The Bengals are going to have a pretty good line backer crew. Two young guys from USC that aren't used to losing and also were stars are going to be adding some intensity to the middle of the defense. Before ending his season on a pansy blindside block by Pittsburgh's Hines Ward, Keith Rivers was leading the team in tackles. Add his buddy Ray Maualuga and the Bengals are going to be pretty strong. From the article:

At USC, Rivers lost only five games, Maualuga six. Now they're trying to resurrect a team that has had only one winning season in the last 18 years and went 4-11-1 last year.

An interesting write-up of the Bengals needs at running back. I disagree with the author. I think Cedric Benson can be an answer for the Bengals. It doesn't make much sense to bring up last years running stats for good or bad. It is true Ced got his big numbers against some awful teams, but it is also true that the Bengals line was absolutely terrible all season. With Carson out the opposing team did not respect the passing game and the box was stacked against the running backs. No one would have success behind that line last year.

As a team, the Bengals are in need of two things at running back: A home-run hitter and a third-down option. Benson is more of a grinder who averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in 2008.

There will be no Brokeback at the Palmer abode. It just goes to show, no matter how rich and famous you are, the lady still runs the house.

“As soon as I walked in the door from work the other day, she just gave me that look,” Palmer said. “I’m like, ‘Whoa, calm down. It’s media stuff. It’s Chad being Chad.’
“I told her, ‘Don’t worry. I haven’t made any commitments to having to clear out the boxes in the (spare) room to make a bed for him. Don’t worry about that. It’s not going to happen.’ ”
Undeterred, Ochocinco keeps insisting he’s staying with the Palmers.
“No,” Carson said. “I just told him that unless he’s picking up my mortgage for the month of July and August, he can’t stay. He’s not living for free. I don’t need another kid around the house.”

On the subject of Chad. He was recently on the first installment of the HBO Joe Buck show. Joe Buck is a moron and of course like most media brought up arrests with Cincinnati. Chad responded the best saying:

"He took a couple of shots at me; that's what he gets," The Ocho said. "He took shots at me for things I've never really done before. The topic of discussion really didn't fit me. Showing the people that have been arrested and been in trouble, and really with regards to my team, about the arrests we've had. We've been clean for three years. Why even bring that back up? It didn't make any sense."