Our continuation of the series looking at the Bengals 10 worst draft picks when drafting from a top 10 position:

10. Greg Cook, QB, University of Cincinnati, 5th Overall Pick in 1969
9. Justin Smith, DE, University of Missouri, 4th Overall Pick in 2001

8. Dan Wilkinson, DT, The Ohio State University, 1st Overall Pick 1994

Following a 3-13 Dave Shula led season in 1993, the Bengals were positioned in the #1 draft spot as one of the most sought after college players in years sat ready to be picked. “Big Daddy” Dan Wilkinson left college for the NFL after being named an All-American for his Sophomore season at Ohio State. Having redshirted, Wilkinson was a 21-year-old defensive tackle who played only two seasons of college football. With his size and athletic ability, he dominated at the college level, and wowed everyone at the NFL Combine. He measured up at 6'3⅝" and 313 pounds, could bench-press 500 pounds, and could also jump 30 inches off the ground. To top off the day, Big Daddy ran the 40 yard dash in 4.79 seconds. Everyone in the draft wanted Wilkinson, and the only dilemma the Bengals had was whether to take Wilkinson, or to cash in and trade out of the top spot. Before the draft, Big Daddy dropped this ominous quote that would predict the next 14 years, "If Cincinnati shows they want to get the top-notch players and move to the next level, O.K. If they continue to be cheap and go after secondhand players, then I don't want to be part of that organization." The second pick that year following Big Daddy was future Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.
Many people consider Big Daddy to be a bust, but perhaps he just did not live up to the mountain of hype that followed him into the league. Let’s compare Big Daddy to the recent missed opportunity of Shaun Rogers. Shaun Rogers just completed his 7th season in the NFL, he is 29 years old, played in 98 games, has 29 sacks and 256 tackles. After his seventh season in the NFL, 4 with the Bengals and 3 with the Redskins, Big Daddy was 28 years old, played in 109 games, had 44sacks and 205 tackles. The criticism of Wilkinson was that he was lazy and could dominate if he wanted to put in the effort, the same statements surround Rogers. Ironically, Big Daddy and Rogers played together with the Lions from 2003 to 2005. During that time, Wilkinson drew more double teams while Rogers made his only pro bowl appearances. Basically, another reason to be happy the Browns are spending $42million on Rogers.
In 1995 his second season with the Bengals, Big Daddy led NFL interior linemen with 8 sacks. The next season, he led the team with 6.5 sacks, sad for the team but true. He played only 4 seasons with the Bengals, yet Big Daddy is 8th on the Bengals career sack list with 25, pathetic. To put that number in perspective, 25 sacks would make Big Daddy 7th on the Ravens career sack list, a franchise with 12 seasons of history.
After his fourth season with the Bengals, Big Daddy was done with his rookie contract. When the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him, Wilkinson was not happy in any way and lashed out at the city and franchise. At that point the Redskins signed Big Daddy and gave the Bengals first and third round picks. The Bengals used those picks to draft Brian Simmons and Mike Goff, both had solid Bengal and NFL careers. In the end, Big Daddy played 13 NFL seasons for 4 teams registering 54.5 sacks and 301 tackles. 54.5 sacks would lead the Bengals all time list by 8 sacks. A defensive tackle leading in sacks is not common and shows the sorry state of defensive line play in the history of the Bengals franchise.

Check in periodically as we count down to the worst Bengals draft pick in history leading up to the 2008 NFL draft.


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By now, you’ve probably read it. The Bengals have cut Chris Henry after he allegedly punched someone. A few thoughts about that:

1. I’m surprised that the Bengals cut him so quickly. When I first read that he had a warrant out for his arrest, I was thinking that I’d write a post about how we shouldn’t rush to judgment. I was going to say that someone in Henry’s position probably gets a lot of people coming up to him trying to start (stuff). I was going to make a Charles Barkeley comparison. I was going to remind everyone of the woman who lied about what did or didn’t happen with Henry in a hotel room 2 years ago. I was going to recommend that we wait until this works itself through the system.

I won’t bother now.

(I just found out that he pleaded not guilty. A little patience on the team's part wouldn't have been out of the question. Obviously, they were sick of the drama.)

2. This comes on top of the comments that Marvin Lewis and Chad Johnson are swapping through the media. Guys, can’t you just make a little facetime for each other?

Johnson, on ESPN, and Lewis, through Enquirer at the NFL’s annual meeting. Here’s the remix of their quotes:

Lewis: “It's unfortunate that Chad has put himself in that situation because a lot of people who really had affection for him now see him in a different light."

Johnson: "Affection? That's the problem right there. The player is not gonna change. Chad has to do what's right for Chad... That's why (Lewis) made the comment. He thinks I'm worried about people liking me. Those days are over. I'm not worried about them anymore, because I have to do what's right for me."

Lewis: "Hopefully some of the things he said, he's going to have to face one way or another. If he shows and does things, and does (them) the right way, I'm willing to take the bullets for him again and allow him to come back the right way."

Johnson: “Don't take any bullets for me. Don't take one bullet. Do I get in trouble? Do I do anything wrong off the field? Do I? What bullets? I'm not a player that comes with bullets. I'm no threat. I'm not a problem. OK, I celebrate. Whoop-de-do. You know what you get when I touch the field every Sunday."

Lewis: "We are prepared to move on."

Johnson: "My plans are to show up and embarrass everybody that tries to cover me. If they're satisfied with what we have, and think that's gonna get us where we need to go, then so be it."

3. What’s interesting to me is that some of these comments take on such a different meaning when held up next to the Henry arrest and release. Specifically, Johnson’s bullets remark and his statement about the team being “satisfied with what we have.”

This is like the perfect storm of crap for the wide receiver position. I felt more comfortable with Johnson’s situation knowing that Henry was around. I didn’t want the team to bend to his demands (and I’m pretty disappointed that he’s making these demands). But Henry was good protection in case he sat out. Now that’s gone.

4. It’s gotten me to thinking about what would happen if the team went forward without both Johnson and Henry. T.J.’s good. Chatman and Holt and whoever else don’t inspire confidence. But Carson Palmer’s supposed to be a great QB. Shouldn’t (couldn’t) he still do a great job with less than stellar WR cast?

5. Before I write Johnson off, though, he does say two things that are encouraging. One, obviously, is that he plans to show up. Two, and perhaps more telling, is that he refers to the team as “we,” as in “satisfied with what we have.” Obviously he hasn’t moved on yet.

6. If anyone can pull a 180 and come back to the team and be all hugs and kisses, it’s Ocho Cinco. If anyone will get lucky and get another chance with another team, then get arrested again, it's Henry.



Anyway, so long, Chris Henry. You leave in your wake unfulfilled promise and plenty of questions at the WR position. Oh, and don’t forget the regrettable decision by Mr. Showbiz to buy a #15 jersey (photo at the top of this post). At least he didn’t get Henry's name on it. For Showbiz’s sake, I hope the next #15 for the Bengals also keeps it real.


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Our continuation of the series looking at the Bengals 10 worst draft picks when drafting from a top 10 position:

10. Greg Cook, QB, University of Cincinnati, 5th Overall Pick in 1969

9. Justin Smith, DE, University of Missouri, 4th Overall Pick in 2001

Justin Smith has been underappreciated by Bengals fans based on his draft position. But lucky for him, his draft position has caused him to be greatly over-appreciated when it comes to his paychecks. Smith was drafted 4th overall in 2001 after notching 11 sacks as a junior at Missouri. That year, Missouri went 3-8, and Justin Smith had 4 of his sacks against the always stellar offensive line of Baylor University in a 25 point Missouri win. He was selected as an All-American which is understandable given that he was bigger, stronger and faster than the linemen in the Big 12 that season. He deserved recognition as he is an NFL level talent, but he was by no means worthy of a top 4 pick by the Bengals. Defensive end is a premium position, and a defensive end has been selected within the top 5 picks in 9 of the last 13 drafts. Justin Smith just happened to come out in a crappy year for DEs with Andre Carter(7th) and Jamal Reynolds(10th) the other big names. At least he is better than those 2 nobodies. Suppose Justin stayed at Missouri for his senior year, he would have entered the draft against Julius Peppers(1st), Dwight Freeney(11th), Bryan Thomas(22nd), and Charles Grant(25th), all except Thomas are better than Smith. In that case, being compared to Peppers and Freeney probably would have dropped Smith out of the first round and cost him millions of dollars. To make matters worse, the two picks after Smith were LaDainian Tomlinson(NFL MVP, 6 Times All-Pro) and Richard Seymour(5 Times All-Pro). After a lengthy holdout, Smith finally signed for his big time first pick money, kick-started his "motor," and proceeded to make tackles all over the field except the backfield.
Had Smith been a 3rd round pick, many fans would have praised his durability and ever so talked about “motor.” Instead, being the high priced draft pick caused fans to notice his relentless non-pressuring of the QB which is the measuring stick of a top DE. Now, every time pundits talk about the “motor” of a first round draft pick, fans all across Bengal-land cringe and picture Smith’s Anheuser-Busch tattoo. Instead of throwing more money at a previous mistake, the Bengals let the 49ers take their place and pay Smith $45million for the next 6 years. Maybe the 49ers can see something the Bengals missed, but that is a lot of money for someone that cannot beat an NFL tackle one-on-one and over-pursues every time given the opportunity. DEs that can make tackles when the ball is run their way are easy to find, and while it is nice to have a DE chase every play with his “motor,” that is not why teams pay $45million. If Justin Smith plays out his entire contract in San Francisco, he will have made $72,300,000 over a 13 year NFL career…Unbelievable, Dennis Kozlowski thinks Justin Smith is ridiculously overpaid.
Smith leaving also opens up the door for a new Bengal DUI Blood Alcohol Content record holder. Smith’s blow of .152 in his 2004 DUI arrest was the team high, but somehow he was left out of the discussions of the jailbird Bengals. The arrest happened barely a year before Chris Henry started his body of work, yet Smith came out unscathed. Again, did anyone notice his Anheuser-Busch tattoo? At least Smith led the team in something.

Check in periodically as we count down to the worst Bengals draft pick in history leading up to the 2008 NFL draft.


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The full draft order has been released, and the Bengals will have 10 picks. Here are the rounds and numbers for the selections:
Round 1, Pick 9 (9)
Round 2, Pick 15 (46)
Round 3, Pick 14 (77)
Round 3, Pick 34 (97)
Round 4, Pick 13 (112)
Round 5, Pick 10 (145)
Round 6, Pick 11 (177)
Round 6, Pick 41 (207)
Round 7, Pick 37 (244)
Round 7, Pick 39 (246)

Due to trades, here is the complete Cleveland Browns draft:
Round 4, Pick 23 (122)
Round 5, Pick 20 (155)
Round 6, Pick 24 (190)
Round 7, Pick 24 (231)

This year could be a real boost for the Bengals by having 5 picks before the Clowns even hit the board. Great moves Cleveland!!! Here's hoping your studly QB and cudly DT are worth it.


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According to cincinnati.com/bengals Chad Johnson has been traded to the Tennessee Titans for Albert Haynesworth and a 4th round draft pick. This move will shore up the Bengals Defensive line as well as end the feud between Johnson and Cincinnati.

Haynesworth has proven to be a successful counterpart with an earlier Bengals acquisition Antwon Odom (DE).

While it is sad to see Johnson leave, it is good to know team moral and the defense should both improve.

*** This was our lame attempt at an April Fools joke. Thanks for all the emails.


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Since the draft is a little less than 4 weeks away, it is time for some draft analysis. To start, we will take a look into the Bengals rich and illustrious draft history. After a monumental 4 year hiatus, the Bengals have returned to their rightful position as having a top 10 pick in the draft. Why is a 4 year span of not drafting in the top 10 monumental? Well, since Mike Brown has taken control of the Bengals, the team has drafted in the top 10 in 11 of 19 years. That means Mike Brown has steered the organization to the bottom third of the league 60% of his time as owner. He has led the team to a top 10 record just once, the 2005 playoff season that is beginning to look more and more like fluke year in the Mike Brown blueprint.
Being back in the top 10 has pushed us here at Whodeyfans to look into the Bengals past picks made in the first 10 picks of the draft. One may be surprised to find there actually have been successes; Carson Palmer, Anthony Munoz, and first Bengals draft pick Bob Johnson. But success is not what Mike Brown is all about, so we are going to rank the top 10 worst draft picks made with a top 10 pick in Bengals history. This series will lead right up until draft day. To begin, here is number 10 in the Bengals history of worst top 10 draft choices:

10. Greg Cook, QB, University of Cincinnati, 5th Overall Pick in 1969

The story of Greg Cook adds credence to the belief by many Bengals fans that the franchise is cursed. Cook threw for 3,300 yards and 25 TDs during his senior season as a Bearcat in 1968. He still holds 3 of the top 5 Bearcat records for passing yards in a single game including the top spot, a 554 yard performance against Ohio University. Cook’s career at UC prompted Bengals owner Paul Brown to use the 5th overall pick in the draft on the possible franchise QB in 1969, the second year of the Bengals. At 6-4, 220 pounds, with a rocket arm, Cook would still be considered the prototype QB in 2008, let alone 40 years ago.
Cook began his career as the starting QB on opening day for the second year franchise and quickly established himself as a quality pro QB. The Bengals won their first 3 games that season against the Dolphins (3-10-1), Chargers (8-6) and Chiefs (11-3), the Chiefs being the eventual AFL champions that season. However, during the Chiefs game, Cook injured his throwing shoulder while begin tackled. He was forced to miss the next three weeks which were all Bengals losses (Ironically, Cook’s backup that season was Sam Wyche, future Bengals Super Bowl coach who would be pushed out of town by Mike Brown). Cook returned to the lineup to lead the Bengals against the Oakland Raiders and served the Raiders their only loss that season until the AFL championship game. Once Cook’s rookie season was over, he had surgery to repair his injured shoulder. During surgery it was revealed that he had a torn rotator cuff and partially torn bicep. Due to sports medicine technology at the time, subsequent surgeries proved futile in repairing Cook’s shoulder, and his career was effectively over. His career stats for the Bengals:
Games---ATT--COMP----Yards---TD----INT----Rating
12---------200-----107------1,865----15-----11------87.6
That rookie season, Cook led the league in Passer Rating (88.3), yards per attempt (9.3), and yards per completion (17.5). His yards per completion of 17.5 has not been surpassed to this day. He played in one game after that rookie campaign, and that was during a comeback attempt 4 years later.
While probably being a great draft pick, Cook only played in 12 games as a professional football player. Being a victim of circumstance serves as enough to land him the #10 spot as a Bengals failed top 10 draft pick.

Check in periodically as we count down to the worst Bengals draft pick in history leading up to the 2008 NFL draft.


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