The differences between Chad Johnson and Brandon Marshall

Chad Johnson, who made a big deal about enjoying new freedom with the Dolphins after being muzzled in New England last season, today walked past the media and announced, "I don't do media anymore."

The change is obviously tied to Johnson's issue with coach Joe Philbin this camp in which the coach was displeased with Johnson's language and the way he represented the organization in his one press conference since joining the team.

The displeasure was on full display Tuesday night on Hard Knocks -- with a little career chat from Philbin as well as the advancing of the idea that Johnson will have to tow the line or be in danger of getting cut.

So there's that. Chad Johnson is being his usual enigmatic self and there is backwash from it. And that leads me to this: On more than one occasion since camp started I've had people suggest to me the Dolphins this offseason basically traded one problem child for another when they traded Brandon Marshall and signed Chad Johnson. That idea seems to have gained traction following Johnson's bizarre opening press conference and particularly following the airing of last night's Hard Knocks premier.

But let me share with you what I've been told by people with the team.

They don't see Johnson and Marshall as identical or even remotely similar.

The Dolphins believed, at the end, that Brandon Marshall was trouble to have on the team. They had grown weary of his ways. And the idea that he was a distraction was the least of the many, many concerns they had about Marshall.

Johnson?

He's something of a flake. A clown. A cut-up. He needs to clean up his language because, as coach Joe Philbin says, he's representing the team and this team wants to be represented in a certain fashion. But is Johnson dangerous? Is he going to get into violent disputes, either with people or family?

That's not been his history so far.

The truth about Marshall, whom I liked by the way, is that police were not just called to his house the one time his wife stabbed him. There was a long history of problems at the Marshall house. I'm told cops were called at least half-a-dozen times we didn't know about in addition to the stabbing incident that made headlines.

Marshall was also problematic among teammates. On more than a couple of occasions, I'm told Marshall totally lost it on the sideline and would yell at teammates or coaches or both. It got to the point, I'm told, nobody would go near Marshall. And this is in addition to the torment I'm told he heaped upon his quarterbacks, particularly Chad Henne.

Obviously, this is all second-hand and I'm certain Marshall would have a different version of these stories. So I give him that and so should you. But the things multiple people have told me about him paint a picture of a problem child that didn't seem headed in the right direction.

Combine this with good but not great results on the field -- remember he dropped a handful of TD passes last year -- and you can understand why Miami felt the need to trade Marshall.

Johnson?

If he's true to his history, he won't be getting arrested. Cops won't be showing up at his house responding to violent domestic disputes.

He may, however, wear on some teammates, as he did in Cincinnati. He may be something of a diva, as he was once he started producing. And he may not always be consistent in his performance, as evidence by his last year with the Bengals and last year in New England.

It should be said that Marshall today is probably a better player than Johnson. On the other hand, Johnson may be less of a problem child than Marshall, particularly when it comes to legal matters. The Dolphins will soon find out if Johnson, like Marshall, becomes a distraction or an embarrassment to the organization -- an issue for which Philbin may not have a lot of patience.

"There's a certain way, again, we want everybody to be themselves. I don't want everybody to be Joe Philbin," Philbin said today. "Everybody's different. We want to let guys be themselves. However, we think everybody has an obligation to get on board with the program. I told Mr. Ross we were going to have men that represented themselves in the right way on and off the field. And that's important to me. It's importnat to our staff. I believe it's important to our owner that we do things the right way.

"Again, I'm not going to sit here and say I've never cursed or used an inappropriate comment. I'm sure I have. There might have been some on the show because sometimes on the field I do ... It's important to all of us. I really believe that.

"We're not going to be a great football team if we've got 51 guys doing things a certain way and maybe two guys who are on their own program. It's too hard. It's too tough. We have to have guys that think the same way and whose brains think the same way about football. They can act different and dress differently. But they all kind of have to think the same. They have to buy in. If someone doesn't want to buy into the program, that's a problem." 

Comments

[fin4life]

Here is the final paragraph incase the ADD gets the better of you Mr. narrow minded Verdad!!!

General Manager Jeff Ireland claimed control of the team's personnel moves in 2010, when former vice president of football operations Bill Parcells changed his role into "consultant" instead of the man with the final say. Ireland includes the offset language in an attempt to limit the "dead" money the team would have against the salary cap if they were to release a player, allowing the Dolphins to have more room to operate and find new players if needed.

[fin4life]

Aponte structures the feasability of the deal and contract related to the CAP and reports to her Boss Ireland who took over for the Boss who hired her Parcells, there I'm done with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[verdad]

fin4, stop trying to justify your false claims to words that I never said. I never said she was the final word ever. I merely stated that she did have some involvement with the contracts, that it wasn't solely JI, and that she was pushing for certain language that was causing delays. That was reported on ESPN and PFT too. But I can see you won't believe any source that doesn't agree with you.

You are a fraud. I'm done. Next time, think before you mock others with your condescending attitude and don't be such a wuss to admit when you are wrong.

[BPA]

late to the party here, but a major difference between the situation with Johnson vs Marshall is that Johnson is signed to a 1 year, somewhat modest contract.....vs Marshall's big multi year contract--no comparison--Johnson is likely gone after this year so no commitment.......not so if they kept Marshall.

[BPA]

how is Vontae a "bust" at this point?......he'll be fine, just needs to get his act together, which he will--explain how he's a bust please.

[verdad]

Gee I wonder why Dawn Aponte was calling Ireland to brief him on the situation with Tannehills contract. I saw the repeat of HK tonight, heard it with my own ears, again.

G'nite kids.

[Bill]

Cheapo Ross pocketed the Brandon Marshall money and the Hard Knocks money rather then improve the team. Hope he's saving it for a new stadium to replace that urine wreaking dump the Dolphins are still playing in.

[Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet]

What babies fighting desperately not to admit they were wrong, changing my words and theirs at every turn. I guess you told your mommies that wasn't your poopie in your diapers too LOL.

Posted by: verdad | August 08, 2012 at 11:15 PM
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You'll notice he didn't go back to the archives on this one. Wunder why?

He never hesitates any other time-Doh ;)

BUSTED - AGAIN!

[fin4life]

I admitted last night that I was wrong about her role so you say other blogs had her as the mastermind behind the offset language and are dismissive of the story I read which by the way took me some time to find, well O.K. perfect. I haven't been mocking just arguing a point and you call me a fraud, really!! As Kris would say Kettle, Black!! Listen your the fraud you troll hack who won't even post under a specific name to hide from your outlandish stupid blog hit troll ignorance, go call somebody a poopie mouth or something! It's all your worth!! Here is the last paragraph again!!!

General Manager Jeff Ireland claimed control of the team's personnel moves in 2010, when former vice president of football operations Bill Parcells changed his role into "consultant" instead of the man with the final say. Ireland includes the offset language in an attempt to limit the "dead" money the team would have against the salary cap if they were to release a player, allowing the Dolphins to have more room to operate and find new players if needed.

fin4life | August 08, 2012 at 11:34 PM

[Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet]

Kool-Aid drinkers are hallelujah blind faith believers which I haven't been in sometime I myself am more of a Fins agnostic these days needing proof there actually is a football valhalla1

Posted by: fin4life | August 08, 2012 at 11:24 PM

AGREED!

Fin4, he's knows I exposed him and all he can do is use my NEW sign in name to try and impostor me. What a putz-ROTFLMAO!

You know you and I are Kool, so if you see his patended dumb stuff under my name, just know it's the Loser ;)

[fin4life]

You'll notice he didn't go back to the archives on this one. Wunder why?

He never hesitates any other time-Doh ;)

BUSTED - AGAIN!
Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet | August 08, 2012 at 11:51 PM

Archives, HELL!! I'd settle for those ESPN, PFF reports he's been quoting to death for days now!!

[Bill]

Ross has made some big mistakes but not trading for Tim Tebow was as big a mistakke as any. Tebow would've packed the stadium, put the team on primetime, and would win some games to boot.

[Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet]

Wow Fin4,

I think your last few posts COMPLETELY destroyed him.

He was wrong about her doing evaluations and about who has say on the off set language!

DAMN! I smell SMOKE ;)

[fin4life]

Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet | August 08, 2012 at 11:55 PM

I figured as much, by the way how do you access the site you sent me cause my google chrome sends me to some facebook page.

[Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet]

Gee I wonder why Dawn Aponte was calling Ireland to brief him on the situation with Tannehills contract. I saw the repeat of HK tonight, heard it with my own ears, again.
G'nite kids.

Posted by: verdad | August 08, 2012 at 11:46 PM

It wasn't Ireland - Bhwaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaa!

[Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet]

Fin4,

I told the guy what was happening and he didn't have any answers. He said he would "check into it".

Try Goole-ing it first and then click from there.

[fin4life]

odin,

The night in question when he claims we mocked him while he posted under 3 or 4 names, I'd already read the article I put up by the Palm Beach post but couldn't find it because I didn't remember the date but his argument upset me enough to look fir it.

You know his insistent argument that one person picked the talent only to be cancelled out by another who negotiated with said player is rather ridiculous when you think about it because basically in his theory of Football Ops. one can veto the other. I know were a chaotic F.O. but his argument was ludicrous and he was so stuck on showing us up he didn't want to see what I patiently posted over the entire 4th page.

[fin4life]

Coalition To Get Coalition Out Of The Closet | August 09, 2012 at 12:02 AM

Well now we know who we were arguing with for sure, TARD!! He reported to Philbin! By the way odin I liked what I saw in the high tempo approach but thought the Coaches demeanor a bit soft, your thoughts??

[oscar canosa]

It's pronounced Daj-hau.

[Khalid]

No doubt about it Philbin is going to be a great head coach!!

[Brett Favre]

Wanna see my penis

[Sandusky]

EWWW!!! Your too old!

[P.a yuengs-n-wings]

nuts

[oscar canosa]

We don't like you around here. Your program has al ready caused dis-union within the Team. We are going to make sure that you don't come back here, ever.

[oscar canosa]

Truly, Ross can't seem to make a correct decision.

[ALoco]

oscar..........

STOP POSTING JUDGING ROSS AND OTHERS ......YOU SHOULD POST YOUR DISAPPROVAL AT THE TIME OF MAKING THESE DECISIONS BY ROSS ...........NOT AFTER THE FACT ...........

[Achmed]

STOP POSTING

Posted by: ALoco | August 09, 2012 at 07:48 AM

-----------------------------------------------------

Take your own advice and stop posting.
You sound like a whiny Celtic LOSER.

[oscar canosa]

Who's going to stop me from posting, you ALoco?

[oscar canosa]

And pretty soon today you will write another entry in your Blog. Right?

[djrob]

how to watch friday nights game from nyc???? any suggestions??

[ray]

FirstRowseat.com. Go to that website You might be able to see it!!

[Pat White's Left Testicle]

The Fins now have even less talent than they did last year, but at least they got rid of that ayhole B-Marsh. Better to have a team full of polite losers then have a team full of prick winners. And like sooo many celebrity owners!

[OlSage]

I would like to have a T shirt that reads

J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS
S-U-C-K SUCK SUCK SUCK

Come on Dolphins, When Jets start their chant, come back with yours.

[SO TIRED OF ODINSEYE]

I WANT TO MEET ODINSEYE IN PERSON AND CRUSH HIS LARYNYX

[ajdczar]

Johnson is funny. Marshall was not.
End of story.

[MJZ]

Chad can be himself - be the clown, the jokester, the braggard, and say outrageous things. And Philbin will let him. As long as every other word is not a curse word.

C'mon, let's get real. That last Chad interview was laced with curse words every single sentence. A few here and there and Philbin would not mind, but Chad took it way too far. I mean, what exactly was he thinking? What was the point?

Philbin is correct in that a lot of kids follow the Fins and Chad is indeed a role model.

[IMAWriter]

"Wow! i have been coming to this site for over a year and never commented just read your comments and most of you guys are all idiots.
Posted by: mikebest | August 08, 2012 at 11:50 AM

-----------------------------------
Mike, you said "MOST of you guys are ALL idiots?"
"MOST are All?"
And you call US idiots?
Go sca-rew yourself, if you can even find it.

[NoCarlPeterson]

So Chad Johnson just got arrested for domestic violence. How funny, just a few days after this post. Do me a favor Armando, why don't you say the Dolphins will suck ass so that instead they'll be elite.

[72perfectstill]

Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!