as "The Dawg Pound."

Johnson said on Wednesday that if he scores a touchdown against the Browns Sunday in Cleveland he plans on jumping into the Dawg Pound, a la the "Lambeau Leap" tradition in Green Bay. Johnson was talking to reporters about how much he enjoys playing in the atmosphere of Cleveland's stadium when he decided upon this week's would-be scoring celebration.

The only question would be whether or not Johnson makes it back to the field from enemy territory.

"If I don't, maybe T.J. (Houshmandzadeh) better come get me or something. It'll be fun, man. I love the Dawg Pound," said Johnson. "I talked to a gentleman - I'm not sure what his name is - but he's sat there every year since my rookie year. Before every game, I go up to him and talk to him. A heavy-set guy who wears a mask. I talk to him all the time every year. I told him I'm going to jump in there. So I don't know. If I see him again, I'm going to let him know: I'm going to jump in here.

"If y'all beat up on me, don't hit me too hard."

One person who won't be going in to get Johnson is Carson Palmer.

"I hope he doesn't do it because there are some crazy fans," said the Bengals quarterback. "They might tear Chad apart. So I hope he makes it back in one piece."

Johnson scored his first touchdown of the season Monday night on a 39-yard pass from Palmer in the first quarter of the 27-20 win over Baltimore. Upon returning to the sideline Johnson put on a large gold Hall of Fame blazer, with the help of Houshmandzadeh, with lettering on the back that read: "FUTURE H.O.F. 20??"

Johnson took some criticism for the celebration. He took that criticism in stride.

"You're always going to have haters. You're always going to have critics," said Johnson. "I like the critics. Those are the people that continue to have me doing the things that I do. For those who take what I did Monday as a joke: It's not funny. There's truth to it. Every time I say something, I do it. I've done something. All I was doing was letting you know I will be there at some point in 2000-something. I just don't know when. Laugh about it, but I'm dead serious."

Johnson caught five passes for 95 yards and the one touchdown against the Ravens, but all of his production came in the first half. The Bengals gained just 236 yards of offense against Baltimore, but the offense was able to produce enough plays to back up the defense and its six takeaways for the victory.

Johnson is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro selection. He has led the AFC in receiving yards each of the last four seasons and last season he became the first Bengals player ever to lead the NFL in receiving yards. He is second in franchise history in both career receptions and receiving yards. His five catches against Baltimore leave him needing 60 more to pass Carl Pickens and his 530 receptions.

He could surpass Isaac Curtis' yardage record Sunday against the Browns. He needs 82 more yards to move past Curtis, who had 7,101 yards on 416 catches. Johnson is now third on the team's all-time touchdown receptions list with 42, behind Pickens (63) and Curtis (53). His touchdown Monday night broke a tie with Eddie Brown.

Johnson has 58 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 12 career games against Cleveland, including 13 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown in two games last season. He has had three 100-yard games against Cleveland in his career but the Browns have also four times held Johnson to under 40 yards.

"It doesn't mean much," Johnson said. "I respect all records that I do achieve. It says a lot about what I've accomplished, what I've worked for since I was young. But my focus right now from this point on in my career is getting a ring. That's it. I could care less about the numbers right now. I've done all I can do.

"My goal coming in here was to get to the Pro Bowl. I've been there. My goal behind that was break a couple of records, set my name in the foundation of this organization. I've done that. My goal now is getting to Arizona, period. That's it. And I will do it by all means necessary."

Super Bowl XLII will be played on Feb. 3 of next year in Glendale, Ariz.

[clevfan]

BROWNS
Cleveland Browns corner Leigh Bodden has own plans for Chad Johnson

Friday, September 14, 2007
Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Leigh Bodden has something planned for Cincinnati receiver Chad Johnson.

"I've been thinking about it," the Browns cornerback confessed on Thursday. "He wants to entertain. Well, I'm going to entertain, too."

Bodden said that if he were fortunate to return an interception for a touchdown on a pass intended for Johnson, he would turn the tables on pro football's Mr. Entertainment and celebrate his score.

Maybe that's what tight end Kellen Winslow had in mind when he called Bodden "the show-stopper."

Bodden would not elaborate on what he has in store.

"I can't discuss it, like he doesn't discuss that he's coming out with the jacket," Bodden said with a laugh.

Johnson kicked off his 2007 season by donning a gold Hall of Fame-like blazer after scoring on the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. Johnson reiterated on Wednesday that he intends to leap into the Dawg Pound if he scores in Cleveland on Sunday.

"I wouldn't advise him to," Bodden said, smiling.

"If I'm going to be on him all game, then I'm responsible for him not getting into the end zone. So he's not going to get into the end zone."

Bodden has grown to enjoy these twice-yearly, pregame verbal jousts with Johnson because he usually comes out on top on Sunday.

The fact is Johnson has not scored in Cleveland since November 2004. Bodden was strictly a special teamer back then and missed the game with an injury.

Bodden started filling in for injured Browns cornerbacks in the 2005 season. He blanked Johnson twice that year, and turned in a Herculean performance in the second meeting, defending Johnson at the end of the game while playing with a concussion. A couple of ticky-tacky penalties on Bodden moved the Bengals close enough for a winning field goal.

That was the game that put Bodden on the NFL map.

Last season, Johnson finally beat Bodden for a touchdown in the first meeting in Cincinnati. But Bodden retaliated with an interception when Johnson was knocked across the Ohio River by former Browns safety Brian Russell.

Bodden was out with an ankle injury for the rematch in Cleveland, but Johnson didn't score in the 30-0 Cincinnati rout, frustrating his chance to do a Dawg Pound leap.

The two rivals have developed a mutual-admiration society.

"I have a lot of respect for the guy and I hope he's got respect for me," Bodden said. "That's one of the best receivers in the league. To play him twice a year, that's great for me. To show where I'm at as a corner. If I do a good job against him, I can do a good job against any receiver in the league."

The Browns' pass defense is not exactly bursting with pride after allowing four touchdown passes by Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger in the 34-7 opening loss last week.

Rookie cornerback Eric Wright was victimized on a perfect lob throw to Hines Ward on the first score. But the others appeared to be on breakdowns by the safeties. That was certainly the case on the 40-yard scoring pass to Santonio Holmes, who got behind both Brodney Pool and Sean Jones.

It was evidence the defense may miss Russell's sense of directing the secondary on the field.

"Brian was the quarterback of our defense," Bodden said. "Brodney Pool and Sean Jones are now. They do a pretty good job. They're not where Brian Russell was, so we just have to work on that. But athletically, they're great. They just have to work on the mental aspect of it now. Everybody makes mistakes.

"We shouldn't give up four touchdowns. Things happen, but giving up four is crazy."

[clevfan]

LOL, he couldn't find it because it was at the other end of the field.

Maybe he'll jump in during the 2nd half