Big
Orange Machine would like to send our prayers for the friends, family,
and fans of Chris Henry who passed away way to young. I have always
been a big Chris Henry fan and this breaks my heart to hear of the
news of his death. At 26 Chris seemed to be growing into a man and
I was proud of him and proud of the Bengals for giving him another
chance and resigning him. I was at his last NFL game at home vs the
Ravens when he broke his forearm. This is beyond football and just
sad, the Bengals have dedicated this season to Chris Henry and I hope
to see us play some passionate football for his honor. I pray for
his 3 kids. Rest in peace Chris Henry, #15 will always be remembered
and was really a good guy.
The Bengals return
to Paul Brown Stadium this Sunday, looking to wrap up the AFC North
Division title after losing both ends of a two-game road trip against
foes with a current combined record of 22-6. Last week at San Diego,
Cincinnati fell just short in a bid to gain the inside track for the
No. 2 AFC playoff seed. The Chargers won 27-24 when Nate Kaeding —
the most accurate career field goal kicker in NFL history —
nailed a 52-yard three-pointer with :03 to play.
The Bengals can secure their second division crown under Lewis —
and at least a home game in the first playoff round — with just
one win or one Baltimore loss over the regular season’s final
two weeks.
Loss
Bengals @ Chargers 24-27
Bengals
@ Vikings
Bengals
aim to clinch division title Sunday in Minnesota
Only unbeaten Indianapolis and New Orleans have clinched NFL division
championships through Week 13, but the Bengals can secure a Week 14
clinching of the AFC North crown with a win at Minnesota this Sunday.
And Cincinnati’s date at the 10-2 Vikings means more than that.
The team quite simply is eager for a test against one of the NFC’s
elite contenders.
Cincinnati rose to 9-3 last week with a 23-13 decision over Detroit.
The win completed a three-game stretch against opponents that all
had two or fewer victories. The Bengals finished the stretch at 2-1,
losing at Oakland and beating visiting Cleveland before downing the
Lions.
TV: CBS team of Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) and Dan
Dierdorf (analyst). Live on Channel 12 in Cincinnati, Channel 10 in
Columbus, OH, Channel 7 in Dayton, OH, and Channel 27 in Lexington,
KY.
INJURIES
CIN: DT Domata Peko (knee) is recovering from a scope and
the hope is he’ll be ready to play in the Jan. 3 finale. RB
and kick returner Bernard Scott (toe) is out for the second straight
week. Starting S Chris Crocker (ankle) has said he’ll play but
he missed the Wednesday and Thursday practices. So did backup S Kyries
Hebert (knee), the special teams captain. Nickel back Morgan Trent
(knee) went limited Thursday after sitting out Wednesday.
MIN:
The Vikes are more dinged than the Bengals after Sunday night’s
loss to Arizona. Starting WR Percy Harvin (headches) and starting
S Tryell Johnson (concussion) missed Wednesday and Thursday. Johnson
isn’t expected to play. After sitting out Wednesday, starting
RB Adrian Peterson (foot/ankle) and starting RT Phil Loadholt (shoulder)
were limited. Key starters who have been limited Wednesday and Thursday
were G Steve Hutchinson (shoulder), DT Pat Williams (foot), TE Visanthe
Shiancoe (ribs), LT Bryant McKinnie (ankle), CB Antoine Winfield
(foot), and WR Bernard Berrian (hamstring). Winfield hasn’t
played in six games, but some in Minnesota think he might play.
» Complete Injury Report
Big Orange Machine Prediction: Win - Bengal's 39, Browns 12
Sunday,
Nov 29, 2009 at 1:00PM EST
INJURIES
CIN: RB Cedric Benson (hip) practiced Friday after
not going Wednesday and Thursday in an effort to make a call for Sunday.
It’s the first time he’s worked since missing the last
six quarters. DT Domata Peko (knee) also practiced for the first time
this week Friday after getting hurt last Sunday. WLB Keith Rivers
(calf) was limited Wednesday and Thursday and looked like he’s
ready to play after missing the last two games. WR Laveranues Coles
(chest) also didn’t work Wednesday and Thursday, but it’s
believed he has a chance to play. Various players were limited earlier
in the week, such as CBs Johnathan Joseph (foot) and Morgan Trent
(ankle), and LE Robert Geathers (hip) but they are also expected to
go.
CLE: NT Shaun Rogers (ankle) didn’t practice
Wednesday and Thursday, but he’s expected to go. RB Jamal Lewis
(ankle) and defensive captain ILB David Bowens (knee) were limited
Wednesday and Thursday and are expected to go. Starting RG Rex Hadnot
(knee) was out Wednesday but looked OK after coming back to limited
status Thursday.
THE SERIES
Bengals lead, 37-35; 22-14 in Cincinnati, 5-4 at PBS
Chicago
Bears
Sunday, October 25, 2009, 4:15PM EDT
Win: 45 - 10
Bengals Record: 5-2
BYE
WEEK
Baltimore
Ravens
Sunday, November 08, 2009, 1:00PM EST
Win: 17 - 7
Bengals Record: 6-2
at
Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, November 15, 2009, 1:00PM EST
Win: 18 - 12
Bengals Record: 7-2
at
Oakland Raiders
Sunday, November 22, 2009, 4:15PM EST
Loss: 20- 17
Bengals Record: 7-3
Cleveland
Browns
Sunday, November 29, 2009, 1:00PM EST
Win: 16- 7
Bengals Record: 8-3
Detroit
Lions
Sunday, December 06, 2009, 1:00PM EST
Win: 23-13
Bengals Record: 9-3
at
Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, December 13, 2009, 1:00PM EST
Loss: 30- 10
Bengals Record: 9-4
at
San Diego Chargers
Sunday, December 20, 2009, 4:05PM EST
vs Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, December 27, 2009, 1:00PM EST
at
New York Jets
Sunday, January 03, 2010, 1:00PM EST
Bengals
sign RB Larry Johnson
The
Bengals and Big Orange Machine would like to welcome Larry Johnson
to our team. Marvin Lewis has went on record stating that Cedric Benson
is still our number 1 running back and the roles of Benard Scott and
Brian Leonard will not change with the addition of LJ. This move has
been refered to as insurance. Insurance can be a great thing at the
end of the day right? Especially when it comes with a low price tag
and has a experienced resume that includes 2 seasons with over 1,700
rushing yards! This move will cost the Bengals a little over $500,000
which is the leage vetern minimum salary. The Bengals have little
to loose with this move and aquire a 30 year old RB that has a chip
on his shoulder with something to prove. He should fit right in with
this team with that mind set, who dey!
Bengals
2009 NFL Draft Picks
Round 1 (6)
Smith, Andre OT
Round 2 (38)
Maualuga, Rey LB
Round 5 (70)
Johnson, Michael DE
Round 6 (98)
Coffman, Chase TE
Round 6 (106)
Luigs, Jonathan C
Round 7
(142) Huber, Kevin P
Round 7 (179)
Trent, Morgan CB
Round 7 (209)
Scott, Bernard RB
Round 7
(215) Vakapuna, Fui RB
Round 7 (249)
McDonald, Clinton DE
Round 7 (249)
2009
Bengals Unrestricted Free Agent Signings
PLAYERS
ACQUIRED
• WR Laveranues Coles: UFA Jets; $28M/4 yrs, $3M SB/$4.75M RB; 2009
cap: $7.45M.
• QB J.T. O’Sullivan: UFA 49ers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
• P Ryan Plackemeier (waivers Redskins). PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
• RB Cedric Benson: UFA; $7M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown.
• LB/DE Darryl Blackstock: Potential UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• FB/TE Daniel Coats: Potential ERFA; terms unknown.
• S Chris Crocker: UFA; $10M/4 yrs, $3.5M SB.
• RB DeDe Dorsey (not tendered as RFA); terms unknown.
• DT Orien Harris: ERFA; terms. PLAYERS LOST
• OT Stacy Andrews: UFA Eagles, $40.98M/6 yrs, guarantees unknown.
• QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: UFA Bills; $6.9M/3 yrs, guarantees unknown.
• WR Glenn Holt: Not tendered as RFA/Vikings; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh: UFA Seahawks; $40M/5 yrs, $15M guaranteed.
• S Dexter Jackson (released().
• LB Corey Mays: Not tendered as RFA/Chiefs; terms unknown.
Former
Cowboys safety Roy Williams to visit Cincinnati Thursday
Bengals.com
writes, per the Dallas Morning News, that former Cowboys safety Roy
Williams will come into Cincinnati on Thursday for a visit (what else
would it be). Williams is considered one of the best safeties available,
and definitely hardest-hitting.
In early March,
Williams publicly requested and was given his release on March 5.
The former Cowboys first-round pick is only 28 years old, has seven
seasons under his belt with five Pro Bowls and one All-Pro selection.
In his career, Williams has recorded 611 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 19
picks and 56 passes defensed. He started 92 consecutive games from
2002 to 2007 and returned three interceptions for touchdowns.
In 2006, Williams
signed a $25 million extension on August 2, with an $11 million
signing bonus. He was scheduled to make $4.4 million in 2009.
Bengals
sign O'Sullivan as No.2 quarterback
The
Bengals have officialy signed their fifth unrestricted free agent
for 2009, agreeing to terms with QB J.T. O'Sullivan. Here is the press
release:
O'Sullivan
(6-2, 227; Cal-Davis) is a seventh-year NFL player. He had his busiest
pro season last year, starting the first eight games for San Francisco
and playing in nine contests on the year. He finished with a 73.6
passer rating, completing 128-of-220 (58.2 percent) for 1678 yards
with eight TDs and 11 INTs.
O'Sullivan will replace
Ryan Fitzpatrick as the No.2 quarterback in Cincinnati, replacing
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Laveranues
Coles signs 4 year deal
The Bengals
offense continued its massive transformation Wednesday when various
media reports led by ESPN said wide receiver Laveranues Coles
has reached a four-year deal in principle.
On
Friday the Bengals offered Houshmandzadeh a four-year deal that could
have grown to $30 million by hitting an escalator. On Wednesday, it
was reported Coles took four years, $28 million but there were no
details on guarantees or escalators.
Coles DOB: Dec. 29, 1977 Housh DOB: Sept. 26, 1977
Coles bests: 91 catches with 2006 Jets, 1,264 yards with
2002 Jets, seven touchdowns with '01 and '08 Jets, 14.7 yards per
catch with '01 Jets and '03 Redskins (for seasons with at least 59
catches). Housh bests: 112 catches in '07, 1,143 yards in '07,
12 TDs in '07, 13.4 yards per catch in '04
Coles career: Nine seasons, 631 catches, 8,095 yards, 12.8
yards per catch, 44 TDs Housh career: Eight seasons, 507 catches, 5,782 yards,
11.4 yards per catch, 37 TDs
Coles '08: 70 catches, 850 yards, 12.1, seven TDs
Housh '08: 92 catches, 904 yards, 9.8 yards per catch,
four TDs.
Cedric
Benson resigns with Bengals
The Bengals filled
a major gap Tuesday when they re-signed their starting running back
for the upcoming season a day after Cedric Benson visited the Texans,
the team announced.
After joining
the club with the benefit of no training camp after the season's
fourth game, Benson finished the year with back-to-back 100-yard
games that included the biggest rushing day by a Bengals back in
68 games when he went for 171 against Cleveland.
The move also
opens up the first couple of rounds of the NFL Draft, where the
Bengals now don't have to take a running back.
Benson, 26,
shed his image as a moody player with off-field problems by becoming
one of the few bright spots in the 4-11-1 season with the longest
run (46 yards) and longest catch (79) in several seasons.
TJ
Houshmandzadeh Free Agent News
T.J.
Houshmandzadeh ended one of the more remarkable careers in Bengals
history Monday when he agreed to terms with the Seahawks after
his recruiting itinerary turned into a siege, according to ESPN.com.
I will miss you TJ, would have loved to see 1 more season with you,
Carson, and Chad all healthy. I think it could have been special.
Bengal's
Franchise Tag Shayne Graham, not TJ Houshmandzadeh
The
Cincinnati Bengal's have announced that they have placed the franchise
tag on kicker Shayne Graham.
“Shayne
has consistently performed at a high level for us, and we expect
that same performance in 2009 and hopefully beyond,” said
Bengal's coach Marvin Lewis in a team-issued release. “We’ll
continue to speak with Shayne and his representatives about signing
a longer-term deal.”
The move means
that all other Bengal's free agents — including receiver T.J.
Houshmandzadeh, running back Cedric Benson, and tackle Stacy Andrews
— will hit the market at midnight on February 27, 2009.
To franchise
Graham, the Bengal's are required to tender Graham a one-year deal
worth $2.483 million.
Round
6 (#207 overall)
Matt Sherry
TE, Villanova, 6-4, 255
Round
7 (#244 overall)
Angelo Craig
DE, Cincinnati, 6-5, 235
Round
7 #246 overall)
Mario Urrutia
WR, Louisville, 6-5, 232
Austin White, hardcore
Bengals football fan strikes a pose beside Chad Johnson fat head with
his Bengals Appearal. Fathead is a sponsor of BigOrangeMachine.com,
be a real sports fan and represent with a Fat Head.
2008-2009 Bengal's Schedule
@
Ravens
Aiming
to tie the franchise record with a fourth straight season-opening
victory, the Bengals begin their 41st season Sunday at Baltimore,
a one-time house of pain that recently has turned more favorable
to Cincinnati fortunes.
"I
think our team has learned a lot in this preseason,"
says head coach Marvin Lewis, coming off a 2-2 August campaign
and entering his sixth Bengals season. "We've been unhealthy
at some key positions, and we haven't shown the sharpness
we need on offense. But now we're getting guys back, and we're
excited. It's time to buckle up and play for keeps."
Outcome: L 17-10
Titans
The
against Tennessee this week, the Bengals open what will be their
fifth straight sold-out home season. They hope to register a
fifth straight home-opening win, extending what already is the
second-longest home-opener win streak in franchise history.
But quick improvement will be needed if the Bengals are to prevail
against a Titans squad that is 1-0 and coming off a 2007 playoff
season. The Bengals are 0-1 for the first time since 2004, and
last week's 17-10 loss at Baltimore was not pretty. Outcome: L 24-7
@
Giants
The
NFL gives no breaks to an 0-2 team, and particularly not to
the Bengals this week. They travel to the home of the defending
world champions, who are off to an impressive start with clinical
disposals of Washington and St. Louis. Outcome: L 26-23
Browns
Showing
signs of life on the field, if not yet in the standings, the
Bengals look for a fresh 2008 start in Game 1 of the "Battle
of Ohio" series. The rival Cleveland Browns are also 0-3,
so seldom in 69 past meetings have both teams so badly needed
a win. Outcome: L 20-12
@Cowboys
The
Bengals head this Sunday for Dallas, taking on a talent-laden
Cowboys club that experienced a wakeup call last week, losing
to Washington for its first setback in four games.
Cincinnati will bring an 0-4 record into the
featured late-afternoon doubleheader contest on CBS. Off to
their worst start since 2002, the Bengals lost 20-12 last
week to Cleveland, with QB Carson Palmer missing his first
game since 2004, due to elbow soreness. Palmer looks to be
a game-time decision for the Dallas game. Outcome:
L 31-22
@Jets
The
Bengals travel back to the Meadowlands this Sunday to take on
Brett Favre and the New York Jets. Cincinnati faced the New
York Giants just three weeks earlier in the same venue. Favre,
an NFL legend even before his career is over, is the league's
leading passer through Week 5, with a 110.8 rating. The NFL's
only three-time Most Valuable Player has a 3-1 record in past
starts against the Bengals, all while he was with Green Bay.
But the Bengals got the best of Favre in a big way in the last
meeting. On Oct. 30, 2005, as they drove to the AFC North title,
the Bengals intercepted five Favre passes in a 21-14 win at
Paul Brown Stadium. Outcome:
L 26-14
Steelers
At
this point in this season the Bengals sit at a less than favorable
0-6 on the 2008 football season before this game. Cedric Benson
gets the start over Chris Perry. Carson Palmer is out with the
elbow and Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the start. This is what I knew
going into Steelers week. You can see how 1 could be upset considering
the expectations I had. Well, the Bengals played well at times
Sunday against the Steelers but came up well short. The Bengals
have not won at home against the Steelers since 2001, that blows
my mind. Outcome: L 38-10
@Texans
The
worst Bengals football game I have watched since Bruce Coslet
was our coach. Fitzpatrick had what I thought was his best NFL
game and we scored 6 points. The season has been lost and I
have to wonder if Marvin Lewis has not lost this football team?
Since 2005 Bengals fans have been let down and it sucks. Outcome: L 35-6
Jaguars
Bengals
WIN!!! The first win of the year is under our belts in fashion
baby. This was a game that a Bengals fan has to love due to
the fact that we dominated besite the fact we only won by 2
points. As a fan I watched this game and it was never close
despite the fact we won by only 2. We ran the ball with Cedric
Benson in his first ever game with over 100 yards rushing in
a Bengals uniform. Chad had 2 TD's matching his season total
threw 8 games. The defense stood up on 3rd downs and show up
with Pat Simms having a breakout game. Not to mention a good
old fight that featured Andrew Whitworth and John Henderson
getting ecected. Fitzpatrick may just be able to be our backup,
I liked what I saw, WHO DEY! Outcome: W 21-19
BYE
WEEK
Eagles
Coming
off their bye week with a win in their rear-view mirror, the
Bengals face a formidable foe as the Philadelphia Eagles make
their first-ever visit to Paul Brown Stadium. Though still battling
for their playoff lives at 5-4, the Eagles rank in the NFL's
top 10 in scoring (fourth), scoring defense (10th), net offense
(seventh) and net defense (ninth). They also rank tied for fifth
in turnover differential (plus-six).
The Bengals are coming off their first win of the season, 21-19
two weeks ago over Jacksonville, and will look to carry over
that momentum against the Eagles.
The Bengals have
not hosted Philadelphia since 1994, but have never lost to
the Eagles in Cincinnati. The Bengals are 3-0 all-time in
Cincinnati (all games played at Riverfront Stadium), and they
lead the overall series 7-3. Against the Eagles, they have
their highest winning percentage (.700) against any foe except
Houston (3-1, .750). Outcome:
T 13-13
@Steelers
The
Bengals' hand-crafted lineup knitted one of those efforts Thursday
night at Heinz Field that had all the homespun traits of heart
and grit. But they just didn't have enough yarn to trip up the
AFC North-leading Steelers, who came away with a 27-10 victory. Outcome: L 10-27
Ravens
An
injury-depleted Bengals team will have the benefit of three
extra rest days when it takes on Baltimore this week, following
a Thursday Night loss in Pittsburgh. Against the Steelers, Cincinnati
opened without eight injured starters. The list grew to 10 when
DEs Frostee Rucker (hamstring) and Robert Geathers (knee) were
sidelined early and unable to return. Seven of the 10 injured
starters are lost for the season. Five — CB Johnathan
Joseph (foot), G Andrew Whitworth (ankle), G/T Scott Kooistra
(knee), Geathers and Rucker — joined the Reserve/Injured
list this week. They joined the previously sidelined LB Keith
Rivers (jaw) and S Dexter Jackson (hamstring).
The next
three weeks will see the Bengals facing teams that are currently
7-4, in hot pursuit of the playoffs. After hosting Baltimore,
Cincinnati travels to Indianapolis, and then it's back home
to face Washington.
"We
aren't going to the playoffs," said Lewis, "but
we obviously can have our say about who does and doesn't go.
We are looking forward to that opportunity." Outcome: L 3-34
@
Colts
The
Bengals this week travel to Indianapolis, which is 8-4 and steaming
toward a playoff berth.
"I'm excited to play Indianapolis," T.J. Houshmandzadeh
said. "We've got four games to go, and when the season
ends, I know I'm going to be bored, just waiting for next year.
I like to play football, and I'm not going to jump off the ship
when it might seem like it's sinking. We're hurting, but we're
going to try to piece together some wins. And get some offense
going."
The Colts, though
clearly a formidable foe, are not quite the same high-octane
Colts of recent years. They have better overall rankings on
defense than on offense (11th in scoring defense compared
to 22nd in scoring offense), and are 15th in net yards allowed
compared to 21st in net yards. QB Peyton Manning is an uncharacteristic
15th in the NFL passer ratings. The Colts have won five straight
since a 3-4 start, doing a remarkable job of winning close
games.
They have built
their winning streak on victory margins of three, four, six,
three and four points. Last week, they failed to score an
offensive TD for the first time since early in the 2003 season,
but they came out of Cleveland with a 10-6 win. Outcome:
L 3-35
Redskins
As
the Washington Redskins head to Cincinnati this week with playoff
hopes on the line, the Cincinnati locker room is pledging that
the campaign does not have to end as it has gone thus far. "We
are going to win the last three," head coach Marvin Lewis
said. "We are going to work our butts off and get these
last three wins."
Up first
is Washington, a team that has lost four of its last five
games following a 6-2 start. The Redskins have averaged only
10.6 points per game in their last five games.
Bengals
wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who's competing for back-to-back
100-catch seasons, said the final stretch boils down to not
only the team concept, but man-against-man pride.
"You
don't think about your record when you're out on the field,"
he said. "You think that you don't want the guy across
the line to get the best of you. Simple as that." Outcome: W 20-13
@
Browns
The
Bengals have not allowed a Cleveland sweep in the "Battle
of Ohio" since 2002, before the tenure of Coach Marvin
Lewis, and suddenly more folks are believing they'll keep it
that way.
Last week's 20-13 Bengals win over playoff-hopeful Washington
has added some zest to the run-up for Sunday's Cincinnati-Cleveland
match at Browns Stadium. Despite a season that hit bottom early,
the Bengals still have a chance to pass the Browns into third
place in the AFC North Division. If Cincinnati wins this week,
then gets a win over Kansas City and a Pittsburgh win over Cleveland,
the Bengals will take third place by a half-game.
"The
Browns will be tough at home, but we're ready to extend this
into a winning streak," Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick
said after the Washington game.
Sunday's
game is the 71st staging of the "Battle of Ohio."
The series is tied at 35-35. Outcome: W 14-0
Chiefs
Cincinnati
will take a two-game win streak into this Sunday's season finale
vs. Kansas City, looking to back up Coach Marvin Lewis's declaration
after a Game 13 loss that his team would win its final three
contests. Guard Bobbie Williams — team captain, never-miss
starter and also the biggest Bengal — put it this way
after last week's 14-0 win at Cleveland: "This isn't where
we wanted to be overall, but right now this part of the season
feels like the icing on the cake. Kansas City has been playing
everybody tough, so we can't let up one bit. And if we can finish
the year with a little win streak, it really will give us something
to build on in the offseason."
Added reigning AFC Player of the Week Leon Hall: "Coach
Lewis said we were going to finish 3-0, and maybe not a lot
of people believed him at the time. But we embraced it. His
confidence in us. We all bought in. Now we have to win one more
and at least have a good end to the year."
The Chiefs lead
the all-time series, 13-11 overall, but the series is tied
5-5 with the Bengals as the home team. Outcome:
W 16-6
2008-2009
Bengal's Football Season Outlook
With
one winning season during his five year tenure, head coach Marvin
Lewis can feel the mounting pressure to succeed. With the NFL cracking
down on bad apples the Bengals have had an ample supply with no postseason
results to make others look the other way. Defense was Lewis' forte
coming to the Queen City and he has never had one that wasn't wholly
dependant on turnovers, which tend to be random from year to year.
One area of defense which should be right up the coach's alley is
creating pressure on the quarterback, yet the Bengals were 32nd in
sacks last season. Looking to improve the unit as a while, and save
his job, Lewis will be hoping his top draft pick LB Keith Rivers,
can become a leader. It is imperative the defense move up to average
from 27th overall for this team to compete since, after years of having
one of the most prodigious scoring attacks, Carson Palmer and his
mates fell to 23.8 PPG (11th). This was much ado to a combination
of less accurate passes by Palmer, sloppy route running and inconsistent
blocking. With how Cincinnati is structered, this has to be a top
five scoring team to reach its goals.
The Bengals are trying to rid themselves of bad character guys, as
they have played just as bad with them the last two years as they
might without. WE Chris Henry was cut and resigned, and the Chad Johnson
situation has been a black eye, meaning help is needed at the position.
Cincy signed former Raider Doug Gabriel as backup and tended new offers
to WR Glenn Holt, LB Cory Mays, LB Rashard Jeanty, and T Stacy Andrews.
They did add one weapon who figures to contribute immediately for
Palmer, signing free agent Ben Utecht from the Colts. Top draft picks
Rivers upgrades the defense if the place him in role to be a disrupter.
Meanwhile, selecting Coastal Carolina receiver Jerome Simpson in the
second round left the Bengals open to criticism with more well-know
names still available. Cincinnati scouts feel his athleticism is on
par with more famous former college player and his long arms and lack
of character issues made him the better choice. With the Chad Johnson
situation still lingering as of press time, its still too early to
tell whether the Bengals upgraded themselves or not since January.
Hopefully coach Marvin Lewis will have his players more focused in
2008, since he's going to need it. With major injuries in the preseason
to the wide receiver corps, the Bengals will have to take on eight
of the top 10 defenses in the NFL this season. The Bengals are third
choice by odds makers at 9-2 to win the AFC North, clearly showing
most experts are not impressed with Cincy coming into the season.
If the dense can create turnovers again, and they hold together mentally,
this 2008-2009 Bengals team can surprise some folks.
This
ain 't your daddy's Bengal's, welcome to The Jungle! Who Dey
CINCINNATI (AP) The Bengals signed cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama to a four-year contract on Friday, the first time in nine years that they've reached a deal so quickly with their top pick.
With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger now 30, and the team's most valuable player sacked an average of 43.5 times over the last six seasons -- including 40 or more sacks in all but one of those campaigns, and coming off an ankle injury last year -- Pittsburgh has drastically retooled its blocking unit.
Some of the discussion at Tuesday's league meeting is expected to focus on the resurrected USFL, which is being reconstituted as a "feeder" or minor league, and on how involved the NFL should be with it. Former NFL executive Jim Steeg, who once presided over Super Bowl preparations, is chairman of the USFL's board of advisors, and that could give it some entre with the NFL.
With the draft over and all wrapped up, we thought it would be a good idea to get back on the phone with our buddy Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN's "NFL Matchup," and talk about the NFL by division. Who did themselves the most favors in the draft, and who came up short when addressing their roster deficits?
The Shutdown Corner Podcast Greg Cosell on the NFC West draft
We started off with the NFC West last week , and we now move to the hyper-competitive AFC North. Appropriate, given Greg's recent post on the NFL Films Blog praising the Cincinnati Bengals' draft strategy . With that in mind, we asked Greg what he thought the Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers did to bolster their teams.
Related: [Cosell on quarterbacks , running backs/wide receivers , tight ends/offensive line , OLB/DE/DT stars , the ILB/DB class , and overall draft review ]
Baltimore Ravens OLB Courtney Upshaw, and how he'll be tasked to replace Terrell Suggs: "The Ravens are very versatile with their fronts. Suggs would line up in two-point and three-point stances. He played a number of different positions and alignments -- that's what the Ravens do, and Upshaw fits that role. I don't think anybody's going to say that he's going to do what Suggs has done for a number of years -- Suggs is a pretty damned good player -- but the way Upshaw plays, I think he could eventually become similar to that guy."
Cincinnati Bengals OG Kevin Zeitler: "I seem to be in the minority here, and we'll never know how the Bengals felt because David DeCastro was gone when they picked, but I thought Zeitler was a little more complete than DeCastro -- I thought he was a better athlete. I thought he had more scheme-versatility, and he fits very well in a zone run game. I'm not sure DeCastro does. Now, DeCastro fits in the power run game better; that's what he did at Stanford. But given what the Bengals want their guards to do, I think Zeitler was the better choice, and would have been the better choice had DeCastro been available."
The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Greg Cosell on the 2012 AFC North Draft
The Cleveland Browns' first-round selections of Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden: "Theoretically, you could look at it this way -- they ended up with Richardson and Weeden instead of Ryan Tannehill and Doug Martin. And I think Richardson/Weeden is the better combination ... in fact, I don't think, I know. Richardson, we don't need to discuss ... I thought he was the best player in this draft. Weeden has some concerns. He was the best pure pocket passer in this draft, but he's got meaningful and troublesome issues with pressure. That's a serious red flag when you transition to the NFL."
Fans of the Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals - you can stop panicking. Your stellar rookie quarterbacks Cam Newton and Andy Dalton will not suffer from the dreaded "Sophomore Slump" in 2012. How do I know this? Well, there is one simple reason:
CINCINNATI -- There was a lot made of the Bengals signing of undrafted linebacker Vontaze Burfict, but for a team lacking depth at the position and with three players entering the final year of their contract, it is a low-risk, high-reward move.
Now that the 2012 NFL draft is in the can, it's time to take the Shutdown 50 scouting format forward and get a closer look at some of the surprising and fascinating selections from this year's draft -- the guys we missed in the original 50, but who could be impact players now or down the road. The latest entry: Brandon Boykin, the Georgia cornerback selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 28th pick in the fourth round (123rd overall).
Overview: Just before the draft, the Eagles traded disgruntled cornerback Asante Samuel to the Falcons for a seventh round pick. Samuel made the Pro Bowl three times in four years with the Eagles, but many fans were happy to see him go. Philadelphia Daily News columnist Marcus Hayes called Samuel "a fraud, wrapped in a mirage, inside an illusion," in a hyperbolic preach-to-the-base post-trade column that reflected the ultimate Philly bias: if you don't hit like a freight train, then you stink. And Samuel, for all his coverage skills, hit like a baby wipe.
Boykin will not replace Samuel in the starting lineup — that will be Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's job — but he will get first dibs on the slot corner role. And Boykin, for all his athleticism, cannot tackle. Somebody get Marcus Hayes a scented candle.
Boykin played cornerback, returned kicks, and had a small role in the Georgia offense. According to the team website, he majored in magazines. Magazines? Writing for them? Selling them? Cutting pictures of celebrities from them? Or maybe he majored in ammunition supply shacks. Whatever he learned in college, Boykin must become a more reliable tackler to earn a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
Strengths: Boykin can fly. He has recovery speed in the open field and can track the deep ball. He often runs down screens from behind and can make the touchdown-saving stop.
Boykin has three years of starting experience and is very aware in zone coverage. He frequently played "off" at Georgia and was good at reading and reacting to plays in front of him. He also moved to the slot at times and demonstrated quick reactions in underneath zones. He has potential as a route-jumper.
Boykin will be able to contribute in the return game and will be very dangerous with an interception in his hands.
Weaknesses: Oh, the tackling. Boykin lunges at the ankles of ballcarriers in the open field. His angles are bad. He gets wired to blocks. He is soft and tentative in run support. He can drag down receivers after the catch, but that is about it. He is small, and he plays small. His tackling issues may make it hard for him to contribute on special teams.
Now that the 2012 NFL draft is in the can, it's time to take the Shutdown 50 scouting format forward and get a closer look at some of the surprising and fascinating selections from this year's draft -- the guys we missed in the original 50, but who could be impact players now or down the road. Our next entry: Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Overview: As you may have heard, Weeden played baseball for a while and came to college football a bit late, which means that he was a 28-year-old senior draft prospect. You will hear that Weeden's age is a positive, because it gives him a maturity other rookies don't have. You will hear that Weeden's age is a negative, because he'll be 29 when his first NFL season starts, and if he's not ready right away, the clock is already ticking at an accelerated rate. The data on quarterbacks entering the league at a later age is about as conclusive -- Chris Weinke (29) and John Beck (26) were past the aggregate when they started their NFL careers, and the results were not spectacular. Warren Moon started his NFL career at that age due to the idiocy of scouts and personnel executives in the late 1970s, and he tore it up in the NFL after winning five straight Grey Cups in Canada.
So, age ain't nothin' but a number with Weeden -- most likely, it's not a decisive indicator of success or failure. A hard look at his senior tape is far more revealing, but we'll start with the stats, because they're pretty darned impressive. In 2011, Weeden blasted through the Oklahoma State record books with 4,727 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and a completion percentage north of 72 percent. Add in his performance in the Cowboys' win over Stanford in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, and an impressive Senior Bowl week, and it would appear that Weeden is ready to beat the age curve and hit the big time. What does the film say?
Strengths: Weeden has great command of the offense out of shotgun right after the snap -- he sells play action well, rolls out from different backfield sets, and targets one-read half-side passing schemes with great consistency. Reads blitzes well and gets the ball out quickly under pressure. Good touch thrower in the abstract -- he isn't always accurate when he takes a little off the ball, but he gets the concept. Good enough arm to zing it downfield on posts and go routes, and will place the ball well against wider zones. Sells play action well enough out of the shotgun to have defensive backs cheating up or looking back, which allows him to further exploit this strength. Gets set quickly to fire out in shorter patterns.
Weaknesses: The most glaring issue with Weeden's play overall could really set him back at the NFL level is that he's what I call a "zone thrower," which means that he's often throwing to gaps and areas without a great deal of anticipation or adjustment. That's fairly common with spread quarterbacks, but Weeden's problem is that he will tend to throw to that area even after his primary receiver (usually Justin Blackmon) has been redistributed by aggressive press coverage. You will also see him struggle against more advanced defenses (Stanford, for example) who disguise their coverages.
What we noticed while wondering just how much we could take away from non-contact minicamps involving nothing but rookies, and a few veterans per team who were allowed to participate because they didn't get a vested year last season:
49ers first-round pick A.J. Jenkins shows up out of shape? It's kind of like abandoning your pro day, or testing positive for something unwise at the scouting combine -- showing up for your first NFL OTA and getting gassed immediately isn't the smartest thing anybody will ever do. You know it's coming, and what were you doing on your own? From Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee:
Jenkins was observed doubled over from about the midpoint of the hour-and-a-half session onward. Afterward he was in the locker room with bags of ice on both his hamstrings and quadriceps. "I'm back home [in Jacksonville] and thinking I'm in shape -- working out in the morning time," Jenkins said. "You definitely see [this] is a totally different ball game, so you've got to get your mind right."
On the other hand, undrafted Stanford receiver Chris Owusu, who didn't hear his name called during draft weekend due to a serious history of concussions, looked good during camp because he understood the drill -- he's obviously seen 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh before.
"I played with coach Harbaugh for three years," he said. "I know what he expects from his players. I know his mentality, I know his philosophy. And part of it is, you can't be competitive if you're not in shape. I wanted to come in here and be in shape."
Jenkins will be tasked with turning the 49ers receiver group around, but first, he'll need to catch his breath. Owusu has the literal headstart.
Seahawks' "reach picks" could provide immediate dividends. As we wrote Sunday night, Bruce Irvin and Russell Wilson might be on your TV screens a lot sooner than expected -- even after the preseason ends. Wilson, the notably height-impaired quarterback from Wisconsin, impressed the Seahawks' brass enough to make Pete Carroll declare that the third-rounder will be in competition for the starting job right away. If Wilson could pull that off, he'd be the second third-round rookie in NFL history to do so -- Buffalo's Joe Ferguson was the first in 1973.
[Shutdown Corner: Giants' Osi Umenyiora sent Mother's Day greetings to Eagles' LeSean McCoy ]
Bears planning to attack defenses with Jeffery. Matt Bowen of the National Football Post has a great read on how he would use rookie receiver Alshon Jeffrey to get downfield against press coverage. The Bears are looking to revamp a receiver corps that has been less than impressive in the last few years.
Vontaze Burfict is looking to turn things around. When a horrible combine folded into a penalty-filled time at Arizona State in the minds of NFL personnel executives, the grades started to come back on linebacker Vontaze Burfict: Undraftable. After Burfict was shut out of the draft process, he contacted teams and asked for a chance. The Cincinnati Bengals took a shot, and head coach Marvin Lewis is hoping for a steal in Burfict on top of a very strong draft class. "He's a better conditioned athlete now than he was at the combine and at ASU in March. If he continues to go down that path, he seems bright enough to learn. He seems willing to want change this image people have of him," Lewis told Joe Reedy of Cincinnati.com. "He can be a good football player. Learn to bend his knees, play behind his pads, strike people within the whistles and life is good."
DTs Devon Still and Brandon Thompson don’t project as starters in their first season with the Bengals, what with Cincinnati having a stout interior tandem in Pro Bowler Geno Atklns and Domata Peko. However, Still, a second-round pick from Penn State, and Thompson, a third-rounder out of Clemson, improve the Bengals’ interior depth — and thus potentially strengthen the club’s D-line rotation. According to club statistics, every active Bengals lineman played at least 12 snaps in every game in 2011. ...
CINCINNATI (AP) Vontaze Burfict swooped in from the middle linebacker spot and closed on the ball carrier, then quickly pulled up to avoid any contact. He was practicing the thing he needs to improve upon most.
The Cincinnati Bengals placed offensive guard Jacob Bell on the reserve/retired list Wednesday. The 31-year-old cited long-term health considerations and said he didn't want to get to jeopardize "true health for money."
RENTON, Wash. -- The news first hit when Seattle Seahawks head Pete Carroll revealed it during Seattle's first post-draft practice session of the new NFL season. Guard Deuce Lutui, who played for Carroll at USC and started 72 games for the Arizona Cardinals from 2006 through 2011 after Arizona selected him in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft, has shed some serious weight -- and there's a specific reason why.
Lutui's longstanding problem in the NFL had to do with his weight -- as seen by the picture above, there were times through his career that Lutui really got up there, and it has impacted his ability to play the game at a high level. It caused the Cardinals to hold him out in certain situations through his time in Arizona, and the Cincinnati Bengals actually failed him on a physical in July of 2011 after he agreed to terms on a two-year deal. He returned to Arizona and appeared in 15 games for the Cards last season.
During one preseason, Lutui reported to the team at 398 pounds. The Seahawks, in need of depth along their offensive line, took a shot on the veteran, and he impressed by looking relatively lean during that first practice. After the 45-minute workout, Carroll dropped the bomb -- Lutui has turned over a new dietary leaf, and he's now a vegan.
"Deuce was doing great," Carroll said. "He's at 208 right now [laughter]… Deuce is a joy to have out here. He's got such a great spirit. He always did and we looked at opportunities to get him on this club just because of that. He looks good. His weight is down — he's way down from where he can be. He's a vegan too now so he's really made a big turn — if you can imagine."
On Tuesday, Lutui told ESPN.com that his new diet allowed him to come in for first practices at his preferred weight of 340 pounds -- in the past, that had been a bit of a struggle.
"A lot of people wouldn't call it vegan, but as the vegan concept goes, it is something I eat pretty much vegan throughout the week," Lutui said on Tuesday."I've been at this for four months, and so I've lost tremendous weight. ... It has always been a part of me to play big. I had to humble myself to see what coaches are seeing out there."
As a result of his revelation, Lutui changed his dietary habits to include a lot of fruit, salads, beans and brown rice. The Seahawks have it in Lutui's contract that he can't play for them if he's over 350 pounds at any given time. As it was with receiver Mike Williams, another former product of the Carroll regime at USC who washed out in the NFL after a series of weight problems, Lutui is trying to mount a comeback under the auspices of the coach who knows him best.
Loss
Bengals @ Chargers 24-27
2009-2010 Bengal's Schedule
