Chad Ocho Cinco Has a Very Serious Injury But He Refuses to Acknowledge It

Chad Johnson has a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder. Yet, if you listen to Ocho Cinco, he is going to be just fine. I am not a medical "expert" per se, but I think that when you have anything that's torn in a important part of your body, you are not "fine".

Chad Being Chad

Chad Johnson will require surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, but that didn't stop the wideout from proclaiming himself ready to play. It is just another case of Chad being Chad.

Joe Robbins, Getty Images

Johnson reportedly started proceedings to have his last name officially changed Ocho Cinco. In the past, Johnson has been told he would be fined if he wore the nickname on his jersey during games.

Al Behrman, AP

The Bengals' star is known for his antics both on and off the field. "I'm the type that I want everyone to like me and what I do." The outspoken wideout has always found creative ways to push the NFL's celebration rules.

Ben Liebenberg, NFL Photos / Getty Images

Love him or hate him, you have to give him credit for his creativity when it comes to bringing laughs. Johnson put this sports jacket on after a 39-yard touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens in 2007.

David Kohl, AP

Johnson began sporting a blond mohawk in '06, a look that morphed into a team marketing ploy. Blond rubber scalps were sold in the team gift shop.

AJ Mast, AP

According to Chad, Tiger Woods has nothing on his golf game, as he showed versus the Ravens. The showman once used the pylon to putt the football after scoring a touchdown.

Dan Beineke, NFL / Getty Images

In another premeditated move, the Bengals wideout resuscitated a ball in the end zone after a score.

Jimmy DeFlippo, USP / ZUMA Press

Johnson has also used his celebrity for good causes. In 2007, he raised money for charity by racing a horse. Thanks to a head start, he won the race by several lengths.

David Kohl, AP

Still, the loudmouthed Bengals wide receiver is maintaining that nothing is wrong.

Johnson did not seem to worried about the injury, and claims he will be ready for the season opener at Baltimore on September 7.

"I'm lifting my normal weight. I do everything normal now. Everything," said Johnson, who caught 93 passes for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns last season. "It's been what? Eight days? (since the injury) I'm back to normal."

It takes me eight days to recover from wakeboarding for a weekend, and while I'm no professional athlete, wakeboarding is no partially torn shoulder muscle. So forgive me if I'm not entirely sold on Johnson's health.

Oh, and it turns out the Bengals might not be sold either. They have T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Johnson and Chris Henry (again!), so if everyone's healthy, the very last thing they need in the entire world is a wide receiver. Yet, SCOOP Mortensen is reporting that Rudi Johnson is on the block in Cincy, as the Bengals are looking to get a wide receiver in return for the former stud running back.

I could take the time out to analyze what potential trades are available, but the fact that the Bengals have inked Henry and are now trying to ship Rudi out of town kind of sums up what's going on (again) with a once nearly rejuvenated franchise.

Fantasy Spin: Okay, I haven't been drafting Ocho Cinco thus far in any fantasy drafts, mainly because he's still going a little too high for my tastes, relative to what I think his production will be. Now that he's got this shoulder injury, I'm definitely not touching him unless he drops to the sixth or seventh round, which he probably won't. Bump up Housh on your draft boards, and Henry as well, barring a trade.

Which, if Mort is right, could actually skyjack the fantasy values of Rudi and Kenny Watson (and Chris Perry). You can get all three pretty late in drafts, and in a year where supposedly there's a ton of scary RB options, I'd absolutely consider all three in the teens. Watson's my personal top choice out of the three, but I imagine he'll be going higher anyway.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-26-2008 @ 8:41PM

Patrick said...

This guy is a human sphincter

8-27-2008 @ 12:17AM

Brian said...

I've torn my labrum while wrestling in a college match. It isn't a laughing matter. Even without surgery the doctors advise being out for at least 6 weeks. If there is surgery there is at least 4 months recovery time before one can actually lift weights and thats if it is recovery is going well. So good luck Chad with your shoulder. It's a bi... to recover from.