If you are a Bengals fan, than you might know what it is like being a loser.
Our family, friends and co-workers have been making fun for us ever since Lewis Billups dropped that interception in the end zone during Super Bowl XXIII.
More recently, the Bengals have improved themselves from the NFL’s doormat to a mediocre franchise, but there isn’t anything funny about mediocrity.
That was until the team gained the reputation of being a bunch of convicts and the fan base’s hardship now continues.
Things looked promising for a bit when the team drafted golden boy Carson Palmer and acquired a defensive-minded head coach in Marvin Lewis.
That period caused an explosion in popularity within the city of Cincinnati. Fans acutally had enough pride to purchase team jerseys and apparel by the truck load.
In a flash, it was cool to be a Bengal fan and for only a second it was cool to wear your Bengal jersey out in public.
Now, unless you are surrounded by fellow Bengal fans on gamedays it isn’t cool to sport your stripes outside the comfort of your own home. However, with the loss of Odell Thurman, Justin Smith, Madieu Williams to free agency combined with the bad play of Willie Anderson and Rudi Johnson, the injuries to Chris Perry and Ahmad Brooks and the bad attitude of that “WR,” it is extremely hard for us Bengal fans to appear cool even among our own kind.
In most areas of the country, Bengal jerseys will draw remarks that would crush the spirits of a young fan that has only been on this black-and-orange wagon for a few years. But for some of us that have been on this bumpy wagon for our entire lives, we can’t help but feel like losers as we try to find a new jersey.
Personally, I am on that quest of trying to find that jersey that will make me feel cool and confident.
#9 Carson Palmer - This choice is just too obvious. Sure, you can’t go wrong with a Palmer jersey, but it isn’t very original. Going back to the time when it became cool to be a Bengal fan, the franchise was able to attract the female supporters, thus the Palmer jersey then became known as a girl jersey.
#7 Boomer Esiason - You might have to pay a little extra more, but buying a Boomer jersey is a safe purchase. He can’t leave the team and chances are that he won’t be arrested any time soon.
#55 Ahmad Brooks - I never understood why the Ahmad Brooks jersey is even available. Brooks is a linebacker that was chosen in the third round of the supplemental draft and only has 37 total tackles and two sacks in two seasons (has appeared in 13 games). You could buy the Brooks jersey to be different, but unless he starts to perform, you are just going to feel stupid.
#85 - Are you joking? I am not one of those crazies that will give mine away or burn it, but I would certainly not buy another one for any amount over 1 cent. My advice, keep your Bengal jerseys until another #85 emerges, replace his name with the new one.
#23 Chris Perry - I bet there are more #26 Chris Perry jerseys out there. I am a Chris Perry fan and I hope that he has a great season this year, but I doubt anyone is rushing to buy this jersey.
#28 Dexter Jackson - This former Super Bowl MVP might not be a starter at safety this season and will probably not be re-signed this offseason, that is if he isn’t a cap casualty this offseason.
#99 David Pollack - Retired from the game.
#24 Deltha O’Neal - See #28 Dexter Jackson, pretty much the same situation.
#91 Robert Geathers - More original than a Carson Palmer and like Palmer he will be around for a long time. Despite a poor year (statistically), I expect Geathers’ jersey sales to do extremely well.
#17 Shayne Graham - Don’t get me started about Graham, if you sport this jersey, I will have no respect for you or anyone within a five-mile radius of you.
#84 T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Is in his last year of his contract, but you have to figure that the Bengals will re-sign him. If they don’t, this is still a great jersey and someone that a Bengal fan can be proud of.
#22 Jonathan Joseph - Joseph looked like a future star his rookie season, but after being arrested in the offseason (before ‘07 season) Joseph just looked average. Being only 24, ‘Jon Jo’ is still learning and can eventual be a shutdown corner.
#29 Leon Hall - Hall struggled at the start of the season, as he was thrown into the fire. However, he improved with each game and now has a solid jersey available for purchase.
#03 Marvin Lewis - HAHA! Did you buy this jersey? Did you also buy the ‘Do your job’ t-shirts? This is the most ridiculous Bengal jersey of all time and that is saying something.
#40 Madieu Williams - Gone. Signed with the Vikings this offseason. It is sad because it was one of my jerseys, but I can’t fault the Bengals because the Vikings are overpaying for his services.
#78 Anthony Munoz - See #7 Boomer Esiason, Munoz is also a safe purchase. Hall-of-fame tackle who still remains close to the current team.
#32 Rudi Johnson - Struggled last year. With a good 2008 season, Bengal fans will be able to wear their Rudi jerseys with pride.
#51 Odell Thurman - Released this week and will never be back. 2005 was fun.
#71 Willie Anderson - Anderson seems to be on his last legs even though he won’t admit it. I don’t recommend that you shell out $80 for jersey that you might not be able to wear again.
#77 Andrew Whitworth - I didn’t even know the team’s pro shop had this jersey available for purchase, but they do. Not a bad purchase, Whitworth should be on the team for a long time.
The top 5 jerseys for 2008
1) Keith Rivers - when his jersey comes out expect big sales
2) Antwan Odom - the team would be smart to release this jersey
3) Carson Palmer - can’t go wrong with the savior of the franchise
4) Robert Geathers - a great player in Cincinnati for a long time
5) Boomer Esiason - classic throwback
After a tumultuous couple of months filled with trade demands and of course the release of Chris Henry; a few weeks with no news proved to be refreshing, until today when news broke that the Bengals decided to part ways with troubled linebacker Odell Thurman. Just months after being reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the Bengals cut ties with another troubled player from the 2004 draft.
Initially, I was shocked by the move, considering the fact the Bengals had stuck with Thurman through two suspended seasons. It appears that the last straw may have been his no show for last weeks training camp. The word was Thurman was back home in Georgia for his Grandmother’s funeral.; which the loss of a close family member would seem to provide enough reason to miss practice, especially sense it wasn’t a mandatory camp. But, I am sure there’s more to the story, in fact there has to be. Thurman’s story has always had more questions than answers. It’s still unclear why his suspension carried over two seasons. Bengal officials and Thurman have stated that the reason for the first suspension was that he missed a drug test. Then came his DUI just prior to his reinstatement. Goodall then increased the suspension from four games to a full season. Following the season, Goodall denied Odell’s reinstatement, thus suspending Thurman for two full seasons. It didn’t make sense, how does Thurman get more or less kicked out of the league for two years? Sure he got in trouble, but so did Chris Henry and many others (I personally think Henry was more deserving of a longer suspension). It’s sad to say, but DUI’s and failed drug tests occur all the time in the NFL, and generally they’re met with a four to six game suspension. Odell was forced to miss the entire season. Why was he suspended for so long? I think his violations must have been much more severe than reported, and I hope we eventually get the whole story.
I am sure all Bengal fans are disappointed by the release of Thurman. He was a young, extremely talented playmaker who seemed to be the emerging leader of a defense that lacked one. He had the ability to play sideline to sideline, and he seemed to be everywhere. When the team needed a big play, he generally came through. His excellent play as a rookie will now leave us to ponder “what if”? What if he stayed out of trouble? What if he worked hard and embraced a leadership role? Instead we’ll remember him first and foremost for his suspensions and DUI (the video was all over the news). As good as Chris Henry was on offense, Odell was just as good on defense, and now they have both been released within weeks of each other. Both had all the talent in the world, but they lacked the maturity and responsibility to be a professional athlete. It’s a shame, but both sides will move on. And in today’s league, I am sure we’ll see both players in a uniform in the not too distant future.
The Cincinnati Bengals are one day into their voluntary camp and with what the media is telling me there is no reason why this team won’t win the Super Bowl this year.
All the talk from the first day was about running backs Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry.
Mark Curnutte of The Cincinnati Enquirer writes, “starting tailback Rudi Johnson has increased his weight to 225 pounds, up from 212 last year, and looks again like the bruising between-the-tackles runner of 2004 and 2005.”
Chick Ludwig of The Dayton Daily News writes in his blog, “Rudi is determined to play at 225 pounds and become the Jerome Bettis-style hammer between the tackles that he once was.”
Wasn’t it just last year that the leaner Rudi Johnson was going to run past defenders, now he is Jerome Bettis?
The media’s answer would be, but Rudi was hurt last year!
I would have to fire back that he has been injured every year, after his 2003 breakout season, Johnson has missed the majority of the club’s weekday practices during every season. That excuse has always been there. I am a huge Bengals fan, but do we really need the hype?
Isn’t that how the fan base got to love “The WR”? The media made him out to be this fun-loving guy, when (I met him) he was really a spoiled brat. Honestly, with his background it may not be his fault, it might be the media’s - they fall in love with these players when they should be more objective since that is what journalism is all about.
It just baffles me that players Corey Dillion, “The WR” and Carl Pickens have had so much trouble with this media that loves them and would never write anything negative until they are avoided.
I am by no means trying to call out the media (I personally know that Chick is a great guy), but just don’t believe everything you read.
I spent the majority of draft weekend on the couch with my laptop on my, lack for a better word, lap and a remote in my hand frantically flipping back and forth from ESPN and the NFL Network.
Usually I don’t have the privilege of being so lazy on the weekend, but that weekend I was and I took full advantage of it.
Unlike the Bengals, I don’t have a front office full of executives, a knowledgeable coaching staff or full-time scouts. All I had was a couple of draft magazines and the thought that I know what is better for the Cincinnati Bengals than all of those people combined.
All that being said, I went through a series of emotions as the Bengals selected their players.
Let’s look back and see what the Bengals did and what I would have done and then found out who seemed to make the better choice.
ROUND 1 What I wanted to do - When ESPN annoucned that there had been at trade at the No. 7 pick, I was hoping that the Bengals traded up. Not to my surprise it wasn’t the Bengals that traded up, it was the New Orleans Saints, who wasted no time in selecting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Needless to say, I was pissed.
What the Bengals did - The Cincinnati Bengals stayed at the No. 9 spot and selected the top linebacker available in Keith Rivers.
Who made the right decision - Believe or not, the Bengals have appeared to make the better choice. By not trading up, which would have meant giving up the team’s third-round pick, the Bengals were able to select two possible defensive starters instead of one. Also, Rivers appears destined to be a great asset on the field, in the locker room and in the community. At the recent rookie workout session, Marvin Lewis said of Rivers, “It’s something kind of innate in him. He was kind of bringing that group together. When he wasn’t in a meeting, he was watching tape on his own. He already gets it.”
ROUND 2 What I wanted to do - At the time, I was excited to see Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws and wide receiver Malcolm Kelly still on the board. Personally, I wanted the Bengals to pick Laws because of how impressive he looked at the NFL Combine and the fact he was born in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio.
What the Bengals did - Cincinnati shocked their fans by selecting Coastal Carolina WR Jerome Simpson, who was on his way home from the flea market when he found out that he was going to be a Bengal.
Who made the right decision - I can be hard on the Bengals, but it isn’t fair to be hard on Cincinnati for this pick. Let’s try to remember that St. Louis selected the first WR in the draft when it picked Donnie Avery (Houston). Both Simpson and Avery were projected to be selected between the second and fourth rounds, so that pick might not have been a reach since no one projected any WRs correctly. Also, the more I hear about Simpson, the more I like him. He can jump over defenders (44 inch vertical) and has huge hands. I heard an interview with his college coach and it is obvious that he has left a lasting impression. A positive one. Score another one for the Bengals.
ROUND 3 What I wanted to do - Personally, I liked Texas A&M DT Red Bryant or Maryland DT Dre Moore with the first pick. Then with the second pick in the round I wanted the Bengals to select Florida WR Andre Caldwell or LB Beau Bell. I also wouldn’t have minded the Bengals taking N.C. State safety DaJuan Morgan.
What the Bengals did - With the first pick the team selected Auburn DT Pat Sims and then selected Caldwell.
Who made the right decision - In college, Sims was more of a playmaker while Bryant was a better run stuffer, who I believed to have the potential to be a leader. Personally, I was happy with the Sims pick because all I wanted was a quality DT. With the second pick, the Bengals picked the same player that I wanted. I would have been excited to see the team pick Bell, but with Rivers already in the fold it was smart to pick Caldwell. It is hard to say who made the better choice since we were thinking the same thing (DT then WR).
ROUND 4 What I was thinking - Call me obsessed, but I was still not satisfied at the DT position. Both my guys (Moore and Bryant) that I wanted in the third were still on the board. I desperately wanted that ticker to list one of those DTs. I also noticed that LB Xavier Adibi, S Craig Steltz and RB Tashard Choice were all still on the board.
What the Bengals did - I wasn’t expecting it at all, but the Cincinnati Bengals selected Kansas offensive tackle Anthony Collins.
Who made the right decision - The Bengals made the better choice - by far. I have a good feeling that Collins will be a starter on the offensive line for a long period of time. Willie Anderson is getting older and Levi Jones has terrible knees. In my mind, Collins could end up being the steal of the draft.
ROUND 5 What I wanted to do - Right before the Bengals fifth-round pick, New Orleans traded up in front of the Bengals, again, and selected another DT the team had to be interested in. The Saints selected N.C. State DeMario Pressley, who has the skills, but hadn’t performed up to expectations in his college career. Besides Pressley, I was hoping the team would select Texas DT Frank Odom.
What the Bengals did - The team took a giant risk in Fresno State Jason Shirley. Shirley was suspended from his college team three times last year. In October he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and a hit-and-run.
Who made the right choice - For once, I think that I may have had the better choice in Okam. However, Shirley could be a superstar if he could develop and stay out of trouble. He is just bigger and stronger than anyone he faces. Overall, the Bengals are taking a slight risk (fifth-round pick) after already selecting a DT in the third round. The risk could possibly have a big reward, but Okam is a proven DT that wants to eventually go to law school.
ROUND 6 What I wanted to do - After the Shirley pick, I stopped watching the draft. I lost my focus. However, that didn’t mean that I didn’t know what I wanted. I was surprised to see two of the three top centers available in Steve Justice (Wake Forest) and John Sullivan (Notre Dame). I also liked Kentucky QB Andre Woodson, North College Hill (HS in CIN) CB DeJuan Tribble, Iowa State DT Ahtyba Rubin and Cincinnati S Haruki Nakamura - all of which were still available when it was the Bengals turn to make their first selection of the sixth round. All were selected by the team’s second sixth-round pick, but USC RB Chauncey Washington, CAL RB Justin Forsett, Louisville WR Mario Urrutia, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk, Michigan WR Adrian Arrington, Hawaii WR Davone Bess and Oklahoma St. WR Adarius Bowman were all still on the board.
What the Bengals did - With the first pick in the round, Cincinnati selected Appalachian St. S Corey Lynch (right). The second pick, the team selected Villanova TE Matt Sherry.
Who made the right decision - Again, I love to give the Bengals props for pleasantly surprising me when they picked Lynch, who should be a valuable player on special teams and could eventually become a great player on defense as well. The Sherry pick was ridiculed, however Reggie Kelly is entering the second year of his three-year deal and you have to think that his career might be over once that contract runs out.
ROUND 7 What I wanted to do - The Bengals had already drafted two WRs, but there are handful of talented players still on the board in Louisville WR Mario Urrutia, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk, Hawaii WR Davone Bess and Oklahoma St. WR Adarius Bowman. Please pick one of them. Also, I couldn’t believe that Illinois LB Jeremy Leman and Boston College S Jamie Silva were still available. Please take one of them.
What the Bengals did - With the No. 244 overall pick, Cincinnati picked undersized Cincinnati defensive end Angelo Craig and then with its next pick it selected Urrutia.
Who made the right decision - I would have to call this a push, while I would have liked Leman or Silva - Craig does provide some much needed depth at the DE position. Then with only seven picks left in the entire draft, the Bengals selected the player I wanted in Urrutia, who is 6-foot-6 and dominated when he was a freshman. The only knock on him was that he didn’t improve, but in his defense he has battled injuries.
OVERALL
Usually I am kind of upset after the NFL Draft, however this year I came away completely satisfied. So I was surprised when I woke up on Monday morning and heard Cincinnati sports talk radio stations make fun of the draft, many giving the team average grades of C- through B-. Personally, I loved the draft and it shot up my interest and it needed shot after the annoying offseason this team is having.
As usual, this year’s draft provided some expected picks, some surprises and some that left us wondering what were they thinking? Overall, I had a feeling similar to that of eating at a fast food joint; I am full, and I had enough to eat, but the food could have been a lot better and I am just not satisfied. To get a better idea, I’ll look at the picks; the good, the bad and the ugly.
The most complete linebacker in the draft by far. Rivers is a born leader who is NFL ready. In the long run he may prove to be the best possible pick for a team searching for not only a leader on the defense, but a player that can help solidify the middle/heart of the defense. After Sedrick Ellis was selected at seven, the best scenario was to get Rivers and it luckily it came to fruition. He could be the new face of the unit, if we even had one.
After striking out on the top tier defensive tackles, the Bengals landed one of the best available in the third, in Pat Sims. Sims stats won’t grab your attention, but his hustle and style will. The coaches noted his toughness and serious upside after the pick. “He’s very athletic. He anticipates the snap. He’s quick, powerful. He can play both the three technique and be an inside pass rusher,” one personnel man said. I think Bengal fans everywhere exhaled with this pick due to the glaring need at defensive tackle.
We all know that the wide receiver position had become another need with the events occurring in the last couple of months. Getting Caldwell in the third was a steal, not only can he step in and play in the slot, but he’s also a tremendous return man. Also worth noting is his 40 time at 4.3, which was second best overall at the combine. You can coach technique, but you can’t teach speed.
I think this guy could end up being a starter at guard and eventually right tackle. He was generally graded as a second rounder, and even some “experts’ had him tabbed a first rounder prior to April 26th. It looks like the ideal situation, Collins can sit back and learn from the veterans for a year or two before being penciled into the line up. Another plus is he can virtually play every position on the O-Line aside from center.
First of all, I love the kid for his play against that team up north this past fall. On top of that he has that rare ability to be in the right spot at the right time. Big plays are his specialty and he will provide a solid back up and good special teams player. Some said he was headed for the third or fourth round going into the draft, so getting him in the sixth was a great value pick. Maybe he’ll be the next great Lynch at safety?
His intangibles (6-5 230 pnds, 4.6 40 yard dash) alone will raise eyebrows. He really shined as a Freshman and Sophomore at Louisville, but injuries hampered his Junior year as highlighted by Adam Kiefaber in his column leading up to the draft. I think this kid will prove there is reason he left school early, maybe not this year, but soon enough he will.
Did anyone see this selection coming? If so please let me know because not in a million years would I have called this one. He probably didn’t compete against a single player headed to the NFL in college, but he’s a phenomenal athlete who produced consistently. In hindsight, it may not be so bad. Many are saying the guy is a hard worker with great character. I hope management got this right with Simpson, and will eventually make us forget all about our current receiver situation. Another positive is there have been reports that the Steelers were poised to take Simpson with their second round pick, but the Bengals beat them to the punch. Who Dey!
There were few mock drafts that included Sherry’s name at all. At Villanova he was a role player for three years before he became a go-to guy his senior year. He has decent size and speed (6-3 245 pnds, 4.7 40 yard dash), and he utilizes both in the passing game. His glaring weakness is his blocking skills; many scouts say he can’t hold his own at all, even against sub-par competition. I think he looks like he’ll be assigned to the practice squad.
A hometown guy, Craig was a cornerstone of the Bearcats D. He’s known for playing with a mean streak and loves to get physical. Used primarily as a pass rusher, Craig saw action at both linebacker and end. He generally produced on effort alone because he lacks elite speed, and that could be his downfall in the NFL. He’s another guy that was tabbed for free agent, but hopefully Marvin and Co. saw something special.
I think Bengalnation let out a collective “not another one” after our 5th round pick was taken. Over the past three years we have heard enough about bad character, so why did the Bengals select a guy who has a case pending for DUI/hit and run? Does talent trump trouble? Apparently the Bengals think so, and I am not happy at all about this pick. Heck, the guy may go on to stardom, but…if he gets in trouble, be ready Marvin, because you will be sitting on the hot seat and you better be ready to take full responsibility.
Overall I wasn’t overly enthused with our picks, initially. But… after further review, I think the glass looks more half full than half empty. The front office (what we have of one) filled many holes, and landed players with some serious potential. I graded most of the picks as good. The reason I rated three picks bad is because I thought they were all reaches and could have been selected later. I think the 5th round pick of Jason Shirley was flat out ugly. We have to ask the question at this point, is it really worth taking another guy with a record? We’re not talking about a guy with a past or a questionable charge, his charges are pending and a court date is near. I think at some point you have to pull the plug on bad character completely. No longer can talent trump trouble, we won’t see change until that occurs.
Overall Draft Grade
B-
Other News
Former MVP running back Shaun Alexander is scheduled to meet with club officials in Cincinnati on Monday. The Boone County (KY) native has always made it known that he was raised as a Bengals fan and has always wanted to play for Cincy. Ironically the Bengals were expected to look at a running back in the draft, some even had them taking one in the first round. But they didn’t take one despite a deep class of running backs, but maybe they were looking ahead to negotiations with Alexander. For years Bengaldom has discussed the possibility of Alexander in stripes because of his interests. Although he is thirty something, he should be fresh due to injuries that have kept him off the field for a good portion of two seasons (he’s never suffered a knee injury). I personally think he’s ready to rebound, and he seems hungry to prove himself once again. On top of his ability, he would provide experience, leadership, and great character. He would also help crowd the backfield. Moves would have to be made to accommodate Mr. Alexander, both roster and financial cuts, but in his current situation he should be affordable. Stay tuned.
Odell Thurman. Just months after being reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the Bengals cut ties with another troubled player from the 2004 draft.
forced to miss the entire season. Why was he suspended for so long? I think his violations must have been much more severe than reported, and I hope we eventually get the whole story.
All the talk from the first day was about running backs Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry.
I spent the majority of draft weekend on the couch with my laptop on my, lack for a better word, lap and a remote in my hand frantically flipping back and forth from ESPN and the NFL Network.
Andre Caldwell or LB Beau Bell. I also wouldn’t have minded the Bengals taking N.C. State safety DaJuan Morgan.
What the Bengals did - With the first pick in the round, Cincinnati selected Appalachian St. S Corey Lynch (right). The second pick, the team selected Villanova TE Matt Sherry.
