Things had been kind of quiet on the Chad Johnson front for the past few weeks. Hadn't heard a peep out of the guy in a while.

All that changed today when the Cincinnati receiver, responding to a claim by quarterback Carson Palmer that he'd show up for mandatory camps, said he is done with the Bengals. And about that trade? It had better happen soon, he says.

In an interview with ESPN.com, Johnson said, "I want to make this very clear. I don't know
where (Palmer) got that. I made no assertion to Carson that I would do that.
Nothing has changed from what I've been saying for three months that I
don't want to play for the Bengals. . . I want to be traded before the draft, and if that doesn't happen, I
want to be traded as soon as possible. I don't intend
on reporting to anything."

The Bengals have maintained they have no intention of trading Johnson, so perhaps it's premature to debate whether the Bucs have any chance of pulling off a deal, if they're interested. But, considering the direction this situation is going, seems it will get worse before it gets better. And maybe that will be enough to convince Cincinnati to entertain offers, despite the $8-million cap hit that would result from a trade.

As if to reinforce what he previously said, Johnson later told NFL.com, "I will not be at any mandatory camp. I will not be at training camp. I will not be anywhere in
Cincinnati. I'm not sure where Carson got his information from,
but I know I didn't assure him of anything. I wish he'd stay out of
this. He's taking how I'm feeling as a joke because I think everyone
else in the organization is doing the same."

I've gotten lots of emails and heard plenty of comments from those of you who want nothing more than to see the Bucs make a pitch for Johnson. I still see it as unlikely. But who knows? Maybe Tampa Bay will get its chance after all.

Would that be okay with you?