FanHouse Dhani Jones

The Bengals, Lions, Texans and Rams are the NFL's winless teams. They are a combined 0-17 and all seem to be staring down another bad season. One team has already lost its GM while another has fired its coach.

But what if we brought the four teams together and picked off the best guys to form a new team? Maybe they could win a game or two this season. So here we go.

QB-Carson Palmer (Cin), Marc Bulger (StL).
RB-Steven Jackson (StL), Steve Slaton (Hou), Rudi Johnson (Det)
FB-Vonta Leach (Hou)
WR-Andre Johnson (Hou), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Cin), Roy Williams (Det), Calvin Johnson (Det)
TE-Owen Daniels (Hou), Randy McMichael (StL)
OT-Orlando Pace (StL), Stacy Andrews (Cin), Alex Barron (StL), Eric Winston (Hou)
OG-Bobbie Williams (Cin), Jacob Bell (StL), Chester Pitts (Hou)
C-Dominic Raiola (Det), Chris Myers (Hou)

Current Bengals Who Have Been in Trouble at Some Point

• Ahmad Brooks: Accused of punching a woman in the face
• Chad Johnson: Sued for his part of an alleged "bogus raffle"
• Dhani Jones: Arrested for "failure to obey a lawful command". He refused police orders to stop dancing in the street outside a South Beach nightclub.
• Jonathan Joseph: Marijuana possession
• Deltha O'Neal: DUI
• Frostee Rucker: Vandalism and spousal battery while in college
• Jason Shirley: Drove drunk and crashed his car into an apartment building while in college

• Chris Henry: Speeding, marijuana possession, driving without a license, waving a gun at people, providing alcohol to minors, misdemeanor assault and property damage. He once was suspended for eight games for violating the NFL's conduct policy.
• Matthias Askew: Arrested (and acquitted) for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, failure to comply with a police officer's order, obstructing justice
• Reggie McNeal: Drug possession, resisting arrest
• AJ Nicholson: Burglary, grand theft, vandalism, domestic assault
• Eric Steinbach: Boating under the influence of alcohol
• Quincy Wilson: Arrested at a wedding for disorderly conduct
• Odell Thurman: Is coming off a two-year suspension for violating the NFL's conduct policy. He was picked up for a DUI in Ohio. He was also accused of assault in Georgia but the complaint was dropped.

This isn't a post as much as it is a running page to document some of the difficulties this Bengals organization has had.

The linebacker position in Cincinnati has been quite the adventure:

Odell Thurman played well in his rookie season of 2005 ... but has sat out the last two seasons for violating the league's substance abuse policy. David Pollack broke his neck in his second game of his second season and was forced to retire. A.J. Nicholson's career didn't last too long after off-field issues. Ahmad Brooks has barely seen the field due to injuries.

This was a team that had to bring Dhani Jones off the scrap heap ... and he turned into one of their best defensive players. At one point last year, the Bengals couldn't field a linebacking corps at all. Keith Rivers will be a big, big help there.

There have been rumblings that the Bengals could move to the 3-4 defense and Rivers would be a great fit if they do. He has the ability to rush the passer as well as cover backs and tight ends. Right now, the Bengals will have Brooks and Jones seemingly as starters with Thurman, Rashad Jeanty and Eric Henderson as other options.

All Friday afternoon there was glee over the Bengals acquiring Shaun Rogers from the Lions for a 3rd and 5th round pick. I live in the 'Nati area and fans were shocked ... completely shocked ... that the team did anything this drastic to improve the roster. Sure, it is only Shaun Rogers, but that was quite a move for a team that really takes the word "free" in "free agency" to heart.

Of course, a few hours later came word that the trade was voided by the league and that Rogers would be sent to the rival Cleveland Browns. Ouch! Not only did the trade not go through, but he got dealt inside the division.

It is par for the course in Cincinnati. It has been about 24 hours later and no one in the Bengals organization has said much of anything about any of this. Local radio host Lance McAlister was a little bent about the silence from the organization:

A Bengals trade dominates the airwaves Friday...and has the fanbase excited. Then it all falls apart and the player goes to a division rival. Fans wonder. Fans fume. Fans blame the Bengals for botching it. It's noon Saturday and the Bengals have yet to say anything? Hey Bengals, way to get out in front of the story and frame it to your advantage. Typical.

Bengals president Mike Brown doesn't talk to the media, save for rare exceptions, and head coach Marvin Lewis hasn't said much about the future of the team - other than to say there won't be the sweeping changes some fans want and some members of the media have predicted.

Bottom line: If Brooks struggles -- remember, he he basically went through last season blind (he was drafted in July, understandably bumbled his way through training camp, and was benched during the season because of "maturity issues") -- the defense could be in for another disappointing season. If, on the other hand, Brooks holds his own and the defense improves, the Bengals could be a legit threat to make the post-season.