When Rosenthal or MDS write on a topic, I rarely chime in. Primarily because they are damn good at what they do.
But I need to add some additional thoughts regarding the post from MDS pertaining to the lingering wish of Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer that the Bengals sign receiver Terrell Owens.
MDS correctly observes that Palmer's comments are likely aimed at placating receiver Chad Ochocinco. And now that I've had a chance to digest the situation a bit more, I think it's entirely about avoiding at all costs a repeat of Chad's 2008 "trade me anywhere but here" antics.
I like Chad, but at times he's erratic, unpredictable, and/or irrational. At times, reasoning with him is roughly as easy as picking up a wet fish with rubber gloves coated in corn oil. (I've never tried it, but I've got a feeling it would be hard to do.) And you never quite know what will set Chad off, Twitter style.
On Tuesday, he attacked ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd for supposedly lumping Chad in with athletes who get in trouble. Eventually, Chad said that Cowherd looks "line an extra from the movie LORD OF THE RINGS," that he should "get [his] lisp fixed," that Cowherd's "girl is cheating on [him]," and that he should "try EXTENZE." All that because Cowherd simply pointed out that Chad's current spending habits could cause him eventually to have no money, like so many other former pro athletes.
Then, Chad bristled at the suggestion from ESPN's Adam Schefter that a reality-TV, 85-woman dating tournament makes Ochocinco a "poor man's Wilt Chamberlain." Chad thought he was being called poor, and so he pointed out "child please I'm Rich B%@#." (Given the other language that appears from time to time on his Twitter page, we're confused as to why Chad wouldn't spell out the word "bitch.")
More recently, Chad has chastised ESPN's Eric Kuselias for "radio show negativity," and said to Kuselias "why don't you worry about your sexual harassment cases when at work!" Chad also called out John Clayton on Friday, comparing his appearance to "that character from HANNIBAL that had those pigs," and instructing him to "STFU."
So, basically, getting on Chad's bad side has its consequences. And so we think the Bengals need to feign ongoing interest in T.O., if for no reason other than to keep Chad from directing his periodic, random venom at the organization.
Meanwhile, does anyone really think the Bengals and Owens could hammer out a deal that the player deems acceptable after Antonio Bryant received a four-year contract with a $7 million annual average? Barring an epiphany en route to Damascus, Owens will want at least $7 million on a one-year deal from the Bengals, because in T.O.'s mind Bryant can't carry Owens' popcorn.
Finally, are we the only ones troubled by the notion that Ochocinco -- a temporary employee of ABC via his upcoming stint on Dancing with the Stars -- would be taking such mean-spirited shots at employees of an ABC affiliate, especially in the wake of the two-week suspension that was imposed on Tony Kornheiser for doing essentially the same thing to Hannah Storm?
I'd try to explain that logic to Chad, but there's a wet fish on the floor. And I'm gonna go try to pick it up with these rubber gloves I've coated in corn oil.