Now that's what I'm talking about!
Friday, February 29, 2008
A door closes, a window opens…or something like that.
We lose Madieu, but the Bengals just added Shaun Rogers in a trade with the Detroit Lions. He’s a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle.
This is smart because on defense, guys in coverage don’t make as much difference as the guys on the line. Defense starts with pressure on the quarterback and stopping the run. And Rogers is known as a run stopper and led all D-tackles with 7.5 sacks in last year.
This isn’t a move without some risk, and it’s most interesting that the Bengals would be willing to take on a guy with character issues. He was the current poster child for “disgruntled star on a bad team” this offseason, asking for a trade. He’s been accused of taking plays off and having an inconsistent work ethic. And he’s been suspended 4 games for breaking the NFL’s substance policy.
My favorite part about that, though, is that his agent said the banned substances were from an appetite suppressant he was taking. I love it when professional athletes need to take appetite suppressants.
This is a classic case of the Bengals being able to get a guy because of character issues. We’ll see how it plays out. There’s no doubt about it, though. This is a potentially great, season-changing pick up.
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Adieu, Madieu
Madieu Williams is no longer a Bengal. Former Bengals defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, now with Minnesota, pried him away, it would seem. So not only did the firing of Frazier lead to the forgettable Bresnahan Era, but it led to the loss of one of our best defensive players as well.
However, I’m glad we’re not paying him what he’ll be making as a Viking. He’s not worth that much. With Ndukwe and White coming up, he’s expendable. Granted, I would have loved to keep him, but not at that price.
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However, I’m glad we’re not paying him what he’ll be making as a Viking. He’s not worth that much. With Ndukwe and White coming up, he’s expendable. Granted, I would have loved to keep him, but not at that price.
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BREAKING NEWS: BENGALS SET UP A VISIT
Whodeyfans.com received inside word from Paul Brown stadium that Giuseppe Ditullio recently met with Bengals head of Player Personnel Pete Brown. Apparently, Ditullio was delivering a pizza from the Queensgate LaRosa’s. Whodeyfans arrived just in time to get a comment from Ditullio, “I met with Pete Brown and he said I was the only person to come to the stadium today, so that made me feel good. However, when I asked him to pay for the pizza, he said he would have to get clearance from the head man Mike. Mike tried to lowball me, but I told him pizza prices are not negotiable. 
According to the Buddy LaRosa Collective Bargaining Agreement, the purchaser of a pizza must pay at least a minimum of the price of the pizza; a tip for delivery is optional. As expected, I was paid the exact price for the pizza in nickels and dimes and not given a tip because ‘It was not in the current plans of the Cincinnati Bengals organization.’ As I was leaving, I heard Mike Brown tell Pete that the pizza would be coming out of his next paycheck since it was not cleared with 60 days prior notice.”
Apparently it was a false alarm as Giuseppe does not have an agent and was not even given a physical. Whodeyfans will continue to utilize our sources inside the Bengals compound throughout free agency. That is until they reach their monthly phone limits. Hopefully at least one free agent visits before then.
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According to the Buddy LaRosa Collective Bargaining Agreement, the purchaser of a pizza must pay at least a minimum of the price of the pizza; a tip for delivery is optional. As expected, I was paid the exact price for the pizza in nickels and dimes and not given a tip because ‘It was not in the current plans of the Cincinnati Bengals organization.’ As I was leaving, I heard Mike Brown tell Pete that the pizza would be coming out of his next paycheck since it was not cleared with 60 days prior notice.”Apparently it was a false alarm as Giuseppe does not have an agent and was not even given a physical. Whodeyfans will continue to utilize our sources inside the Bengals compound throughout free agency. That is until they reach their monthly phone limits. Hopefully at least one free agent visits before then.
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XMAS AT MORIARTY'S
It's the first day of free agency and everyone in the NFL tries to add some shiny new toys. That is, everyone except the Cincinnati Bengals. In his annual role of Scrooge, Mike Brown will let Christmas pass without spending anything. Only in-house correspondent David Moriarty knows how this feels. "I never got anything on Christmas Day growing up. Our family would wait and buy things from Big Lots a few weeks after Christmas, 
after all of the good toys were gone. But it did save money. And since most of the toys were already played by other kids, my parents said they were already 'tested and approved to be fun.'" This has been the philosophy for years with the Bengals, avoid the early spending spree, and then grab a few from the scrap heap before camp begins.
This year, however, the Bengals cannot afford to stand idly by and do nothing. Almost every team in the NFL has money to spend due to the expanding salary cap. That means the scrap heap will be even heapier this year as marginal players will be signed in early free agency. That combined with the Bengals losing Madieu Williams, and probably Justin Smith and Landon Johnson ups the urgency in at least signing a defensive player that can make the roster. There are players out there, and here is a list of a few of them:
DL:
Antwan Odom, Titans
Mike Rucker, Panthers
Marques Douglas, 49ers
Bobby McCray, Jaguars
LB:
Calvin Pace, Cardinals
Clark Haggans, Steelers
Victor Hobson, Jets
Boss Bailey, Lions
DB:
Marlon McCree, Chargers (Many remember his hit on TJ 2 seasons ago)
Gibril Wilson, Giants
None of the players listed above are game breakers, but they are better than the defensive 2nd string for the Bengals. I have no problems with the Bengals allowing Smith, Madieu and Landon to leave, but they must replace them with at least an NFL level player. With the poor play of the defense, a 2nd day draft pick is not enough to fill out the Bengals roster. The offense can only be explosive for so many seasons, and a front seven of Fanane, Peko, Thornton, Geathers, Dhani, Brooks, and Schlegel are not going to be able to support a secondary of up-and-coming first and second year players. And as of right now, that is the best possible front seven the Bengals roster can produce. Imagine what their backups look like….I’ll give you a hint, the top LB reserve is Jim Maxwell.
On to the offense, the Bengals still need depth at every position. It is not as urgent as the defense, but with so many weak spots to address on the roster, there needs to be an early score somewhere to start solving roster issues. And once TJ gets his contract extended, the Bengals may be looking for depth at WR after Chad blows a gasket.
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after all of the good toys were gone. But it did save money. And since most of the toys were already played by other kids, my parents said they were already 'tested and approved to be fun.'" This has been the philosophy for years with the Bengals, avoid the early spending spree, and then grab a few from the scrap heap before camp begins.This year, however, the Bengals cannot afford to stand idly by and do nothing. Almost every team in the NFL has money to spend due to the expanding salary cap. That means the scrap heap will be even heapier this year as marginal players will be signed in early free agency. That combined with the Bengals losing Madieu Williams, and probably Justin Smith and Landon Johnson ups the urgency in at least signing a defensive player that can make the roster. There are players out there, and here is a list of a few of them:
DL:
Antwan Odom, Titans
Mike Rucker, Panthers
Marques Douglas, 49ers
Bobby McCray, Jaguars
LB:
Calvin Pace, Cardinals
Clark Haggans, Steelers
Victor Hobson, Jets
Boss Bailey, Lions
DB:
Marlon McCree, Chargers (Many remember his hit on TJ 2 seasons ago)
Gibril Wilson, Giants
None of the players listed above are game breakers, but they are better than the defensive 2nd string for the Bengals. I have no problems with the Bengals allowing Smith, Madieu and Landon to leave, but they must replace them with at least an NFL level player. With the poor play of the defense, a 2nd day draft pick is not enough to fill out the Bengals roster. The offense can only be explosive for so many seasons, and a front seven of Fanane, Peko, Thornton, Geathers, Dhani, Brooks, and Schlegel are not going to be able to support a secondary of up-and-coming first and second year players. And as of right now, that is the best possible front seven the Bengals roster can produce. Imagine what their backups look like….I’ll give you a hint, the top LB reserve is Jim Maxwell.
On to the offense, the Bengals still need depth at every position. It is not as urgent as the defense, but with so many weak spots to address on the roster, there needs to be an early score somewhere to start solving roster issues. And once TJ gets his contract extended, the Bengals may be looking for depth at WR after Chad blows a gasket.
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And with the ninth pick...
Friday, February 22, 2008
It's been slow here on everyone's favorite Bengals fan blog. I think part of that is due to everyone's dissappointment in the season. And our annoyance with Traitor 85.
Oh yeah, and the No. 1 Fan recently became the No. 1 Father.
Anyway, here's the first post about the upcoming draft. Seeing as the Bengals have the ninth pick, I took a look at the past decade's (actually decade plus 1 year's) worth of Number 9 picks. As you can see, they run the gamut, with a likely Hall-of-Famer to guys I've never heard of.
2007--Miami Dolphins--Ted Ginn, Jr.--Wide receiver--Ohio State
2006--Detroit Lions--Ernie Sims--Linebacker--Florida State
2005--Washington Redskins--Carlos Rogers--Cornerback--Auburn
2004--Jacksonville Jaguars--Reggie Williams--Wide receiver--Washington
2003--Minnesota Vikings--Kevin Williams--Defensive Tackle--Oklahoma State
2002--Jacksonville Jaguars--John Henderson--Defensive Tackle--Tennessee
2001--Seattle Seahawks--Koren Robinson--Wide Receiver--North Carolina State
2000--Chicago Bears--Brian Urlacher--Linebacker--New Mexico
1999--Detroit Lions--Chris Claiborne--Linebacker--USC
1998--Jacksonville Jaguars--Fred Taylor--Running Back--Florida
1997--Arizona Cardinals--Tommy Knight--Defensive back--Iowa
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Oh yeah, and the No. 1 Fan recently became the No. 1 Father.
Anyway, here's the first post about the upcoming draft. Seeing as the Bengals have the ninth pick, I took a look at the past decade's (actually decade plus 1 year's) worth of Number 9 picks. As you can see, they run the gamut, with a likely Hall-of-Famer to guys I've never heard of.
2007--Miami Dolphins--Ted Ginn, Jr.--Wide receiver--Ohio State
2006--Detroit Lions--Ernie Sims--Linebacker--Florida State
2005--Washington Redskins--Carlos Rogers--Cornerback--Auburn
2004--Jacksonville Jaguars--Reggie Williams--Wide receiver--Washington
2003--Minnesota Vikings--Kevin Williams--Defensive Tackle--Oklahoma State
2002--Jacksonville Jaguars--John Henderson--Defensive Tackle--Tennessee
2001--Seattle Seahawks--Koren Robinson--Wide Receiver--North Carolina State
2000--Chicago Bears--Brian Urlacher--Linebacker--New Mexico
1999--Detroit Lions--Chris Claiborne--Linebacker--USC
1998--Jacksonville Jaguars--Fred Taylor--Running Back--Florida
1997--Arizona Cardinals--Tommy Knight--Defensive back--Iowa
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