NFL roundup: Bengals' Johnson will report on time

7/22/2008

CINCINNATI - Receiver Chad Johnson said he'll report on time for the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp next weekend, but his surgically repaired ankle will probably prevent him from fully participating.

Johnson also said in a phone interview yesterday that he wants to move on from his failed attempt to maneuver a trade. He had threatened to sit out the season if he wasn't dealt, but the Bengals refused to trade him, turning down an offer from Washington before the draft in April.

The Pro Bowl receiver tried to repair his relationship with Bengals fans during an interview with the Associated Press, part of a promotion for an NFL video that will be released today. He's unsure how fans will receive him at the outset.

"People take it in a different context when I say I want out and I'm not happy," Johnson said. "They think, he doesn't want to be in Cincinnati anymore, he's dissing us as fans. It's not like that.

"I love my fans. I wasn't able to get that point across. They've supported me. They've been good to me, and I've been good to them.

"I was going through a situation where I felt a change was needed. It didn't work out. Hey, I'm back. Get ready for the show."

Johnson showed up for a mandatory minicamp last month, but didn't fully participate the first two days because of a sore right ankle. He had surgery to remove bone spurs on June 18. Johnson estimated that he's about 60 percent recovered, and won't be able to go at full-speed when the Bengals hold their first training camp workout next Monday in Georgetown, Ky.

"It's not where it needs to be," he said. "I can run, but I don't think I'm able to actually get right on the field and go at it. If I came back too early and re-injured myself, it would be a setback."

Johnson repeatedly declined to discuss the issues that led him to lobby for an offseason trade.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed linebacker Shawn Crable.

Crable, selected out of Michigan with the 78th overall pick, had 148 career tackles to rank 10th on the Wolverines' career list.

The 6-foot-5, 243-pound linebacker had 16 career sacks and 43 tackles for losses.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos signed center Kory Lichtensteiger.

They chose Lichtensteiger in the fourth round (108th overall) of this year's draft from Bowling Green State University.

The terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Lichtensteiger earned All-Mid-American Conference honors during each of his four seasons at Bowling Green.