FanHouse Corey Mays

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

It could be argued that the Cincinnati Bengals did well to win four games in 2008. They were missing their star quarterback, Carson Palmer, for the majority of the season. That left the job to an overmatched Ryan Fitzpatrick, who did his best, but was saddled with a bad running game, worse offensive line and not much defense. The Bengals found a way to win three straight at the end of the season, finishing 4-11-1.

There are many areas for improvement as the Bengals make their way toward 2009 trying like crazy to avoid doing 2008 over again. Luckily, kicker is not one of those areas of need.

Bengals first round pick, linebacker Keith Rivers, wore #58 during the rookie minicamp two weekends ago. However, he really wants his college number of #55 ... a damn good number for USC 'backers.

However, current Bengals linebacker Ahmad Brooks currently wears those digits on his candy-corn uniform. Rivers is interested in buying it off of him:

No. 1 pick Keith Rivers has already opened up negotiations with veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks to get USC's No. 55.

"But I've got another month to work on him," said Rivers, who wore No. 58.

It may be more like Brooks has another month to sell it. See, Brooks has this little issue of punching a woman that goes to court on June 6th. Depending on how that plays out, Rivers could find himself in a buyers market. If something happens where Brooks faces discipline, maybe Rivers can just get it for free.

Don't laugh. Odell Thurman once wore #51 for the Bengals (there are people around town with them). Once he was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy, he lost his number to Corey Mays. Now that Thurman has been reinstated by the league, he will wear #45 for the orange and black this year.