Grrrrr...

Paul Daugherty, columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer and personality for WLW, has continued his personal crusade to run Chad Johnson out of town. It seems that Paul is bent on picking out Cincinnati’s biggest sporting celebrities and picking on them like a big bully. Remember, he did it to Adam Dunn a couple years ago to the point that Dunn refused to talk to him. Now, the punching bag is Chad Johnson.

You can tell me that Chad is a cancer. You can tell me that Chad is a diversion. But you can’t tell me that Chad is 1.) Overrated and 2.) not important to the Bengals’ success. Here’s Paul’s Column.

Read it, then e-mail him and tell him he’s an idiot. His argument isn’t valid…on any level. Here’s the e-mail that I sent him.

“Really, Paul? Wide receivers don’t matter? Ask Tom Brady how much better Randy Moss and Wes Welker have made the Patriots. They went from losing in the AFC title game to the greatest team in NFL history. There was not one other roster move of significance. Just Moss and Welker.

As for the Giants having a chance because of their great pass rush, didn’t that great pass rush give up 38 points in a LOSS in week 17? Those 38 points scored by Moss and Welker…two wide receivers…who both caught over 100 yards worth of passes. Yeah, Paul. Wide receivers don’t matter at all.

You mention taking emotion out of the equation when discussing trading Chad Johnson. I suggest you take some of your own advice. It’s quite clear from reading your blogs and listening to your show you have an issue with him. Tip your cap to the guy that has led the league in receiving four of the last five years, something no one else has ever done. You mentioned Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott. Look at the numbers. Neither ever came close to what Chad has done. And by the way, Pickens went to two pro bowls, Darnay to zero and he only had one year of more than 1,000 yards receiving. Don’t make them out to be Tom Brady’s equals.

I remember a few weeks back you saying that Chad Johnson is using the media. Weren’t you the one that approached him about writing a book and then made some money off of it? Who’s using who?”

Obviously, I could have gone on and on and mentioned loads of stats to why Chad Johnson, if anything, is underrated. Say you trade Chad Johnson. What can you get in return? A first round pick? Doubtful. A second rounder and a third or fourth? Probably. You never get value in return acquiring picks for a player. Ask the Raiders how that fourth rounder they got for Moss is looking right about now.

The Bengals offense struggled at times this year even with Chad Johnson. Take him out of the equation and T.J. is no longer as effective. Chris Henry no longer gets the one-on-one coverage with safeties. Chad makes a difference. A huge freakin’ difference.

Is it important that team’s have great defensive and offensive lines? Absolutely! I can’t argue with that. But to say that trading Chad can fix the problem of the Bengals’ lack of pass rush is absurd. It won’t fix anything. It would make the team worse.

Daugherty is obviously on a personal crusade to run Chad out of town. Apparently his book titled, I Can’t Be Stopped, didn’t make the money he had hoped and is now seeking revenge. Ugh. I wish Paul would get run out of town. And as he left, I’d happily say, “Hey Paul, don’t let No. 85 hit ya on the way out.”