Johnson welcomes Bodden

11.23.2006

The list of people who hope Leigh Bodden will be able to play Sunday against the Bengals includes Browns coach Romeo Crennel, the other 52 players on the Browns' roster and probably 70,000 or so fans who will be at the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

As well as one person you maybe weren't expecting: Chad Johnson.

The Bengals receiver who never backs down from a discussion never backs down from a challenge, either, and Johnson said Wednesday that he hopes Bodden will be fully recovered from his second ankle injury of the season and ready to oppose him Sunday.

"That is a great challenge for me, to be able to go up against him," Johnson said. "Going against certain cornerbacks, you don't play a guy like Bodden each week. You don't always get a Bodden, Champ Bailey or the DeAngelo Halls. You get them every so often."

The Browns will take all the help they can get. Johnson's 450 receiving yards over the last two weeks set an NFL record, and the NFL's receiving leader comes into the game just 68 yards short of his fifth-straight 1,000-yard season.

Bodden said last week he especially welcomed the chance to play against Johnson and hoped he'd be healthy enough to play. He's officially listed as questionable and didn't practice Wednesday.

Last spring, Johnson said Bodden provided his most difficult challenge last spring. He had more praise for Bodden Wednesday.

"Yes, he is one of the best cover corners that I have gone against," Johnson said. "He ranks right up there with Champ (Bailey), DeAngelo (Hall) and Nate Clements because of his ability to cover a small area of the field with no help."

HOLIDAY CHANGE: The Browns will work on a modified schedule Thursday, with all meeting times moved up and the usual afternoon practice moved to the morning. Crennel said the players will be dismissed by 12:30 p.m., in plenty of time to spend the day with their families.