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How long before the NFL shop blocks this nameplate (like they did Ron Mexico).

H-O-M-E-R

Homer Bailey gets the Chuck Norris treatment, here.

A.J. ejected

The Bengals cut linebacker A.J. Nicholson, just hours after his arraignment for domestic violence.

Under the CBA, teams can't cut a player for reasons other than on-field performance. The Bengals can make the argument that Nicholson wasn't going to make the team anyway (project seven linebackers: Brooks, Hartwell, Jeanty starting and L. Johnson, Miller, Frazier and Henderson backing up). But the timing is suspect. I can sympathize with the Bengals for wanting to jettison the guy, but they probably should have done it immediately after the last offseason training event. Doing it after Nicholson's last arrest and on the day of his arraignment lends credence to the notion that he was cut for his off field problems--I smell a grievance.

Of course, the joke in all this is that teams cut players all the time for off-field reasons. The CBA's prohibition doesn't actually keep teams from canning players, it just changes the way the game is played. Teams are careful about their public statements as for the reasons behind cutting a guy, and they are conscious of the timing of cuts as well. Here I suspect the Bengals felt they had to jettison the guy sooner rather than later for PR reasons, and felt that the fact that he scarcely played last year would provide this cover.

If I'm Nicholson's agent, I'd say that the timing suggests this was about A.J.'s latest arrest. I'd also point out that Nicholson (a fifth rounder in 2006) has more talent and a decent chance of beating out guys who were picked up as street free agents like Frazier and Henderson--and Henderson is changing positions from DE to OLB.

The wild card in the discussion of the Bengals linebacker depth chart is Odell Thurman, who could come of suspension this summer and compete at Will or Mike 'backer.

Safety Dance

So, who is making the Bengals roster at safety?

OK. It's not the most riveting question--it probably won't be the subject of debate on PTI this week. However, I'm curious, since the Bengals drafted not one, but two safeties last month. It's not unusual to double up on a position in the draft, but couldn't one of those picks gone to fortify the tight end or linebacker positions?

Fourth rounder Marvin White looks like a good pickup, he should be able to fill in immediately as a backup (probably the first backup at both strong and free safety). I'd also expect him to contribute on special teams. Seventh rounder Chinedium Ndukwe looks like a project at safety whose best chance of making the active roster is as a special teamer.

White and Nduke will fight for playing time behind starters Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson. The club typically dresses five or six safeties each game, so that means the newcomers will be fighting incumbents John Busing, Ethan Kilmer and Heranda-Daze Jones. Jones and Busing are strictly special teams guys and Kilmer is a converted wideout entering his second year. I think White and Nduke should be an upgrade over the Busing and Jones combo, but how much of one? Enough to justify having two street free agents backing up starting tight end Reggie Kelly? We'll see.

Trimming the fat

So the Bengals cut DT Sam Adams. At least he has that lucrative partial ownership of the AFL-2 Cincinnati Jungle Kats to fall back on--so we know he won't go hungry. The macrobrew managed to play every game last year, but with questionable effectiveness due to a tweaked knee that was scoped this offseason.

Cutting Adams leave the Bengals with second year player Domata Peku and journeyman John Thornton as the likely starters at DT. Recent acquisitions Kendrick Allen and Michael Myers will fill in as backups--and late draft pick Matt Toeania could make some noise as well. In fact, given Allen's injury history, I think I'd give the early edge to Toenia. I suspect that one of the leading factors in the decision to cut Adams was the emergence of Peku as a rookie (his 44 tackles and 2.5 sacks were the best amongst the DTs).

Another big factor is Big Daddy syndrome. Former top pick Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson, another beefy DT, is known for shirking offseason training programs. This is pretty common amongst your veteran defensive tackles--you use an injury to keep out of offseason workouts and then just "play your way into shape" once games start. Right now, Big Daddy is refusing to report to the Denver Broncos (after being traded there by the Dolphins). I'll wager he changes his tune come August. He still gets paid, but avoids having to sweat off the pounds in the summer heat.

Adams, I think, is a similar case. Last year he never practiced with the team in the offseason, either due to injury or needing to get into shape (depending on who you ask). I think this frustrates the hell out of coaches. With Sam coming off the knee scope this year, I think Marvin read the writing on the wall and figured his veteran anchor would sandbag his way through the offseason again. Rather than put up with the distraction, he elected to cut Sam loose and see how Peku responds.

Nicholson arrested (again)

This is depressing. On the upside, if we can call it that, he is iffy to make the roster anyway (I'd project the starters as (strongside-middle-weakside) Jeanty-Brooks-Hartwell with Landon Johnson, Caleb Miller, as the backups at weak and middle and converted DE Eric Henderson backing up on the strongside. Toss in Andre Frazier as a special teams guy and that may be all your linebackers. Hopefully it shakes out this way and the Bengals can at least jettison this embarrassment.

Pimping ain't easy...

and it can cost you a roster spot.

NFL Draft--Day One

Brief notes on the Bengals Draft (day one):

1. Nice pick with Leon Hall (CB-Michigan), arguably the best in a weak class for corners (he is more polished that Darrelle Revis and he doesn't have any extraneous "e"s in his name). Also a solid character guy. The knock on Hall is that he can't cover elite speed receivers downfield (exhibit A--Ted Ginn Jr.), but I think that will be Jonathon Joseph's job, Hall will be asked to cover possession guys and play some zone.
2. On Revis, every mock draft I saw had Hall going first and Revis second, but most experts had the two closely ranked so I wasn't surprised that Revis went first. I was a little suprised that the Jets traded up and took Revis. Aren't they a Cover-2 team? Wouldn't Hall, who has been compared to Ronde Barber, have made more sense?
3. Mark Curnutte of the Cincinnati Enquirer blasted the Kenny Irons pick in the second round. Why? I would have liked a defender too, but what if Rudi Johnson gets hurt? Perry is a IR All-Star and Kenny Watson is a third-down back at best. Would I have preferred a linebacker or D-lineman? Sure, but who? The linebackers left on the board would have been a reach (the next linebacker taken was Quincy Black who went 68th overall--19 picks later--to Tampa).
Curnutte felt the Bengals should have grabbed a D-lineman:

"They passed on versatile defensive lineman Ray McDonald of Florida; he can play tackle and end. Georgia end Charles Johnson, at 270 pounds, could have added pass rush with an explosive first step. Turk McBride, a defensive tackle from Tennessee, went at No. 54 to Kansas City. Defensive end Tim Crowder of Nebraska went 56th to Denver."

Huh? McDonald wasn't selected until the end of the 3rd round (97th overall) after sixth other DEs that were also available when the Bengals selected. He missed much of the 2005 season with not one, but two injuries to his right knee. I think we can say he would have been a huge reach at pick 49. Ditto Charles Johnson who was drafted in the third round with the 83rd overall pick. Tim Crowder at least wound up being a second round pick (56th overall, to Denver)--so I can see arguing that he would have been a good value for the Bengals, but where will he play? Cincinnati has invested big money in Justin Smith and Robert Geathers. Smith can play all downs at one DE spot, and Geathers is an accomplished pass rusher on the other side. That means the Bengals need a run stuffer to spell Geathers and depth behind both. They just drafted Frostee Rucker last year in the third round and have Bryan Robinson as well. I think a DE in round 2 would have been a luxury pick.

A DT would have been good given the age of guys like Sam Adams and John Thornton. Curnutte suggested Turk McBride from Tennessee, but at 6' 2", 277 lbs. he is undersized and some consider him a better fit at DE. The other DTs on the board at the time slid into the third round, so they would have been reaches as well.

"Is there a problem officer?"

Bengals WR Chris Henry in trouble...again...

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5955

At least this is just a minor traffic violation, so he's improving...sort of. Marvin Lewis should take this as a sign to include Henry's replacement in next months draft.

Yes, I too hate Duke...

This youtube clip features a complete flop by Dookie Paulus.

Headline: "He'll be dad 6 times, with 6 women"

"No, I be concubining."

...

Speechless.

McGahee to Ravens trade is coming...

Profootballtalk.com is reporting that the Bills will trade Willis McGahee to the Ravens in the next day or so. Can't say that I'm happy at the prospect of him gashing the Bengals D twice a season.

The Raven's released longtime LG Ed Mulitalo, presumably to clear cap space for the trade. At least it would appear so, they wouldn't release him this late in free agency if they weren't close to making a move.

"If looks could kill, I'd kill your television..."

With the exception of The Office and My Name is Earl, I don't find much of network TV to be worth my time. Somehow, I don't think this is going to change my mind.

Quick thoughts on NFL free agency...

In no particular order:

1. Congratulations Cleveland fans, you landed the best O-lineman in free agency. Eric Steinbach is one of the better left guards in the game and can fill-in very well at left tackle or center (as he proved in 2006). For Eric's sake, I hope his blood alcohol level is high enough to stave off the staph infections that the Cleveland lockerrroom is famous for.

2. Congratulations Falcons fans, you have a front office that is willing (or dumb enough) to pay $3 million a year for a fullback--but still insists on playing a scatback at QB.

3. Nate Clements got crazy money from the Niners, but he was one of the best players on the market; safety Michael Lewis got big money too, and he isn't even a starter.

4. Invariably, everybody gets terribly excited about free agency and it proves all for naught. Last year the buzz surrounded the Browns (Willie McGinist, LeCharles Bentley) and Redskins (Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle-El, Adam Archuleta) and the clubs went on to win nine games combined. The fact is, if the players available were so great, the clubs they were with last year would have re-upped them. There are exceptions, players like Steinbach and Clements are among the best at their position and are only on the market because their original teams were faced with salary cap issues, but the bidding wars for the few quality guys sends their contract numbers through the roof. The other phenomena at work are guys with good numbers (like a Joey Porter) who fit a certain system (the 3-4) who will be overpaid and asked to play in a different system. I can see some club running a 4-3 and adding Porter and then being shocked when he doesn't thrive in a system that asks him to drop into coverage more than rush the passer (which is his strength). The real winners of free agency are the clubs who manage to keep their own quality players and add a few mid-priced guys to fill voids on their club. Making headlines in March has little to do with making the playoffs the following January.

They cut me in Pittsburgh

Adios, J-Peezy. I'd say that Mike Tomlin has pretty much tipped his hand on the whole 3-4 versus Tampa Two debate--you don't need 240-pound pass rushing OLBs in the Tampa Two, you can get away with lighter, faster guys who can cover the short zones.

Bengals Thoughts

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com has a interview with head coach Marvin Lewis--find it here. While not exactly a revelation, the interview does put some questions to rest while raising some others.

1. Marvin says he will stick with the 4-3. We have had talk of a move to a 3-4 base defense (or at least deploying it as a change of pace to the 4-3) for two seasons now. If you believe Hobson, Lewis wanted to make the switch last offseason, but, when the Niners drafted OLB Manny Lawson in front of them, they didn't feel they had the personel to make the switch.

For myself, I think the Bengals tipped their hand on this when they re-upped DE Robert Geathers to the tune of 6 years and $32.5 million dollars. He had a career year (10.5 sacks) as a pass rushing specialist (but not as an every down guy). At 23 years old, I'm sure the Bengals feel he can grow into an every down contributer, but I doubt they dropped that much cash on him while contemplating a move to the 3-4. I don't think he projects as a 3-4 end or OLB, so, if they were seriously considering a shift in philosophy, I think they would have held off on Geathers.

Its clear to me (and anyone who watched the Bengals) that they need to make some changes on D. A 3-4 is intriguing, but I don't see them as having the personel. Sam Adams has never played the nose in a 3-4. Their best defensive ends (Geathers and Justin Smith) are probably to light to play end in the 3-4. Worst of all, they were really thin at linebacker in '06 and moving to a 3-4 would only aggravate this issue. As it stands, with Pollack(back) and Thurman(crack) in doubt for '07, they will need to add some talent this offseason just to fill three starting spots.

Based on the foregoing, I think Lewis has made the smart decision to stick with the 4-3. That said, I would like to have seen some shake up in the coaching staff that has failed to produce a competent defense (like ditching defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan).

2. Tory James is gone/Odell Thurman???/Justin Smith could get franchise tag. No surprise on James. He should be remembered as one of Lewis's better free agent signings; a guy who brough a veteran presence to the secondary and helped make them the opportunistic bunch that made a heck of a lot of interceptions. However, his guile and experience have extended his career past the physical limitations of his soon-to-be 34 year-old body. Although his numbers were still good (4 ints, 10 passes defensed), he was always giving eight yard cushions to receivers and lacked the athleticism to do anything more than keep receivers in front of him and try to capitalize on bad throws. His spot belongs to Jonathon Joseph now, a guy who has the athleticisim to play very aggressively (o ints, but 20 passes defensed) and could really blossom in his sophmore season.

When asked about Odell Thurman, Lewis was not as decisive as he was with James. As Hobson put it "Lewis seemd to hold the door ajar for him". I will be really disappointed if Thurman is allowed to rejoin the team. How can you give him a slot and reps on the team when he is one stupid mistake away from another hefty suspension--and he has shown a propensity for making such mistakes? Now, its possible Lewis is being coy simply because Thurman is still under contract and the team is waiting to cut/release him at a later date. On the other hand, Lewis may be sending the dual message to Thurman that he can rejoin the team but he can expect to have Lewis hold his feet to the fire. I'd rather the team just dump him and all his distractions now, cap consequences be damned.

As for franchise-tagging Justin Smith, this may just be posturing or it could be legit. After they signed Geathers, given the numbers involved, I figured they were leaning toward letting Smith go and moving Geathers into his slot. They tried Geathers as a full-time RE in '05, but his numbers suffered. However, he was just 22 at the time, and he will be 24 at the start of the '07 season. A player can mature a lot in that period of his life. I still have a nagging feeling that they might let Justin Smith go for just this reason--either let him enter free agency or make a play to tag him and trade him. For myself, I think he's a rare high motor guy on the team. He doesn't have the sexy numbers of some other ends in the league, but he plays the run well, gives consistent effort and avoids getting arrested (ok, so the bar is set pretty low). I'd like to see them sign Smith long term. The pro of having both is that they make a nice combo on passing downs. The con is that they are both best suited to playing right end (and neither really thrives at left end), so you have to have a run-stuffer type to play left end on rushing downs.

3. Lewis acknowledges he needs to avoid guys with character issues. Gee, ya think? I'd go a step further and say not only must he avoid poor character guys in the draft, but he needs to consider jettisonning a few from his current roster. I boot Odell Thurman (a no-brainer, he is sure to screw up again and face another hefty suspension). I'd be acquiring another quality WR to replace Henry (its just a matter of time before he's facing a year long suspension)--but I'd hold off on jettisoning Henry until you have a competent replacement lined up (not a perfect or principled solution, but that is the corner Lewis has backed himself into. A good third WR is a must in this offense, but Henry can't be trusted to stay out of trouble). I'd part company with Frostee Rucker and A.J. Nicholson as well. Granted, they are young guys who you just drafted in '06, but they have yet to add value on the field and it will only become harder to get rid of them as the club invests more time into grooming them. The rest of the arrestees (Steinbach, Deltha O'Neal, Jonathon Joseph, Reggie McNeal) at least their infractions are (relatively) minor. I can see giving each another chance--though O'Neal and McNeal are on thin ice simply because they didn't perform well in '06. Steinbach is probably gone in free agency (with Whitworth taking the LG slot). If he does go, and the Bengals jettison Thurman, Rucker and Nicholson, at least they can say that they have rid themselves of a big chunk of their baggage. Add Henry to the list and they can claim they've ditched the worst of the worst. I don' make light of drug possession or DUI's, but they are somewhat more forgiveable in my eyes than the conduct of Henry (number of times), Rucker (violence towards women), Nicholson (felony burglary) and Thurman (repeat substance abuse issues).

This is a big offseason for the Bengals. I hope Lewis stays true to his word in the interview and doesn't go crazy in free agency. The key to free agency is who you keep, not who you acquire (see, Redskins, Washington). Even more important is for Lewis to have a solid draft. Without a third round pick (used in the supplemental draft to acquire Ahmed Brooks) they need to not only avoid bad character guys, but try to add some good character, leadership types. It would also be nice to see a player or two who can contribute right away (a la Jonathon Joseph).

More on the draft later...

Thick, rich, and buttery...

Observations about the Super Bowl halftime show. First, remember when the Super Bowl was a big enough deal that other stations ran competing halftime programming (Simpsons, Beavis & Butthead, and, I think, South Park). Not so this year, either the idea has run its course or no one wanted to face off against Prince. Second, what the hell was Prince wearing on his head? I guess he thought, with February being Black History Month and all, he sound honor Aunt Jemimah by borrowing one of her kerchiefs.

Also, here are some signs that you may be a has-been.

-You perform a medley of you biggest hits. If you are doing a medley, you are either a has-been or a high school show choir. Neither of which is very good for you.
-You are performing with a marching band. Yep, you are either really past your prime or you are Lee Greenwood. Or both.
-You perform in front of a bunch of hot young chicks all of whom are thinking "Oh my God, that's Prince! My mom loves him."

'Burghers

Congrats on your new head coach, Mike Tomlin. He sounds like an up-and-comer, but I'm not sure how I feel about the Steelers becoming a Cover-2 team (if that is what happens).

As a Bengals fan, I'll enjoy any growing pains that the club goes through. Any such transition will have at least some set backs. I also think that a 3-4 is tougher on a passing team (such as the Bengals) in terms blitzing from everywhere and making pass protection a chore. The Cover-2 depends more on the four down lineman getting pressure. Its effectiveness depends on good coverage downfield and the ability of the lineman to beat offensive linemen one-on-one. The 3-4 adds the element of suprise--how many defenders are rushing the passer and from where? We'll see.

As a football fan, its hard for me to separate the Steelers from the 3-4 zone blitz (granted, they made their hay in the '70s with a 4-3). For their sake, I hope they stick with it. They have managed to have unparalleled sucess mining the draft for guys who fit the 3-4. They have a dynamic safety in Polomalu who they move around a lot and is fun to watch (not so much so in a Cover-2 where he'd almost always have deep coverage responsibility). I'll say this, the Pittsburgh Defense is one of very few that is fun to watch. They are aggressive, it seems like all the players are big-hitters, and the scheme is anything but vanilla.

If they do switch, what happens with coordinator Dick LeBeau? How will guys, particularly guys in their front seven, adapt to the new scheme? The Cover-2 requires ends who can bring pressure and linebackers who can run and cover. Brett Keisal (5.5 sacks) and Aaron Smith (4.5 sacks) are excellent 3-4 ends, but they will have to get pressure without the aid of blitzing linebackers. Guys like Joey Porter (7 sacks) and Clark Haggans (6.5 sacks) will be dropping into coverage more than they rush (Minnesota's three starting LBs last year had 8.5 sacks between them), meaning their pass rushing skills will be less valuable. If a switch to the cover-2 happens, more than a few Steelers will see their roles diminished or be packing their bags.

If I were running an NFL franchise, I'd be licking my chops to acquire LeBeau and whomever else gets cast off from the organization (particularly the scouts who are so adept at selecting players to thrive in the 3-4).

Meet the new boss...

Senate Democratic leaders are hellbent on avoiding a vote on the House's earmark reform package (preferring their own watered down version). Here is a cool (and updated) recap of the action.

Bengals 2006 Wrap Up

I certainly concede that Lewis has his shortcomings as a coach--chief among them are his crappy in-game management (for Exhibit A, look to his icing Pittsburgh's kicker on a chip-shot figgie when the Bengals would have had two timeouts and gotten the ball back with about a minute left) and his philosophy that its okay to grab sketchy character guys. The first I can only hope he learns from and improves. The second, I fear, is deeply ingrained--he built a dominating defense in Baltimore with a murder-accomplice as his defensive MVP after all. The tipping point for me was last years draft. Prior to the draft, Odell Thurman was a problem and Chris Henry was already proving to be a sociopath. Nevertheless, he proceeded to draft Frostee "girlfriend beater" Rucker, A.J. "stole from my old roommate" Nicholson, Domata "pissed and ran from the cops" Peku and Reggie "DUI" McNeal. I can understand a coach taking a gamble hear or there, but Henry and Thurman should have clued him in that the turd-factor in his locker room was reaching critical mass.

Now, let me be clear about a few points. I don't fault him for drafting Henry or Thurman. In Henry's case, he is a first round talent who fell to the third round because he drew some stupid penalties in college and his coaches bad-mouthed him. But he didn't have any criminal record, he just came off as a bad attitude guy. Given his talent, I think it was a worthwhile risk (granted, its blown up, but I can see the logic in the move). Thurman isn't on the same plane as Henry, but he too didn't have a criminal record (though there were indicators that he missed meetings and may have had a substance abuse problem). Not smart in retrospect, and at best a questionable decision at the time.

But the '05 draft was incomprehensible. Lets forget Peku and McNeal (the former because his college transgression was minor and he has been excellent in our DT rotation, the later because he had no bad rep that I know of going into the draft). Drafting Rucker and Nicholson made no freakin' sense. First, they each had criminal track records (Rucker for roughing up his girlfriend, Nicholson was investigated for sexual assault). Even if we assume nothing comes of these allegations, isn't the fact that the allegations exist enough to make a club shy away from them? Especially for a team that just drafted two iffy character guys who were starting to show their flaws? Second, unlike Henry and Thurman, I didn't hear any draftnik or talking head suggest that either Rucker or Nicholson was a round one or two talent. So you are drafting guys in the middle rounds with big character question marks, but rounds ahead of where they would have represented good risk-reward prospects.

While I don't subscribe to the theory that the Bengals season was torpedoed by the "character issue", I do find it embarrassing to root for a team that keeps acquiring these tools. I do think that the Bengals were inconsistent and tended to shrink from the moment in big games (see @ Indy, @ Denver and vs. Pittsburgh). Obviously, if guys are getting suspended or benched for behavior problems, that contributes to inconsistency. However, I think that it goes beyond just the players discussed here. I think the team as a whole needs to mature. There are signs of promise, Palmer led some big fourth quarter drives in December (but was betrayed by the kicking game both in Denver and against Pittsburgh). Whether they translate that promise into success sits squarely on Marvin Lewis.

C