Chad Johnson's almost pathological need to be the center of attention led to a 30-day jail sentence this week when Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh overreacted to a playful butt slap.
Johnson's former coach, Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals, can't help but feel sorry for the out-of-work wide receiver.
"It's a shame because I heard that the attorney said something about, 'Aren't you going to thank me?' It was just a natural reaction," Lewis said, via Clark Judge of CBSSports.com. "I know when Chad's being a clown. And that wasn't it. He didn't do what he did to get anyone to laugh. That was just a natural reaction from Chad, and it's a shame."
Lewis and Johnson have butted heads in the past, but one still gets the sense of a father-son tinge to their relationship. Lewis would offer advice and stern warnings for Johnson to get his life turned around. Johnson would continue to act out in self-destructive and childish ways.
The two haven't spoken since January. If Lewis could pass along a message now, he said it would be the same as previous editions: "Just put your head down, go to work and don't be tweeting, don't be doing this and don't be doing that. Because no one wants to take all that on."
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.
