Odom Injured
The Bengals season started off with a bang this morning, as free-agent defensive end Antwan Odom went down with an ankle injury in the first practice of training camp. Many observers, Bengals.com Geoff Hobson included, said the injury looked 'major'.
Here at WDR, we hope the Bengals (and Bengals fans) do not use the Odom injury as an excuse. EVERY team goes through injuries, and while Odom is the highest paid free agent in club history...if the Bengals were counting on him alone to take this team from 7-9 to a Super Bowl...we are in trouble.
It's time for other players to step up. If the injury is serious, Mr. Frostee Rucker, come on down. Jonathan Fanene and Eric Henderson could see time at end as well. Last year in the playoffs, the Chargers lost both their starting quarterback, and starting running back...on the road in Indy...and still found a way to win. That's what the Bengals need to do, find a way.
Maybe, this injury serve as a metaphor for the season. The road to winning the AFC North, especially this season, will be very difficult. And I'm not even including the other three teams in the division. The Bengals have a large number of personal demons to exorcise, and the injury excuse is a big one.
Of course, we hope Odom's injury is just an ankle sprain and he hangs a pair of sacks on the Packers two weeks from tonight in Green Bay. However, just in case it's more than an ankle sprain, let's hope the Bengals find a few players to step up and do what the other 31 NFL teams do when injury strikes.
They persevere.
The Bengals will respond by singing a free agent who went to HS near Cincy.
Posted by: Andrew Simon | July 28, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Left foot sprain according to Lance's blog...that sounds better to me than "major injury." The sky is not yet falling. Yet.
Posted by: WhoDeyNYC | July 28, 2008 at 04:53 PM
ESPN.com is reporting that Troy Blackburn pulled his vagina today while watching practice. Severe sprain. I wonder if anyone can confirm this?
Posted by: Kenny Irons | July 28, 2008 at 07:30 PM
How about a trade: Stacy Andrews for Albert Haynesworth? Yeah, AH is a troubled soul, but he's also a freaking badass and hasn't had any run-ins with the law for quite some time. I've heard this thrown out there as a potential trade--would possibly make sense since neither team looks like they will be able to sign their guy to a long-term deal. We would probably have to give up a late round draft pick, but I'd be fine with that.
Of course, I am pulling a Mike Brown by going after a troubled guy, but man we need help on the D-line. 6-10 this season.
Posted by: Steve Mayne | July 29, 2008 at 12:22 AM