WhoDeyRevolution

Bengal Hero: Harold Green

Part three of Bengal Heroes takes us back to near the beginning of the disastrous Mike Brown era when everything started to go wrong in Bengladom.  The year was 1992, Dave Shula was coaching the Bengals to a 5-11 record, Anthony Munoz would play his last NFL game, and Boomer (he played terrible with a 57.0 QB rating that was the worst of his career) was replaced as the starting quarterback by David Klingler (the rookie showed just how bright his future would be sporting a 66.3 QB Rating).  Amidst all the doom and gloom the Bengals lone ray of sunshine that year was running back, Harold Green.   

When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong

Former Bengal wide receiver, Chris Henry, who is on house arrest due to his numerous arrests and parole violations has been forced to sell his house through an auction process as part of a foreclosure action.  It's too bad there is no more Dave Chappelle Show.  Chris Henry's NFL career could easily be a skit of "When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong."

Shaun Deal Dead? (Let's Hope So)

All has been quiet on the Shaun Alexander front, and I, for one, hope it stays that way. 

The Bengals do not need another veteran who will expect significant playing time, cause tension in the locker room, and who will hinder the efforts of younger, faster, more energetic guys like Dee Dee Dorsey.  Watching 3rd and 4's in the red zone last year with Dee Dee Dorsey on the sidelines was mind-blowing.  Even if you are worried about his pass blocking, and even if you don't throw him the football...the THREAT of Dorsey on the field would have been a great wrinkle to add to the playcalling.

Brooks Groin Injury Lingering???

It has been reported that Ahmad Brooks was unable to participate in voluntary workouts because of lingering pains associated with his season ending groin injury.  To refresh your memories, Brooks suffered an injury during the Cleveland shootout on September 16th, 2007.  Questions regarding the return of Brooks surrounded the team for several weeks ensuing this game, ending with him being placed on the injured reserve.  Now it is March 2008, and the injury is bad enough to keep him from working out with the rest of the team.  These are the facts, but now I would like to move along to the speculation.

The Superbowl Champion Cincinnati Bengals. Why Not?

Here's why the Bengals are going to win the Superbowl next season.  This is my story and I’m sticking to it at least until they lose week 1 to the Ravens.

-2008 is the year where everything is going to go right just once (yes i've now sunk to the "we are due" theory it's really all I have left so be nice).

-The offensive line will stay healthy (there is no doubt in my mind that the season hinges on the O-line being great which is why I’ve deluded myself into liking franchising Stacey Andrews) and provide stability for Carson so that he can throw for 4,000yds and 30tds. 

-The offense will be a top-5 offense that finishes games off behind a strong running game anchored by the reappearance of a healthy fresh Chris Perry (that we ever thought of signing the undead corpse of Shaun Alexander will be a distant afterthought). 

-Chad will be dancing in endzones across America while T.J. and Ben Utecht convert key third downs all season long. 

-The rookie receivers will replace most of Henry's production, and Rudi might even decide that he wants to break tackles again (Geoff Hobson tells me its going to happen so why not just pretend, it's easier trust me).

AFC North Preview (Unabridged Version)

As mini-camps start and rosters start to take form, we here at WhoDeyRevolution are taking our first stab at predicting the division. I am listing the teams in order of where I think they will finish this year—and yes, you’ll have to scroll down for a bit to find the Bengals.

The AFC North should be extremely competitive this year, in part because I see all four teams losing a lot of non-conference games. This year, the AFC North matches up with the tough NFC East division, including a solid Eagles team, playoff contending Washington Redskins, pre-season Super Bowl pick Dallas Cowboys, and oh yeah, the defending Super Bowl champion NY Giants. The schedule this year for all four teams means that, in terms of strength of schedule (based on 2007 finish), the Steelers have the hardest schedule in football, the Ravens are at #5, and the Browns and Bengals are tied with the seventh hardest schedule.

Given the tough slate of opponents, the intra-division battles should be even more intense. Overall, I don’t think any team in our division will win more than 11 games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team won the division at 10-6 or even 9-7. I give the nod to the Steelers, who have dominated in division play. The Browns—much like the Bengals—remain a wild card, but I don’t see either one overcoming glaring problems on defense. In the end, I think Marvin Lewis is right that smash-mouth football rules this division. We saw it last year when the Steelers completely controlled the tempo of both games our by pounding the ball. I think with the addition of Rashard Mendenhall, it will be more of the same.

Click here to read the preview (warning, it is very long).

2008 vs. 2007 - Personnel Comparison by Position

As we begin the slow part of the NFL year now that the draft is over, WDR will take a close look at each position in 2008 and compare it with that position in 2007. This investigation was due to the inability of the Cincinnati Bengals to make any substantive changes from the 2006 season to the 2007 season. 

From 2006 to 2007, the team’s composition was largely unchanged. Our biggest free agent signings were Michael Myers at defensive tackle and at linebacker, with Dhani Jones added after the season started. Another linebacker signing, Ed Hartwell, failed to even make the squad.

Further, no coaching changes were made between the 2006 and 2007 seasons. It is unclear how anyone could think a team that made minimal personnel changes and zero coaching changes (aside from Hue Jackson’s departure, which proved to be costly) could improve from one year to the next. But we certainly tried and failed in 2007. Meanwhile, other teams such as the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots, addressed major needs last offseason, which led to vast improvement in the 2007 season.

As such, we will take a look at what has been done so far. While veteran(s) who are cut from another team closer to training camp still potentially could be added and there is a small chance Chad Johnson is traded post June 1st for 2009 or 2010 draft picks, after the draft and the free agent frenzy have passed, the majority of the roster is largely in place. 

For each position, we will determine whether the projected starter for that position has improved, declined or stayed the same. There are obvious positions where no change is needed, such as quarterback. However, given that we were 7-9 last year and were not close to making the playoffs, maintaining the status quo at numerous positions, especially those that were the weakest, should be red flags for any team that has playoff aspirations.

We begin where the football does on every play, at center.

Bengals Ready to Purify Their Souls (Again)

They can't be serious, can they?

The Bengals have once again opened themselves up to a season of headaches, embarassment, and lack of production by signing college free agent WR Maurice Purify out of Nebraska.  If another team would make a signing like this, it is not as big of an issue.  The Bengals, however, have forfeited their right to take chances on high talent, low quality players like Purify or their 2008 5th round draft pick, Jason Shirley.  As years continue to pass by without a playoff win for the Bengals, it is becoming harder and harder for the organization to hide behind the cloak of "wanting to give a guy a second chance at life".  The supreme arrogance of this organization to stand in front of their fans and say that character matters, and then turn around and hire players like Shirley and Purify is astounding.

Mike Brown Thought Process, Prison = Experience

Isn't it odd that the terror alert level jumps to orange whenever the Bengals travel.

I’m not one to cast aspersions down on athletes with criminal records. I am one to deride the Bengals for continuing to draft players that may end up suspended. If I didn’t know any better I would think Mike Brown likes these suspendable players because he doesn’t have to pay their salary when they are taking a forced break from football.

With that outlook, why not sign Maurice Purify. He’s big, he can catch, he knows how to gain respect in an all male testosterone crazed environment where you lift weights all day under supervision. (I’m not talking about a training facility) It could be good in the sense that if the revolution ever goes from the screen to the streets, who better to lead the charge than a person who has spent time in the Bastille and surely knows how to fashion a shank.

WhoDeyRevolution Interview with Bengals Safety Chinedum Ndukwe

Well, our post on how the Bengals are not utilizing blogs and new media got noticed by at least one Bengal.  WhoDeyRevolution spoke with Bengals Safety Chinedum Ndukwe this morning about his goals for the season, the biggest eaters on the team, Madden 2009, his best friend Brady Quinn and more.

Here is a partial transcript of our conversation: 

WhoDeyRevolution (WDR): I am thinking about going to business school.  Any tips for getting into Harvard Business School? (Chinedum was one of the NFL players who attended HBS for 2 week course in February) 

Chinedum Ndukwe (CN): Well, I would suggest becoming a really good football player first…I really enjoyed the experience for a couple of weeks taking business classes on entrepreneurship investment strategy.

WDR: What advice would you give recent Elder grad and future Notre Dame Tight End Kyle Randolph about playing for the Irish under Coach Weis?

CN: For the transition from high school to college, you couldn’t ask for a better coach than Coach Weis. Everything he does is for a reason. You hear a lot of news about him being tough and being blunt but it is all tough love. He is genuine and you can trust him for who he is. 

WDR: Do you think that going to Notre Dame prepared you for the transition to the NFL better, being under the national spotlight and having the constant pressure?

CN: Definitely. At Notre Dame you are playing on such a huge stage with such high expectations….for me, the transition from college to the NFL wasn’t adjusting to the speed, it was more of a mental demand. You have to be more prepared on every play than in college. 

WDR: You went to high school with Brady Quinn in Columbus, do you guys still keep in touch?

CN: Oh yeah, we talk weekly. He is one of my best friends. 

WDR: Do you talk trash to him before or after the Bengals play the Browns?

CN: Yeah, but its all in good fun. I can’t wait to set up opposite him when he gets an opportunity to play. 

WDR: Did you grow up as a Bengals or a Browns fan?

CN: Bengals for sure.