Huh?

Marvin Lewis re Chad Johnson, to Mark Curnutte in this morning's Enquirer: "It's unfortunate for Chad that he is being cast in this light because it's not fair.''

Not sure I understand. Who cast the light? Not fair to whom?

Seeme to me Chad has spent the last month saying the team has cast him in that light. Also seems to me that the team has no idea how to handle him. (Not sure any team would have that idea, but we're talking about the team that employs him.)

The rift is between Johnson and Lewis. That's the distinct impression Johnson has left. More likely, it's between Johnson and the Bengals' bank vault. But that is not how the receiver has framed the discussion. So to say it's unfortunate that Chad is being cast in this light, while taking no responsibility yourself, is disingenuous at best.

Lewis has said over the years he wanted less selfishness from his team. Johnson isn't the only target of that comment, but he certainly is the most obvious. Yet when Johnson celebrates a TD by himself, by hopping atop a TV platform and commandeering a camera, his coach's public reaction is to smile and tell Johnson he understands.

You can't make vague references to some "light'' without assuming some of the blame. He is your player.

At some point, there's a decent chance we'll see coach and player at a podium, smiling and saying it was all "blown out of proportion'' and that there never was any real problem. Might as well happen sooner than later. The team isn't trading Chad and, given he's already the fourth-highest paid wideout in the league, it isn't likely to redo his deal a third time.

It falls to Marvin to do what's best for the entire team while also keeping his star wide receiver happy. You don't get what you expect. You get what you put up with. Time for Marvin to change the light.