THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

You gotta loves these Bengals. They can't just play football. They always gotta give you something extra. Today, the start of the annual mini-camp, turned into the Ocho Cinco Show. Yep, Johnson showed up, avoided the $8,000 fine he would have had to pay if he skipped the camp and completely dominated the news cycle. Oh yeah, a willing media played right along.

Johnson was late to the practice field. Didn't participate in drills because, he told the medical staff, he had a bad back. Wait a minute said the team, you didn't say anything about that when you passed your physical this morning. The Bengals then issued a statement that Chad "refused to practice". Wait a minute, said his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who flew to Cincinnati to preside over the circus, Chad had a bad ankle, a left over from last season, that the team wanted him to have surgery on. Well, yes, said the Bengals front office, we did but Chad refused to have that done. Each side said they had the documents to prove it.

Oh, by the way, the rest of the team went through two spirited drills in high heat and humidity.

Welcome to your 2008 Cincinnati Bengals.

Read all about it, in this offering from espn.com.

Of course, no one has a 'take' on things like our pal Chick Ludwig in his latest "Ludwig At Large".

Meantime, up in Buffalo, the Bills Marshawn Lynch has his own problems. Our pal Mike Florio from profootballtalk.com has more in this video


Meantime, the Reds finally beat the Cardinals tonight. Bronson Arroyo should have gotten the win, but had to leave in the 7th with an muscle cramp in his arm. Jeremy Affeldt took care of thing for Arroyo, giving up the lead to the Cardinals and ending Arroyo's chance for a win. The Reds came back with four in their half of the 7th. The Red Sox are in town this weekend. It's the first time that franchise has played a game in Cincinnati since the 1975 World Series.

Meantime, interesting 'take' on the Reds continuing problems at short stop by si.com's Gennaro Filice.

I'm off for the weekend. My daughter is graduating from my alma mater, Ohio University, and there's nothing better in life than watching your kids succeed. Wait a minute, yes there is: the end of tuition payments.

Talk to youthis Sunday morning on 700 WLW's Sunday Morning Sportstalk on 700wlw.com, XM Radio channel 173 or on the 50,000 watt flame thrower itself!