On if he’s a kinder, less vocal, more focused Chad Johnson this year, or
if that is B.S.:
“B.S. Kinder? I’m not kind, I’m still the same. Nothing’s changed.
We just haven’t been as successful as we were last year, so I couldn’t be as
bold.”
On Coach Marvin Lewis saying he is playing as well as he’s ever played,
but he’s been at that level for a while—and on his individual play this
year:
“Yes. It’s okay. It didn’t start off the way I wanted it to, but other
than that, I had some good games with a little bit of luck also, which has put
me where I am now. But I would like to be a little more consistent throughout
the entire year.”
On if the offense has found him:
“They have, and I’ve done a good job just making the most of my
opportunities when the ball comes my way.”
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| Chad Johnson catches a pass in front of the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha (David Maxwell/Getty Images) |
On what it’s like for a marquee receiver to not get the ball and if you
have to speak up:
“You have to, especially when you’re not winning. We weren’t winning at
the time, so that was the only reason that I spoke up.”
On if everything is clicking now:
“Yes. Offensively, we’re playing very well. We’re peaking at the right
time. We struggled earlier on in the season and we struggled a little bit in
mid-season, but we’re starting to play very well at the right time. Hopefully
we can come down to Indy and get it done.”
On this possibly being a rivalry over the next few years:
“That’s probably the way it will be. They are one of the best teams in the
game right now, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us offensively and
defensively. We have to step up and play.”
On if he gets more pumped up for Monday Night Football:
“No. It doesn’t matter when I’m playing. I’m always up for every game.
It just happens to be that we’re playing at night.”
On WR-T.J. Houshmandzadeh being a No. 2 receiver and in his shadow:
“He’s not a No. 2. We’re actually two No. 1s on the same team.”
On what a win would mean Monday Night:
“It would mean a lot. It would help us greatly, to be 3-0 in December.
Hopefully we can keep it going.”