I'm Going Mobile

This just in from the Unofficial Cincinnati Bengals Blog headquarters: You can now receive great Bengals info from yours truly via an Ipod! That's right, I am now a part of a weekly show on www.theflypod.com entitled 1st and Ten: Bengals Chat. You can find the feeds under the sports and news section of the website. Now you can take me with you where ever you go.

Mini Camp Report

At this stage in the offseason, it would be great to only report positives about the Bengal’s progress in their minicamp over the weekend but the biggest story is the injury sustained to second year cornerback Jonathan Joseph. Joseph fractured his foot while covering receiver Chad Johnson on a comeback route after the Bengals moved from their grass practice fields to the turf in Paul Brown Stadium due to a thunder storm. The injury will require surgery but the damage is considered minor because Joseph and Head Coach Marvin Lewis plan on him returning in time for training camp in late July.

If the fracture is more severe than initially indicated and he misses some time in the regular season, do not worry about the state of the Bengal’s secondary. Joseph’s fellow starter at corner, Deltha O’Neal, is fully recovered from his injuries in 2006 and is determined to better his dismal performance last year in order to obtain a raise. Also, the two players behind Joseph and O’Neal, first round draft pick Leon Hall and veteran Keiwan Ratliff, aren’t slouches either. Hall is described by Bengals coaches as more polished in coverage than Joseph, and Ratliff is playing very hard now because he has recognized that there is an opportunity for him to show what he is made of due to Tory James leaving the lineup and Joseph’s recent injury. Secondary coach Kevin Coyle stated that, he is playing with “a little more burst” and he described his play as ferocious in practice while defending the run and pass.

If one thing has changed about the secondary corps this year it is their desire. Ratliff and O’Neal are fighting for something and Hall wants to show that he is worth the 18th overall selection in the draft. How does that covert to the field? I think that it means no more lapses in coverage leading to wide open receivers, no more missed tackles, and more interceptions. The entire defense will improve immensely even if only their tackling improves.

One reason to look forward to the coming season is the show that the offense will put on during games on Sunday now that quarterback Carson Palmer has had a year to recover from his knee injury. At this point last year, Palmer could not practice extensively with the team and it had an impact during the season. Even though he threw for a franchise record 4,035 passing yards in 2006, his performance left something to be desired last year. Now that he is taking snaps at minicamp, the timing routes with the wide receivers will be more in sync and since his knee doesn’t hurt anymore he won’t be relying on compensating for it by using the wrong throwing mechanics. He will plant with his left foot and drive through it confidently in the face of a pass rush without worrying about someone hitting it.

If Palmer can make it to the Pro Bowl in what was considered an off year, I imagine he will compete for the top stats in the league now that he is healthy along with the Colt’s Peyton Manning. If the defense can step up like the Colt’s defense did in the playoffs last year and Palmer’s laser rocket arm matches Manning’s, what going to stop the Bengal’s from following the same path the Colts took to the Super Bowl last year?

Bengals Let Adams Roll Out the Door

On the same day that the Bengals announced the signing of Kendrick Allen, a defensive tackle from the Packers, they released all of veteran tackle Sam Adams' 350 lbs. The big fella only suited up one year for the Bengals and posted 25 tackles and two sacks.

Adams, 34, spent most of training camp last year bulking up to his mammoth size and didn't make it on to the field until the 3rd preseason game, against the Packers. He then injured his knee early on in the season, but played hurt until he could have surgery on it.

This move was initially shocking to me, but under more analysis it makes sense. The Bengals spent the past month or so bringing in two veteran tackles and drafting another defensive lineman in the draft. This meant that someone had to go and it wasn't going to be John Thornton because of his locker room presence and it wasn't going to be the second year stand-out player Domata Peko, therefore it was the aging and injured Adams.

Also, Peko registered better stats in a backup role last year. He finished with 49 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. 49 tackles is a lot for a defensive tackle, especially for one that primarily comes in on passing downs. This means that the starting job next to Thornton is his to lose and he should get even better with more playing time and another training camp under his belt.

The Bengals saw that they had a quality player in Peko and keeping Adams on the team would have kept Peko off the field where his youth and skill can make plays. Although Adams could clog up the middle like cholesterol clogs up the heart, Peko will be a better fit.

Hot Irons in Round 2

Ok, you're sitting on your couch last Saturday and you have already endured the longest first round in NFL Draft history. Instead of doing something else, you keep watching because you know the draft doesn't end after pick 32. You are waiting to see the Bengal's last pick of the day, the 49th overall selection in the second round.

I commend those of you who made it the full first day because it takes a lot to sit and watch Mel Kiper for ten hours (this man must own stock in hair gel). However, you stuck out Mel's do because you wanted to see which defender the Bengals had their sights set on. They obviously needed one and would select one no matter what. Right?

Wrong. The Bengals pulled the trigger on the Auburn stud running back, Kenny Irons, and a lot of fans and analysts were left wondering why.

The Bengals were intent on drafting one of the two defensive prospects left from the 2006 Michigan Wolverine squad in David Harris and LaMarr Woodley, but that rug was pulled out from under them. The New York Jets traded up to snatch up Harris and the Pittsburgh Steelers usurped Woodley before the Bengals could do anything about it.

The Jets must have been intent on stealing prospects from the Bengals because they also traded up in round 1 to nab Darrelle Revis before anyone else could lay a hand on him.

Back to round 2. So now you are Marvin Lewis and you just saw the two guys you have your sights on disappear right before your eyes. You take a quick glance at your board and realize there are no more defensive players that are worth taking the risk on with the 49th pick. So what do you do? You accelerate your plans to get a "home run hitter" running back.

Personally, I was not surprised by this pick and I even said out loud after Woodley and Harris left the board that they are going to pick a running back (although I thought it would be Antonio Pittman from Ohio State). I knew the Bengals were looking for one to be the lightning to Rudi Johnson's thunder and there were good reasons for them to be looking.

Consider this: all though Rudi Johnson had another 1,200 yard plus season, the entire team only ended up with 1,637 yards for the season. That is good enough to rank 26th in the entire league for rushing offense. Even worse, the average yards per carry was 3.7, which ties them with Detroit, New Orleans, and Buffalo for the 25th ranking. Also, the Bengals only had 5 runs of over 20 yards. To put this in perspective, Atlanta had 23 and San Diego had 20.

So what does this say? Well first of all it says Rudi Johnson is a hoss for accounting for that much of the yardage. Second (and more importantly), it says that the offense is in need of a running back that could threaten six points every time he touches the rock, almost as much as the defense needs an identity. Since, there was no one on the board that could help the defense at 49, Marvin Lewis made the right choice by addressing their second biggest need in the draft. This is a much better option than reaching for a linebacker and not getting much out of him.

Just because Rudi Johnson is a plow horse back with Pro-Bowl potential, don't let it blind you to the fact that the rest of the offense is lacking in the running game. If it gets going this season, it could even help the defense by keeping opposing offenses off the field by burning the clock. So perhaps the defense was addressed with the 49th pick in an odd sort of indirect way.

Hall, Irons Get Their Names Called

It has been speculated for months by analysts (including yours truly) that the Bengals would look for a band-aid for their porous secondary in today's draft and that is just what happened. Leon Hall was surprisingly overlooked by teams like the Steelers, Bills, and the Texans and fell into the Bengal's lap at 18. Marvis Lewis did not waist anytime in pulling the trigger on the All-American cornerback and put him in stripes. Now Hall will get an anticipated matchup against Chad Johnson tomorrow when he arrives in Cincinnati. Johnson promised a pair of cleats for him so the two can go at it one-on-one as an initiation to the team.

I really like the pick even though it was not my first choice. I felt that Hall and Darrelle Revis were almost dead even in coverage skills but I gave Revis the slight edge because of his punt return ability. Unfortunately, Revis was swept up by the Jets when they traded up to get him in front of the Bengals. However, Hall will fit in very well in the Bengal's system. He can follow in the same footsteps as Jonathan Joseph last year by stepping in as the nickelback early this season until he can learn the ropes of the NFL and take a starting job. Hopefully those footsteps will lead to success just as Joseph's did.

Hall is used to a lot of different coverage schemes from his experience at Michigan. He can play man-to-man and a variety of zone coverages, which is useful when Chuck Bresnahan wants to switch up the coverages to confuse the opposing quarterback. Also, he is a proven asset to run support. He will never shy away from coming up and laying a lick on a running back.

The only knock on Hall came in to focus when the lightning fast Ted Ginn, Jr. burned him all over the field in the Michigan/Ohio State game of 2006. This left scouts questioning his playing speed. All though he ran a 4.39 40 at the combine, I am still not convinced that he has great recovery speed to cover comeback routes and double moves.

I am convinced that the second round selection was going to be linebacker David Harris from Michigan until, once again, the Jets traded up to get him in front of the Bengals. Harris would have been a great alternative to Ahmad Brooks at middle linebacker in case Brooks couldn't handle it and it would have cancelled any plans the Bengals had of signing Ed Hartwell because Harris plays a lot like him. Now it looks like Hartwell will most likely be joining the team some time next week.

However, Harris is gone and so is Justin Durant from Hampton when the Bengals pick in the second round. So where do they go? Their next need, a speedy running back.

Kenny Irons from Auburn will join fellow alum Rudi Johnson in the backfield this season to combine for a 1-2 punch in the absence of the rehabbing Chris Perry. Irons has some durability issues of his own but his upside definitely outweighs them. He can find cut back lanes and outrun defenders when he gets to the second level, something Rudi can not. In his first year he will most likely step in on 3rd down with Kenny Watson for screens and shovel passes and his role will gradually increase once he gets the feel of the NFL.

This pick leads me to wonder about Chris Perry's future with the club. If Irons works out for the team, what happens to Perry? Is he traded for a low draft pick considering his injury history or is he cut all together? Hopefully he can recover fully from his broken leg but the future does not look bright for the former Wolverine ball carrier.

Well day one is over and it was a long, but productive one. The Bengals filled two needs and picked the best player on the board when they picked. Tomorrow it looks like there will be more defensive picks and this time they will be in the front seven (look out H.B. Blades!). I'll be back again tomorrow night for a complete recap out picks 3-7 once the draft is concluded.

This Weeks Post Coming After Day 1's Picks

I decided to hold out on this weeks post until after the end of the 3rd round on Saturday. My reasons are that I don't want to drone on more draft analysis. Honestly I have said all that I want to about the Bengals draft. Darrelle Revis is my pick at 18 and I would like to see Marvin Lewis pick up a versatile safety like Eric Weddle to replace Kevin Kaesviharn in the 2nd.

I will be there about an hour or so after the 3rd round concludes with my immediate analysis and the results of the first two picks.

In other news, The Unofficial Cincinnati Bengals Blog is going to be featured on a new website that aggregates sporting blogs and feeds for team and individual sports called HaveBalls.net. They approached me and offered to carry the blog on their website and I accepted; so you faithful readers will hopefully be joined by new readers via this website.

Their website is www.haveballs.net and I will update you on address of the Unofficial Cincinnati Bengals Blog's address on that site.

Free Agent Visits Give Draft Clues

There are now less than two weeks to go before Cincinnati goes on the clock with the 18th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. It is a moment that many Bengals faithful have been waiting for since Santonio Holmes put a dagger in the heart of the Bengals' playoff hopes on December 31st of 2006. It has been a long four months of dead time that has left most Bengals fans pondering what name Commissioner Roger Goodell will call when the Bengals make their selection. Recent developments from Paul Brown Stadium can provide some clues as to who that might be.

Two free agents will most likely be in the Queen City after the draft for a visit with the Bengals. Linebacker Ed Hartwell and Defensive tackle Ian Scott are being brought in as possible replacements for Brian Simmons and Shaun Smith on the Bengals depth charts, but their visits mean more than depth.

Hartwell, 29, would look to compete with Ahmad Brooks for the starting spot and give the linebacking corps some much needed experience. He has been injured lately but according to his agent, Harold Lewis, "He’s 100 percent healthy."

Scott, 25, was a key part of the Bear's Super Bowl defense last year as he stepped in for the injured Tommie Harris. He compiled 22 tackles and deflected 6 passes in 2006 and would give the Bengals another body for the defenisive line rotation.

If the Bengals are looking to sign veterans at the linebacker and defensive line positions, then they will most likely be looking to spend their first draft pick on another position. Since Marvin Lewis has already stated that it will be a heavily defensive draft, that leaves the secondary as the positions that the war room will concentrate on.

Get used to these names because one of them will most likely be on the back of a Bengals jersey this fall: Darrelle Revis, Leon Hall, Chris Houston, Reggie Nelson, Aaron Ross, and Michael Griffin.

If some of you are disappointed by Kevin Kaesviharn's departure to the Saints, a replacement may be in sight. Utah Safety Eric Weddle reminds me a lot of him. He is an overachieving versatile player with a football brain and a nose for the ball. He played both offense and defense for the Ute's in 2006 and recorded 7 interceptions and 7 rushing touchdowns during that campaign. He projects as a CB/S tweener in the NFL and could help the Bengals out a lot on passing downs as a nickel back. He will most likely be around when the Bengals pick in the second round.

MNF Strikes Twice in Cincinnati, Goodell Strikes on Henry

Today, the NFL decided to reward the Bengals the day after punishing one of them. For the first time ever in one season there are two Monday night home games on the schedule and potentially two more prime time games later in the season. The Bengals are scheduled to square off with the Ravens in the first game of a Monday night double-header on ESPN on September 10. Three weeks later, Carson Palmer will get another shot at Tom Brady and the New England Patriots under the Monday night lights. Perhaps the Bengals still remember the 38-13 thrashing the Patriots dealt the Bengals in '06? Hopefully some revenge will be exacted.

When the Bengals arrive for the annual Heinz Field War in Pittsburgh against the rival Steelers, John Madden and Al Michaels might be on hand to call the game because it is tentatively scheduled as a Sunday night "Flex Game" on December 2nd. It means that NBC will decide later in the season that if the game has serious playoff implications, the start time will remain at 8:15. Should it not be, the game will be rescheduled for that afternoon on CBS.

Rounding out the prime time appearances is a Saturday night appearance on December 15th against the San Fransisco 49ers. Rich Eisen and the gang will be on hand to breakdown the game on the NFL Network. The Niners have had an excellent offseason by adding key members to their defense, namely Nate Clements. This game should turn out to be very entertaining as the Bengals meet Frank Gore and Alex Smith for the first time.

Four prime time appearances for an 8-8 team? Wait, I see a trend developing. A lot of teams with average or poor records in 2006 were granted four or more prime time games. Pittsburgh (8-8) and San Fransisco (7-9) each have four prime time games. The Giants (8-8) and Broncos (9-7) have five and the Cowboys (9-7) are handed an unbelievable six appearances.

Chad Johnson has been lobbying for more prime time games for a few seasons now and today he finally got his wish. "We've always said we wanted more prime time and now we've got it," he said. "Now we've got to go show then that we deserve it... I can't wait to come up with something for Baltimore. As long as I'm trash talking I don't care (when the game is), but, of course, it's cool playing at night. It's fun."

Personally, I am thrilled to see the league finally grant the Bengals a lengthy amount of time in the national spotlight. National sports network, like ESPN and NFL Network, rarely dedicate any air time on the Bengals and these games will change that. ESPN is notorious for being biased in its programming, preferring to primarily cover teams with large fan bases like Dallas and New England, and it will be refreshing to see two Monday nights in the fall dedicated to the men in stripes.

However, it has been announced that one man will not be donning stripes until mid-way through the season. Chris Henry has been suspended by Roger Goodell for the first eight regular season games for his off-the-field run ins with the law. He can still participate in training camp and the pre-season, but he cannot be on the Bengals property to work out or practice until he has been reinstated. However, if Henry has any more arrests or citations, he will not be eligible for reinstation after the eighth game.

This is an excellent move by Goodell and I applaud the length and the restrictions placed on Henry. Goodell wanted to send a message to every NFL player and that he did. This suspension as well as Adam "Pacman" Jones' suspension dares anyone to break the new rules, because they will get the book thrown at them. Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter's reaction on ESPN today was that he can't afford to get in trouble and he doesn't want to go to the "Principal's office." He probably should have thought of that before he sucker-punched Levi Jones in the eye.

I think that other player's reaction to the new rules will be similar to Porter's and Goodell's message will serve as a slap in the face for a lot of them, but I don't know if this will be the last suspension for Henry. Even though Goodell specifically told him that he can't get away with childish arrests any more, his career is on the line, and he has to step up I still see reason to believe that he has not changed at all. After meeting with the commissioner last Tuesday, he was interviewed by NFL Network's Rich Eisen via telephone. When Eisen asked what he would say to the Cincinnati fans "scratching their heads" over his string of arrests. He responded, "The fans who you say are 'scratching their heads' really aren’t true fans."

NOT TRUE FANS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Seriously, this kid needs to get it into his head that he cannot walk on water. Remarks like this lead me to believe that he is still a spoiled child in a man's body and that maybe he will never change. I am a "true fan" through and through, but I will never support someone who gets in trouble more often than Raiders win games. I imagine that every other "true fan" feels the same way. We are Bengals fans before we are Chris Henry fans and maybe he should be thinking about that while he is sitting at home for eight Sundays.

Mock Draft 2007

1. Oakland: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU

Al Davis will be tempted to use this pick on Calvin Johnson but the Raiders did not get a veteran quarterback in the offseason as the planned to. They made an effort to sign Jeff Garcia, but were out-bid by the Buccaneers. I think that both Al Davis and Lane Kiffin recognize that Andrew Walter is not the future of this franchise.

2. Detroit: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame

The Lions are in need of a quarterback but they are shopping this pick for trades hard. They really want Gaines Adams from Clemson, but they don't want to pick him this high. The Falcons are very interested in picking Calvin Johnson and if the Raiders don't, they will most likely offer their no. 8 overall pick and some of their newly acquired second round picks in exchange for the no. 2 pick. If the Lions get this trade done, they might look to pick up a franchise quarterback in the second round in Drew Stanton, but if they don't they will use the pick on Quinn.

3. Cleveland: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

Even though the Browns signed Jamal Lewis in the offseason, he is not a franchise running back any more. He was signed to a one year deal for two reasons, the Browns want to be able the ease Peterson into the starting role and they have insurance in Lewis in case he does indeed become injured. The Browns had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league last year and Peterson will be a major upgrade.

4. Tampa Bay: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech

If the best receiver prospect of the 21st century falls to the number 4 pick, the Bucs will waste no time in pulling the trigger on Johnson. Joey Galloway is in the twilight of his career and Michael Clayton is not a number one receiver. Johnson would give life to an anemic passing attack and open up the ground game for Cadillac Williams. It doesn't matter who is the quarterback in 2007, Johnson will put up big numbers. That is a fact, Jack. Should Johnson be gone by no. 4, keep an eye out for Amobi Okoye. Head coach Jon Gruden loves him like he did Cadillac in '05.

5. Arizona: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin

The achilles heel of the Card's offense in '06 was the offensive line. New coach Ken Whisenhunt already has the skill players on the team but now he needs a real road grader to pave the way for Edgerrin James and he will look no farther than Thomas. This is a no brainer pick for 'Zona.

6. Washington: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson

Should Washington retain this pick in the Lance Briggs debacle, they will use this pick on a defensive lineman and Adams is the best available. He will provide a boost to the Skins' run defense as well as rush the passer.

7. Minnesota: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas

Their two starting defensive ends, Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James, both have big questions surrounding them this season. Udeze did not register as single sack in 15 games last year and James is coming off an injury. Therefore Anderson is a natural pick. They should pick a wide receiver here but they already have a Ted Ginn-like receiver in Troy Williamson. Also, head coach Brad Childress does not believe in taking a receiver in the first round.

8. Atlanta (f/ Houston): LaRon Landry, S, LSU

Landry is fast (4.35 40 yrd dash), the best defensive back in the draft, and the Falcons want him if the can't get their hands on Calvin Johnson. It is no doubt that Atlanta's defensive backs are one of the worst in the league with the exception of All-Pro corner DeAngelo Hall. Landry will team up well with Hall and patch up Hotlanta's cold pass defense. Also look for a defensive end to be the pick as a replacement for Patrick Kerney.

9. Miami: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan

Miami wants a quarterback but Quinn and Russell will not slip this far. Therefore they will look to upgrade their aging defensive line. They figure to pick up Branch because he can play nose tackle/end in a 3-4 scheme or end in a 4-3.

10. Houston: Levi Brown, OT, Penn State

The Texans have their running back in Ahman Green, their quarterback in Matt Schaub, and now they will pick up the man to keep them both on their feet. Just ask David Carr, who was sacked 41 times in '06, if they need to pick up an offensive lineman. Except this season he won't be able to benefit from Brown's presence.

11. San Fransisco: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska

Carriker is the best 3-4 defensive end in the draft and Mike Nolan will call his number come April 28th to bolster his defense. Wide receiver is also an option because of the release of Antonio Bryant but I think that they stay on the defensive side of the ball.

12. Buffalo: Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss

I like this kid a lot and I wish he would slide to the Bengals at 18 but it is unlikely due to his amazing speed and his resume at Ole Miss. Buffalo will covet him as the replacement for London Fletcher-Baker. They may also consider Leon Hall from Michigan to replace Nate Clements.

13. St. Louis: Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville

The Ram's defense is the major issue surrounding the organization in the offseason and they will use this pick on a 19 year old kid that will come in and make an impact right away. He will keep double-teams off of Leonard Little and will clog up the middle in the run defense.

14. Carolina: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami (FL)

Kris Mangum has retired and a major hole is left open at the tight end position. Jake Delhomme will love this big and fast target in the middle and maybe it will stop him from throwing into tight coverage to Steve Smith all the time.

15. Pittsburgh: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan

Pittsburgh needs to address their front seven in their scheme situation questions (4-3 or 3-4?) but they also need good cover guys, especially if Mike Tomlin's cover two scheme prevails. Hall is the natural pick here because he can play either corner or safety and he is better than Ike Taylor.

16. Green Bay: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California

Ahman Green is gone and the Packers have made no attempt to find one in free agency because they are waiting on fresh legs from the golden state. Some will say that the Packers will try to go after Ted Ginn here but I think that Greg Jennings made big strides his rookie year as is more than capable of handling the number 2 receiver role.

17. Jacksonville: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida

Dieon Grant no longer is in Jacksonville and Donovin Darius is getting hurt all the time. There is no way they make a play for LaRon Landry so therefore they take the second best option in Nelson.

18. Cincinnati: Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh

Marvin Lewis covets special teamers and dual role players and that is exactly what Revis is. He is a solid corner that could push Deltha O'Neal for the starting job opposite Jonathan Joseph and he also is an excellent punt returner, another need for the Bengals. He didn't rack up many interceptions in college but that is because he wasn't thrown at a lot. When he was, he made the most of his opportunities and picked the ball off. As an added bonus, he has no character issues in the past.

19. Tennessee: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, Southern California

Offensive coordinator has up close and personal experience with Jarrett because Chow is a former coordinator at USC. Drew Bennett has left for the Rams and Vince Young needs a go-to-guy for the red zone like Mike Vick has with Alge Crumpler.

20. New York Giants: Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas

Defense is a major issue for the G-Men and they could use this pick on a outside linebacker or cornerback. However, if Houston is on the board I don't think they can pass up Deon Sander's protege.

21. Denver: Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida

The Broncos missed out on the Patrick Kerney sweepstakes and will most likely take the best end available. Anthony Spencer is an option because he could be a pass rushing end or an outside linebacker. It looks like the Broncos will want to move D.J. Williams to middle backer and maybe they could plug Spencer in at Williams old spot.

22. Dallas: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas

This home grown product will likely fit the Cowboy's needs because their current number two corner, Anthony Henry, may move to free safety. Defensive back is by far the biggest need for the Big D, but an outside linebacker to team with DeMarcus Ware is also a possibility.

23. Kansas City: Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State

Speed, hands, and the ability to take any catch the distance is something the Chiefs have been lacking for years. Their only current pass catching option is tight end Tony Gonzalez and he is getting up there in terms of age. Who ever starts at quarterback in KC will love this speedy kid.

24. New England (f/ Seattle): Michael Griffin, S, Texas

The Patriots are the only team that has two first round picks and will most likely spend the first one on a safety. They don't want to wait until the 28th pick to look for one because Griffin will most likely be gone so they pick him up here. He can be plugged in to play opposite Rodney Harrison or he could end up as Harrison's replacement.

25. New York Jets: Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State

The Jets are coming off of a surprise season and have already addressed their need for a good running back by acquiring Thomas Jones from Chicago, but they still need to fix the defense. Cornerback is their biggest need and they will take McCauley because the rest of the deep cornerback class has been picked away.

26. Philedelphia: Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State

The Eagles at this point are upset that all the defensive backs have been pick up so therefore they will address their linebacker corps. They already picked up Takeo Spikes, but he may be moved to middle. Therefore the obvious pick is "the best linebacker from Linebacker U."

27. New Orleans: Eric Wright, CB, UNLV

The Saints are also upset that the likes of Ross and McCauley are gone but they decided to take a gamble on Wright. They figure that anything is an upgrade to Fred Thomas, especially after he was toasted by Chad Johnson in '06.

28. New England: Ryan Kalil, C, Southern California

Kalil is this year's version of Nick Mangold, a plug and play center. The Patriots will put him in the roster and not worry about him for ten years.

29. Baltimore: Anthony Spencer, LB/DE, Purdue

The Ravens love to draft defense and this year will be no different. They lost Adalius Thomas and Spencer can take his spot as a versatile pass rusher.

30. San Diego: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee

San Diego desperately needs a wide receiver to give Philip Rivers a target other than Antonio Gates to throw at. Meachem gives them a good receiver that will be solid for many years.

31. Chicago: Jon Beason, LB, Miami (FL)

Lance Briggs wants out and Hunter Hillenmeyer is decent at best. Beason didn't meet expectations at the combine, but that won't stop Chi-town from pulling the trigger on this Hurricane.

32. Indianapolis: Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State

Indy lost a lot of defensive players to free agency and they would like to find a quick defensive tackle to plug in to stop the run, but there aren't any worth the no. 32 pick. Now they try to fill the void left by Cato June by picking up Timmons. He is quick and fits the Colt's Tampa 2 scheme and he should be able to help in run support.

Black (and Orange) Monday

September 10th, 2007 will mark the start of the Bengals 40th season. What better way to celebrate than with the Bengals' first home monday night game since 2004 and the first night opener since the Bengals' first ever game, a 29-13 defeat by the San Diego Chargers on September 6, 1968. Thats right, the Bengals are featured in one of the doubleheader Monday Night Football games and their opponent is none other than the 2006 AFC North defending champions, the Baltimore Ravens.

It would be great to start the season 1-0 in overall record and division record, but the problem is the Bengals might not be at full strength. Chris Henry will miss this game because of a definite suspension to be handed out soon and Jonathan Joseph will possibly be riding the bench. Marvin Lewis has not ruled out sitting him down because of his run in with the law on January 22nd. Henry and Joseph are major cogs in the Bengals scheme and missing them would hurt. Especially because the last time the Bengals and Ravens met Jonathan Joseph had 4 pass breakups (that should have been interceptions) and could have been cosidered the MVP of the game.

It has been argued that the Bengals' off the field issues haven't affected their play, but if their key players can't suit up it definitely affects things. I am now convinced that Henry is a cancer because of his latest traffic violations. It shows me that he has made no progress and he should not remain with the team, no matter how talented he is. The rest of the team needs to put the team first and win some games. I'd like nothing more than to see the black and blue Ravens leaving Cincinnati with their tail feathers between their legs.

Can the Bengals Get Out of the 8-8 Rut?

For those of you that were dismayed when my post was absent from your Thursday morning last week, I apologize. I was on a much needed vacation.

But now I'm back and so are the weekly posts.

This week, most of the teams in the NFL are starting their offseason workout programs. The Bengals won't start until some time next week, but I figured now is as good as ever to make a realistic prediction for the Bengal's 2007 season.

As far as anyone is concerned, the 2006 season was a failure. It was full of the highest highs that were replaced quickly by the lowest lows. The lowest was the second half meltdown against the Chargers that all of Bengaldom shall remember for years. After looking at '06, I came to realize that if the Bengals would have closed the deal on many of the close games they were involved in instead of giving up, their record would have been 13-3. The Steelers, Falcons, Chargers, Buccaneers, and Broncos games were all within the Bengals grasp but the victory managed to elude them. Bengals fans are familiar with this sort of occurrence because it happens so often that it is commonplace for fans to leave Paul Brown Stadium feeling broken hearted after being filled with such hope. These lapses have some, particularly me, believing that if they continue, Marvin Lewis may be out of a job. Especially if the Bengals don't make the playoffs.

If you examine all the elite teams from 2006, you realize that they all came together in the second half to win ball games. No one proves my point other than the Chargers on that infamous November 12th afternoon or the Colts against New England in the AFC Championship. The Bengals will never be a championship team, like the Colts, until they can win in the clutch on a consistent basis. Sure they had their share of clutch plays in '06, like the 4th and 1 pass that found itself in Chad Johnson's arms 32 yards down field for the conversion. However, fewer instances come to mind when you apply the clutch to the defense. Its that simple, the defense does not make plays on a consistent basis. Does it have the potential? Yes, but it will have to find an individual to give it an attitude, particularly a middle linebacker.

Lets say that the draft is defense heavy in the first two rounds and there are no major injuries to speak of, I estimate the Bengals record will be somewhere in the area of 10-6. Keep in mind this is a very early prediction and I will update my prediction as the offseason continues.

I think that 2007 will see Carson Palmer's number climb because he won't be coming off of a major knee surgery and because Levi Jones is returning to guard his left side. Many of the injured wide receivers will be returning that will be crucial in special teams and replacing Chris Henry during his eventual suspension (everyone knows its coming). Hopefully Rudi Johnson will have someone to step in and let him take a series off every now and then. That will help his stats improve drastically.

The defensive picture is so blurry that it is hard to foretell how successful they will be in '07. I think that the talent is there but the heart and desire is not. If Marvin Lewis can bring out that talent, the defense would be scary.

2007 is a pivotal year in Bengals history because if a talented team such as this fails to make the playoffs, I believe Marvin may be looking elsewhere for work. If you don't agree with me, just ask Marty Schottenheimer. He guided the Chargers to a league best 14-2 record and then lost his job because of a 1 and done playoff run. Marvin has had 5 years to make a contender in Cincinnati and he has done that but he has not taken the team to the next level, making the playoffs on a consistent basis and having playoff success.

Why the Return of Reggie Kelly is a Good Thing.

For all you advocates for a new tight end, this is for you. You know who you are. You are more interested in watching the combine for Greg Olsen than Leon Hall. You were heart broken when Leonard Pope, Marcedes Lewis, and Dominique Byrd slipped through the Bengal's grasp in last spring's draft. You were hoping and praying that the Bengals would finally find a pass catching tight end that would stretch the field and create mis-matches on linebackers.

I'm sure a lot of you that play EA Sport's Madden Football series draft or trade for a tight end when you play as the Bengals in franchise mode. So do I. It helps in the video game. However, when the Bengals suit up to play on sundays, they are not powering up the XBOX 360s, they line up for real. Therefore they have to use an offense that takes advantages of the weapons they already have. It is very unique because it features three ultra talented wide recievers. No other team in the NFL has the reciever corps. that Cincinnati does. None. Why not feature them most of the time in three reciever sets? Offensive Coordinator Bob Bratkowski does just that. He understand that any tight end is going to be the fourth progression for quarterback Carson Palmer. First is Chad Johnson of course, then follows T.j. Houshmandzadeh, then comes Chris Henry.

Why does Chris Henry come before a tight end? Chris Henry is 6' 4", fast, can jump over any corner in the league, and he scores a touchdown every third time he touches the ball. He functions as a vertical weapon that can be lined up in the slot or outside and do the same thing as a pass catching tight end would do. This means that since you have a deep threat in Chad, a chain moving T.j., and a vertical target in Chris Henry, you don't need a tight end for anything except to block. Which is why I'm glad that Daniel Graham, Jerramy Stevens, and Eric Johnson did not come to Cincinnati. Reggie Kelly is a great blocker and his prowess is key to the success of Cincinnati's offense. He serves as a 6th offensive lineman on running and passing downs, creating holes for Rudi Johnson and extra time for Carson to drop back and throw.

Re-signing Reggie Kelly not only means the character left in the locker room is staying, but it means that the high powered Bengals offense also stays. No pass catching tight end will ever be able to create the miss matches like Chris Henry can. That is why you will never see a Antonio Gates or Ben Watson in Cincinnati. Cincy's tight ends block. Let the arguments cease.

Combine Wrap Up and Major Shakeups

The 2007 NFL combine is in the books at last and now it is full speed ahead to April's draft. It was an exciting and memorable six days. If you tuned in on NFL network you were rewarded with seeing a 6' 5" 239 lb monster that is Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson run a freakishly fast 4.35 forty yard dash with a borrowed pair of shoes. If you tuned in longer you watched Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn's stock disappear like Britney Spear's hair. Seriously, what was she thinking? Anyway, the combine answered a lot of questions about how the draft will play out and maybe I can shed some light on the other picks the Bengals have after the 18th overall pick.

First of all, the group that surprised me the most beyond a shadow of a doubt is the defensive backs. They must have been born in the back of a '69 Chevelle while going 95 miles per hour down the freeway because they arrived at the combine saying "I wanna go fast." I'm sure Ricky Bobby would be proud. I expected the 40 times to slow for this years crop of cornerbacks, especially because the projected top corner, Leon Hall, was supposed to run between a 4.45 and 4.5. Instead Hall ran a 4.39 and cemented himself as a lock for the first round a showed he has the ability to excel in the NFL. Times were fast across the board with 8 defensive backs running under 4.4. Saftey LaRon Landry's 4.35 elevated him into the top ten so Bengal's fans can say good bye to the possibility of drafting that L.S.U. Tiger.

However a recent development out of Cincinnati changes everything significantly. Linebacker Brian Simmons was cut by the team earlier today in a move that came about strictly for cap space. Simmons' salary did not match his declining production as of late and something had to be done. How can one linebacker change the entire out-look on the offseason? It enough for me to take everything I said about the inactive free agency and a fore sure cornerback selection in the first round and throw it out the window. Now the Bengal's telephone wire will be buzzing with offers to free agents because of the increase in cap space and the possibility of Reggie Kelly, Kenny Watson, and Kevin Kaesviharn's deals not being done by the start of free agency.

This also means the first round draft pick is a toss up between a linebacker and a cornerback. Simmons departure means the next middle linebacker on the depth chart is Ahmad Brooks, a second year player. I'm not so sure if Brooks is ready to handle that responsibility just yet and I think the Bengals might feel the same way. Patrick Willis from Ole Miss is the best middle linebacker available in the draft and if he is there at 18, the Bengals will seriously consider it. However, the cornerbacks looked so strong at the combine that the linebacker pick may have to wait until the second round. Then the Bengals will hope that someone hasn't taken the fiery H.B. Blades from Pittsburgh off the board. Blades is the best linebacker name I've heard in a long time and his play matches it, fast and ferocious. Either way I think the first two picks are linebacker/cornerback for sure. I don't think the Bengals can afford to pick any other position.

Since the Bengals lack a third round pick, the next Bengals selection will occur on the second day of the draft in the 4th round. Another combine standout may last until then, but his performance this weekend may have him sneaking into the third round. That guy is Arizona running back Chris Henry (Not the wide receiver). The kid weighs 230 pounds and tied Adrian Peterson with a 4.4 forty. That is amazing for anyone that weighs that much. Chris Perry's injuries and the possibility of Kenny Watson not returning begs for a running back at this spot. I hope that Henry is there but if he isn't the Bengals might be interested in Cincinnati native Deshawn Wynn from Florida.

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm really started to get excited about all of the recent activity in the NFL. It is definitely an interesting time to be a Bengals fan.

Fasten Your Seatbelts and Buckle Your Chinstraps, The Combine is Here

Get ready, the much anticipated NFL scouting combine is here. Anticipation has been mounting over the past few weeks and it is finally time poke, prod, measure, time, and evaluate all the top draft picks in Indianapolis. A player's stock can rise or fall as unpredictably as the tides, but one thing you can count on this weekend is that the results will bring the draft picture into focus. We will know who is first round talent or a 7th round hopeful and who might be available at the important 18th pick in the draft. The Bengals will have their eyes on several players with a lot to prove this weekend. Who's showing at the combine will determine the Bengals selection? Lets take a look in the latest draft day profile.

Lets be honest, is there any possibility that the Bengals don't pick someone on defense? The Bengals '06 defensive unit was tied for bottom in the league in scoring and pass defense. Therefore a major overhaul is in need. So what has to happen for improvement in '07?

First of all, it starts up front with the defensive line. Recently, ends Justin Smith and Robert Geathers were locked in for 2007. Therefore, I don't think the Bengals will be partaking of the deep class of defensive ends in this year's draft. Sam Adams and John Thornton are getting up there in terms of age so there is a need to infuse some young talent at tackle. Look for the 19 year old Louisville tackle Amobi Okoye to get the most attention from the Cincinnati brass this weekend for a lot of reasons. Obviously he has a lot of tread on the tires being only nineteen and he has the smarts to graduate that fast. At 317 pounds, he has the size to plug up the middle against the run and he has the strength and speed to rush the quarterback.

David Pollack's possible career ending injury has left a hole in the hearts of all Bengals fans as well as a hole in the depth chart. I hope he has the ability to make a comeback and suit up as number 99 again, but I don't want him to end up in a wheel chair the rest of his life if he came back. This, along with Brian Simmon's age, garners the possibility of a linebacker selection at 18. I think there is only one linebacker that fits the bill for this team. He is physically gifted, a leader, and can be a dominant linebacker for a decade. He is simply known as the "Poz" at Penn State, but you may know him as Paul Posluszny. At the "Linebacker U" that is Penn State, Posluszny developed into such a play maker at outside linebacker that Penn State alumnus and Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham called him, "the best linebacker to ever play at Penn State." Consider him in the mold of A.J. Hawk in his instincts and nose for the ball and his stats and awards back it up. He is the winner of the Butkus award in 2005 and a two time winner of the Bednarik award for best linebacker and best defensemen, respectively.

A lot of questions circle the secondary this off season, questions that need to be answered. Who will take Tory Jame's starting spot? Will Deltha O'Neal be on the team in week one? If so, then will he return to his 2005 pro-bowl form? Will Madieu Williams stay at safety or will he make the transition to corner? Number 18 could be used to settle some of those questions with the corners available. All though this year's corner class isn't as strong as last year's class, there is a possibility for the Bengals to find a Jonathan Joseph clone. Michigan's Leon Hall and Pitt's Darrelle Revis are considered the cream of this year's crop, but they need to have strong showings at the combine to be considered. Hall's stock fell after mediocre wide receivers burned him all day at the senior bowl. A fast 40 time would fix that real quick but I don't see him breaking 4.45. Revis needs to show that his punt return against West Virginia in 2006 wasn't a fluke and that he can cover the big time receivers in the NFL. If Madieu Williams makes the switch to corner, a safety would be needed to fill his spot. The Bengals want a dominant, hard hitting safety that changes the game when he is in the lineup. Florida's Reggie Nelson or L.S.U.'s LaRon Landry could become a player like Bob Sanders or Ed Reed for the secondary.

Playing Tag

It looks like the Bengals are getting ready to play tag this offseason, franchise tag that is. With so many key players slated to become free agents in a few weeks, the front office is preparing to roll out the tag for one player to guarantee a one year tender for that player. The front runner for it looks to be Justin Smith, edging out starting guard Eric Steinbach.

Should the Bengals decide to slap the tag on Smith, it will greatly effect the way the offseason plays out for the team for many reasons. The tag would cost the Bengals 8.6 million for one year, the average for the top five defensive ends in the league. This means that the team would have less than ten million in cap room and with the necessity for signing draft picks, it leaves them without the space for a big name free agent like Asante Samuel or Adalius Thomas.

Should Smith not be tagged, the team will be forced to look for a replacement in the first round of the draft. However, with Smith tagged for '07, the draft board changes dramatically. It would give the Bengals the ability to draft the best defensive player available instead of being limited to picking an end that might not be worth the pick. Picking the best player available is very important this year because the Bengals are without a third round pick due to the Ahmad Brooks supplemental draft selection.

Tagging Smith makes a lot of sense to me because even though he has never been the home run hitter on defense, he has always been solid in pass rush and run defense. Even though a big free agent would help, it would not help as much in the long run as building through the draft. A guy like Paul Posluszny could be the staple of the linebacker corps in Cincinnati for a decade and he might be available at 18. Without Smith tagged, the proclaimed "best linebacker ever to play at Penn State" would have to slide right by the Bengals because of the need for an end.

Manning, Colts give Bengals Something to Aim For

While watching the game in the dorm, I had to endure the Colts and Bears faithful screaming up and down the halls at every big play. Part of me was jealous because I haven't been able to watch the Bengals in the Super Bowl since I was one year old. I wanted the opportunity to see my team in the biggest game on the biggest stage of all. Some Bengals fans will resent their neighbor to the west for winning the most coveted trophy in all of sports, but something good did come from the game last night for Cincinnati. It shed light on the path to the Super Bowl and how to do it.

Consider this: The Colts have an All-Pro Quarterback, two Pro-Bowl receivers, a solid running game, a veteran offensive line, and a defense that just two years ago was surrendering 370.6 yards per game. Sound familiar? It should, its the Bengals of 2006.

The Bengals have an All-Pro Quarterback, one Pro-Bowl receiver, one receiver that should be, a Pro-Bowl running back, a veteran offensive line, and a defense that allowed 355.1 yards per game this year.

What has made the Colts champions two years later? It has to come down to two things: the concept of team first and a defense that plays solid and won't lose the game for you.

Tony Dungy and Bill Polian, the Colts president, worked together to build a defense full of talented players with the intention of propelling them into the NFL title game along with the already established offense. Players like Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney, and Robert Mathis were all on that defensive unit in 2004 that allowed 370.6 yards per game, but all of these players headline their defense that shut down Larry Johnson, Steve McNair, the New England running backs, and the entire Chicago offense. I guess this shows you what two years of playing with the same guys will do. The defense simply needed time to gel and learn each other's tendencies so they could compliment each other and the desire to perform up to their potential for their teammates.

Tony Dungy convinced his players to play as a team instead of individuals. This isn't just limited to the defense. Peyton Manning didn't need to have the ball in his hands on every play to prove himself. He gladly handed it off to Joseph Addai or Dominic Rhodes and watched them tear up the Bears for 190 yards on the ground. Both of his receivers don't complain for the ball because they understand that they can't have it all the time. To every member of the roster, the Super Bowl wasn't the Peyton Manning show or the Joseph Addai show, it was the Colts show.

The Bengals envy the Colts because they are where the Bengals want to be. They are what the Bengals want to become. Maybe it clicked for some of the Bengals as they were watching the game last night, realizing that is what it takes to hold up the Lombardi trophy. The Bengals are where the Colts were, now they have to take the next step and follow their lead. The Super Bowl is not that far off for Cincinnati, can you feel it yet?

Pondering Free Agency and Super Bowl

While most of the states of Indiana and Illinois are paying close attention to the news generating from South Florida, every one else in the NFL is looking forward to March and the start of free agency. It is just enough excitement to keep NFL fan's attention until the draft in April, especially with the amount of big name players that don't have a contract after this season ends. As of right now, the Bengals have 16.6 million in cap room to play around with this off season, but most of that has to be left over for draft picks and re-signing important guys in house like Reggie Kelly and Kenny Watson. However that should leave enough for one or two key signings to take place in the coming months. Who are possible targets for Coach Lewis? Lets take a look.

Asante Samuel: CB, New England Patriots
-Ball-hawking corner that would fit right in with the Bengal's opportunistic defense.

Lance Briggs: OLB, Chicago Bears
-Pro-Bowl linebacker that pairs with Brian Urlacher to make Chicago's defense one of the most dominant in the league.

Adalius Thomas: OLB, Baltimore Ravens
-Plays and excels at every position on defense. Therefore his presence would be felt in the run game and the pass game. He would fill the vacancy left by David Pollack at strong side linebacker very well.

Daniel Graham: TE, New England Patriots
-Solid receiving tight end that will likely hit the market due to Ben Watson's success and the drafting of David Thomas last year.

Eric Johnson: TE, San Fransisco 49ers
-Another solid tight end that is on his way out of the Bay Area because of up-and-coming Vernon Davis.

Jerramy Stevens: TE, Seattle Seahawks
-He has fallen out of favor in Seattle with his constant drops and lackadaisical play. Could he make a comeback in Cincinnati?

Dwight Freeney: DE, Indianapolis Colts
-I honestly don't see Freeney hitting the free agent market without the Colts making a serious run at him. I wouldn't count on him landing in Cincy even if he does hit the market because of a high price tag even though his freakish speed would do the defense wonders.

Nate Clements: CB, Buffalo Bills
-Young corner with a lot of talent and two Pro Bowl selections. Need I say more?

Wouldn't it be great if all these guy wound up in the queen city in '07? Of course. Is it likely? Not at all. Keep in mind that only one, two, or none of these players end up in stripes next year because the Bengals usually prefer to build through the draft and not pay top dollar for established veterans.

Draft Day Note: If Asante Samuel or Nate Clements is picked up in free agency, the team should try to pick up Amobi Okoye, a 19 year old defensive end from Louisville, in the first round. Right now he is projected to fall in the first 10-20 picks in the draft and the Bengals pick 18th. However, the combine will give him a chance to up his stock even more after an impressive Senior Bowl. I still think getting a dominant corner is top priority though.

A Midwestern Guy's Thoughts on a Midwestern Super Bowl:
I live in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU campus and most of the students here are either Colts fans (Central and Southern Indiana) or Bears fans (Northern Indiana and Chicago Suburbs) so you can image the war of words being fought in the class room and all around campus the past two weeks. Colts fans think Rex Grossman (a Bloomington native) is more a "Gross Man" than the Sexy Rexy he was known as during his high school days. Bears fans can't wait to see Peyton Manning crumble in the big game against their hero, Brian Urlacher, and his defense. With all these predictions, how does a neutral member of campus feel? A lot of people expect a high scoring game from the Colts offense but I think the score will end up being closer to 20-17 or 17-10. It will be a slow boring game because both teams will try to run the ball to control the clock, especially the Bears to keep the vaunted Indy offense off the field. However I think Indy pulls it out in a close one because of Peyton Manning's will. It is finally time for him to display his prowess on the biggest stage of all and he will not let his team or himself down.

More Arrests than Wins Now

Sunday night, Jonathan Joseph became the 9th Bengal arrested in 14 months for possession of marijuana in Boone County, Kentucky. He was riding in a car with a woman who had a suspended license and when she was pulled over, policed demanded to search his Super Bowl logo bag which contained the illegal substance. Joseph will not be suspended by the league because this is his first offense, but will it be his last?

Here's the list of Bengals that bungled the law:

Chris Henry
Eric Steinbach
Deltha O'Neal
Odell Thurman
Matthias Askew
A.J. Nicholson
Reggie McNeal
Frostee Rucker
Jonathan Joseph

Everyone around Cincinnati who calls themselves Bengals faithful want to know why this has happened and when is it going to stop. I have looked at all of these players and compared them to each other and one thing remained constant. It's not that they are all young players who don't know how to handle the fame that comes with being a professional football player. O'Neal and Steinbach are veterans, they should know better right? What remains constant is that they are all players that have been brought to Cincinnati under Marvin Lewis as head coach, drafted or free agents.

When he arrived in Cincinnati in 2003, he wanted to finally bring a winning team back to the city that has been starved of gridiron success for so long. He knew that the city wanted a winning team, and they wanted one so quickly that it generated a lot of pressure on the new Lewis Regime in the front office. In response to that pressure, Marvin went to players with huge potential but huge risks in order to satisfy the Bengals fans that longed for the playoffs, prime time games, and eventually the Super Bowl. That decision worked temporarily, carrying the Bengals all the way to their first playoff birth since the first Bush administration. However, the decision backfired so hard that it brought the team into a tailspin that lead to another average 8-8 season. Does all of the blame rest on Marvin? No, but half of it does. After all, wasn't there a slogan that read, "In Marvin We Trust?" That trust is dangerously close to being broken.

The other half of the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the nine players on that list. No one else on the roster can be blamed for it. What bothers me is that none of them, I repeat, NONE of them have came forward publicly and apologized to the team, the city, and Mike Brown for the disgrace and humiliation that it has been brought on us. Another guy in the league that got in trouble recently for violating the steroids policy, Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers, held a press conference to apologize to the city of San Diego and the Chargers organization for "being a distraction, especially the critical time we're going through as a team." He even dropped his appeal of the suspension so he could come back in time for their important match-up against the division rival Denver Broncos. Merriman received a lot of negative press about his steroid use, but at least he did the right thing by admitting he was wrong and I salute him for that. I will gain some confidence that the Bengals will rise from the ashes and commit themselves to winning when at least one of the nine uses Merriman as an example and tells the city that he is sorry and it won't happen again. It seems to me like none of them care enough about what it means to wear that orange and black uniform on Sundays and the traditions they are upholding. None of them care enough about representing the city and giving it an outstanding national image. Until I see some of the players start to care, I will not be convinced that this team can win no matter how much Marvin promises to make the arrests stop.

Bengals Staff Gets a New Face

The Bengals announced Tuesday Hue Jackson's heir to coach one of the most talented group of receivers in the league, Mike Sheppard. Sheppard, a 13 year coaching veteran, will arguably get his toughest test in Cincinnati managing the personalities and egos of the flamboyant Chad Johnson, tough and short tempered T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and the talented but troubled Chris Henry. Sheppard said about dealing with egos,“The biggest secret is to get all of those guys to understand that great players don’t win, great teams win. If you can convince those guys and I think they all know it … as the guys figure out they can have great individual years and be lucky enough to get voted to Hawaii (the Pro Bowl), all that doesn’t mean anything when you walk back here and you don’t have any more games to play when the regular season is over. "

I think settling down this group of receivers will pay huge dividends on the field next year. I'm not sure if they are as completely team oriented right now as they should be. T.J. wants to establish himself as one of the best receivers in the league because he felt he was ripped off by his 7th round selection in the 2001 draft. I think that he has done that by registering his first 1,000 yard seasons and being selected as a Pro-Bowl alternate in for the competitive AFC. With all his accomplishments I think its time to switch from proving himself to proving the team as one of the best in the league. The same thing applies for Johnson and Henry, but hopefully Johnson doesn't lose his fun side. It seems like if there is a man that has the ability to tame these wild receivers, its Sheppard. Geoff Hobson of bengals.com reports that he is a "Lewis Clone" with a great ability to communicate.

Early Draft Preview: First Round Projections

After the season ends and I have to cope with the fact that football isn't on every weekend anymore, I start to look forward to the draft in April. It gives the Bengals an opportunity to patch some glaring holes in the team, namely on defense. I'm going to break down the Bengals draft-day needs in the first round and show some of the rookies that could end up on the roster in August.

The biggest thing that needs to be overhauled over the off season is the defense and it starts with the secondary. The Bengals tied the Minnesota Vikings for the worst pass defense in the league last year and allowed 24 touchdown passes. Only six teams allowed more passing touchdowns. It is true that the defense tightened up during weeks 11 through 14 but it wasn't enough to change my mind about what position should be drafted first, a cornerback, because it is a possibility that both starting cornerbacks may not be there next year. Tory James's contract is up and he will most likely not be re-signed due to his age (33) and his ability to give up big plays (the Santonio Holmes touchdown in overtime against the Steelers in week 17). Deltha O'Neal had a season that he would like to forget. He was plagued by injury and on Dec. 9, 2006 he was charged with a DWI that forced him to ride the bench for the following game. Consider him in the same dog-house as Odell Thurman, but not nearly as deep. Therefore I'm looking for another cornerback to be selected with the 18th overall pick.

Possible Cornerback selections:

-Leon Hall / Height: 5-11/ Weight: 194/ College: Michigan
Leon is the projected as the best corner available in the draft and his scouting report describes him as a good cover corner with smooth hips and also excels in run support with solid tackles. He would fit in well with Marvin Lewis's defensive scheme that calls for defensive backs that cover and tackle but he struggles in man to man coverage. As it stands now he will most likely be off the draft board well before the Bengals are on the clock.

-Marcus McCauley / Height: 6-1/ Weight: 205/ College: Fresno St.
Marcus has the prototypical size and speed (4.35 forty) for an NFL corner and can excel in man or zone coverage. He is very physical and can challenge vertical type receivers and he is an asset in run support. His downside is consistency in his footwork, technique, and his hands need work. McCauley is a raw talent with huge potential but its possible he might not find his footing in the NFL.

-Darrelle Revis / Height: 6-0/ Weight: 200/ College: Pittsburgh
Darrelle has the potential to become a dominant cover corner in the league with a some fine tuning of his fundamentals. He displays a sixth sense of where the ball is when the quarterback throws it in his direction and can shadow receivers in man coverage with his 4.4 speed. He has added value in the fact that he is a special teams ace. He averaged 11.6 yards a return his sophomore season and in his senior season he blocked a kick and had a 79 yard punt return touchdown. Coach Lewis loves guys that can play special teams and that was shown in last years' draft with the Ethan Kilmer selection and there is a dire need for a good punt returner. Keiwan Ratliff is average at best and Antonio Chatman was never able to be healthy enough to get a few returns in. Saying that Revis will be on the Bengals radar come April would be an understatement.

Other possible first round positions: TE, MLB, OLB, DE, DT

DE Geathers re-signed

The Bengals made their first notable off season move Wednesday by re-signing Robert Geathers to a six year deal that will make him the highest paid player on defense. Geathers had a break-out year in 2006 by posting a team high 10.5 sacks, the first Bengals to accomplish that feat in 14 years, and he is only 23. In time he has the potential to develop into one of the league's most dominant pass rushers; which is an area where the Bengals are lacking.

The Colts game this year is a direct indication of the need for a consistent pass rusher like Geathers. Colts QB Peyton Manning was able to drop back without pressure and take underneath dump offs to backs and tight ends to move the chains. Most quarterbacks can pick apart a defense with out having to worry about the rush, especially a quarterback like the two time MVP Manning. Geather's fellow defensive linemen and potential free agent, Justin Smith has not lived up to be the sack master the Bengals drafted him to be. Smith started the season with a bang, recording 3 sacks in the regular season opener at Kansas City. Following that game he only recorded 4.5 more the rest of the season. Smith looks to be demanding money granted to an end that has reached the 10+ sack plateau all though he has never reached it. The team will look to re-sign him sometime this off season but I feel that the deal ultimately will not be reached and he ends up in another uniform next year because his price tag is too high. The Bengals will most likely look for another pass rushing end to compliment Geathers in free agency and the draft this year.

This move is encouraging to me because it shows that the Bengals are going to keep around the good players who perform well on and off the field. Geathers is a leader in the locker room and a model citizen off it and I'm glad to see the club recognizing him for being a team-first player.

I will address the other key free agents and the reason why the Bengals should look for a new backup running back in another post coming soon.
The draft post is next I swear!

The Offseason

For the second season in a row, the Bengals' season and playoff hopes skidded to a halt after a crushing defeat at the hands of the division arch rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now the Cincinnati faithful has a long offseason to endure before their beloved men in stripes return to the field. Before that can happen Marvin Lewis and his staff have a lot of decisions to make concerning several areas of the team in order for them to be playing in Arizona in February. In the coming months I will preview those offseason decisions with several different posts concerning free agency, the draft, training camp, and other events as they occur.

First and foremost what needs to happen in the offseason is for every Bengal player to stay out of trouble. It hurts the team in two ways: suspensions handed down by the league keep key players off the field during times of need and it brings a lot of negative press towards the franchise. The only thing I heard about the Bengals on ESPN's program, "Pardon the Interruption," was critcism about the arrests. Personally, I think that the Bengals can't afford to lose their positive national image following the productive 2005 season. Their image is hanging in the balance right now and if these problems don't cease soon, Cincinnati could find itself in the NFL equivalent of Siberia. That means no Prime-time games, no spots on ESPN or NFL network breaking down the offense, no national commercials featuring Bengal players. No one wants to watch a team of criminals and it would be a shame for a team as talented as this to fall into obscurity.

Next Post: The Early Draft Preview