The 2009 Cincinnati Bengals: The Time Is Now!

The 2009 Cincinnati Bengals have done more this off season to improve the team than ever before. In years past, Bengal fans hoped that we could compete in the toughest division in the NFL. This year we expect them to compete, and for good reason.

Being a lifelong Bengals fan I remember past editions of this team winning a few games at the end of the season. Just enough to give us optimism for the next year. Only to be snatched away by terrible drafts or losing key pieces during the off season. This off season has been extremely different.

The team lost a very important player when TJ Houshmandzadeh left for the "Brinks Truck" that the Seahawks offered him. Who could blame him. After suffering through year after year of heartaches in Cincinnati, he took a contract usually reserved for "elite" wide recievers.

Poor TJ, he went to a team on the decline if you ask me. Personally, I was glad to see him go. The Bengals didn't need to overpay an aging WR, especially with the negative attitude TJ developed the past couple of years. Both sides benefitted because he got the big contract and we replaced him with a gifted reciever for less money.

On draft day, an amazing thing happened that I've never experienced before. There I was in my recliner, screaming at the Bengals brass at the top of my lungs, and they finally heard me! "With their second round pick, the Bengals select Rey Maualuga." Oh my gosh, miracles still happen! I actually jumped out of my chair and applauded a Cincinnati Bengal draft choice.

There is no way that they planned on selecting Rey with that pick. Which could be the best part of that choice. They didn't have months to think about a guy, they just made a spontaneous decision to snatch up a gift that was laid on the doorstep.

The Bengals showed promise at the end of 2008 on the defensive side of the ball, but not against major offensive juggernauts. Was the players finally understanding Mike Zimmer's defense or was it the competition? So many times in the past, Mike Brown would make decisions based on those "little runs" at the end of the previous season, but not this time!

For the first time that I remember, the Bengals were very active in the off season and the moves appeared to make sense. Not resting on end of the year performance, when a player became available that could help our team, they went and got him. Especially on defense.

Tank Johnson and Roy Williams have been top shelf players in the past and who better to oversee their rise back up to the top than Zimmer. He has coached them before and he knows what they're capable of. So many times when a player gets put on the scrap heap they get a negative attitude and search for any team that will give them a paycheck. These two appear to be hungry, like they have a lot to prove.

Hungry players breed fierce competition. Laverneous Coles has always been a number one WR in this league and Chris Henry is staying out of trouble. With healthy 2008 draft picks, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell, they're will be a fight to get the ball. Brian Leonard was a 2nd round pick of the Rams and we picked him up for Orien Harris who we got off of waivers last year. Leonard should add depth and pass catching ability to our backfield.

The offensive line was depleted due to injuries last year. Gone are tackles Levi Jones and Stacy Andrews. Poor Levi's knee sealed his fate and crazy money took away Andrews much like the Browns took Eric Steinbach a couple years ago. You simply cannot pay everyone that kind of money, so they chose to use the money elsewhere. To me, Stacy Andrews plays football because the NFL loves his size and potential. Stacy isn't playing because he loves to play football.

There's a big difference. He played one year at Mississippi in college and that tells me that he was prodded into the sport because he could make a lot of money at it, not because he likes the job. He may have one good year at Philly, but mark my words, little nagging injuries will start to surface in the next few years.

No big free agent signings for the offensive line, but by mere subtraction and deployment they may be a lot better. LT will have Anthony Whitworth replacing Stacy Andrews. Look for Whitworth to bring better agility and instincts back to that position. Anthony played far more LT at the collegiate level than did Andrews. Gone is the screen door we called a center, Eric Ghiaciuc. To be replaced by anybody will be an upgrade. I'm interested to see if he becomes the Chiefs new center, Matt Cassel could have a rough year.

Yes, the Bengals did a lot to improve the team, but what didn't happen could be the key to the team's success. Carson Palmer didn't have his elbow operated on. This should make all Bengals fans nervous. With the surgery, we pretty much know that his arm would return after rehab. Without the surgery, will his arm blowout in mid-October? At least we have backup QBs that are more like Carson. Ryan Fitzpatrick was the polar opposite. I know nothing about JT O'Sullivan, but with that Irish name at least he'll bring a lunchpail to work. Although the Ivy League grad Fitzpatrick did try his hardest, but he's still white collar to me.

Going into the off season Bengals fans knew that we would lose TJ and maybe try overpaying a couple of free agents. On paper, the Bengals did more in the off season to improve the team than ever before. Barring injury, this could be their best season ever!