Sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
Chad Johnson spent a decade in Cincinnati and turned himself into one of the best receivers in franchise history, but looking back, he still feels like he left too soon.
In a conversation on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast, Johnson opened up about wanting to finish his career with the Bengals and how he would have handled things differently if given another chance.
"I would've loved to let Marv know, 'I'll take a paycut. Just put me in the slot, allow A.J. Green to do what he do on the outside,'" Johnson said.
"If I could do it again, I would've stayed."
What Went Wrong in Cincinnati
Johnson was drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft and quickly became the face of the offense.
He earned six Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro nods during his time in Cincinnati, and he still holds the franchise records for career receptions (751), receiving yards (10,783), and receiving touchdowns (66).
But by the end of the 2010 season, things had changed.
Johnson's production had started to dip, and the Bengals were ready to move in a new direction after selecting A.J. Green with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft.
On July 28, 2011, Cincinnati traded Johnson to the New England Patriots in exchange for a pair of late-round draft picks.
It was a quiet end to what had been a loud and productive run in stripes.
A Rough Landing in New England
Johnson's time with the Patriots did not go well at all.
After years of being one of the most dangerous receivers in football, he struggled to learn Bill Belichick's playbook and never found his footing in New England's system.
He finished the 2011 season with just 15 catches for 276 yards and one touchdown, all career lows.
He did get to play in Super Bowl XLVI, but the Patriots fell to the New York Giants 21-17, and Johnson's role was limited to just one catch for 21 yards.
The Patriots released him the following offseason, and after a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins that ended before the regular season even started, Johnson's NFL career was over.
The "What If" That Still Lingers
What makes Johnson's comments so interesting is how he pictures what could have been if he had stayed and played alongside Green.
Instead of being the top option on the outside like he was for most of his career, Johnson says he would have been willing to slide into the slot and take a smaller role just to stay in Cincinnati.
That kind of selflessness is not something most people would have expected from a guy known for his bold personality and flashy touchdown celebrations, but it shows just how much the Bengals meant to him.
Johnson's love for the franchise has not faded either, as he still regularly shows up to games and stays connected to the organization through social media and his podcast.
He was inducted into the Bengals' Ring of Honor and continues to champion the team publicly, even pushing for the front office to make big moves in free agency.
The Bengals finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs for a third straight year, so the franchise could use all the positive energy it can get heading into the offseason.
Johnson may not have gotten the ending he wanted in Cincinnati, but his connection to the team has never gone away.