I live and work in the Metro Cincinnati area and the Bengals are usually on everyone's brain. During the season, I will gather a few of my co-workers (Tom Otten, William Morgan, Dave Chandler and James Uhlinger) together "at the water cooler" and discuss some Bengals topics.
The 2008 season got off to a rough start with a 17-10 loss to the Ravens last week. With the Bengals holding their home opener against the Titans on Sunday, how do fans view the team?
Sportz: Baltimore started a rookie QB, featured a rookie running back and had a rookie head coach. Was this just a tough loss or is it a sign that this will be a bad season in Cincinnati?
Dave: Sign of "Bungles" as usual. Will we ever stop the run? Magic 8-ball says "not anytime soon."
William: Hate to say it but I think it's going to be a bad season.
James: The window isn't closing -- it was already shut!
Tom: This should be a wake up call for Bengals fans. Sell your tickets and seat licenses -- your parking passes. Burn your jerseys and tear off your bumper stickers. An un-victorious season is on the horizon.
Sportz: Carson Palmer had his career worst QB rating. Is this offense completely broken or is it just the offensive line just not getting it done?
Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.
Quarterback: If there is one constant on this team, it is Carson Palmer. Sure, Palmer didn't have his best season a year ago, but his off seasons are better than many QBs best years. In reality, other things factored into his poor season (injuries to the line, injury to Rudi Johnson, receivers pouting). The only issue here is what happens in Cincinnati if Palmer gets hurt. They have no one groomed to come in. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe are in their second seasons with the team and Carson's brother, Jordan, is fighting for a spot. Heat Index: 8
Running backs: Injuries have hurt this unit in the past couple of years. Workhorse Rudi Johnson finally hit a wall; Kenny Irons blew out his knee in his first preseason game; Chris Perry has never been able to stay on the field. Well, Rudi and Perry are healthy again, with 2007 surprises Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey around to give the offense a different dynamic. Cincy needs this unit to get back to form to allow the entire offense to explode. Heat Index: 4
Receivers:Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are one of the best receiving combos in the NFL. T.J. tied for the lead in receptions; Chad was third in receiving yards. However, this could be the last season either is in Cincinnati. Johnson's issues with the team are well documented. T.J. is in his final contracted season. Chris Henry is finally gone and there are several guys trying to step into that #3 spot. Rookie Jerome Simpson will get a strong look, as will Andre Caldwell and Antonio Chatman. Chatman is the only one with experience and could get the nod. Heat Index: 8
Cincinnati lies on the Ohio River -- and Kentucky lies on the other side. As far as the Bengals are concerned, they could burn all the bridges that connect the two because nothing good seems to happen when their players hang in the Bluegrass State.
Chris Henry lives in Boone County (I pass his house frequently). In his neighborhood, he was accused of punching a 16-year old but the accusations were unfounded. Police also found a stolen car in his driveway ... which was a rental car that had disputed charges on it. All the other stuff he's done has also shed a poor light on his community.
Oh, and Shaun Alexander ... who went to Boone County High School ... now wants to be a Bengal. Why the heck not? Alexander, a born again Christian, would stick out like a sore thumb.
Elsewhere in Northern Kentucky, Chad Johnson is in the middle of a lawsuit over a bogus raffle. It is claimed that Johnson didn't pay up on certain prizes that were raffled off at a comedy club in Newport, KY. Henry also was arrested in Covington, KY for buying alcohol for some underage girls.
Former Bengals Who Got In Trouble While With the Team
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
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.
Jonathan Joseph was the last of the nine Bengals players to be arrested this past year. On January 22 he was pulled over, the officer smelled something marijuana, and Joseph told the officer he was carrying.
In his Super Bowl backpack, which is as good a place as any I suppose.
Joseph was in court last week in Boone County, Kentucky, and the judge went pretty easy on him since he's a first time offender. Joseph will be allowed to enter a diversion program that's only available to first timers, which means he'll be doing some community service or completing an educational program (where perhaps they teach people to not keep weed in the car?).
I wrote a while back about Deltha O'Neal and Joseph leaving Bengals practice to eat lunch together, and that O'Neal probably wasn't the best influence for the young Joseph, what with his DUI and lackadaisical play and all. Hopefully I'm blowing it out of proportion, but the Bengals obviously have to implement a team culture where stuff like this just isn't acceptable. Joseph seems like a good character guy who's never been in trouble before which makes you wonder about the influences other players have had on him.
Plenty of things frustrate me about Jonathan Joseph's recent arrest, but the thing that might frustrate me the most is the media coverage.
Outside of Chris Henry, every Bengals infraction when viewed in isolation has been pretty minor. Joseph is a 22 year old man worth an awful lot of money. It's the offseason. And we're supposed to be outraged that the guy had some weed on him?
I don't condone drug use, and I think it's beyond stupid for someone in the spotlight to be carrying drugs (especially when young, black, and wealthy), but at the same time the media coverage (and some fan reaction) is ridiculous.
Paul Daugherty is the only media person to get it right:
But can we please stop with the indignation? My goodness, it's a misdemeanor dope possession charge, not stealing the Lindbergh baby. Another favor: Can we not knee-jerk blame Marvin Lewis for this latest grown-man Bengal charged with a crime? If the last 12 months have taught us anything - beyond a deeper appreciation for the phrases "police said'' and "declined to comment'' - it's that people who believe people who play games for a living are somehow smarter, more humble and more respectful than the rest of us need to put their toys away and smell the reality.
There was a lot wrong with this team this year. I think there was a lack of focus, injuries hurt pretty badly, the defense was terrible, and the team came up short in critical moments. But the arrests had little to do with the Bengals going 8-8 and missing the playoffs. If Bengals were going around shooting people, then yeah I might be able to muster up some outrage and shock. But misdemeanor possession with a possible fine of $500? I'll pass on the indignation.
When Shayne Graham missed the game winning field goal yesterday I knew what was coming. I was pretty sure the Steelers would win the toss and score, and that's just what happened.
And in a way I felt relieved. I'd obviously have preferred the Bengals make the playoffs, even if they would have been one and done, but I'm really just glad it's over. This year was beyond frustrating, and I'd rank it as one of my least favorite Bengals seasons of all time. Which is really saying something since I've seen this team go 3-13 more times than I care to remember.
A couple of super quick game thoughts, because I don't really want to dwell too much:
Chris Henry really came to play, which was nice to see after the year he's had. He seems to step it up against the Steelers, and for whatever reason he just didn't seem as afraid of getting hit. Let's all hope he can stay out of prison for the next seven months until training camp.
Carson Palmer's stats were as solid as ever this year, but something was obviously off. He didn't use to miss wide open receivers the way he does now, and I almost hope he's been struggling with some sort of minor injury. At least that would be an easily solved explanation.
I really loathe the Bengals defense. I think Jonathan Joseph is the only Bengals defender that didn't make me want to put my head through a wall at some point this season.
The season might be over, but there's lots more to come here. I'll be taking a look back at the season, and looking at moves the Bengals should make so that this horror of a season isn't repeated in 2007.
One final thought: at least 8-8 is a horrible disappointment now. It wasn't that long ago when 8-8 was cause for hope and celebration. Things could be worse. We could be Browns fans.
For the first time in quite awhile the Bengals prospects are looking pretty damn good.
They're 7-5, just a half game out of the Wild Card race, and they're looking at ten days off after playing (and winning) three games in just twelve days. That's awesome news for a team that's been as banged up as the Bengals. Here's the early health outlook for Oakland:
Eric Ghiaciuc (pictured at right) was the only Bengals injury last night. He suffered a sprained knee and was replaced by Ben Wilkerson, who saw his first NFL action last night, and performed extremely well. Ghiaciuc is questionable for Oakland, but that's not as bad as it sounds because Rich Braham will almost certainly be back by then, and the aforementioned Ben Wilkerson looked more than capable. Plus it's Oakland. If Ben Wilkerson has to play against anybody Oakland is a pretty good opponent.
Bobbie Williams will be back from his appendix surgery. He's been replaced by Stacy Andrews, a guy who's 6'7, 350 pounds. Andrews has played like a monster, but Williams is a capable vet. The Bengals are pretty much fine here with either guy, and the upside to Williams getting hurt has been the discovery that Andrews is good enough to see game time.
Deltha O'Neal will be healthy. The defense has been great the past two games, but it's going to be even better when Deltha O'Neal lines up opposite of Jonathan Joseph instead of Tory James. I'm sure James will still see plenty of playing time, but it'll be less than he sees with O'Neal hurt, and that'll only help the Bengals. James is a lot more palatable an option when he's only playing part time.
Kelley Washington will be back. Maybe he can get some of Chris Henry's playing time, since Henry seems to be afraid of getting hit lately.
John Thornton will be back. Not really sure if this is a plus though. The defensive line was outstanding last night without him.
Rich Braham is questionable, but my guess is he'll be ready for Oakland or Indy. Holding him out until Indy might not be a bad idea if he's not totally healed up.
Levi Jones is still questionable. Whitworth has been a great replacement, so I'd rather not see Levi back until he's 100%. No reason to risk further injury, and Levi should be a big boost down the stretch.
Things are looking up. I'm going to have a good time settling in and watching all the teams the Bengals are chasing this weekend, secure in the knowledge that the Bengals already did their part for this week.
The Bengals are all set to face the number one passing offense in the NFL on Sunday, a week after Philip Rivers destroyed them. So, inevitably, what's happened?
Deltha O'Neal is now likely out. Shoulder.
Rookie Jonathan Joseph will go up against rookie Marques Colston. Colston isn't an ordinary rookie however. He currently leads the league in yards.
Brian Simmons is also going to miss another week, and it looks like Levi Jones isn't going to make it back. That actually might be a blessing though, since a healthy Andrew Whitworth might be better than a dinged up Levi Jones. Healthy vs. healthy there's no contest, but if Levi's still hurting he probably shouldn't play.
Brian Simmons is getting up there a bit age wise, and I think we're seeing that this season. He's been banged up one way or another all year, and it looks like he'll be out again this Sunday.
He was downgraded to doubtful this weekend, and with Rashad Jeanty likely coming back I doubt he'll play this Sunday. Lewis confirmed today that Jeanty would play, but wouldn't say if he'd be starting. Although the question of starting strikes me as being one of semantics, since I would think Jeanty will be on the field quite a bit, starting or not. The Bengals aren't exactly deep at linebacker right now.
The only other injury news today was the return of Jonathan Joseph to practice, which is good to hear. He's having a solid year so far, and I continue to hope that he'll be taking Tory James' job sooner rather than later.
I live and work in the Metro Cincinnati area and the Bengals are usually on everyone's brain. During the season, I will gather a few of my co-workers (Tom Otten, William Morgan, Dave Chandler and James Uhlinger) together "at the water cooler" and discuss some Bengals topics.
Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, 
Cincinnati lies on the Ohio River -- and Kentucky lies on the other side. As far as the Bengals are concerned, they could burn all the bridges that connect the two because nothing good seems to happen when their players hang in the Bluegrass State.
Jonathan Joseph was the last of the nine Bengals players to be arrested this past year. On January 22 he was pulled over, the officer smelled something marijuana, and Joseph told the officer he was carrying. 
Plenty of things frustrate me about Jonathan Joseph's recent arrest, but the thing that might frustrate me the most is the media coverage.
When Shayne Graham missed the game winning field goal yesterday I knew what was coming. I was pretty sure the Steelers would win the toss and score, and that's just what happened.
For the first time in quite awhile the Bengals prospects are looking pretty damn good.
The Bengals are all set to face the number one passing offense in the NFL on Sunday, a week after Philip Rivers destroyed them. So, inevitably, what's happened?
Brian Simmons is getting up there a bit age wise, and I think we're seeing that this season. He's been banged up one way or another all year, and it looks like he'll be out again this Sunday.
