No more projects (a lot less of them, anyway).  There are three "projects" on the roster this year...Anthony Collins, who will likely be playing little this year; Jason Shirley, who can at least play a few downs effectively while they mold him into an NFL DT; and Chris Henry, who has the talent, but is a fairly high-risk, high-reward prospect this year.

Ahmad Brooks has amazing physical tools, but it is impossible to imagine he would be anything more than a project.  All we know he can do well is rush the passer, and offenses can adapt to that.  Using him situationally while waiting for the gears to mesh in his brain was going to be a waste.

Bengals fans, ownership, and coaches have for too long been enamored with projects.  Making a guy change positions, trying to convert a physical freak into an NFL player...it's worked ONCE recently...with Stacy Andrews.

No more projects.  Bring in football players and turn them loose.  If they don't do well, bring in new football players.

Brooks seemed to be worth the risk of the third round pick in the Supplemental Draft, as he would likely have been a mid-first round pick the following spring had he not been kicked off his college team.  Too bad he turned out to be the defensive equivalent of Browning Nagle, he of the Million Dollar Arm and the Ten Cent Head.  If I was blessed with Brooks' Million Dollar Body, my motivation and brains would make people forget Brian Urlacher.

It wasn't that long ago that I was "excited" by the prospects of a Darnay Scott - Peter Warrick - David Dunn WR corps.  Oh, how I drank the KoolAid in those days.

What's old is new again.

Chad Johnson is hurting; was hurting all through last season.  Now we're told his legs will be 100%, but his shoulder will be iffy until opening day.  Given the club's openness with injuries, he could well be ailing all through 2008 and we wouldn't have a clue.

TJ Whosyourmama hasn't seen the field since the Mock Game.  Maxwell is on IR.  Caldwell is hurt (and green besides).  Chatman was mediocre (49 catches) in his best season in Green Bay, but it appears he'll make the 53 by default.

All that said, let me say I'm welcoming Slim Fifteen back with open (but hesitant) arms.  As long as the club is serious about a ZERO tolerance policy, I can live with the decision.  After all, the charges were dropped that were related to the incident that directly led to his release, for better or for worse.

A WR rotation involving 85 and 84 playing limited time, Glenn Holt, Jerome Simpson on selected pages from the playbook, and (shudder) Chatman, along with more two-TE sets, and Chris Perry and Kenny Watson occasionally split wide, can get the Bengals through to week 5, when Slim becomes eligible and hopefully Chad and TJ are back to form.

Right now, a FA WR seems unnecessary, although one to be brought in as training camp fodder wouldn't be a terrible idea.  Bringing one in with the intention of them making the 53 means the club will be thin for a few weeks, or would have to cut Simpson or Caldwell, which I imagine they are loathe to do.

Chris Henry has the physical tools to be a very good (top thirty) NFL WR.  I want as many guys like that on my team's roster as I can get.  Now they need to sit on him for a season or two so he can keep himself out of trouble.  Best of luck, 15; I'll be cheering you on.