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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > June > 23 > Entry
ESPN: There’s hope for the Bengals in 2009
It’s always fun bumping into ESPN’s John Clayton — also known as “The Professor.”
We’re friends. We’re also voting members on the 44-person Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
Clayton knows the NFL inside and out. He’s a workaholic who visited four clubs on a 1,516-mile journey. One of his stops was Cincinnati for the Chad Ochocinco Circus at minicamp.
“I saw three playoff contenders (Atlanta, Carolina and Tennessee) and one of the league’s potential surprise teams,” Clayton wrote for ESPN. “Yes, I’m talking about the Bengals. It’s early, but Cincinnati appears to have a glimmer of hope.”
What did he learn about the Cincinnati Bengals?
IN JOHN CLAYTON’S WORDS…
“I might not buy Chad Ochocinco’s playoff guarantee, but I guarantee the Bengals will be good on offense as long as Carson Palmer is healthy. Andre Caldwell is showing some promise as a slot receiver. Ochocinco is back to being a top-level receiver after training hard this offseason. On defense, Mike Zimmer has a decent group with good speed and improved ability to pressure the quarterback. My concern might be the offensive line, but that’s hard to evaluate until the team is in pads.”
Check out Clayton’s entire story at:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=4277310
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By TouchDown Troy
June 23, 2009 8:04 PM | Link to this
I agree with the professor and like John Clayton alot, with Carson Palmer back anything can happen.By Akhil
June 24, 2009 1:23 AM | Link to this
I believe the bengals will make it to the playoffs this year because the have in my opinion tremendous depth at many different positions, specifically at wide reciever, linebacker, and defensive line and our secondary is not bad either, leon hall, Jonathon Joeseph , ndukwe, Roy Williams and even Chris crocker. with Palmer healthy and the running game with cedric benson and don’t forget about Bernard Scott doing well the bengals could go deep in the playoffs.By VoHo
June 24, 2009 8:19 AM | Link to this
Cautiously optimistic… as a Bengals fan in my truest form, “Hope springs eternal”. As a Bengals fan since 1968, I know this team can raise the city and region on a wave of good feelings (1980-81 and 1988-89). However, Mike Brown has spent the past 17 years teaching me, “Never trust Mike Brown”. I want the Bengals to perform well so I will don black and orange each week and cheer. They seem to have great potential (again) and I will hope. But the shadow of Mike Brown persists – I fear I will be disappointed… again; as Mike counts his profits… again.By Ryan
June 26, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this
Hope is a wonderful and so is this time of year if you’re an NFL fan. The defense for the first time in the Marvin Lewis era is not a concern of mine. If the line can keep Palmer upright and avoid injury the postseason is a real possibility!By Ryan
June 26, 2009 5:10 PM | Link to this
Hope is a wonderful and so is this time of year if you’re an NFL fan. The defense for the first time in the Marvin Lewis era is not a concern of mine. If the line can keep Palmer upright and avoid injury the postseason is a real possibility!By Ryan
June 26, 2009 5:11 PM | Link to this
Hope is a wonderful and so is this time of year if you’re an NFL fan. The defense for the first time in the Marvin Lewis era is not a concern of mine. If the line can keep Palmer upright and avoid injury the postseason is a real possibility!