It didn't take long for the Dolphins to cut ties with Chad Johnson following the wide receiver's arrest over the weekend. Head coach Joe Philbin insists, however, that Johnson's release wasn't based solely on the incident.
"With any type of these decisions, it was not an easy one," Philbin said during a news conference on Monday. "It was not reactive nor was it based on one single incident."
Johnson, who was arrested on Saturday after allegedly head-butting his wife, was released by Miami on Sunday, which has led to a variety of opinions. Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby expressed displeasure with the move, saying that it's "tough to lose a good man." Philbin, on the other hand, just didn't think Miami was the right fit for Johnson.
"In making these decision we base our evaluations on a set of criteria that supports our organizational goals and includes a player's performance both on and off the field," Philbin said. "Essentially, we take into account the overall body of evidence to determine whether an individual is the right fit for this organization, and more specifically, this football team. That's how we made previous decisions and that's how we plan to do so moving forward."
No matter what Philbin says, it certainly appears Johnson's arrest played a role in the receiver's departure. It might not be the only reason, but it certainly didn't help Johnson's cause.
