INDIANAPOLIS — When Chad Johnson speaks, the Indianapolis Colts laugh. They don't worry about the Cincinnati wide receiver's playful remarks, guarantees or even his choreographed celebrations.

Instead, they're amused.

But the Colts do have one item on their to-do list this week: keeping The Mouth quiet Sunday when the NFL's last unbeaten team visits Cincinnati.

"Whatever he has planned, I don't want to see it," cornerback Nick Harper said Wednesday, laughing. "He can save it for next week."

Johnson's antics have included everything from sending opposing cornerbacks Pepto-Bismol bottles to holding up preprinted signs asking NFL officials not to fine him. He's done the Riverdance, the Salsa and now that the Bengals are into the second half of the season, Johnson is promising to bring out the "good" stuff.

Whatever moves Johnson makes, the Colts seem to enjoy them.

"I think it's funny, I think a lot of guys think it's funny," said wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who caught 10 touchdowns last season with nary a peep. "He's having fun with the game, and it makes me laugh."

But the Colts haven't been one of Johnson's victims, yet. In his only other game against Indy, Johnson caught six passes for 72 yards and no touchdowns in a 28-21 loss, leaving little to celebrate.

This time, Johnson has bigger plans.

Johnson and Carson Palmer have led the resurgent Bengals to a 7-2 record, giving them a share of the AFC North lead, and Sunday's result could play a major role in determining playoff seeding. So the only guarantee Johnson offered Wednesday was this week's game will be one to remember.

"It's going to be a very good game," he said. "Actually, this will be a historical event. It's not even a game because this game is going to go down in history as one of the best ever played."

Titles like that are usually reserved for playoff games, Super Bowls or those played in poor weather conditions. Then again, Johnson always finds ways to push the limits.

This week, he's promising another new routine, hinting that it will be Martha Stewart-like and imploring fans to stay tuned. That may be the first time in league history that the domestic queen's name has been mixed with football.

Tony Dungy is one of the few old-school coaches who appreciates Johnson's fun-loving nature. During the 2003 Pro Bowl, Dungy got an inside peek at Johnson's planning process when he was asked to approve a touchdown celebration. Dungy nixed that one, saying this week it was inappropriate although he declined to describe the routine.

Johnson, of course, had no such concern. He explained it as a takeoff of Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl.

But Dungy believes Johnson's act does give the game something it needs — entertainment.

"He's a great receiver, and he's fun to play against because he makes the game fun," Dungy said. "He's trying to entertain. He's a great young man, but he sees himself as an entertainer, so that's not all bad."

NFL defenders sometimes have different opinions. Some take offense to the elaborate dances concocted, and Johnson has been fined three times by the league for excessive celebrations. He's even been scolded by Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis.

But Indy's only concern Sunday regarding Johnson is preventing another dance.

"We don't want to see none of that," rookie defensive back Marlin Jackson said. "We just want to go out and do our job in the secondary."

Although Jackson does not start, his name still appears on Johnson's infamous checklist, which contains the name of every cornerback Johnson expected to match up with this year. He checks off those he believes he's beaten.

This week's game may require a slight edit, though.

"If I don't play against Marlin, I'll put tape over the name and write Nick Harper's name on it, and then check it off," Johnson said.

The Colts don't seem to mind.

They're not worrying about the Johnson vs. Harper or Johnson vs. Jackson matchups, they just want to find a beat the Bengals — and silence Johnson.

"Hopefully, by the end of the ballgame, he'll be pretty quiet," defensive tackle Montae Reagor said.