Report: Bengals deny offer for Johnson

CINCINNATI, April 23 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Bengals have denied reports that the Washington Redskins have made a trade offer for unhappy wide receiver Chad Johnson.

Reports by The Washington Post and ESPN cited sources saying the Redskins offered their first-round pick in Saturday's NFL draft for Johnson, a big-play, seven-year veteran.

In a move designed to call his bluff, Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis suggested this week that Johnson follow through on his threat to sit out the 2008 season if he isn't traded by draft day.

"I think he has made it clear he's not going to play and that's what I've been aware of since the end of last season," Lewis told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "He has a contract through 2011. He stated (that) without an opportunity to go to another team with a new contract, he wasn't going to play. I think he's a man of his word, so don't play."