Chad Johnson putts and struts on the field like few others.
His touchdown celebrations and his brash and boastful style make him must-see TV on the nightly highlight clips.
The Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl wideout was in peak form Wednesday on a teleconference with Pittsburgh reporters in discussing his team's big game Sunday with the Steelers.
"It's much more important than the first time around."
His potential touchdown celebration: "Pittsburgh is the Steel City, right⢠I got something good."
Hines Ward's Riverdance touchdown celebration the last time the team's played: "It was horrible."
And the Terrible Towel he pulled from his locker moments after last week's win over the Ravens: "I've always been a fan of the Steelers."
This is nothing compared to the type of enthusiasm Johnson will exude if the AFC North-leading Bengals (8-3) defeat the second-place Steelers (7-4) at Heinz Field and knock them two games out of first place.
A Steelers loss would leave them scrambling for one of the six playoff spots in the AFC.
"I'm not sure about putting (the Steelers) away," said Johnson, who leads the AFC with 66 catches for 1,085 yards and seven touchdowns. "I'm not sure how all that works. We need a win, that's all I know."
The Bengals are 2-9 against the Steelers in their past 11 games. A win Sunday would solidify Cincinnati's place as an elite team in the AFC.
"It would mean a whole lot for everybody," said Johnson, who celebrated his 54-yard touchdown in a 42-29 victory against the Ravens last Sunday by picking up the pylon and using it as a golf putter. "It's been a long time coming. That's the sweetest way to put it: It's been a long time."
Johnson will have the opportunity of getting revenge on Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, who limited Johnson to four catches for 94 yards in the Steelers' 27-13 victory over the Bengals on Oct. 23. Johnson's final reception that game was for 47 yards in the closing minutes.
Johnson called Taylor one of the best in the league after the game. And he did not back down from those words yesterday.
"Ike is now -- like I said the last time the game ended -- one of the best cover corners in the league," Johnson said. "Any time a coach has the trust to put a defensive back on an island with one of the best receivers in the league, that puts him in a category of his own."
Taylor is second on the Steelers with 78 tackles and first in passes defended with 11. He also has an interception. He is coming off a mediocre performance in last Monday's 26-7 loss at Indianapolis.
Colts Pro Bowl wideout Marvin Harrison beat him for an 80-yard touchdown after biting on a play-action fake. Taylor, though, held Harrison to three catches for 48 yards the rest of the game.
As a reminder of the long touchdown, Taylor taped a picture of Harrison beating him on this week's playbook. His goal is to never let it happen again, particularly against the league's No. 2 offense Sunday.
"The fun part about playing in this league is all the great receivers you see," Taylor said. "It's a new assignment every week. A new challenge. This time it's Chad, who talks the talk, but also walks the walk."
