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5 issues Bengals face going into season opener
Saturday, August 30, 2008
CINCINNATI — Here are five issues facing the Cincinnati Bengals as they prepare for the regular-season opener at Baltimore on Sept. 7:
1. Chad Ocho Cinco — Wide receiver Chad Johnson's legal name change to Chad Ocho Cinco in Broward County, Fla., is a brilliant marketing ploy that should benefit the five-time Pro Bowler individually and financially.
However, from a team standpoint, the move represents one more headache and distraction for a talented but dysfunctional football "family."
Johnson is a brilliant player with great speed, athleticism, balance, hands and concentration. He can score from anywhere on the field. But he's an erratic downfield blocker in the running game, and he won't be considered complete until that portion of his repertoire improves.
How productive he will be, as he attempts to play with a sprained left shoulder, is one of the big question marks this season. The week leading up to the Baltimore game represents the first full week of practice time Ocho Cinco, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Carson Palmer will have together since the 2007 season finale at Miami.
2. "Cutdown Day" — The club will announce 22 moves today, Aug. 30, as the roster gets cut down to the maximum of 53 players (deadline 6 p.m.). Veteran tailback Rudi Johnson, with a base salary of $3.2 million, could be terminated or traded because he hasn't played a down the entire preseason.
3. On the bubble — Head coach Marvin Lewis said "seven or eight" roster spots were up for grabs on Thursday night when the Bengals defeated the Indianapolis Colts 27-7.
Players on the roster bubble include defensive end Eric Henderson; defensive tackles Michael Myers and Pat Sims (sprained toe); linebackers Ahmad Brooks and Jim Maxwell; safeties John Busing and Herana-Daze Jones; center Kyle Cook; fullback Jeremi Johnson; tight end Nate Lawrie and wide receiver Mario Urrutia.
4. Chris Henry Factor — Wide receiver Chris Henry will be placed on the "reserve/suspended by commissioner" list. Henry will be held out of practices as well as Games 1-4. He's eligible to resume full activities Sept. 29, the start of the practice week for Game 5 on Oct. 5 at Dallas.
The team will be required to make a move Sept. 29 to clear room for Henry on the 53-man active roster.
5. Road sweet road — The club finished the preseason 2-2, winning at Green Bay and Indy. The Bengals' best home record in five previous seasons under Lewis is 5-3 (four times). Why the Bengals can't protect Paul Brown Stadium is a mystery.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By RavensDave
September 6, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Baltimore will take out #85 early in the game and make his decision to play hurt a regretful one. He’ll be done for the year after this weekend!!!
By Solomon Berihun
September 2, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
I feel the biggest promblem that “MY” Cincinati Bengals face is the DEFENSE we hardly get any take aways and our offense always have to score more than our opponent to win we can never blow a team out by more than 14 or 21 points but at the same time we did get alot of you defensive players so we should be ok hopefully
By TC
September 1, 2008 3:50 AM | Link to this
I hate to break up a good conversation about Ocho Cinco but it’s all for nothing. He has an injury that requires a brace over his shoulder. The brace is to stop his arm from stretching over his head to keep his shoulder from dislocating. With it, he can’t catch high passes….without it, he’s out for the season after one good hit. But he can still shine like gold from the sidelines.
By J.D.
August 31, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Chad is the biggest “me guy”,that has ever played the game.He is choosing to play hurt because Westbrook and Winslow and some others played with same injury.Personally,I don’t think hes tough enough.He’ll get knocked around this season and disappear.If that knucklehead Chris Henry can get his act together,I could see him taking Chad’s place here in the near future.As for my biggest concerns,its the same as it has been for the past few seasons…can the defense stop somebody?????
By rodman
August 31, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
I agree with marvins cut decisions of w.a/ r.j and others who want to keep whining about their aches and pains. The coach needs to know that he’s gonna have some toughness going into the 08 season. I like the fact if you don’t want to practice you don’t play.unless you have a legit doctors order. also it gets freakin hot and humid here in southwest ohio some guys just can’t take it these are the ones marvin gets sick of to be truthful.he would’nt tell us that but it’s true
By Rick
August 31, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
As someone old enough to remember the two Super Bowls lost, and the glory of the “Big Red Machine”,it certainly is depressing how mediocre and cheap our professional teams in Cincy are! Yes it is a business, but you have got to be kidding me!Our dysfunctional sports organizations are subpar at best. Jeff…. you hit it right on the nose! My only hope is that both teams are bought by people who truly want to win, and fill the seats!
By too cool
August 31, 2008 5:10 AM | Link to this
you people are so stupid complaining about everything wrong. if you are true fans you’d keep your mouths shut and show up at the stadium for support. chad johnson yes egotisticle but very good at what he does. all the bengals need to do is fill a couple empty holes in defense and offense and you’ll have a solid team. so suck it up and quick whining you little idiots
By wheel
August 31, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this
The world does change and adjusting to that is sometimes difficult. The coach should meld the best talent he has to the goal he determines. If the player fails to buy into the goal then set the guy free. If we don’t think the coach can deal with that, fire him!
By Steve
August 30, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this
You guys crack me up. A question for all you people who hate players like Chad Johnson because of their attitude: Would you prefer a smartass like Ocho Cinco who backs up his talk with solid performance after solid performance, or a great character guy who is very humble in explaining his reason for missing catches, dropping balls and missing the end zone?
Yes, 85 is an a*s, but he is fun to watch and listen to and backs it up on the field. Six consecutive 1000+ yard seasons? I love him.
By Beavos
August 30, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
Yo JMo, If you think stadium colors are important in football, you are a homo
By LionsFan
August 30, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
So it’s going to read “Ocho Cinco” on Chad’s jersey? LMFAO!
You can’t deny that he backs up his big mouth. I hope he does well this season but I hope he also matures in to an adult.
By dan w.
August 30, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
I feel that as long as Chad puts up the #’s and exceeds his own expectations i.e. last year, then by all means go out there and be ” Ocho- Cinco”. Who even really cares if he changes his name right? I don’t believe that it’s going to be a problem or a distraction to the Bengal’s organization unless Chad, the Press or the Bengal’s organization make it into a parody.
By Double B
August 30, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
Chad Johnson is a moron
By sam
August 30, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Who cares about all the Bengals’ issues?
By bill
August 30, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Chad Johnson is the poorest excuse for a human being this planet has ever witnessed!
By Brian
August 30, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Hey Folks! Let me play devils advocate for a moment.
If the Bengals were to make the playoffs, then all this crying about selfishness and sniff sniff no GM bull crap would not exsist! Stop reading blogs and press clippings!! It’s all way out of proportion to the truth. If fans don’t fill the stadium that would speak volumes but that is not the case!!!! then I will belieive that the Brown family is messing things up but until then stop your whinning!!
By tom
August 30, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
The big issues facing the Bengals this year? A lack of talent at every position incuding coaching!
By BillA722
August 30, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
What smeliot said. Haters. Ocho Cinco makes football fun. God knows that Cincy has NOTHING else going for it.
By JMo
August 30, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Don’t even get me started on why we won’t hire a competent gm or scouting staff.
Lets talk about Chad who is the most embarrasing player on this or any Bengals team, yes worse than Stanley Wilson or Chris Henry. Freaking ego maniac bashes the organazation and its fans all offseason and when he doesn’t get his money, he pulls a Kobe Bryant by changing names to boost up his jersey sales. Yeah you should have done that 2 years ago when the fans actually cared you self centered childlike scum!
By JMo
August 30, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
Yeah what Jeff said.
I find it funny if you are a season ticket holder who has purchased the psl’s that Mike Brown can’t even send out a certificate that you at the very least “temporarly” own them. The man is so cheap it makes me sick. We have one of the best designed stadiums in the league and it is so bland looking. From a distance you would never know the Bengals play there. Not a drop of Orange and Black paint and what is with the glad green garbage bag seats?
By smeliot
August 30, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Haters.
By Jeff
August 30, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
First, Money. Like every other professional sports team in Cincinnati, the Bengals refuse to spend the money necessary to be competitive. That is how is has always been in Cincinnati and that is how it always will be. Second, embarassing behavior by their players on and off the field. Public brawling and assault charges. Rude and disrespectful treatment of their fans, teammates and management. And just plain old idiocy; i.e. just about everything Chad Johnson does, and pretty much every word his ignorant egomaniacal mind tells his mouth to say. It’s pathetic that a grown man can be so insecure and desperate for attention that he thinks it’s acceptable to behave in such a classless and undignified manner!