First, resign Cedric Benson and TJ. It's good to win but there are real problems here. The offensive line showed it was going to be a problem in the preseason when Carson Palmer got his nose broken.  Questions linger about Levi Jones's injury (leg soreness) and Stacy Andrews tearing his ACL You need to protect your franchise QB.

    The Bengals should consider looking at the free agency.  Carson is not getting younger.  Finding a quality free agent to solidify the line could lead the team to become competitive. You should still draft linemen at both sides of the ball.  That idea leads us to drafting or signing defensive linemen. John Thornton is a great guy but he did not give you the push at center of the pocket. The fact that the Bengals tried to get a DT before the season demonstrates this.  

    Take a look at the free agents and draft for 2009. 

Update:  Seattle lost so the Bengals will draft sixth.  The order is as follows: 1) Detroit, 2) St. Louis, 3) Kansas City, 4) Seattle or Cleveland (tie) 5) Seattle or Cleveland 6) our beloved Bengals.

First, Alan, it's a great day to be a Bengal fan! Look, beating the Browns is not winning the Super Bowl but a win is a win. Kudos to the coaching staff for getting the team to play hard.

   Second, resign Cedric Benson at a reasonable price. You don't have any good choices for next year, as it's clear Chris Perry cannot play. And you want to draft offensive or defensive line early next year.  Benson reads where the hole is going to form and bursts through. He doesn't like going down and meets the need to play smash mouth football in this division.  

Marvin Lewis owes reporter Dustin Dow an apology.  The question regarding the last three games about whether victories would show improvement or mask problems was a legitimate question.  Additionally, his question two weeks ago about whether Carson Palmer should get an operation now and not wait was also legitimate.  These are questions and concerns that cross the minds of fans.

    The news media has a job to do.  It is a conduit to the fans.  The fans can't ask questions of the team.  It's up to the news media to do so. It is arrogance for Marvin not to realize this.   

    I have always defended Marvin for turning the team around from the horriible 2002 season.  But his condescending attitude towards the media and the fans is a weakness in his performance as coach.  He should realize that the fans pay his salary.  And so should Mike Brown.  (Mo has linked the exchange between Dow and Lewis as audio on his blog.) 

Chris Perry basically gets to the line and falls down. A CBS color man agreed with this view.   So, why is Perry starting?  Injuries and the lack of playing have taken their toll on him .  I understand the line is not blocking well but he is unable to find any hole, and burst through .  That's unlike Cedric Benson who seems to find the hole and go through it.  He's also seems to have an ability to take on tacklers in the open field. Start Cedric Benson. Cedric Benson

One can dream that maybe he'll return to this. 

      One last thing, sit Carson Palmer down.  Why risk his and the Bengals' future.  If he can return in late December, then so be it.  But my understanding, is that it will take four to six weeks of rest for him to recover.  Maybe you look on waiver wire for a QB or even in the future let kid brother Jordan play if Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to stink up the place.    

Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports lists the following Bengals that could be traded by the deadline.  It stinks being a Bengals fan.  Here's the article.  Let the firesale begin.  Move Odom and replace him with Frostee Rucker.  Goodbye Ocho Cinco, hello criminal Chris Henry.  See ya T.J., hello Jerome Simpson.  It's going to be a long season.