Entries from June 2008 ↓

“The Perfect City”

The wide receiver that shall not be named is changing his tune.

First, he tells Carson Palmer to mind his own business. Now, he says that there wouldn’t be an 85 without No. 9.

He says he wants out. Now, he wants to be a Bengal and not just that he says that he loves Cincinnati and the fans. He actually calls Cincinnati “the perfect city.”

Up until this point, most of the city didn’t share that love, but “The WR” is working on changing his image.

After sitting out the first day of mandatory offseason workouts, he actually worked hard later in the week, impressing the local media with his play and his attitude.

Say what you want. The media thinks he is trying to earn a new contract, others think he needs to loved by the fans, but I think he is just trying to earn his name back on bengalstripes.com.

Honestly, I almost wanted to give him a letter, but I think he needs to earn it.

Here’s the deal: With every win the Bengals earn this season, I will give him a letter back. For those scoring at home, that means the Bengals would have to win 11 games this season for him to earn his entire name back by playoff time.

There is a twist, however, because I will take away a letter if I need to. For example, if he forgets what down it is like he did last season, if he drops a ball without a solid effort or if he is carted off the field, a la Paul Pierce and him in Buffalo last year, only to return without an injury at all - I will take a letter away.

So, here it is. It isn’t up to the fans, coaches, agents or Mike Brown. It is up to you. Earn your name back and do it quietly.

Oh, if you fire your agent (which could happen) it would earn some fans back, that is if you want to be comfortable in the “Perfect City.”

By Shane Bulcher

Some say the NFL is a big family, if so, they are a very dysfunctional one. Over the past couple of decades there have been many incidents that have left the league with a black eye, but it seems like there has been a spike in recent years. Maybe former commissioner Paul Tagliabue saw something and decided to jump ship (maybe it was the Vikings Love Boat), because all of a sudden the NFL (not just the Bengals) is full of players committing crimes, and many enter the league with criminal pasts. I don’t think there’s a comparable league out there if you were to stack up the arrests’ tally (albeit NFL rosters are much larger than other leagues). Cincinnati has felt the pain more than any other team in recent years, and consequently received the most (negative) coverage, but by no means are they alone. In fact, it almost seems like teams are playing catch up as of late.

At one point it felt as though only one team had trouble staying out of….. trouble, the Bengals. But then Michael Vick, Ricky Williams and a slew of other players made some very poor decisions and found themselves in serious trouble. It suddenly became clear the Bengals weren’t alone by any means. The league itself has some serious issues. Commissioner Roger Goodell has dropped the hammer during his short time at the top, with more sever suspensions and sanctions, but it hasn’t deterred players from breaking the law.

Watching ESPN over the weekend, I noticed several disturbing NFL reports on the ticker. First, was Bears’ RB Cedrick Benson’s second arrest in five weeks (DUI); followed by Bills’ RB Marshawn Lynch’s alleged hit and run this past week (also know as pulling a Lance Briggs); and lastly was Patriots’ OT Nick Kaczur’s narcotics case with the DEA. All of this in one day! I almost felt the same way I did when I read about Chris Henry’s fourth arrest, are they ever going to learn? Not only are the players themselves getting in trouble, some are even putting others’ lives in danger.

I would never say it’s good to hear that other teams are dealing with the same issues the Bengals have experienced. In fact I hate to see young people like Odell Thurman (the Bengals version of Maurice Clarrett) making such horrible choices in life. Once they step off the field they are people with families, just like us. But I will say it has been a nice break from the negative press, and I am sure we can all agree. From the Bengals’ perspective, no news has proved to be good news (regarding player conduct). But the league hasn’t been so lucky recently, and it doesn’t appear to be getting any better.

By Adam Kiefaber

We love him.

We hate him.

He wants to make the Bengals a winner.

He then says that he doesn’t want to play for a loser.

He wants a change of scenery.

He wants out of Cincinnati.

“Am I coming back? Of course I am. I told my coaches I’m going to California to act, but the truth is I may come back to the Bengals as early as June,” the WR told ESPN The Magazine. “I may be crazy but I’m not stupid.”

So, who is stupid?

Is it us for listening, caring and believing “the WR” when he emotionally voiced his opinion regarding his need for change.

Personally, I think he is stupid.

To think that he is going to come back and everything is going to be fine - would be - you guessed it - stupid.

I still wouldn’t rule out a trade, there are rumors that he still could be dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles, until then, unlike “Flip Flop - O”, I will stay true to my word and never refer to him by his name while he is a Cincinnati Bengal.