First off anyone that defends 85 for not being a bad guy is way off base. He is all about Chad and that is an issue in any team circumstance. As a coach I and everybody I know teaches the us not me mentality. If you notice every world champion tells the media how tight the team was and it was all for 1 type deal. This occurs because success breeds this ideal yes, but in reality its an egg chicken thing. However, with all this said, Chad is at a point where his ego needs to prove something. So in that regard I think it is a good play. With nothing to lose how can you not take a guy who needs to redeem himself and has the ability and mind to will him into something special.
While I absolutely love your overall ending sentence, I have to ask... Why do most teammates here seem to love the guy, especially the other WRs? I feel like stuff like that show that he's not a ME now player. He's certainly a branded image that is being sold, but to say he's a selfish ME player is pretty far off. A ME player is a guy who demands the ball all the time. Chad openly invited another WR in Terrell Ownes. Chad openly shows other wide receivers, mostly rookies obviously, how to properly cut and other coaching type things. I just think people are confusing the two with Chad Johnson. He's certainly VERY brand conscious and I think he realizes that his goofy antics certainly allow him to be a popular household name, but he's a genuinely fun guy. He's not selling himself out constantly for endorsement deals, but he IS on reality TV. He eats up the attention, but so do most big time players. Look at Gronk this past summer. Guy is just enjoying the hand he's been dealt.
It's not like he's beating up his mother or drinking and driving. We are being shown was
true selfishness is, and we are lucky to not have to deal with it. I'm so surprised so many Dolphins fans are willing to be so quick to judge Chad, especially after Marshall. Maybe Marshall has that effect on everyone, but it's plain as day (IMO) that Chad is not Marshall. Yes, not as good of a WR anymore, that is for sure, but as a person and influence.
Chad has brought more positive press to this team than Marshall ever did, and I'll take that as a positive. We ABSOLUTELY need to address this position next year, though. I'm talking big time.
I love your angle about his ego being fuel though. That's something not many people point out and you make a great point!