[Longtimefan]

This from Cincinnati.com THE ENQUIRER

REPORT: REDSKINS WANT CHAD

The latest Chad Johnson trade rumor involves another team, the Washington Redskins.

Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder is interested in trading with the Bengals for the disgruntled Johnson, according to a report published Tuesday in the Washington Post.

The newspaper reported that Drew Rosenhaus, Johnson's agent, is working quietly with the Bengals and Redskins to broker a trade. Johnson, a member of five consecutive AFC Pro Bowl teams, was the fourth highest paid wide-out in the NFL in 2007, according to NFL Players Association figures.

Reached Tuesday by the Enquirer, Rosenhaus didn't deny the report.

"I understand the reports," Rosenhaus said. "But I have no comment, other than to say again that whatever conversations I am having with the Bengals regarding Chad will remain private."

An obstacle to any trade of Johnson would be the salary cap hit the Bengals would suffer.

The Bengals would lose $8.03 million on the salary cap-money the club would not have to spend on other players-if it traded or released Johnson before June 1, said Marc Levin, Director of the Salary Cap and Agent Administration Department for the NFL Players Association.

"And there is nothing the Bengals can do about it," Levin said in an e-mail sent by the union to the Enquirer.

A trade or contract termination done June or after gives NFL teams another year to absorb the salary cap implication, in this case, 2008 and 2009. The salary cap for 2008 is $116 million, up from $109 million in 2007.

The Bengals had no comment Tuesday on the Johnson situation, team public relations Jack Brennan said.

NFL tampering rules could come into play. The Bengals could file a complaint with the league if the Washington Post report did originate with sources inside the Redskins organization.

"Any public or private statement of interest in another club's employee is a violation," the rule states.

Johnson remains under contract with the Bengals through 2011, the result of an extension he signed with the club in April 2006.

Citing unnamed "league sources," the Post reported that Snyder, coaching candidates and Redskin Executive Vice President Vinny Cerrato discussed Johnson specifically. And Johnson, two more league sources told the Post, wants a hefty new contract from the Redskins.

Clubs can give a player's agent permission to talk to other teams about a possible trade.

"Yes it is permissible, but if a club does give permission to an agent it is recommended that the permission given to the agent be spelled out in a written document to avoid a dispute about it in the future, "Greg Aiello, NFL Senior Vice President of Public Relations, wrote to The Enquirer in an e-mail Tuesday.

If the Bengals trade Johnson, they would be forced to accelerate what remains of the almost $21 million in up-front money paid Johnson in the contract extensions from November 2003 and April 2006.

"Acceleration of signing bonus after a player is released or traded has always been part of this system," Aiello wrote. "The point is that all money paid to a player will be accounted for under the cap."

The Bengals signed Johnson to what amounts to a six-year contract in 2006. He has been paid almost $16 million by the Bengals in the past two seasons.

Since early January, Johnson has used national media, primarily radio shows, including those with tables on "Radio Row" at the Super Bowl earlier this month, to voice his displeasure with the Bengals. He said if he is the Bengals problem, he should be dealt. Johnson has not talked to local media since mid-October.

The Bengals have the ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft and the Redskins the 21st in the first round.

Rosenhaus negotiated the 2006 extension for Johnson.