If It Ain't Broke...: Are the Cincinnati Bengals Ruining Their Team?

Prior to the 2009 NFL season, HBO featured the Cincinnati Bengals on their yearly show Hard Knocks. It is a show that follows a team from the beginning of training camp until the end of preseason.

What the Bengals have done since is nothing short of remarkable. After a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos in their opener, Cincinnati has dominated the AFC North, defeating the Browns in the last seconds of overtime and sweeping the season series against both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Since they are basically the same team with a top-10 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, other than the return of Carson Palmer, most people would say that the main reason for the Bengals' success is their team unity and chemistry.

On the heels of their Heinz Field victory and attainment of sole possession of first place in the AFC North, the Bengals are now in danger of ruining that team chemistry.

First, they signed disgruntled troublemaker Larry Johnson. Johnson is a free agent because the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the worst teams in the NFL, could not put up with his behavior anymore. Johnson was suspended and then released after making negative sexual references to members of the press, not once, but twice.

Some Bengals fans would say that move was necessary because Cedric Benson was slightly injured against the Steelers. Forget the fact that Benson has said the injury is minor and it will not affect him next week.

Others would say that they are acting like the Bungles of old instead of the new division leaders.

Adam Schefter is now reporting, via profootballtalk.com, that the Bengals have also brought in receiver Joey Galloway, safety Mike Doss, and defensive tackle Ed Johnson for workouts and interviews.

There is an old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." So, can someone tell me exactly what is broke?

Galloway was cut by the New England Patriots because he does not have the hands he used to. Numerous times in their first few games, Tom Brady tried to get the ball to Galloway, and he just could not hang onto it.

Doss and Johnson were both with the Colts during the preseason, but neither was good enough to make the regular season roster. The Colts have had injury issues with Bob Sanders, who was on IR for the last week and a half, and they still did not bring Doss back.

The Bengals also made two other moves today by releasing two players from IR. Tight end Ben Utecht and receiver Antonio Chatman were released. Because they were on injured reserve, they are now free to sign with any team other than the Bengals.

Now that the Bengals are finally over the stigma of being a bad football team, having only one other winning season in the last 20-plus years, you would think that they would not want to risk hurting the team chemistry. None of the men they brought in are considered to be as good as anyone the Bengals currently have on their roster, so it makes no sense.

These moves may be considered smart by some, but if the Bengals end up losing some winnable games over the next month, you can be sure that it will be traced back to the moment management decided to fix what wasn't broken.