An Unlikely Pair Meets in Canada

Rewinding back to the year 2006 Troy Smith and Chad Johnson were the kings of Ohio football during that time period. It seems like forever, but I remember it like it was yesterday. At the time I was living in Cincinnati going to UC, and being that Columbus is my hometown I witnessed the impact Smith and Johnson had on the state of Ohio. Depending on how far south of Interstate 71 you would go, you would see a lot of Scarlet No.10 jerseys all over the state. 2006 was the highest peak of Troy Smith’s football career. At the time he won the Heisman Trophy, and led his team to the National Championship Game. Smith failed to bring the Buckeyes a title, but he left as arguably the best quarterback to ever play in the Big 10. Smith’s NFL career was short-lived, and I believe he received a raw deal with the Ravens and 49ers, but that’s another story for another day.

As I envision myself driving on I-71S, I can sense the feel of the jungle. The whole state of Ohio is Buckeye territory, but in Cincinnati Johnson owned the city.

No.85 jerseys were draped all over the city as Johnson was one of the premiere wide receivers and showmen in the NFL. Johnson was celebrated in Cincinnati, because of his play on the field, personality, and his people skills. Prior to Johnson’s arrival the Bengals were a bottom-feeder team with no real identity. When Johnson came into the fold he gave the team an identity, and a swagger to them. The Bengals became a hot topic around the NFL, due to the play of Johnson, and a few of his crazy touchdown dances may have caught a little bit of attention. At the time it seems as if the Bengals had a team on the cusp of greatness, but the potential was never unleashed. After Johnson, departure his football career never blossomed, and he became more relevant on social media instead of on the field.

Both Johnson and Smith made mistakes along the way, and now they are in Canada forming a bond that nobody imagined that would happen. Smith to Johnson doesn’t have a ring to it yet like Palmer to Johnson or Smith to Ginn Jr as of yet, but it is great to see Johnson and Smith get another opportunity to paint the field in the CFL. I know the Montreal Alouettes isn’t the Bengals or Ravens, nor does the CFL compare to the NFL, but to see Johnson and Smith play for the love of the game is a thing of beauty.