WR Johnson to skip Bengals’ workouts

Chad Johnson skipped the start of the Bengals’ offseason workouts on Monday, the latest move to show he’s unhappy with how he’s perceived in Cincinnati.

Johnson said in interviews last week that he is skipping the voluntary workouts to reinforce his message that he’d like to play somewhere else. The Bengals have said repeatedly that they have no intention of trading him.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who tied for the NFL lead in receptions with 112 last season, also is skipping the voluntary workouts for the second year in a row. Johnson has been a regular at the workouts until now.

Coach Marvin Lewis addressed the absences with the other players.

"What I addressed is that in the NFL there are a lot of different situations that occur throughout the season and the offseason, and they are not a bearing on any one particular player," Lewis said. "Whatever occurs, this is professional football. You have to deal with it in your way."

Johnson became indignant last season after a local newspaper columnist suggested his look-at-me antics were hurting the team. Fans also criticized his approach as the season careened to a 7-9 finish.

The prosecutor in Michael Vick’s state dogfighting case expects a new trial date to be set today.

Surry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Poindexter said he was working with the suspended NFL quarterback’s lawyers to determine the date. The trial originally was scheduled for April 2.

Vick is serving a 23-month prison term in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge.

• The San Francisco 49ers forfeited their fifth-round pick in next month’s NFL draft after commissioner Roger Goodell said they tampered with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs. Goodell also said the teams will switch picks in the third round of the April 26-27 draft. Chicago, which had the 12th pick, will get San Francisco’s seventh pick and the 49ers will get Chicago’s choice.

• The Denver Broncos signed unrestricted free-agent center Casey Wiegmann to a two-year deal. The Broncos also re-signed fullback Cecil Sapp.

• Former Jacksonville quarterback Quinn Gray signed a one-year contract with Houston, giving the Texans another experienced backup behind starter Matt Schaub.