I hate to be the person who says I told you so, but in this instance, I told you so.  Every time the Bengals suit up for training camp, you hear about the one veteran who is not only looking like their old selves, but they are looking like they did in their peak year.  Rudi stood out to me as being that guy this year.  At first, I got hyped up thinking about Rudi bouncing off Troy Polomalu for a touchdown in 05.  Then it dawned on me.  Rudi was this years version of that guy.

Ever since Rudi hit the sideline with the hammy, I have been telling my friends that he was gone.  Perry was looking good, we know what Watson can do, and with DeDe's speed, he can break the game open.  But then Jeremie jallopped his way into camp at nearly 300 pounds, DeDe got hurt, and Coats started practicing at fullback, and it seemed like Rudi would be kept on as the 3rd or 4th RB.

So we waited for Rudi to make his return to see if the preseason hype held true.  And we waited.  And waited.  After tonight, we are still waiting.  Coats was back with the tight ends, Jerimie looks like he will somehow make the team, and James Johnson has looked solid so far.  Plus DeDe is back in action.  Now it's just a matter of time.

ProFootballTalk.com thinks one of the reasons Rudi sat tonite was because a trade was imminent, and they didn't want to risk injury.  I doubt that.  The decline in YPC from 4+, to 3.6, to 2.7 is telling.  No one wants that.  As long as you have a line that has a good run blocking scheme, you can find a good running back to plug in.  They are a dime a dozen.  Do people realize that Ron Dayne averaged over 4 yards a carry for Texans last year?  That Ryan Grant was cut by the Giants to start the season? 

Look, I love Rudi.  I love what he brought to the Bengals.  But his pay doesn't match his productivity.  Trade some draft picks for a WR, save the cap money from Rudi.  Seriously, you just don't carry a major injury risk like that on your team and pay him three and a half million dollars.  Go with Perry, Watson, Dorsey, Johnson, and Johnson.  It's simple.  I wish Rudi the best of luck in the future, and hope that he can get healthy and continue to play.  Now is the time to move forwarxd for the good of the team.

PS- anyone who actually thought the Bengals were going to be able to get Boldin from the Cards for Rudi is just plain stupid.  I love the fantasy trades that Cincinnati fans dream up and actually believe will happen.

Who Dey!!!

Well, another sub 500 season is ready to go down in the books for the Reds. Once again, a promising spring has led to people begging for the misery to end. Despite all of this, I like where the team is right now. Not for this season, but for the future. I like the showcasing of the young talent, as it gives hope for the future.

Overshadowed in the youth movement, the big trades, and the dismal play has been the outstanding defensive work of Brandon Phillips, the premier defensive second baseman of the National League. Although his swagger and desire to swing for the fences sometimes evokes thoughts of Willie Mays Hays, his glove more than makes up for things. It is amazing to watch and see what he will do next in the field. Although I believe he was robbed last year due to the fact that Hudson was a brighter star, I am sure that this is the year that Phillips finally claims the Gold Glove. As soon as Hudson got put on the 60 day disabled list, it immediately opened the door for Brandon to stake his claim as the top leather at second base.

It all seems like a formality to me now, but we will of course have to see how the rest of the season plays out. If, for some reason, Phillips does not win the award, then their are serious flaws in the voting system. So here is to Brandon's chase, I will be rooting for him from the bleacher seats at Wrigley tomorrow night. As long as Number 4 stays at second base for a while, I feel like this will be the beginning of a long streak of gold gloves for Mr. Phillips. At least following Phillips pursuit of the award will give me one legitimate reason to watch the Reds for the rest of the year.

OK, since everyone is doing it, and since I'm bored waiting to go out, I'm going to do a little mock draft, just the first ten picks.  Now, my first mock isn't going to be what people want to hear because in this one, the Bengals don't end up with Ellis unless they pull the strings on a trade with New England. So the title of the first mock is What I Expect to Happen. The second mock will be What I Hope to Happen.

What I Expect to Happen

1-Dolphins: obviously....

2-Rams: Chris Long.  I dont get how he is flying under the radar all of a sudden.  When the combine started and the first mocks began, it seemed everyone thought that Long would go to Miami number one overall.  I think he's a good fit in the Lou.  Carriker stays in the middle, and it gives the Rams an above average D line. 

3-Falcons: Glenn Dorsey.  As much as I think the Falcons would love to have a face of the franchise QB, I just have this feeling that Matt Ryan is grossly overrated.  I just don't see a top tier QB in this draft, just a big pack of second rounders.  Of course, it wouldn't be an NFL Draft without someone reaching for a QB.

4-Raiders: Darren McFadden.  Here's where it becomes tricky.  I wrestled back and forth with this one.  I couldn't decide between McFadden and Gholston.  Finally, my Al Davis thoughts of shiny toys creeped in, and I just couldn't see him resisting on taking a weapon to complement JaMarcus Russell.  Of course, now all they need is a line to learn how to block for them both.

5-Chiefs: Ryan Clady.  Despite needing help on the D line to replace Allen, the Chiefs need help on the O line even more.  The offense was putrid last year, and a healthy Larry Johnson combined with a well built line will be the best defensive move Kansas City could make.  Keeping your own D off the field is important.

6-Jets: Vernon Gholston.  Surprised that he dropped this far, Man"genius" wets himself on his way to the podium, only to find out 3 years from now that Gholston was merely a workout freak and product of a horribly imbalanced Big Ten.  I hate the Buckeyes.

7-Patriots: Leodis McElvin.  I don't know much about McElvin, didn't catch too many Troy games last year.  What I do know is that he is insane on punt returns.  If the offense was unstoppable last year for New England, what's it going to be like this year if they have even better field position?  Even though Bill Bel-e-check tends to take CBs later in the draft, I think McElvin's versatility in the return game gets him the nod at the 7 spot.

8-Saints (in a trade with the Ravens): Sedrick Ellis.  Sean Payton breaks the heart of every Bengals fan, and the Ravens new coach gets his first dig at Cincinnati by dropping back 2 slots in the draft and still picking up the player he wants.  It's no secret that the Saints are frothing at the mouth for a stud DT to put pressure on the QB.  After realizing that the Rams wanted too much to trade up for Dorsey, the Saints settle on Ellis.  The only way the Bengals get Ellis is by making a trade with New England and leapfrogging the Ravens.

9-Bengals: Keith Rivers.  I hate drafting a LB this early, but he's the best player left on the board, and the Bengals could always use extra backers.  Clady is also an option here, but defense needs to be addressed.  Bengals fans should be tired of backups (Jeanty, Landon, etc...) running the linebacker corp.  Assuming Odell can get it together (and keep it together), a trio of Rivers, Thurman, and Brooks looks mighty nice for the next few years (at least on paper.)

10-Ravens(in a trade with the Saints): Matt Ryan.  What, you really thought Troy Smith was the answer?  Damn, you really need to get off the jock of OSU.  Ravens get their guy, screw the Bengals, and then find out by season's end that they have a Derek Anderson/Brady Quinn dilemma when Kyle Brady goes off and makes it to the Pro Bowl.  HAHAHA.  I had to laugh at that last one.

Anyways, that's the first part of my mock draft.  I believe this is how it will all shake down, although I would love to be wrong.  Tomorrow morning I will post how I hope it will all happen.

I wondered what it must feel like to have a team to believe in.  I know everyone said that 2009 is our year, but what's going to be so different next year?  Yes, Jay Bruce will be up here.  Another left handed bat, just what the Reds need.  Griffey and Dunn: staying or going?  If Castellini thought about what was best for the team, Dunn is gone.  Instead, he will think about his bottom line, and Dunn is somehow a popular enough figure in Cincinnati to justify a grossly overpaid contract.  What Castellini needs to realize is that a winning season will bring in much more money than solo home runs and strategically placed Toyota Tundras ever will.  Implode the team, and make a run with some youth.  Keep a couple veterans around and bring some in to steer the ship, but make sure they are the guys like Aurillia and Hatteberg who can at least steer it in the right direction.  Griffey is looked at as a leader on this team.  The problem is, his personality is not suited for a leadership role.  It's bad for the team.  Griff would be far more successful on a team with other veterans so that he can focus on his game, and not have to worry about helping the young guys out.  Sports are just as much mental as they are physical, and teams need to be constructed to reflect that. 

Anyways, I'm rambling.  I'm already getting geared up to watch Cueto on Saturday.  I'm pumped that he got the extra day rest, because it allows me time to travel home to Cincinnati for the weekend to check out the phenom.  As I'm signing off, I can hear the fans at Wrigley singing Go Cubs Go.  It must be nice to have a team to believe in....