From wire reports

So did they or didn't they?

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis initially said they didn't... then said they did.

The Washington Redskins aren't saying either way.

The subject: Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson. The report: That Cincinnati turned down a Redskins trade offer that could have sent two draft picks to the Bengals for their disgrunted star.

Lewis denied the team had gotten offers for Johnson during a news conference early Tuesday but later in the day confirmed to ESPN.com that its story was accurate. That story stated that Cincinnati had received - and turned down - the Redskins' offer of the No. 21 overall pick in this year's draft and a conditional third-round pick in 2009. The 2009 pick, depending on Johnson's production, could have ended up as a first-rounder.

The Bengals issued a news release stating that the story was accurate and that Lewis had told the Redskins the team was not interested in trading Johnson.

Although Johnson stopped talking to reporters in Cincinnati, he has done numerous national interviews during which he threatened to sit out the season if he's not traded. Lewis responded Tuesday by saying he should follow through with his threat.

"I've stated our case with Chad," Lewis said. "He has a contract through 2011. He's stated without an opportunity to go to a different team and a new contract, he wasn't going to play. I think he's a man of his word and says he's not going to play, so don't play."

Since the end of last season, the Pro Bowl receiver has been lobbying for a trade though he agreed to a long-term deal with the Bengals two years ago. Johnson's contract would pay him $3 million next season and extends through 2010, with a club option for 2011.

The Redskins, meanwhile, held a media briefing at Redskin Park, talking about the nine picks they have this weekend, past late-round finds they've made and positional needs.

They just weren't talking about Johnson.

New Redskins coach Jim Zorn dismissed the umpteenth query about Johnson by saying: "He's not on our team, guys."