Monday, October 01, 2001
Loss detracts from Johnson's first TD
By Paul Daugherty
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN DIEGO — The 24-karat smile wasn't as broad as he'd have liked. In fact, Chad Johnson wasn't smiling at all.
The Bengals rookie wide receiver's second fNFL catch resulted in a touchdown Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. But all it did was make the end result — a 28-14 San Diego win — look less messy.
Many happier returns, C.J.
“That grab was fine and dandy, but we didn't win,” said Johnson. “Losing takes away from my first everything.”
Johnson scored with 24 seconds left in the first half, on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Jon Kitna. It was a simple fade pattern, like the one former Bengals Jeff Blake and Carl Pickens popularized in the mid-'90s. Johnson beat San Diego defensive back Ryan McNeil to the left corner of the end zone; Kitna tossed him a pop fly.
Ironically, it was McNeil, then a Cleveland Brown, who more than two years ago had a clause inserted in his contract that prohibited the team from trading him to Cincinnati.
The touchdown was the highlight of a dismal day for the Bengals offense, which managed just 237 total yards. It also took the sting out of an otherwise dreadful first half in which Cincinnati committed four penalties, had two interceptions and lost a fumble on a crucial third-and-2 play from the Chargers 36-yard line.
That it took Johnson two-plus games to get a catch was surprising. He drew rave reviews in the preseason, when he led the team in catches.
“When the ball comes to me, I'm going to make a play.” Johnson said. “That's all there is to it. When it doesn't, I'll be doing something else to help us win.”
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Loss detracts from Johnson's first TD
