I have not been avoiding the topic of Terrell Owens possibly becoming a Cincinnati Bengal. I simply have not had time to offer my thoughts on whether or not he could be a productive addition to the offense. For or against the acquisition, media members and bloggers have formed very strong opinions on the subject.
Owens' track record of being a horrible teammate is well documented. His stops in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas were all filled with drama. He has always come off as a player with outstanding ability from the neck down and nothing from the neck up. His selfish attitude has alienated teammates and fans.
I also think the Bengals should sign him.
Why, you ask?
The Bengals need a wide receiver.
Last season, it was obvious that Chad [...]
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With free agency is full effect, the 2010 NFL season is officially underway. I am not going to try and make sense of the concept that is free agency because, frankly, it just gives me a headache. Whether or not a player is a restricted or unrestricted free agent doesn't really matter to me. Personally, I am more excited to watch Chad Ochocinco on Dancing with the Stars than to discuss tender offers and compensatory draft picks.
One roster move that did catch my attention occurred yesterday when the Bengals released wide receiver Laveranues Coles. Coles had a very disappointing season, catching just 43 passes for 514 yards and five touchdowns. He was due to make $4.65 million in base salary this season.
Perhaps the most honest and accurate reaction to the Bengals [...]
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Well, it's official.
When rumors started flowing yesterday afternoon, I tried not to get sucked in. Several websites reported the news. The social networking world was all atwitter (See what I did there?). However, I did not want to get too excited until I heard an official announcement.
Last night, ABC announced the cast for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars, which contains three figures from the sports world: Olympic Gold Medal Winner and World Figure Skating Champion Evan Lysace, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.
There will be plenty of people who think this is just another publicity stunt by Ochocinco. So what if it [...]
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As the 2009 season unfolded, it was clear that this Cincinnati Bengals team would be very different from years past. Since Carson Palmer became the team's quarterback, the Bengals have been considered a passing team. Fans have grown accustomed to seeing balls thrown deep into the secondary to the likes of Chad Ochocinco, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry.
With Palmer missing all but four games in 2008, that season became a complete disaster. The offense was one of the worst I have ever seen. Houshmandzadeh left for Seattle after the season, creating a huge void. Other holes remained unfilled as the team's top draft choice, offensive lineman Andre Smith, was unsigned and not in playing shape. Tight ends Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht both suffered season-ending injuries [...]
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The Kenton County Jail in Covington, Kentucky rolled out the red (or maybe orange and black) carpet last night for one of our beloved Bengals. Linebacker Rey Maualuga was held on charges of drunken driving and careless driving.
According to Covington police, Maualuga was driving a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire that struck two cars and a parking meter.
Idiot.
[...]
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A first round exit was certainly not what the Bengals and their fans expected as the team entered the playoffs. After winning the AFC North title and posting an undefeated record against division opponents, the Bengals had their eyes on the big prize. It didn't happen, and the Bengals ended the season ended with an emotion all too familiar - dissapointment.
Desparate for good news, fans were excited to learn the team reached an agreement with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. It was nice to see team president/owner/czar Mike Brown commit to Zimmer, who has done an exceptional job with the defense.
No Bengals were originally selected for the Pro Bowl, which is not really a big deal. When the Patriots Wes Welker was injured, a spot opened up for a wide receiver. It was then [...]
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Being a kicker in the NFL is one of the most pressure-filled jobs in sports. Much like a closer on a baseball team, you must have ice in your veins and a very short memory. To be successful, you need be able to balance your emotions after every performance, good and bad.
In today's world of news on demand, the media and fans want to hear from players. I don't think players have to speak to the media, but I think they should. The worst situation happens when a player only chooses to talk after a good performance.
Shayne Graham missed two field goals on Saturday in the Jets' 24-14 victory over the Bengals. Both were kicks that he should have made. However, I can accept the fact that he tried to perform his job and failed. It isn't the first time that an athlete has [...]
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Throughout the 2009 season, I watched the Cincinnati Bengals battle adversity on and off the field. They seemed to take on these challenges and, more often than not, succeeded in winning football games. A strong defense, good rushing attack and a quarterback capable of leading his team with the game on the line resulted in an AFC North championship. On Saturday evening, it all came to an end.
Offense
I don't recall ever seeing a running back go as hard as Cedric Benson did in this game. He broke tackle after tackle and finished with 169 yards on the ground, a franchise record for a playoff game. Benson accounted for the Bengals' second touchdown with a 47-yard run to the end zone in the fourth quarter.
After connecting with Laveranues Coles on an 11-yard [...]
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During one of the breaks near the end of the game, the television broadcast played a clip from I Hate Myself for Loving You by Joan Jett. It was a rather symbolic song considering what was happening on the field. I was watching my beloved Bengals' season come to an end.
The effort and intensity that the Bengals lacked last week was there. I don't know if I have ever seen a running back go as hard and get second-effort yards like Cedric Benson did. The team fought hard, but it wasn't enough.
You cannot win football games when you turn the ball over, have the receivers drop passes and miss two field goals. Bottom line.
The sick feeling a fan gets when they see their team go down is one all too familiar for Bengals fans. The last time the Bengals won a playoff game [...]
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Carson Palmer's playoff career consists of one perfectly thrown pass. That would have been the first of many had it not been for a defensive lineman rolling into Palmer's knee. His knee exploded, igniting an inferno that caused the Bengals' season and playoff hopes to go down in flames.
As Cincinnati returns to the playoffs this weekend, I decided to take a trip down memory lane. The last time the Bengals won a playoff game was January 6, 1991 against the Houston Oilers. It was also the first Bengals game I ever attended.
My family had been to Riverfront Stadium many times to see the Cincinnati Reds. It was really weird to see the field transformed into a football field. The lower level of seats, or "blue seats", [...]
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