Since the season is practically over for Bengals (all of us that aren’t foolish and completely optimistic of a turnaround), I’ve to move on to the draft. So in this installment, I’d like to just examine the past 15 years of drafting in Bengals history, based on selection spot in the first round:

 

Draft slots 1-5

 

#1 – Carson Palmer (QB – USC) – 2003

#1 – Ki-Jana Carter (RB – Penn State) – 1995

#1 – Dan Wilkinson (DT – Ohio State) -- 1994

#2 – No selections

#3 – Akili Smith (QB – Oregon) – 1999

#4 – Justin Smith (DE – Missouri) – 2001

#4 – Peter Warrick (WR – Florida State) – 2000

#5 – No selections

 

Out of this group, only Carson Palmer is still on the team, 4 of the 6 are out of the league (yes Carter and Wilkinson would be in their 14^th and 15^th seasons respectively), but Warrick and Smith would be veterans making a difference on a team at this point.  Justin Smith didn’t pan out well for Cincinnati, he was a solid player, but did not live up to his 4^th overall hype and money.  Peter Warrick had injury problems as did Ki-Jana Carter (what talents and gamebreakers they were). Injuries and underachieving have hurt the Bengals when drafting in the top 5.

Grade: C-

 

Draft slots 6-10

 

#6 – No selections

#7 – No selections

#8 – No selections

#9 – Keith Rivers (LB – USC) – 2008

#10 – Levi Jones (OT – Arizona State) – 2002

#10 – Willie Anderson (OT – Auburn) – 1996

 

All three of these guys is still in the league, two are on the Bengals. One is a rookie with tremendous upside.  Despite the holdout, Rivers came into the season firing on all cylinders. Its hard to grade a player after only five starts, but he still has some growing and learning to do, but that up side. And I think Levi has done a great job at keeping Palmer clean.  Anderson was the heart and soul of this team for ten years, it was sad to see him leave, but business is business.

Grade: A

 

Draft slots 11-15

 

#11 – No selections

#12 – No selections

#13 – Takeo Spikes (LB – Auburn) – 1998

#14 – Reinard Wilson (LB – Florida State) – 1997

#15 – No selections

 

Two very decent and productive linebackers came from this portion of the draft. The only problem with Spikes was his attitude and desire to win drove him out of Cincinnati.  Wilson only played 7 seasons, 4 with the Bengals and wasn’t very productive.

Grade: C

 

Draft slots 16-20

 

#16 – No selections

#17 – David Pollack (LB – Georgia) – 2005

#17 – Brian Simmons (LB – North Carolina) – 1998

#18 – Leon Hall (CB – Michigan) – 2007

#19 – No selections

#20 – No selections

 

Pollack was going to change this defense and finally give us a pass rushing linebacker that we needed. Then tragedy struck. It was a terrible thing to see happen to such a kind person. That injury set the Bengals back a couple years, which we are seeing right now. Simmons held his own as the defensive leader and the tandem with Spikes was really the only bright spot on defense for many years. Leon Hall is helping to sure up the secondary along with Jonathan Joseph, two shutdown corners who are only getting better by the week.

Grade: B

 

Draft slots 21-26

 

#21 – No selections

#22 – No selections

#23 – No selections

#24 – Jonathan Joseph (CB – South Carolina) – 2006

#25 – No selections

#26 – Chris Perry (RB – Michigan) – 2004

 

Joseph has emerged to be one of our defenses best players and with Leon Hall as his counterpart this young secondary could very well be one of the best secondaries in the league within a year or two.  Perry is finally getting his chance to shine, and he is shining like a piece of talc right now. Five fumbles in as many games, he could be losing his job to Cedric Benson, if he is playing as well as Marvin says he is.  The thing that kills me about this pick is the fact that we passed up Steven Jackson to get more draft picks and ended up getting Perry. Don’t get me wrong I love Chris Perry, but c’mon, Steven Jackson!!!

Grade: B-

 

No draft picks made 27-32.

 

It seems as though we do better drafting later in the in the first round, the so-called talent may be in the top 5, but when we pick them, they tend to bust.  I wouldn’t mind a top-5 pick, I’m just advising that us fans use caution when jumping into the hype.

After 5 weeks of the NFL season, things are definitely looking bleak for Cincinnatians.  An 0-5 start, nowhere near what anyone was expecting.  In examining the NFL and the Bengals I’ve found that they have the strongest schedule up to this point with a 0.710. The next closest are Houston (.675), Kansas City (.640) and Washington (.640). The first two have 1 win combined, and then Washington has been impressive and may just be the best team in the NFC, if not NFL, through 5 weeks.  So I’m getting a little tired of the “fire Marvin” talk.  The offense is starting to click after not having a preseason together. The defense is playing well (although they have been susceptible to the big play and trick play). But overall they have played well enough not to lose. The problem has been the offense, which is slowly, but surely getting back on track and I think will hit stride in New York this Sunday.  A true optimist could see the Bengals winning 11 straight and winning the playoffs; however, that just seems un feasible with the upcoming schedule, but I do think they can string together a few wins and maybe by the bye-week be at 4-5, which would give them a shot at making a run down the stretch, to at least .500.  Making the playoffs is all but lost. Especially in the AFC where as it sits, they would have to leapfrog 9 teams to earn the wild card spot. And unless Pittsburgh falters, they will probably win the division at 11-5 or 10-6, unchallenged. I think Baltimore’s shot at glory is fading fast, despite the play of their defense. Teams will figure out Joe Flacco and be able to stop him. The defense will win them a few, but not enough to be a factor.  The Bengals have played one team with a losing record. Cleveland, a game, which should be thrown out in evaluating the performance of the team, because Carson didn’t play and let’s face it Ryan Fitzpatrick, isn’t Carson Palmer. 

 

Let’s take a look at the next two games in the upcoming schedule:

 

Week 6 --- @ NY Jets

 

The Bengals face a New York Jets team that is coming off of a bye week after an impressive 6TD performance from Mr. Brett Favre. The Jets are (2-2),  looking to gain ground after Buffalo fell in Arizona, and has lost their quarterback for, as of now, an unknown amount of time.  The Bengals should have won 3 weeks ago in New York against those pesky Giants.  I see the Bengals coming out strong and holding Favre to under 300 yards of passing while Carson tears them up, without safety Eric Smith.

Bengals 27, Jets 20

 

Week 7 --- Pittsburgh

 

The numbers don’t look good for this one.  Pittsburgh has won its last 7 visits to Paul Brown Stadium (1-8) since its inception. Carson Palmer has never beaten the Steelers here in Cincinnati, and Ben Roethlisburger hasn’t lost a single game in his home state of Ohio. But, hopefully Willie Parker will still be out, although the bye may get him the rest he needs to be healthy.  I see a brutal beat down, where the Bengals, fueling off the victory in New York, prevail and gain another step on Pittsburgh.

Bengals 17, Steelers 13

 

This would put Cincinnati at 2-5, Pittsburgh at 4-2, and hopefully the winning continues and Pittsburgh’s losing continues. If not, let’s play for on of the top draft picks—maybe Knowshon Moreno??? Although I’d hate to see his career ruined by coming here and tearing an ACL in the preseason, so maybe not. There is always Rey Maualuga and Sen’Derrick Marks.

 

Check out this interesting story about Chinedum Ndukwe from Bengals.com

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6732

 

It seems as though Pacman Jones is applying for reinstatement tomorrow.  Here we go again.  Pacman has been in more trouble than Chris Henry, if that is even possible.  Should Roger Goodell let Pacman back into the league? Despite his issues, I believe he deserves another chance. I mean this is America where people get second, third, fourth, and even fifth chance (especially those as talented as Pacman.)  I know Henry isn’t the best example, but he got another chance.  After he served his 8-game suspension last season he came onto the Bengals and was fairly productive. 21 catches for 343 yards and 2 TDs.  So letting Pacman back into the league would not be a travesty.  If history repeats itself we could be looking at another Henry here (who also went to West Virginia – coincidence? Maybe.)  Or he could turn his life around, stay out of trouble and lead a decent career. We shall find out in the coming months or years.

 

On a side note, while taking into consideration the Pacman reinstatement possibilities, I reflected on Odell Thurman’s situation.  He was suspended for technically two years because, I think, Roger Goodell wanted to make an example out of him.  Two years for a DUI, ridiculous.  Unless there was an unpublicized event (and how often does that happen with celebrities) that led to this, the length of suspension appalls me.  We should find out in the coming days whether or not Odell will be back, and he better be.  The decision will completely affect the Bengals strategy in the draft.  I hear chatter about them possibly taking a linebacker in the early rounds, which probably would be less likely if Thurman was reinstated. 

At the NFL Owners' Meetings many rule changes were made. Luckily, the proposal for reseeding the playoff teams based on records alone was withdrawn before it even reached the voting process. That is a good thing for the league. Despite Jacksonville getting screwed two years in a row--being in the AFC South, a division dominated by Indianapolis--having to play at Pittsburgh last year and at New England the year prior. Sure the current system is flawed, but the proposed system would take away the luster of winning your division. The most exciting part of a season is the last couple weeks when division races are hot, and well of course the quagmire that is wild card races.

Other rules that were passed are:

• Eliminating forceout receptions (a receiver now must get in both feet regardless of being pushed out by a defender)
• Allowing teams to differ their decision to the second half after winning the coin toss
• Making field goals and extra points reviewable plays
• Any direct snap from center untouched by the quarterback will now be ruled a fumble (opposed to the previous rule of a false start)
• There will no longer be a 5-yard facemask penalty. Only the more serious 15-yard grabbing and twisting of the facemask will be called

Additionally, the owners approved the use of communication devices in the helmet of defensive players (which may even the playing field).