Bleacher Report - Articles by David Campbell

Ray Lewis Nowhere To Be Found After Ravens' Loss To Bengals

David Campbell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:34:19 -0500

Ray Lewis loves to talk.

Not in a T.O. or a Chad Ochocinco sort of way. No, when Ray-Ray opens his mouth, it comes complete with a four-piece string section and seraphim fluttering about his head.

See, Ray Lewis is NFL royalty. He’s a media darling. The national media may air every single word a prima donna wide receiver may say, but only so they can crucify them.

When it comes to Ray Lewis, the media trip all over themselves like 14-year-old girls at a Jonas Brothers concert.

“Can you imagine how upset Ray Lewis is right now?” the talking heads asked after Baltimore’s recent three-game skid.

“Let’s take a look at the fantastic Ray Lewis,” gushed Dick Enberg before the start of Sunday’s game with Cincinnati.

“I can tell you one thing, Ray will not let them lose this game,” said countless “experts” all over the country this week.

Ray Lewis earned this respect. He’s been in the Pro Bowl every year and he approaches interviews much like Barack Obama. There’s no boasting or loud gestures.

Every word is measured and delivered in a quiet, confident way that just makes reporters melt.

But underneath that veneer lies a man who is no different than Terrell Owens or Randy Moss. Extremely confident, he has never taken the blame for a loss and has never given credit to an opponent for a win.

After the loss to New England, Lewis blasted the officiating for what was admittedly weak roughing calls on Patriot quarterback Tom Brady.

Well, maybe “blasted” isn’t the right word. After all, he delivered it more like Liam Neeson threatening the thugs in the movie Taken . But the message was clear, Ray didn’t like the calls.

Leading up to this week’s huge game with the Bengals, Lewis took umbrage to the fact that Cedric Benson broke the Ravens’ nearly three-year run of not allowing a 100-yard rusher.

“You give up two big runs to somebody just because you didn’t keep your leverage,” Lewis told the media earlier in the week. “Do you give credit to him? Hey, we’ll see this week. ... You have to come do it again.”

Maybe Ray was right, but it really doesn’t matter. You can complain about grooving a fastball to Albert Pujols all you want, it doesn’t change the fact that the ball went 500 feet.

Benson rushed for 120 yards against the proud, vaunted Ravens defense a month ago and on Sunday, he did it again, slashing Baltimore for 117 yards.

That’s three 100-yard rushers in four games, if you’re keeping track at home.

Ray Lewis has often been one of the Bengals’ biggest detractors, a trait softened only slightly by his relationships with Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis and Ochocinco. He has developed an almost cottage industry in smacking the Bengals around in print.

But after Sunday’s 17-7 loss that left the Ravens essentially three games back with eight play, Lewis couldn’t be bothered with a comment. The Baltimore Sun reported that Lewis serendipitously got a phone call as reporters approached in the lockerroom and thus, was unavailable to talk.

It’s not surprising. Maybe the string section needed time to warm up or the seraphim were unavailable. Or maybe, Ray-Ray just needed time to admit when he was beaten.

2009 Bengals Look a Lot Like 2005 Edition

David Campbell — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:52:19 -0500

While Brett Favre tries to silence the hostile Lambeau Field crowd and the Broncos, Colts and Saints attempt to stay undefeated, the Cincinnati Bengals are taking the weekend off and basking in the glory of their 5-2 start.

The Bengals have not been perfect—indeed no team is in this day and age—but they have played well enough to win four games on their final possession and a fifth in blowout fashion.

Cincinnati has risen to the top of the AFC North with a tried and true blueprint of a stingy defense and a strong game. The Bengal defenders have played extremely well overall, and Cedric Benson leads the league in rushing. Furthermore, quarterback Carson Palmer has rediscovered his fastball.

The Bengals haven’t started a season like this since 2005, the last time they made the playoffs. That year, Cincinnati also started 5-2, ran that record to 7-2 and ripped off a four-game win streak late in the season before shutting it down after clinching the division.

The Bengals finished 11-5 and while they lost in the first round of the playoffs, it still represents their only playoff appearance since the first Bush was in office.

The similarities between this season and 2005 are numerous. A young team just coming to age the ‘05 Bengals were full a vigor and swagger.

Rudi Johnson erupted for a team-record 1,458 yards on the ground. Chad Johnson nearly equaled that yardage total on 97 receptions and Palmer compiled a 101.1 passer rating for the season.

None of those gaudy stats would have been possible if not for the offensive line. Tackles Levi Jones and Willie Anderson were at the top of their games, guards Eric Steinbach and Bobbie Williams put together Pro Bowl-caliber seasons and center Rich Braham was the team’s unsung hero.

Within two years, that line was a shadow of itself. Braham had retired, Steinbach was gone via free agency and injures and age caught up to Jones and Anderson. By last season, the line was the team’s weakest link.

This season, the line again is one of the team’s strengths, even with first-rounder Andre Smith yet to step foot on the field. Andrew Whitworth has stepped in for Jones on the left side, Kyle Cook is the team’s first outstanding center since Braham and Williams has taken over the leadership.

The right tackle platoon of Dennis Roland and Anthony Collins—playing for Smith—has been very effective and Evan Mathis has dominated the left guard position, despite starting the season on the bench.

With the line dominating, the offense has begun to hum once again. Benson, thrown out with the garbage a year ago, is an MVP candidate. Chad Ochocinco, the former Chad Johnson, is running wild through the secondary once again and Palmer showed the Chicago Bears last week that he is all the way back from his two season-ending injuries.

Defensively, this year’s Bengals may be better than the 2005. The ‘05 Bengals thrived on turnovers, changing games with fumbles and interceptions.

This year’s Bengals are more traditional, getting pressure on the quarterback and stopping the run. Cornerbacks Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall are making their cases for the Pro Bowl, dominating opposing receivers.

But the biggest difference between the two teams may be in the intangibles. The 2005 team was a dominate force, but this year’s team seems to have more moxie, and that special something that turns heads.

In seven games, they have already beaten Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Chicago, and have shown an ability to win in almost any situation.

The last six times that Cincinnati has started the season at least 5-2, the Bengals have made the playoffs. It’s way too early to make that same comparison this year, but it’s not hard to imagine the Bengals playing deep into January.

Bengals' Cedric Benson Gets the Best Kind of Revenge There Is...A Win

David Campbell — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:49:55 -0400

Cedric Benson said that revenge was not on his mind. Sure, the Chicago Bears dropped him like honors math after three seasons last year, but the former first-round pick played it cool all week.

Then on Sunday, he let the hammer drop.

Benson wasn’t the only reason that the Bengals romped 45-10 on Sunday, but he was the galvanizing force.

Much like the tragic death of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s wife Vikki several weeks ago, the Bengals seem to thrive on emotion and Benson gave them plenty to use.

The fourth-overall pick in the 2005 draft, Benson was a bust from the moment he stepped on the field in Chicago.

He was a loner. He didn’t get along with teammates. He fumbled the ball.

And, oh yeah, he also got arrested twice on DUI charges.

Last week, Benson said that he thought the Bears blackballed him after the release, telling teams that the disgruntled running back wasn’t worth the time.

It wasn’t true—Bears coach Lovie Smith apparently gave Marvin Lewis a ringing endorsement—but perception is reality and Benson obviously believed it.

But while Benson said that revenge wasn’t on his mind, his play said otherwise. He repeatedly sliced open the soft Bear defensive line and tore the heart out of Chicago. With the Bears so worried about Benson, quarterback Carson Palmer had a field day, surgically dissecting the secondary and turning the game into a rout.

The damage wasn’t limited to just the offense. The Bengal D forced four turnovers, turned Matt Forte into a useless bystander and hit Jay Cutler all day long. It was a performance reminiscent of the first five games of the season and showed that this Cincinnati defense is the real deal.

Of course, the Bengals were helped out considerably. The Bears did not appear to be ready to play and Cutler continues to make too many mistakes with the ball to be considered one of the league’s top quarterbacks. On defense, Chicago appeared to be lost as the Bengals receivers—particularly Chad Ochocinco—did whatever they pleased.

But at the heart of it all was Benson, the soft-spoken Texas country boy who just wants the ball and wants to help his team win.

Just over a year ago, Benson was rescued off the scrap heap by the Bengals and it turned out to be the greatest free agent signing in franchise history. With his 189 yards Sunday, he vaulted past Minnesota superstar Adrian Peterson to No. 1 on the league’s rushing list.

“I continue to be as graceful as I can be,” Benson said in the postgame press conference. “I’m not shoving anything in anybody’s face. Like I say, it wasn’t a revenge day for me. I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunities.”

Take advantage he has. If he—and his team—continue to play this way, they have even bigger opportunities down the road.

The Bengals Are 4-1? Believe It!

David Campbell — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:56:17 -0400

A team that believes in itself is a dangerous thing. In a league where every team is separated by only the slimmest of margins, a team that truly believes it can win can go a long way.

The Bengals have proved that all season and on Sunday, they took it the next level. Cincinnati went on the road, faced a division rival and beat one of the best teams in the league on a touchdown pass in the final minute.

It’s nothing new for these Cardiac Cats, who have come down to the wire in each of their five games this season. The Bengals have won four of them, and arguably should have won the other.

Talent is everything, but it means nothing without the true belief in your heart that can you overcame whatever obstacle that is thrown in your way.

"No talent, all heart!" tackle Andrew Whitworth yelled as he ran off the field.

Despite a 3-1 start, the Bengals have had their share obstacles, most of them self-inflicted. On Sunday, Cincinnati had another horrific performance by its kicking game, yet when push came to shove; it was the Bengals that were celebrating after the game.

The scary thing for opposing teams has to be the fact that Cincinnati has yet to play a truly good game. In every game this season, the Bengals have been lucky to survive. Critics will go as far as to point out that the team is as close to 0-5 as it is 5-0.

But that’s not the point. You don’t get style points in the NFL. If you’re chasing a berth in a BCS bowl, looking good means as much as being good. In the NFL, it’s “Just win, baby.”

Nobody epitomizes that better than Carson Palmer, who has been the architect of each of the Bengals’ late-game heroics. The forgotten man in a league that worships quarterbacks, Palmer missed virtually all of last season with an injury and as a result, has taken a back seat to the league’s crop of new stars.

But Palmer is still one of the game’s top gunslingers and he proved it Sunday. With the game on the line in front of a hostile crowd, Palmer methodically took the reins of his football team and drove them down the field. Even as time wore down, there was no panic in Palmer’s demeanor, only that California cool he possesses so well.

Sure the Bengals were helped by two huge penalties on the final drive, and Ravens apologists are sure to be out in force, especially considering the culprits were two of the media’s favorite darlings, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. But Palmer also made every right decision on the drive and hit Andre Caldwell with an absolute bullet on the game winner, all while playing with a bad thumb on his left hand.

The key to Palmer’s success? Belief. Not only does the veteran QB belief in himself, but the rest of the team believes in him as well and teams are starting to find out how dangerous that combination can be.

If you want to beat Cincy, you’re going to have to put them down early. Like a horror movie villain, you had better make sure that they are dead before you turn your back on them. If you don’t, you had better believe that will come back.

Because they certainly do.

Bengals Win: Final Result Is All That Matters

David Campbell — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:56:54 -0400

A win is a win is a win, no matter how lousy your team looks in the process.

Cincinnati survived a comatose offense, a vulnerable defense, and long snapper Brad St. Louis’ sudden case of the yips to beat Cleveland 23-20 in overtime Sunday.

It wasn’t pretty, but thankfully this is the NFL, not the BCS, where nobody hands out style points. The bottom line is getting the victory, then moving on to next week.

It’s a concept that some fans have a hard time wrapping their heads around. “We didn’t play well,” they say, or, “We should have blown that team out.” True, but the bottom line is the final score. Nothing else truly matters.

Sure, you would like your team to play better, but would you rather be a 3-1 Bengals team that has yet to play a truly good game, or an 0-4 Tennessee Titans team that has played well enough to win. History says Tennessee’s season is effectively over, while the Bengals are just getting started.

There are a lot of things about the 2009 Bengals that make you shudder. St. Louis has been one of the league’s best long snappers for a decade—his poor snap at the end of the Denver game four years ago not withstanding—but has suddenly found it difficult to hit the holder in stride. Both blocked kicks on Sunday were the result of poor snaps.

It’s a problem that needs to be dealt with, but the solution isn’t as easy as just cutting St. Louis. A competent replacement would have to be found, and that individual would have to find an instant rhythm with holder Kevin Huber and Shayne Graham. Frankly, the best solution may be standing pat and helping St. Louis work through this rough patch.

The Bengals’ other issues are much easier to solve. In 17 quarters this season—including the overtime period Sunday—the Bengals' offense has looked pathetic in 11 of them. But quarterback Carson Palmer has found a way to rally the troops for late scores in all four games, and if he can do that in the final two minutes, then eventually the team can do it for 60.

The defense looked lost at times, but that could be attributed to the absences of tackle Tank Johnson and safety Roy Williams. The two former Cowboys have brought a level of swagger to the defense that can’t be measured.

But the bottom line is that the Bengals survived a desperate division foe on the road. The Browns had their backs to the wall and were in a must-win situation against their archrival. You knew Cleveland would play their best game of the season, and they didn’t disappoint.

But in the end, it was Cincinnati celebrating at midfield and enjoying the fact that it is now tied for first place in the AFC North. That may not be much in college football, but in the NFL it’ll work out just fine.

Hey Bengals, Want to Be Taken Seriously? Beat Cleveland

David Campbell — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:12:08 -0400

Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was a giant step in the right direction, but if the Cincinnati Bengals want to make a true statement, they must beat Cleveland this weekend on the road.

The Browns enter the game in shambles. They are fighting with their coach, fighting with each other, and have been blown out in all three games so far this season. On paper, the game appears to be a mismatch.

That's why the game is so dangerous for the Bengals. Coming off the emotional high of beating the Steelers and with a huge road game at Baltimore looming next week, the Cleveland game is the classic tweener, the kind of game that middle-of-the-road teams lose.

If the Bengals are to be taken seriously, they must beat Cleveland. Sure, ending an eight-game losing streak to the big, bad Steelers got all the press, but none of that means anything if they don't beat the Browns.

The true mark of a championship team is beating the teams you are supposed to beat. A good team will play five to seven games a season that they should win. Add those wins up, they can lead to a division title. Take away three or four, and you're left scratching your head, wondering what happened to the season.

Beating Cleveland is not as easy as it seems on paper. Not only a division foe, the Browns are also a bitter rival who have their backs against the wall. A desperate team is a dangerous team, especially against an opponent who doesn't take them seriously.

Derek Anderson will start at quarterback for the Browns Sunday, and it's the kind of decision that could have an immediate impact. Make no mistake about it, Cleveland is in serious trouble this year. But that doesn't mean that the Browns aren't capable of rising up and knocking off a Cincinnati team that suddenly fashions itself a contender.

Anderson has a big arm, but he is also capable of throwing the ball to guys in the wrong uniform, much like he did last week against Baltimore when he threw three interceptions in the second half.

But Anderson has also played well against the Bengals, and Cincinnati as a team has had a recent history of struggling against new and young quarterbacks. Anderson is neither, but he is making his first start of the season after losing a controversial quarterback derby in the preseason.

The Cleveland defense is also suspect, but Cincy's once-vaunted offense has yet to put together a full four quarters. The Bengals must attack the soft Brown secondary and control the tempo with its running game.

But the most important thing Cincinnati must do is take away Cleveland's confidence right from the snap. How do championship teams handle cellar-dwellers? They send a message, don't allow a team to hang around, and finish in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati must do all three.

Ever since the Steeler win, Bengal fans have been clamoring to be taken seriously by the national press. Beating Cleveland will go a long way toward accomplishing that goal. But lose, and Cincinnati's right back where it started.

Gutsy Win Could Have Long-Term Ramifications For Bengals

David Campbell — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:52:30 -0400

Make no mistake about, Cincinnati had no business winning this one. But it wasn't the fact that the Bengals beat the Steelers Sunday, but how they won that could have long-term effects on the team’s season.

Out-muscled, out-played and out-coached for nearly three quarters, the Bengals were left for dead late in the third quarter, trailing 20-9.

But much like it did last week against Chicago, Pittsburgh let Cincinnati up off the mat and the Bengals took advantage, scoring two TDs and making a huge defensive stand to win the game.

It's not just the type of win that Cincy would not have pulled out last season; it's the type of win that the Bengals would not have pulled out against the Steelers ever.

Pittsburgh has been called a lot of things by the pundits and the fans — bully, big brother, tormentor — and all of those things were true for three quarters.

There were the Steelers holding Cincinnati to minus-10 (minus-10!) yards in the first quarter. There was the supposedly porous Pittsburgh offensive line holding the Bengal rushers at bay. And there was that Pittsburgh toughness, delivering hits and getting big yards.

Despite all of that, the lead was only 20-9, when by all rights, it should have been 34-3.

Maybe it was the fact that despite getting pushed all over the field, the Bengals were still in the game that kept them riled up. And maybe, this Steeler team just lacks that ability to put teams away.

Whatever the reason, the fourth quarter belonged to the Bengals. And because Cincinnati's defense did a good enough job of bending, but not breaking (not to mention scoring a touchdown of its own), the team was in a position to win the game.

Pulling within five on Cedric Benson’s electrifying touchdown run, the Bengal defense stiffened and kept the Steelers from doing what they love to do — killing time in the fourth quarter with the run.

Carson Palmer took over from there showing why he still has the ability to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Palmer drove the Bengals down the field, converted two gutsy fourth-quarter plays (getting a boost from Brian Leonard along the way), and hit Andre Caldwell for the game-winner.

It was the third-straight game that Palmer has taken over the game in the fourth quarter and by all rights, the Bengals should be 3-0 on the season. But the bigger story is the fact that Cincinnati seems to get stronger as the game wears on, a sign that this Bengal team is planning on sticking around all season.

The team still has some wrinkles it needs to iron out.

In each of the three games, Cincy has started off incredibly slow, needing big second halves just to have a chance to win. The defense has forced only two turnovers in three games; and Palmer is still making too many mistakes; while the the kicking game has looked down-right awful at times.

But those mistakes don’t seem as big, after you beat your division tormentor at home for the first time in eight years. And teams that overcome mistakes to post wins, tend to win championships at the end of the season.

With Cedric Benson Ripping, Cincinnati Bengals Will Stay in AFC North Running

David Campbell — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:31:45 -0400

This time last year, Cedric Benson was a forgotten man. Another former first-round draft pick with a bust label, and little more value than last week's garbage.

Cut by the Chicago Bears, Benson was unemployed for four weeks before being signed by Cincinnati. The Bengals had no illusions about the kind of player they picked up. They weren't looking for a Pro Bowler. They were simply desperate for a warm bodied running back.

Benson gave the Bengals that much-needed depth at running back and by the end of the season proved to be more than just a warm body. By training camp, the Bengals felt like they had a legitimate weapon.

On Sunday, Benson showed why Cincinnati was so high on their reclamation project. The former Texas Longhorn was simply dominate, ripping a good Green Bay defense for 141 yards on 29 carries. Benson didn't just pick up yards, he wore down the Packers and by the fourth quarter, he was in complete control.

Benson's play is vital to the Bengals' success in 2009. Without a strong running game last year, the Bengals struggled to put up any kind of offensive numbers. Sure, Cincinnati had trouble at nearly every offensive position, but running back seemed to struggle more than the rest.

Last week's season opener against Denver showed just how vital Benson and a strong running game is to the Bengals' success. The Broncos, deathly afraid of Cincy's long-ball ability, blanketed the receivers on the edge effectively taking Chad Ochocinco, Lavernues Coles and Chris Henry out of the game.

What the Broncos did do was leave the middle of the defense wide open, a strategy that would be suicide if the Bengals were able to exploit it. With no reliable tight end threat and a running game that was stymied, the Bengals struggled all game.

On Sunday, the Bengals had no such problems. Emphasizing the running game right from the beginning, Cincinnati sliced through the Green Bay defense time and time again. Nearly all of those rushes came by Benson, who never seemed to tire.

Of course, the offensive line must take a lion's share of the credit. Playing much better than it did a week ago, the big fellas dominated the men in front of them, not only blowing open holes for Benson, but keeping quarterback Carson Palmer upright.

With Benson effectively running the ball, Cincinnati was able to take advantage of its other weapons. Palmer suddenly looked like the franchise quarterback he is, using all areas of the field and hitting three different receivers for touchdowns. Simply put, an effective running game suddenly makes the Bengals much more dangerous.

There are still 14 games left in the season and the Bengals face three-straight AFC North games starting with Pittsburgh at home next Sunday, but Cincinnati suddenly looks like a legitimate contender.

The Bengals still must show it can run against stalwarts Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but if it can, Cincinnati could have the best offense in the division.

Cincinnati Bengals Must Execute Better On Offense Against Green Bay

David Campbell — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:54:35 -0400

There’s no such thing as a "must-win" game in September, but Sunday's game at Green Bay is of vital importance for the 2009 season prospects of the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals are coming off a sucker punch of a loss to Denver in the opener last week, a game that Cincy dominated in nearly every aspect yet ended up losing on a freak play at the end of the game. With arch-rival Pittsburgh waiting next week and division opponents Cleveland and Baltimore on deck, this stretch of games will make or break the Bengals season.

Lose to Green Bay and you face the prospect of taking an 0-2 record into the Steeler game with desperation starting to set in. Win, and suddenly you have a chance to get back into the division race.

Of course, it all starts Sunday. Never a good road team, the Bengals must find a way to win in a hostile environment and to do so against one of the NFC's better teams. They must also find a way to play better than they did last week.

While the defense's inability to stop Denver on the last play of the game has gotten all of the attention, it was actually the offense’s inability to put more than seven points on the board that cost the Bengals the game. Cincinnati will have to do much better than that if it wants to get a win in Lambeau Field.

The Green Bay defense has been rebuilt by coordinator Dom Capers and the overhauled showed last week when the Packers forced Jay Cutler into four interceptions in a win over Chicago. The pressure defense the Packers employ will be brought to bear on a Bengals team that has struggled in recent years to score points.

Much of Cincinnati's problems on offense in week one came down to execution.

Free agent wide receiver Lavernues Coles dropped three passes in the game and was never in sync with quarterback Carson Palmer. The offensive line kept Palmer relatively upright, but did not get much of push on run plays.

But a lot of Cincinnati's problems can also be attributed to scheme. Rookie running back Bernard Scott, who flashed during the preseason, saw very little action against Denver. And while the Broncos concentrated their defensive efforts on shutting down Cincinnati’s wideouts, the Bengals seemed unable to exploit the gaping holes in the middle of the field.

Against Green Bay, those problems will have to be solved. Aaron Rogers and the very explosive Packer offense is sure to score more than the 12 that Denver managed and the Green Bay defense is far superior to the Broncos.

The Bengals must get better play from Coles and fellow wideout Chris Henry. The offensive line must dominate the line of scrimmage. And Cincinnati must show more crispness on offense than in week one.

If the Bengals do not do those things, it could be the beginning to another long year in Cincinnati.

Offense To Blame For Bengals' Stunning Loss

David Campbell — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:08:26 -0400

It’s been over 24 hours since the Cincinnati Bengals’ stunning last-second loss to the Denver Broncos and the focus has been placed squarely on the Bengals’ secondary.

Never mind that the defense had limited Denver to just over 200 yards total up until that point or that Brandon Stokley and Brandon Marshal had combined for exactly four catches, all by Marshall. Every pundit, every fan and every “expert” has taken their shots at the team’s defensive backs.

Leon Hall should have knocked the ball down, they said. The safeties should have been playing back, they said. Somebody should have been shadowing Stokley, they said.

What’s lost in the conversation is not only is the criticism of the secondary flat-out wrong, but it also takes the blame away from the real culprit for the Bengals’ loss: The offense.

The play in question, for those who somehow missed it, involved Denver quarterback Kyle Orton forcing a pass into triple-coverage, Hall batting the ball away and Stokley somehow coming up with the ball and racing 87 yards for the winning score.

Should Hall have knocked the ball to the ground? Sure, but the third-year corner also made a remarkable play to get the ball, leaping nearly three feet in the air. From the angle that the ball hit Hall’s outstretched fingers, it is physically impossible for the ball to go anywhere but up.

No, what Hall attempted to do was make a play for his team. If the ball falls harmlessly out of bounds or to the turf, he’s the hero. As it turns out, he’s the goat.

But the bottom line is that the game should not have come down to one fluke play. At the end of the day, the Bengals’ defense allowed a grand total of 12 points. If you hold an NFL team to less than 17 points, 99 times out of 100 you’re going to win.

No, the blame for the loss falls on an offense that has been in a free fall since the 2005 season. That year, quarterback Carson Palmer led one of the league’s most explosive units and the Bengals seemed to score at will.

Over the next two years, the offense steadily declined. Sure, the team racked up a ton of yards (the barometer for NFL rankings), but the team couldn’t score any points (what you actually play for). It all came to a head last year when Palmer was injured and the offense fell apart.

This year was supposed to be different. The team upgraded itself at every offensive position and got a healthy Palmer back under center. Chad OchoCinco was happy, there were new running backs and the offensive line was rebuilt.

Yet, there they were on Sunday making the same mistakes. The O-line kept Palmer relatively upright, but was unable to open holes for running back Cedric Benson. OchoCinco caught some passes, but the rest of the Bengals receivers were non-existent.

Denver took away Cincinnati’s best weapon, its wide outs, and gave the team the middle of the field. With T.J. Houshmandzadeh now in Seattle and no NFL caliber tight end on the roster, the Bengals were powerless to exploit the weakness.

Maybe the game was a fluke. Maybe Palmer was still knocking off a bit of rust from playing only one quarter in the preseason. Maybe the O-line just needs a few more quarters to get its act together.

Whatever the reason, the Bengals scored seven points on one of the league’s worst defenses from a year ago and needed 59 minutes and 22 seconds to do just that. They’ll need to score a lot more in the coming weeks if they want to knock off the Packers and Steelers, their next two opponents.

The Bengals need to get a lot better on offense. Just don’t blame the defense for a fluke play at the end of the game.

Playoff Predictions: Who Will Be Dancing in Miami?

David Campbell — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:16:08 -0400

Like the NCAA’s Final Four, it seems there is at least one surprise team that makes the NFL playoffs every year. Indeed, if you were to look at the last several years, there is always one team that makes a massive six or seven game leap into the second season.

Last year, both the Dolphins and the Ravens had those kind of seasons. The Ravens weren’t much of a surprise, having been one of the league’s elite teams for most of the decade. But the Dolphins? Even hardcore Miami fans weren’t predicting the Fins to go from one win to AFC East champs.

Most prognosticators kill themselves trying to figure out who that team will be. Or they get seduced by a team that finished strong a year ago. But in the end, the NFL seems to hold serve fairly well and there are actually few surprises.

My ultimate Super Bowl picks are not exactly ground-breaking, but again, it’s the way I see it. I’m not going to pick a team for the sake of being different.

One final note: In my NFC and AFC previews published on Tuesday and Wednesday, I predicted each team's record. I then based my playoff seeding on those records.

However, there was a slight problem. In both conferences, teams finished tied for a wild-card spot, did not play each other during the regular season and had identical conference records. What’s next?

Scoring differential and other such stats. I picked winners, not scores so ultimately, I had to decide the same way that the NFL does when all other tiebreakers are exhausted: I flipped a coin.

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AFC
North - Steelers (13-3)
East - Patriots (12-4)
South - Colts (11-5)
West - Chargers (11-5)
Wild Card - Bengals (11-5)
Wild Card - Jaguars (10-6)

(Jaguars beat out beat out the Ravens on the vaunted coin flip and the Colts moved ahead of the Chargers the same way.)

Opening Round

Colts over Jaguars
Chargers over Bengals

I have a good feeling about the Colts this season. Part of me thinks it might be the team’s last hurrah, but I think they will go out with a bang. I’m obviously partial to the Bengals, but I can’t see them winning a playoff game on the west coast.

Semifinals

Colts over Steelers
Patriots over Chargers

The Patriots seem to be almost unbeatable at home in the playoffs and Foxborough in January is a lot harsher than San Diego. Pittsburgh is no easy place to play either, but like I said, I have a feeling about the Colts.

AFC Championship

Patriots over Colts

I have a feeling about the Colts, but not enough to pick them to win at New England.

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NFC
East - Giants (12-4)
North - Packers (11-5)
South - Panthers (10-6)
West - Cardinals (9-7)
Wild Card - Eagles (11-5)
Wild Card - Saints (9-7)

(Saints beat out Vikings and Cowboys on coin flips)

Opening Round

Saints over Panthers
Eagles over Cardinals

The Saints have enough firepower to overcome their division rival. The Eagles get a little revenge from last year’s title game.

Semifinals

Giants over Saints
Eagles over Packers

The Saints aren’t going to win in the Meadowlands in January. The Eagles are rolling.

NFC Championship

Eagles over Giants

Michael Vick really has nothing to do with it. The Eagles win on the road and head back to the Super Bowl.

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Super Bowl XLIV

Patriots over Eagles

Patriots complete their return to greatness with a title over Eagles.

AFC Preview: Don't Forget About The Pats

David Campbell — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:14:57 -0400

Despite being one season removed from going 16-0, the New England Patriots are seemingly a forgotten franchise. Never mind the fact that the Pats went 11-5 last year playing essentially the entire season with their backup quarterback.

Of course, the Patriots didn't make the playoffs in a very competitive AFC and now it seems like the chic thing is to pick somebody else to reach the Super Bowl.

Bad idea. The Pats are stacked, have the best quarterback and coach in the league and maybe even more importantly, they are not happy after last year's "down" season.

Challenging the Patriots are any number of teams, from defending the Super Bowl champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the always tough Indianapolis Colts. Don't forget Chargers, who had a down season of their own.

Like my NFC preview (published Tuesday), I made my picks by combing over the master NFL schedule and picking the winners of each games. While the NFC played out how I thought it would in my head before I started, the AFC had a few surprises. Heck, I may even be accused of being a homer.

If you missed by NFC predictions, check them out. My playoff predictions will be in Thursday.

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AFC East

Frankly, it should scare the rest of the league that the Patriots can go 11-5 with Matt Cassel at quarterback. No disrespect to Cassel, but he isn't Tom Brady. The Golden Boy is back and it's hard to imagine the Pats getting stopped too many times. Prediction: 12-4.

Buffalo added Terrell Owens to give the franchise some big-play potential on offense. Owens definitely brings the hammer, but he also brings a van full of baggage. Like him or not, T.O's teams tend to win, at least for a little while. Prediction: 8-8.

The Dolphins were the surprise team of the NFL last year, going from 1-15 to 11-5. Part of that was scheduling, part of that was the fact that the Fins were no where as bad as they looked. But they're not an 11-win team and I expect them to take a step back. Prediction: 7-9.

OK, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco started as rookies and took their teams to the playoffs. But I am not a firm believer in rookies coming in and having success right away. Last season was a anomaly. Mark Sanchez's first year will be more indicative of a rookie QB in the NFL. Prediction: 3-13.

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AFC North

This might have been the biggest surprise of any of the teams I looked at. Sure, the Steelers won the Super Bowl and you can never count them out, but the offensive line in shaky and the defense isn't as dominate as its hype. Still, it's the Steelers and they have a wicked easy schedule. Prediction: 13-3.

My second biggest surprise came with the team that has been pushed around by the Steelers for most of its 40 years in existence. Carson Palmer is back and while the Bengals have issues with their offensive line, much like the Steelers, there seems to be something sparking in Cincy. Maybe I've just been "Knocked" up. Prediction: 11-5.

The Ravens went from scrap heap to AFC title game and they did it with a rookie quarterback. Joe Flacco is the real deal, but there are still issues on offense. But then again, what else is new? Prediction: 10-6.

Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn? Nobody seems to know, including Eric Mangini. It really doesn't matter though. The Browns still have an awful defense and they got rid of all their skill players on offense. Good luck, Ander-Quinn. Prediction: 4-12.

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AFC South

The Colts switched head coaches, have issues at tackle and Bob Sanders has begun his yearly stint of sitting in a hospital bed rather than playing. Of course the Colts still have Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne and the rookie Donald Brown is a keeper. Prediction: 11-5.

The Jaguars are one of those teams that seem to disappoint every year. Each season, they have the look of a team that is ready to bust out but they never quite make it. This year looks the same. I'll never learn. Prediction: 10-6.

The Titans looked unbeatable for three months last year and then reality caught up to them. There is still a lot to like, but this is not a team that is going to roll through people again. Prediction: 9-7.

Quietly, the Texans have built a pretty nice program down in Houston. I'm still not sold on quarterback Matt Schaub, but everything else is solid. Unless Schaub can take the next step, the Texans will continue to be on the bottom looking up. Prediction: 9-7.

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AFC West

I'd like to say that the Chargers are just this much better than the rest of the division, but let's face it, this could be the worst division in the history of football. San Diego could win six games and still win this division. Prediction: 11-5.

I could easily write the exact same thing for the next three teams, but since that's not what I'm paid to do, I'll TRY to write something different. So, umm, the Raiders' coach can beat up your coach! Prediction: 4-12.

Hire a flash in the pan head coach? Check. Overpaid for a quarterback? Check. Watched said quarterback crumple in a heap on the field? Check. Fire your offensive coordinator two weeks before the season starts? Check. When three games? Check. Your 2009 Chiefs! Prediction: 3-13.

How bad are the Broncos? The Chiefs make them look like a model franchise. How did this happen? Thank God I'm not a Broncos fan. Prediction: 3-13.

Coming tomorrow: Playoffs!

NFC Predictions: Will Rodgers Outshine Favre?

David Campbell — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:57:00 -0400

Last season, the Arizona Cardinals stunned everybody by reaching the Super Bowl. It’s not that the Cardinals were a bad team. In fact, everybody and his brother had been predicting the Cards to be that year’s “sleeper” for at least the last eight years.

No, the problem was the fact that Arizona limped into the playoffs, barely winning a bad division then ignored 70 years of NFL futility to win three-straight games. On top of all that, it almost won the Super Bowl.

Will the Cardinals repeat as NFC champs? Will the Cowboys finally fulfill all of their promise? Will the Eagles ride Michael Vick to the promised land? Will the Vikings, everybody’s darling this season, finally win a Super Bowl?

In compiling my predictions, I took out the master NFL schedule and went through each week, game-by-game, trying to decide who will win where and against whom. As a result, the records all add up (even if the prediction doesn’t). Even I was surprised at the way some of teams turned out.

The following is a breakdown of the NFC, team by team. The AFC will follow Wednesday with my playoff predictions for Thursday. With a little luck, these predictions will hold up longer than week four.

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NFC East

On paper, any four of the teams could win the division. There’s a lot to like about all four. But there’s also a lot of red flags that appear at almost every turn. In the end, the Giants are my pick to win the division. The passing game is down, the running game is down.

But the G-men still have the best defense in the division and the most underrated quarterback in the league. Prediction: 12-4.

All eyes have been on Michael Vick this preseason but in reality, Vick will have little effect on the Eagles’ 2009 season. Sure, he may make a play or two, but he’s the third QB at best and Donovan McNabb has made it clear he doesn’t want his offense all mucked up with that Wildcat stuff. Prediction: 11-5.

The Cowboys finally rid themselves of Terrell Owens, but now their passing game will suffer. Aw, the conundrum that is T.O. He makes your team better while at the same time making it worse. Buffalo beware.

Aside from T.O., the Boys still have enough to make a playoff run, but for some reason, I just can’t pull the trigger. Maybe it’s year after year after year of choking down the stretch. Prediction: 9-7.

Jason Campbell has a chip on his shoulder and the defense is vastly improved. Really, there is no reason not to pick the Redskins to win the division. Except of course that they play in this division. Prediction: 8-8.

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NFC North

Between Jay Cutler and Brett Favre, everybody seems to have forgotten about the Packers when it comes to this division. Aaron Rodgers looks like the real deal and the Packers don’t have to deal with that pesky preseason hype. All eyes are on the Vikings and Bears, but it will be the Packers that win the division. Prediction: 11-5.

Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre. Had enough? Me too. The Vikings were a playoff contender before Favre got there and they’re a playoff contender now. But in the past five seasons, Favre has had one great year, one not bad year and three awful years.

Adrian Peterson is a stud and the defense is solid, but like it or not, the QB play is a question mark. Prediction: 9-7.

Speaking of hype. Did you know that all that stood between the Bears and the Super Bowl was a quarterback? Never mind that your top receiver is a punt returner who played cornerback in college or that your defense was ranked 30th against the pass a year ago and is only getting older. Jay Cutler, the man with the losing career record, is the difference. Prediction: 6-10.

I would like to say that the Lions will win three times as many games as they did last year, but that’s a mathematical impossibility. And with a rookie quarterback, they’ll be lucky to do that. Prediction: 3-13.

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NFC South

Like a 12 beating a five in the NCAA Tournament, everybody’s favorite axiom is that somebody different wins the South every year. The reason for this is simple. Nobody is truly dominant. This year, it’s the Panthers’ turn. Quarterback is suspect, but running game is fine and the defense isn’t too shabby. Prediction: 10-6.

I like everything about the Saints except their defense and running game. Drew Brees is a monster, the receivers are great, but the team cannot control the game on either side. There is enough talent to win games, but not titles. Prediction: 9-7.

Matt Ryan had a super rookie year and really elevated a Falcons team to a season nobody expected. That won’t happen again this year. It’s not that Ryan isn’t a good QB, it’s just that this a league of adjustments and the league will adjust. How quickly can Ryan adjust to the league’s adjustment? Prediction: 8-8

Remember when the Buccaneers were the most dominant team in the league? Me either. It’s been a while and this team hasn’t hit bottom yet. Prediction: 5-11.

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NFC West

Many people (myself included) felt like Kurt Warner was a flash in the pan, a product of a pass-happy system in St. Louis. Last year changed my mind and I now fully believe that Warner is one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. Of course, he’s also approaching 40 and the bottom could fall out at anytime. Of course, he also plays in the NFC West. Prediction: 9-7.

The Seahawks are improving but there are still too many questions at almost every position. There is enough talent to reach near .500, but little else. Prediction: 7-9.

Frank Gore is good enough to carry the 49ers to several wins almost single-handedly. Too bad he doesn’t have more help. Prediction: 7-9.

When I added up the Rams wins total I was shocked. No quarterback and an offense falling apart. But hey, that defense ain’t bad. Prediction: 6-10.

Coming tomorrow: AFC Predictions.

I've Got a Good Feeling About These Bengals

David Campbell — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:43:37 -0400

Andre Smith doesn’t sign until the preseason is practically over, then promptly breaks his foot. Carson Palmer misses most of last season with an elbow injury, then misses most of this preseason with an ankle injury. The offensive line, the absolute key to the season, looked atrocious in last week’s preseason loss to St. Louis.

So how come I have a good feeling about the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals? Well, most of my friends would say it's because I'm crazy. But there are several reasons why I like the Bengals’ chances of at least contending for a playoff spot this season.

1. Defensive Swagger

Defense wins championships, but looking even deeper, it is attitude on the defensive end that sets the stage for most winning teams.

Almost from the moment the Bengals franchise was founded, offense has been the team’s focus. Founder Paul Brown was considered an offensive genius and his son Mike, the team’s current owner, has kept his father's affinity for that side of the ball.

But with coordinator Mike Zimmer setting the stage and veterans like Roy Williams and Tank Johnson bringing the experience, the Bengals have that something something on defense they have never truly had. And rookies Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson have shown signs of emerging as those kind of players as well.

Of course, swagger and 50 cents will get a pack of gum. If your defense hasn’t shown an ability to stop anybody, it doesn't matter. But the Bengals’ D has looked very impressive in the preseason against both the run and the pass. The preseason is still the preseason, but based on last year’s stats, the defense could be one of the team’s strengths.

2. The Emergence of Chris Henry

The word on Henry coming out of college in 2005 was that he was a first-round talent with a seventh-round head. That’s why when Cincy picked him up in the third round, it was seen as a gamble at best.

For four seasons, that gamble seemed like a losing hand. In and out of jail, Henry was essentially a wasted roster spot. He was suspended seemingly every other game and whatever potential he had seemed to be lost.

But a funny think happened on the way to irrelevancy. Henry has kept his head on straight, has been at every workout and suddenly looks like a Pro Bowler. Sure, it’s just the preseason, but Henry is third in the league in receptions, second in yards and first in touchdowns in the league.

Henry’s big-play ability, coupled with Chad Ochocinco’s apparent focus, give the Bengals one of the best receiving corps in the league and could go a long way toward repairing the damage of a disastrous 2008 season.

3. The Youngsters

Before the 2009 draft was over, nearly every expert hailed the job the Bengals’ brass had done. With the preseason over, the early returns are very favorable.

Rey Maualuga has been everywhere, Michael Johnson has lived in the offensive backfield and Bernard Scott appears to be the steal of the draft. But it goes deeper that that. Punter Kevin Huber is a difference-maker, fullback Fui Vakapuna is challenging for a starting spot and undrafted rookie Quan Cosby appears to have sewn up the punt-returning job.

And it doesn’t stop there. Second-year players Keith Rivers, Anthony Collins and Pat Sims appear headed for breakout seasons. The Bengals are young, but they are incredibly talented.

4. The Running Backs

Last season, Rudi Johnson fell apart and Chris Perry reached pure bust status. Carson Palmer got injured, again. Suddenly, the Bengals’ once-vaunted running game was a joke.

They signed Cedric Benson in mid-season, and by the end of the year, he had started to show signs of being the top running back many thought he would be as a first-rounder.

This preseason, Benson has shown signs of being a dominant back. And coupled with Scott’s big-play ability, the running back position appears to be in good hands.

In all fairness, there are plenty of things the Bengals still have to fix if they want to be legitimate contenders. The offensive line needs to continue to come together, Carson Palmer needs to make it through one full game and they need to find a competent third cornerback. But with one preseason game left, the Bengals appear to be headed in the right direction.

Much to Like in Bengals Pre-season Opener

David Campbell — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:20:13 -0400

It's never a good idea to get too worked up over pre-season games. At least half of the players will never see action in a real honest-to-goodness game, the regulars are exhausted from training camp, and the play-calling is usually fairly vanilla.

But there are things you can watch for in a pre-season game that will help determine how a team will look in the regular season. Just make sure you throw out the score.

Overall, the Cincinnati Bengals didn't play badly in their first outing, a 17-7 loss at New Orleans. There were no glaring mistakes and the team did not appear to be over-matched.

But like all games, there were some good points and some bad points.

The Good

Nobody wanted to see Carson Palmer limp off the field in a protective boot, but all indications are that the ankle sprain is minor and should not affect the franchise’s most important player much.

What was good to see was that Palmer’s injury did not come as a result of contact. Other than a hellacious hit he took on third-and-long from his own end zone, Palmer was kept upright for the almost full quarter he was on the field.

A healthy Carson Palmer is vital to the team’s chances, and Friday he showed why. He completed 7-of-11 passes for 133 yards and looked sharp and crisp in the pocket. Sure, he had one bad interception, but you will take that on Aug. 14.

One of the reasons that Palmer looked good was that his receivers were in great position. Chad Ochocinco looked like Chad Johnson and only a drop on a 70-yard pass as the game opened marred his performance.

But the real star was Chris Henry. Palmer has raved about Henry all camp and Friday he showed why. The fifth-year receiver racked up 100 yards through the air and burned Saints corner Jason David on two fly patterns in the second quarter, the second for a TD.

Neither Cedric Benson nor Bernard Scott set the world on fire, but both showed enough moves to make Bengals fans feel better about what was essentially a lost position in 2008.

Both were quick, both followed their blocking and both finished strong. Sure, Benson put the ball on the rug, but early indications are that both could become serious weapons.

It seems like the Bengals have always had trouble tackling. That wasn’t the case Friday as the defense swarmed to the ball and finished off plays.

As a unit, the defense showed a lot of moxie, including stopping the potent first team New Orleans offense on three-straight plays inside the 10.

The Bad

Three turnovers and numerous penalties had to bring a look of disgust to any Bengals fan's face. Marvin Lewis' teams simply do not win games when they make mistakes like that and over the past three seasons, those mistakes have been more and more numerous.

The defense may have played well, but there was still no sign of a pass rush. Saints quarterbacks Drew Brees and Mark Brunell never had a cause to sweat much and until the Bengals can effectively harass the passer, the defense will not graduate to elite status.

Yet to be Seen

Rookie punter Kevin Huber had a couple of picture-perfect punts, but he also had a few that did not get out of Bengals’ territory. Kicker Shayne Graham nailed an extra-point, but also hooked an easy field goal attempt. Overall, the special teams was so-so.

The offensive line kept Palmer on his feet, but did not dominate the Saints. Of course, the line had less than a quarter to get its rhythm and traditionally, O-lines get stronger as the game wears on. With more work, the line could turn into a workable unit.

Anthony Collins Steps Up For Bengals In Andre Smith's Absence

David Campbell — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:19:06 -0400

With less than five days before the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason opener, first-round pick Andre Smith is still unsigned and all indications are that it could be a while before the former Alabama Crimson Tide comes to terms.

The sticking point is, as always, money with the two sides apparently miles apart. The Raiders’ signing of receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, taken one spot after Smith, for so much over market value has skewed the landscape and made the Bengals’ job even more difficult.

Of course, the Bengals have always had trouble signing their top draft picks. It hasn’t helped that the team is always drafting in the top 10.

But there may be a silver-lining in the Smith drama. Second-year man Anthony Collins is currently the starter at right tackle, and everyday that Smith stays away is another day that Collins solidifies the job.

Collins, drafted in the fourth round a year ago, is hardly a project. A three-year starter at Kansas, Collins was one of the more highly-touted tackles in the Big 12. As a senior, he was mentioned in the same breath as Baylor’s Jason Smith—this year’s No. 2 overall pick—and played in a pass-happy offense.

Thanks to the massive injuries on the offensive line, Collins got his chance last season, and although he didn’t tear up the field, he played well enough down the stretch to help the Bengals win three of their last four.

Smith, considered by many to be the best tackle in this year’s draft, would certainly help the Bengals' offense if he were in camp. But if Collins steps up when the action turns live, it may be hard to get him out of the lineup.

Elsewhere, head coach Marvin Lewis made some intriguing changes to the depth chart Monday. A closer look at each:

• Running backs Kenny Watson and J.D. Runnels Jr. were both cut. Watson was a fan favorite, but age was obviously taking its toll on the eight-year veteran. Brian Leonard had passed him by and it was apparent he wasn’t going to make the team. Runnels was the No. 4 fullback and had next to no shot at making the roster.

• Jeremi Johnson was listed as the No. 1 fullback, supplanting rookie Fui Vakapuna. As an unabashed Johnson fan, I was happy to see “JJ” reclaim his spot. Weight issues forced him from the team a year ago, but when he is in shape, Johnson is arguably one of the top three fullbacks in the game. He was a Pro Bowl alternate just three years ago and will make a massive difference to the team as a blocker in the backfield.

• Tank Johnson moved ahead of Pat Sims at defensive tackle. Johnson, Sims, and Domata Peko will rotate in and out of the game with all three, playing roughly the same amount of time. Not exactly earth-shattering news.

• Michael Johnson is now the backup to Antwan Odom at right defensive end. With the way he is playing, Johnson will be ahead of Odom soon enough.

• Daniel Coats is the No. 1 tight end with Ben Utecht No. 2. Utecht has more tests scheduled after his terrifying head injury last week, and it is not unlikely that he will be done for the year. Rookie Chase Coffman will be the No. 2 and will end up battling Coats for the starting job, assuming of course, the Bengals don’t sign another tight end.

• Dennis Roland and Augustus Parrish are listed as the backups and right and left tackle respectively with Jonathan Luigs moving ahead of Dan Santucci as backup at center. Roland is a beast and could be a true diamond in the rough, but depth in the offensive line is still questionable which brings us to...

• Defensive tackle Jason Shirley was switched to offensive guard. Shirley is a big man with good feet, but it is apparent he will not make the team as a DT. Injuries on the O-line forced the move, and only time will tell if the move pays off.

Reggie Kelly's Value Went Beyond Numbers For Bengals

David Campbell — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:04:04 -0400

Reggie Kelly is one of those players that flies under the radar. He doesn't propose to cheerleaders after scoring a touchdown. He doesn't demand trades in the media. All the veteran Cincinnati Bengal tight end does is show up for work everyday, provide leadership in the locker room, and do whatever his team needs to win.

On Monday, Kelly blew out his Achilles' tendon on just the second day of training camp. The injury ends Kelly's season before it ever began and could possibly end his career.

"I'm just sick to my stomach," said Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer after learning of the injury.

Kelly was not a staple on the highlight films. He rarely caught more than 20 passes in a season and Palmer virtually never looked his way on crucial third downs. But Kelly's value went beyond mere numbers and his loss could have an adverse effect on the Bengals' 2009 season.

Rex Ryan, the former defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens and current head coach of the New York Jets, once called Kelly the Bengals' "secret weapon." For Ryan, the reason was simple. When Kelly was on the field, the Bengals virtually had three offensive tackles.

He may have been a tight end in name, but Kelly's ability to block was known league-wide. Kelly was such a weapon as a blocker that the Bengals often moved him all over the field in an effort to negate opposing blitzers. Linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, it didn't matter—Kelly could handle them all.

"Reggie was used in situations when we brought him into the backfield as a back to protect on third down when we knew people were going to use matchups," said Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. "Like some of the things Baltimore did with (Terrell) Suggs matched on a back or Pittsburgh with some of the outside backers. We've got to find somebody else."

Kelly was going to be doubly important with the youth that the Bengals were going to have on the offensive line. First-round pick Andre Smith, who has yet to sign, is penciled in as the starter at right tackle. If he is not ready, second-year player Anthony Collins will start in his place. Either way, the youngsters were going to benefit from Kelly's presence.

The Bengals do have plenty of options at tight end. Ben Utecht was the team's big free agent signing from the Colts a year ago and third-rounder Chase Coffman is the NCAA's all-time leader in receiving yards at the tight end position.

But both players are known more as pass catchers than pass blockers and will need to step up their games if they are to even approach Kelly's value on the field. Daniel Coats is also an option, but the Bengals have used him more as a fullback than a tight end in recent seasons.

The Bengals indicated late Monday that they would probably not pursue a free agent to replace Kelly, although they did not rule out scouring the waiver wire on cutdown day. Either way, the team will need to find a way to replace Kelly's value as a blocker.

"We lost a very good player, a true professional and a real gentleman," Bratkowski said. "(Head coach) Marvin (Lewis) had talked to the team that first night of training camp that good teams do overcome adversity and he said, 'I don't know what that adversity is going to be down the road.' Well, we just faced our first step in adversity and everyone has to pick it up."

Bengals High Five: What To Watch For During Training Camp

David Campbell — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:03:10 -0400

This season is a crucial one for everybody involved with the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Marvin Lewis has overseen two straight losing season and can not afford a third. Quarterback Carson Palmer is entering his eighth season and can see the window on his career starting to close. And Bengals fans have endured 19 straight seasons without a playoff win and are starting to get antsy.

Those close to the team believe that the Bengals could be this year’s Arizona Cardinals, the breakout team that makes the playoffs and rides a hot streak straight to the Super Bowl. While a Super Bowl run may be too much to ask, there is no reason why the Bengals can’t squeak into the playoffs.

With the start of training camp this weekend, there are five key things that fans can watch for that will go a long way toward determining the team’s fortunes in 2009.

1) Carson Palmer’s health

Palmer has shown time and time again that he is one of the elite signal-callers in the NFL—if his offensive line can keep him upright. Last year alone, Palmer suffered a broken nose in training camp, before tearing a ligament in his throwing elbow that kept him out of the final 12 games of the season.

Without Palmer, Cincinnati turned to Ryan Fitzpatrick to lead the team and the difference was apparent. Fitzpatrick lacked the deep arm strength and accuracy of Palmer and as a result, the offense struggled mightily.

Teams stopped respecting the deep pass, began loading up on the line of scrimmage, and the Bengals couldn’t score against a junior varsity squad.

Palmer says that he is 100 percent healthy and if he is right, the offense has a chance to return to its place as one of the league’s elite. It won’t take long for fans to see if he’s right.

If he is winging passes 50 yards down the field with pinpoint accuracy, if he’s dropping long balls over defenders' heads, if he is zipping passes in between the out-stretched arms of defensive linemen, then Palmer may truly be back.

Of course, the biggest key to Palmer’s health will be the five large gentlemen that line up in front of him. The team will have an almost completely new offensive line in 2009 and it will be crucial that they keep their QB upright.

2) Effective pass rush

The key to any successful team is its ability to protect the passer and to rush the passer. Last year, the Bengals could do neither and the team has not had an effective pass rush since the late 1990s.

To address the pass rush, Cincinnati drafted linebacker Rey Maualuga in the second round and end Michael Johnson in the third round, while signing lineman Tank Johnson and safety Roy Williams.

Along with holdovers Keith Rivers, Antawn Odom, and Rashard Jeanty, the team is hoping that its pass-rushing woes are a thing of the past.

While most of the newcomers will not play significant minutes in the preseason, any impact that they may have should be immediately noticeable. Don’t look at sack numbers, it’s a misleading statistic. Instead, look for quarterback hurries and the push at the line of scrimmage.

If the opposing offensive line continually finds itself backpedaling and there are constantly Bengals in the backfield, those will be signs that the team can finally rush the passer.

An effective pass rush pays dividends throughout the entire defense, leading to a better run defense and more interceptions and deflections by the backfield. And, it may even win you a game or two.

3) Depth at cornerback

Other than quarterback, there may be no position that is more difficult to learn at the pro level than cornerback. An effective corner takes two, sometimes even three years to develop, and it’s easy for fans to lose patience waiting for that to happen.

The Bengals’ two starting corners, Jonathon Joseph and Leon Hall, have shown that they have what it takes to become elite cover men. Hall, one of the more maligned Bengals by fans a year ago, flashed his skills several times and should improve greatly in his third season.

But behind Joseph and Hall, the team’s depth in questionable. Coach Marvin Lewis likes David Jones and the team seems to be impressed with rookie Morgan Trent, but neither have shown the ability to take over a game.

For the team to be successful, the backups will need to show that they have the ability to step in and take over. Joseph’s injury last year showed the importance of depth and in a league of three and four wide receiver sets, multiple corners that can play physically are a necessity.

4) Chad OchoCinco’s mindset

Over a four-year stretch, there was arguably no receiver in the league who was more feared than Chad Johnson. He led the AFC in yards four times and the NFL once, and was a highlight film every time he touched the ball, and not just for his celebrations.

But beginning in 2007, Johnson starting taking himself too seriously. He publicly pleaded for a trade, changed his last name to OchoCinco, and pretty much alienated every Bengal fan in the country.

To top it all off, he separated his shoulder in training camp and never got in sync with backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, leading to his worst season as a pro.

This season, OchoCinco swears that he’s back to normal. He did not demand a trade, made nice with Carson Palmer, and even showed up to a voluntary mini camp. If he continues to act like the Chad Johnson of old, he brings a spark to the offense that few teams can match.

It won’t take long for fans to see if they are getting “playful Chad” or “arrogant Chad.” Thanks to HBO, it will be apparent for the entire country to see.

5) That killer instinct

In any sport, there are teams or individuals that have the talent to win championships. But it takes more than talent to beat your opponent. It also takes the will and the mindset that will not only beat your opponent, but that you pummel them into submission.

There is an old coaching axiom that states, “I don’t want players that like to win. Everybody likes to win. I want players that hate to lose.” It is that mindset that will need to be developed if the team is to compete in the AFC North.

While it’s hard to see a team’s mindset in four meaningless preseason games —after all, the Colts have made a habit of going winless in the preseason, then marching to the division title—you can see if a team is ready to play.

If the Bengals come out firing away in the first quarter, if linebackers run through the ball-handler with authority, if the practice and “throwaway” players hit harder than the starters, the team may be on the right track.

Excellence and the desire to win are not confined to just games that “count.” True championship teams compete every time they step on the field.

Recommitted Chris Henry Could Be Key to Cincinnati Bengals' Season

David Campbell — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:51:12 -0400

Chris Henry is a lot of things to a lot of people. To some, he's a thug. To others, he's a national punchline. But to the Cincinnati Bengals, he could be one of the big differences between making the playoffs or staying home.

By now, Henry's story is old news. He dropped to the third round of the 2005 draft because of problems on and off the field at West Virginia and quickly got into trouble in Cincinnati.

In a six-month span from December 2005 to June 2006, he was arrested four times for, among other things, providing alcohol to underage girls and waving a firearm at a police officer. After a fifth arrest last spring, the Bengals cut him.

But all of that appears to be in the past. He has not had an incident since that run-in in spring 2008 and the New Orleans native swears he's all business now.

"I just got tired of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," Henry said. "I had to do it for me and my family. I love to play football and I didn't want to blow it."

Count Carson Palmer as a believer. The Bengals' two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has been working with Henry on and off the field and says he sees a difference in the talented, but troubled receiver.

"He's had an offseason like no other; he's worked here every single day," Palmer said. "He has a great attitude. I'm just really proud of the guy. I'm happy for him. He's at a good place in his life, a good place for his family. He's showed up to work here and he will all year long. There's not a doubt about that."

Lost in the quagmire that has been Henry's personal life is the fact that he is actually a very good receiver. As a rookie, he earned Palmer's trust and emerged as a dangerous threat, especially in the red zone. In his first 17 games, he had 42 receptions and eight touchdowns.

But as the arrests mounted, his play suffered. The Bengals re-signed him just before training camp last year and after sitting out his NFL-mandated four-game suspension, he caught just 19 passes and scored only twice.

At 6-foot-4, Henry provides Palmer with the kind of big target that quarterbacks drool over. And he has the speed to get downfield and stretch defenses.

With Chad OchoCinco's decision to sit out most of the voluntary camps, Henry has gotten most of the attention from his quarterback. And Palmer has helped Henry in more ways than simply running routes.

"He's always supported me and talked to me when I was going through tough times," Henry said. "He's a good guy. He's always looking for me and I'm there all the time."

With T. J. Houshmandzadeh gone via free agency and OchoCinco coming off a down year, the Bengals need Henry to step up in a big way. Even with the signing of Laveranues Coles, the Bengals could find themselves in a position without a dynamic receiving corps.

That's where Henry could shine. With a strong off-season behind him, and a full training camp ahead of him, Henry could finally emerge as the player the Bengals thought they were getting five years ago. And in the process, give themselves the best receiving trio in the league.

But it all comes down to staying on the field and staying out of trouble. Something both Henry and his teammates say he is committed to doing.

"He's changed," said defensive tackle Domata Peko. "People think he has this bad image, but when you get to know him, he's really a cool guy, a humble guy, a regular person just like everyone else."

"It's totally different now. I'm not worried about anything negative in my life. I'm enjoying my time out here with my teammates and going home to be with my family," Henry said.

Cincinatti Bengals Breakdown: Position-By-Position

David Campbell — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:01:58 -0400

With the OTAs and minicamps finally out of the way, it's only a matter of weeks before teams report for training camp. In Cincinnati, optimism in running high after what is highly-regarded as the team's best offseason in not only the Marvin Lewis era, but maybe in team's 41-year history. So, while the Bengals may have won the offseason, it will take more than the transactions column to win games and the team still has some very interesting roster decisions to make before it opens the season Sept. 13 at home against Denver. What follows is a look at the Bengals, position by position and what fans can expect to see when training camp opens July 31.

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Ochocinco Says He'll Be Better Than Ever

David Campbell — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:50:57 -0400

Like his Cincinnati Bengals teammates, Chad Ochocinco is hard at work these days in preparation for the 2009 season. He's working on drills to improve his footwork and his hand-eye coordination, and is hitting the weight room harder than he ever has before.

But unlike his teammates, Ochocinco is doing it far from the Paul Brown Stadium practice fields. In between hitting the clubs of Wilshire Boulevard and attending Lakers games, the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson is working in the boxing ring with famed trainer Freddie Roach.

The boxing ring?

In an exclusive interview with the NFL Network Tuesday, Ochocinco came out of his publicity cave to show the world exactly what he has been doing since the end of the 2008 season. And from what the camera showed, it appears that his working out more resembles Sugar Ray Leonard than Ray Lewis.

"I not only owe Cincinnati, but my coaches, my players, my team, and my fans to get myself back in rare form before I even hit the field again," Ochocinco said. "Because last year was very humbling to me. It was an embarrassment. Not only to myself, but to the city and team. Before I even go back I just want to be in unbelievable form before I touch the green grass."

While it may seem odd to fans that a player, who confesses to be "embarrassed" by his 2008 season, would rather work on his skills in the ring rather than on the field, Ochocinco doesn't see it that way.

"I'm loving it," he said of boxing's relationship to football. "Hand-eye coordination. Quickness. Lateral movement. No false-stepping in boxing. I can't wait to use it on the field."

In a way, Ochocinco may be right about his training regimen. This past season was a major disappointment for a player who led the conference in receiving in each of the previous four seasons. While playing with backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a porous offensive line, and a weak running game certainly shared in the blame, Ochocinco also had several serious faults of his own.

He has always dropped too many passes and has never been known as a receiver that is willing to live in the middle of the field. And while he has always been explosive off the line of scrimmage, he has struggled breaking away from aggressive pressing cornerbacks.

So, the boxing skills could help. And any extra conditioning is always a plus in a sport as grueling as football. But what about the locker-room presence? Or the fact that all of his teammates are toiling in the 90-degree weather while he is cheering on Kobe?

Ochocinco admitted in the NFL Network piece that he hasn't spoken to coach Marvin Lewis: "There's no need to talk to anyone; I'm in isolation," he said. And quarterback Carson Palmer has decided not to discuss his star receiver while he is not in camp. But Lewis did talk and said that he wasn't worried that Ochocinco's absence would hinder the team's chemistry.

"I think their relationship has been a good, strong relationship," Lewis said of Palmer and Ochocinco. "Right now, Chad doesn't have a relationship with Carson because he's not here right now. Their relationship on the field is the most important thing, off the field they're two different guys. They probably couldn't be any further away and I think they both recognize that and that's why they've meshed so well on the field."

In the meantime, the Bengals young group of receivers continue to get a bulk of the time with Palmer, still one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Newcomer Laveranues Coles is a lock to be one of the clubs' starting wideouts in September with holdovers Chris Henry, Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson trying to impress their coaches and quarterback alike.

Of course, if Ochocinco is as committed as he says he is, all of the offseason talk will be just that: talk. He says he is recapturing the spirit of the hungry junior college player who is trying to get noticed.

"Remember those days when you were young and it was the night before Christmas and you knew there was something good under the tree and you couldn't wait to open it?", Ochocinco said when asked if he had a message for Palmer, "That's what you should expect when you see the new 85."

Only time will tell.