Chad Johnson Punched Marvin Lewis in 2006

by Jimmy on Mar 7, 2008 7:48 AM CST in Tennessee Titans News

Pro Football Talk reported in 2006 that Chad Johnson had taken a swing at Marvin Lewis at halftime of a playoff game. The story was denied vehemently by everyone, including Johnson, who called a press conference to state his case. Now more than 2 years later Shaun Smith, who was a defensive tackle with the Bengals at the time, is saying Johnson did hit Lewis:

"He swung on Marvin. . . . [Johnson] shattered the training room glass. . . . He swung on Marving [and] hit Marvin in the eye. . . . Then he tried to swing on wide receivers coach Hue Jackson, who's now in Baltimore."

There was a YouTube video of Smith saying that, but it has since been taken down.

This can end any talk of the Titans making a move for Johnson.

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I hope we

sign Grady Jackson.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Mar 7, 2008 8:52 AM CST reply actions

That's so ugly.

Can you imagine if that had happened in the Titans' locker room. I can't believe that they didn't release Johnson after that, star player or not.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Mar 7, 2008 9:04 AM CST reply actions

Maybe get him a one day contract?

Then we get Pac to show up in a Marvin Lewis mask?

/endorses humor not violence

DEAR M. REINFELDT: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD DRAFT EARL BENNETT!!!

by August West on Mar 7, 2008 9:26 AM CST reply actions

What a load of crap

Chad Johnson is a showboat, but he's a great guy, well liked by players and opponents, and known to work very hard. There must be much more to this story.

He would fit in in Nashville because he wouldn't feel frustrated by the fact that an organization is completely wasting boatloads of talent year-in year-out.

Supposing the Titans somehow landed him, Chad Johnson would quite literally be the best receiver the organization has ever had...by far.

Besides, how much damage can a 185lb receiver really do? I have noticed that Titans fans really over-emphasize how much they want everything to be squeaky clean, and everyone to behave like boyscouts. Call it bible-belt values, I guess, but it's a bit much sometimes. At the end of the day, the most important thing is winning, not "having fun and playing fair".

by BeansCarter on Mar 7, 2008 9:39 AM CST reply actions

We care about winning...

...but athletes aren't above the law just because they're athletes.

Is NOT BREAKING THE LAW too much to ask? Really? You seriously don't mind if a guy is a criminal as long as he has game?

And punching a guy in the face is assault, if the victim bothers to press charges. So, for that matter, is stomping a guy in the head - and I was fully ready to throw Haynesworth under the bus after that incident in 2006; it took a while to earn back any respect from me.

I don't necessarily want everybody on the teams I follow to be Boy Scouts, I just want them to be held to the same standard of conduct as every guy on the street. Party all you want, sure. I don't even have a problem with going to strip clubs, that never bothered me about #32. Even having 7 different children is okay, as long as Travis Henry pays support to the mothers. But I don't condone criminal behavior.

by hartley on Mar 7, 2008 11:21 AM CST up reply actions

Chad

If Chad wasn't a pro athlete than there is no way anything would ever happen to him because of the incident. It is VERY rare that anyone ever goes to court over taking a swing at someone. If we had a chance to get him then we most definitely should get him. He is a class act, a great player, and very emotional, sometimes a little too emotional but it is all part of the process of maturing. We should count ourselves lucky to get a player who cares about the game that much.

by NotHaynesworthy on Mar 7, 2008 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

I've been to court for swinging on somebody.

And it was a total pain in the ass. And I'm neither rich nor famous. Nor, for that matter, was anyone hurt.

But in the real world, when people act dumb and other people press charges, it really, really sucks. That, I think, is why folks want to see athletes held accountable.

Truth is folks want to see EVERYBODY held accountable.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Mar 7, 2008 12:30 PM CST up reply actions

You really think....

....that swinging at the coach is no big deal? Maybe it is a "Bible-belt value," but no, I don't want guys on the team I cheer for punching the coach. Call it whatever you want.

You say all you care about is winning, and that is fine. How games did the Bengals win last season? That kind of stuff divides the team and hurts the team on the field.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Mar 7, 2008 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Well

I knew it today: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/Chad-Johnson-punched-Marvin-Lewis-in-2006-playof?urn=nfl,705 92
Did you hear those two crashing sounds? One was Chad Johnson's remaining trade value and the other was Marv Lewis' remaining coaching credibility each shattering to pieces. Now we know why Carson Palmer is getting so frustrated.

by Florabbstone on Mar 7, 2008 10:17 AM CST reply actions

If we're going to trade picks..

for a WR, I'd rather trade the house for a WR who is a good guy and better than Chad Johnson: Larry Fitzgerald!!!!

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/07/larry-fitzgeralds-days-in-arizona-may-finally-be-nearly-an -end/

I'd be down with giving up this year and next year's 1st rounders for him if that's what it takes... he's everything you want in a player: big, fast, great hands, great attitude and smart enough to not take a discount for Arizona.

DEAR M. REINFELDT: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD DRAFT EARL BENNETT!!!

by August West on Mar 7, 2008 12:46 PM CST reply actions

I'd take Larry

if we had the chance... I would take either Larry or Chad. I'm not saying that him swinging at the coach is not a big deal either, all I'm saying is that he's emotional, a great player and a well respected person. I've said this before and I'll say it again, we all make mistakes. I think there should have been consequences for what he did (if he did it) but not on the scale of him not being allowed to play. Make him run laps or something but not the dissolution of the inevitable fruitful, for both sides, relationship between him and the Titans. Anyways no one here can pretend to know the full story and we shouldn't pass judgment unless we know more than the media is telling us. Both Larry and Chad would do wonders for the Titans!

by NotHaynesworthy on Mar 7, 2008 12:56 PM CST reply actions

well

We don't have the full story, but we do have an account from a presumably objective player who was in the room and saw it happen. I seriously doubt he'd lie about it.

We all make mistakes, but some mistakes reveal a lack of character and desicipline. Offensive players must have discipline. If he wants to be a wildabeast then let him play safety or DB.

DEAR M. REINFELDT: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD DRAFT EARL BENNETT!!!

by August West on Mar 7, 2008 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

It's ancient history

Obviously Marvin Lewis deemed it unnecessary to press charges or discipline Chad publicly for the assault. This could be for any number of reasons. We don't know what was said to Chad, and we don't know why he reacted like that.

All of a sudden he's a thug??? One man punching another is not the end of the world. They obviously got past it, why can't we?

Chad Johnson's "issues" are a media fabrication. The guy has been an outstanding receiver, a perennial pro-bowler, and all-around one of the most interesting personalities in pro sports. He's been a bit of a schmuck for airing his laundry in public of late, but even Carson has done it from time to time. To be surrounded by so much talent and not make the playoffs would be extremely hard on any competitor. By the way, has anyone ever accused Lewis of being a good head coach? Didn't think so... 42-38 over 5 years with one playoff appearance (a loss) is pathetic when you consider the quality of his players.

I say we just accept the likelihood that for whatever Marvin Lewis said or did, he probably deserved a good smack in the head, and he knows it - otherwise he would have done something about it.

by BeansCarter on Mar 7, 2008 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

Interesting

Since you don't think Marvin Lewis is a good coach, it is OK for one of his players to punch him. And swing at an assistant. What happens when VY doesn't make a perfect throw and Johnson doesn't get to do a stupid dance? Does he swing at VY??

And how do you know he is a bad coach? Maybe his players who all can't stay out of jail or just want to do some stupid dance when they score won't buy into what he wants to accomplish? Maybe his egotistical wide receiver won't shut the f--- up long enough to just run the route and catch the football. Oh, and how about blocking sometimes so we can have a running game?

Sorry, just venting.

Proud Member of the Michael Griffin Man-Crush Club.

by gramsey712 on Mar 7, 2008 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

just to clarify:

I, nor anyone else on this thread, ever called Johnson a thug, and I oppose people using a racially-loaded term to describe a normal jack*ss.

DEAR M. REINFELDT: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD DRAFT EARL BENNETT!!!

by August West on Mar 8, 2008 10:05 AM CST up reply actions

Everyone has lost their minds

I had no idea that 'thug' was a racially loaded term. In any case I meant to use 'thug' in the literal sense, not the colloquial one.

I am not sure that my statements betray a belief that I think everybody should start punching everybody else.

I will try to rephrase my points.

Marvin Lewis might just be a real pushover and didn't wanna stick up for himself.
Maybe Ocho acted like a jack*ss and lost his temper but was ultimately forgiven for it. Everyone agreed that it was best not to make it public.
Marvin Lewis is a terrible Head Coach. don't even try to defend this. Look at his record, and look at the talent on his team. 5 years, 1 playoff appearance, and they lost. I bet perenially disappointed Bungles fans would love to punch him in the head.

It is interesting that there was an attempt to bury this issue. It could be pressure from ownership (i.e. Bengals ownership knows that Ocho Cinco is much more valuable to the 'business' than Marvin lewis is.)

It's not that I feel very strongly that any of these situations are necessarily the case, but I can't stand the Titans fans who hear about this story and immediately feel like Ocho would be a bad Titan. The media is way too critical of Ocho.

I repeat. OCHO CINCO would be the best receiver the Titans have ever fielded. Does anyone deny this?

Besides, I am pretty sure Fisher can handle temperamental players.

Stop judging Chad based on uncorroborated tidbits from a stupid story. The best move MR would ever make in his career would be to somehow get Chad on this team.

My fingers remain crossed for a WR in Nashville.

by BeansCarter on Mar 8, 2008 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

Idea

LET'S GET THEM BOTH!!!

by NotHaynesworthy on Mar 7, 2008 12:57 PM CST reply actions

i dont care about a guy's personal life

think what you want bout me but if a guy can play the game. i want him on my team.

for all i care he can spend the offseason in jail but if can perform on sundays than i want him.

i like winning football games and maybe someday an championship

by ryansax on Mar 7, 2008 1:14 PM CST reply actions

ummmm...

Coldcocking your coach during halftime of a playoff game DEFINATELY falls into the realm of a player's professional life/performance, and should not be acceptable...

Even Phil Fulmer wouldn't take that crap.

DEAR M. REINFELDT: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD DRAFT EARL BENNETT!!!

by August West on Mar 7, 2008 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

This isn't his "personal life"

Have you ever played a team sport? If you have, and you probably have, think back to what would have happened if you had slugged your coach. (If you are like me, he probably would've kicked your ass!, but I digress.)

To me, actions on the field and in the lockeroom are much more important than actions outside of the stadium. Haynesworth's head stomping pissed me off a whole lot more than the CB throwing quarters at the strippers or whatever he did. And, in the same vein, the CB's little baby hissy fits that he threw and the verbal attacking of the officials have no place in the game for me. Just play football. And don't punch the coach. That ain't gonna fly in Nashville.

Proud Member of the Michael Griffin Man-Crush Club.

by gramsey712 on Mar 7, 2008 3:24 PM CST up reply actions

Comedy.

This whole thread is a comedy act right? Surely nobody actually believes it's ok to walk up and punch your boss? No matter what kind of ass he is being at the time. Physical assault hasn't become legal and customary these days has it?

Comedy, right? Someone please say "yes".

I don't even live in the Bible Belt.

Big Bill "You never lose a game if the opponent doesn't score." Darell K. Royal

by Hook em Titans on Mar 9, 2008 1:31 AM CST reply actions