Chad Johnson made me look like a fool.

[Dave Gray]

I have always defended Chad Johnson on these boards, both recently, and long before he became a Fin.  I did so, because though he was a goofball that some said was a cancer or a distraction that cost his team with stupid penalties in the name of his own gimmicks, I maintained that it was harmless fun.

I was wrong.

I am ashamed that I stood up for a guy that resorts to violence against his wife.  I feel complicit in it in a strange way, because I propped up his previous behavior.  Never again, Chad Johnson.

[Pappy13]

Don't beat yourself up about it Dave, he had a lot of people fooled. Hell he almost had me believing that he had turned the corner. Such a waste of talent.

[Dave Gray]

I remember feeling similarly about Kobe Bryant.  I never liked Kobe, but I always respected him as a man, because he kept his nose clean.  So, when he came to that press conference denying that he did anything with that girl in Colorado and said "Come on, guys -- you know me," I believed him.  Turns out, he was cheating on his wife like the rest of these assholes.  People are just disappointing, I suppose.

[Dolphster]

I wouldn't worry about being wrong.  These days, players have agents, lawyers, etc. who script everything that the player "says" in writing and tells them all the right things to say in front of the cameras.  They spin the biggest douchers into shining examples of upstanding citizens.  Very rarely does a fan get to see what a player is REALLY like as a person.  Look at how many times you will read in a paper where a player "released a statement to the press stating that......" and it goes on to quote the player sounding eloquent and contrite about something they did.  Then you listen to the player speak and he can barely put two syllables together.  The person that is presented to the public these days is rarely similar to the person that they really are. 

[BigDaddyFin]

I'm disappointed only because I was hoping his supposed work ethic would rub off on some of the younger recievers.  Clearly that was too much to ask for.  I'm glad he's gone.

[Brian Fein]

He got me too.  I had hoped he would be more motivated as a player and do what it takes to be the best he can be.  And I also believe that she was probably provoking him, because she's a crazy hot-headed person (go watch Basketball Wives) and was probably all fired up about it and maybe even kicking his ass at the time.  But that doesn't make it OK to hit your wife.

And the fact that she's pressing charges makes it look way worse.

He fooled me too.  I feel like an idiot for backing him up.