Chad for Anquan: Why not?

Swapping disgruntled wide receivers Anquan Boldin for Chad Johnson could be so simple. At the same time it could fail to erase any headaches the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals are feeling right now. Boldin and Johnson are among the game's top wideouts, but both are unhappy with their current squads. Boldin has never come across as a super-selfish, me-first kind of player. He has quietly put up big numbers for a team that is often out of playoff contention by October. Johnson, on the other hand, is as showy and attention-getting as almost anyone in football. His numbers speak for themselves, but unfortunately so does Johnson, sometimes too much. He has clearly wore out his welcome in the Queen City.

So why not simply swap the two players? Okay, maybe it really isn't actually that simple. But what if it is? What if both players are just craving a change of scenery? Both are dynamic receivers, so it's not as if either team would be losing much. Both are going to be big salary cap hits anyway, so why not? Boldin has kept his name out of police blotter, always a good sign for karma when you're headed to play for the Bengals. Johnson has never gotten into legal trouble either, but he has clearly damaged team chemistry for a team in desperate need of it. In Arizona he could team with Larry Fitzgerald to give the NFL one of its most potent one-two punches at receiver in ages -- maybe even ever.

In today's NFL, nothing is really that cut and dry. A simple swap of two frustrated receivers can't simply occur at the snap of a finger. But it's worth considering. Both players want out, and their teams could use to rid themselves of the distraction.