More Mouth Watering Than a Steak Collinsworth

I thought only Jeff Ruby could make my mouth water this much, with his succulent Steak Collinsworth, but last night, I was proved wrong.  As I was doing my nightly perusing of the Interweb, I stumbled upon a little article on ESPN.com titled, Haynesworth to Cash in with Probowl.  The article intrigued me so I clicked.

As I began reading my jaw basically dropped as far as it could go and I began to salivate.  Why you ask?  Because of this quote, "When Haynesworth was named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, it triggered a clause in his contract guaranteeing he can become an unrestricted free agent after this season."

Albert Haynesworth, arguably the greatest defensive tackle in the game, could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.  Now, I am not a football genius.  I do not know what the salary cap limitations are for the Bengals, I do not even know where to research that in order to find out, but what I do know is that Albert Haynesworth would instantly make the Cincinnati Bengals a contender (remember Carson should be back for the beginning of next season). 

We at WDR understand the need for a player like Haynesworth.  Four of the six WDR Manifesto Demands  (left side of the screen) discuss the Bengals management doing everything in their power to win a Super Bowl (Haynesworth would put us on the correct path).  Even the fearless leader of our beloved Bengals, Mikey B, knows that the Defensive Tackle position is a concern/necessity.  In the off season they tried to sign not one, but two, big named free agents, but unfortunately due to a lack of understanding of how to fill out paperwork, both trades fell through.

So, let's take a look back at the disaster that is the 2008-9 Cincinnati Bengals season.  What is the biggest issue with the Bengals today? (Besides the record, and temporary Quarterback, and the uncertainty of whether TJ/Chad will stay, and the lack of a fullback, and the fact that Mike Brown is the owner, and the fact that we don't have an indoor practice facility, and the fact that I still own a Justin Smith jersey).  Two words.  Pass Rush.  We have zero pass rush.

Mike Zimmer has done a great job at molding the Bengals defense into a semi respectable unit (minus the sack department).  For the first time in a while, I feel comfortable saying I (mostly) like the potential on the Bengals defense.  The tandem of Ndukwe and Marvin White (or Chris Crocker, my new favorite Bengal) is fairly solid.  We have two first round picks playing corner back.  With Keith Rivers pure talent and Dhani Jone's leadership, the linebacking core will only continue to get better.  Pat Sims looks like he might be the real deal, so why not pair him with a truly great wingman.  With two solid defensive tackles, our two defensive ends Antwan Odom and Robert Gathers might actually be worth the amount of money spent on them.

Now, would bringing in a player like Hanyesworth automatically make the 2009-10 Cincinnati Bengals the team to beat?  No, but it would sure make them a contender.  Sure, there have been a few blowouts this season, but I think its pretty hard to keep the game close when your defense is out on the field for 80% of the game.

I know I am wishing against wish...hoping against hope...but having a player with the caliber of Haynesworth is exactly what this franchise needs to turn the team around.  How great would you feel hearing these three names in the starting line up.  Carson Palmer, TJ Houshmanzadeh, and Albert Haynesworth.  Brings a tear to me eye.

Viva la Revolucion.

Comments

[Sleeping With Bieniemy]

"but laying a player with the caliber of Haynesworth is exactly what this franchise needs to turn the team around."

Now that's how you attract free agents!

[Joel]

The Bengals should have plenty of cap space next year, given that Deltha, Rudi and Willie were let go prior to this season. Also, Stacy Andrews will likely be gone as well, freeing up additional cap space.

http://cap.go-bengals.com/

http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?team=7&year=2008

[Who Dey NYC]

My first reaction to this is no freaking chance. Be that as it may, you are absolutely correct. If we are demanding change, this is the type of signing that would 100% signify we are there.

Unfortunately, I have very little confidence in us even pursuing him. Haynesworth is this year's Asante Samuel and there will be multiple suitors. We generally like to have 0 or 1 other suitor (see Utecht, Odom).

Either way, you are right to harp on this.

[Indiana Bengal]

Sounds Beautiful, aspecially if we pick up LB Ray Mulago ( usc) or LB James Laurinaitis (Ohio State) through the draft. We need depth at linebacker and one of these picks could be imediate difference makers saying theyre there for our picking.

[Ocho Stinko]

Wow looking at that salary cap schedule has totally depressed me.
1. Most of those stiffs are overpaid (jones, andrews, etc etc)
2. Alot of them are no longer on the team
3. And the remainder are on the IR.

[Flash]

Signing Haynesworth would be dicey. One, he's a head case...two, he only seems to have monster seasons during contract pushes...and three, he may be coming off a knee injury. Someone will pay this guy a ton of cash. I think it would a be a huge risk...but probably worth it.

The only thing that would be worse than drafting a running back in the first round...would be wasting a first round pick on James Laurinaitis. Most. Overrated. Player. Ever.

[NOendINsight]

Number one, this will never ever, ever, ever happen. Not only will it not happen, you won't even hear the Bengals name associated with Big Al. Mike Brown would never sign a big name free agent. NEVER!

[Bustin Smith]

As impossible as it is...we can all dream, right?

[KTRB]

I agree with you about Laurinaitis, Flash, but wouldn't it be sweet to have half of The Road Warriors in the stands every home game?

[Jason8674]

I love the reasoning, but the first thing any rational Bengals fan would say is "he'd never come here". This is part of the problem with Mikey Boy. We've been a disfunctional franchise for so long, no top flight free agent will ever give us a look. We might have to seriously overpay just to break the trend, ala Reggie White in G.B. in 1992?

[K. Phelps]

I personally wouldn't trust Marvin White, or David Jones for that matter, with the task of tackling a sloth. We have alot of talent on defense, unfortunately we lack O'Neal, but we can get past it. The talent on defense is unfortunatly undermined by the lack of Marvin White to understand that when you tackle someone you have to put your arms around him. Maybe he doesn't want to look gay by not hugging another man, but he and Jones need to get in the habit of wrapping up the ball carrier. I recall that game against the Packers, Mr. White decided it would be smart to run into Driver instead of wrap him up, they ended up with a TD. Yes, Marvin White has good hands for an FS and David Jones makes an occasional good play, but they are consistently bad at tackling. Hopefully a Haynesworth on the team with get us the tackling we need. The one thing Mike Zimmer has yet to do is really improve the team's tackling.

[bringbackgregcook]

The priority should be to draft offensive and defensive lineman ONLY, and sign whichever free agents at those positions (who don't suck, that is) are willing to come to Cincinnati. If you can control the line of scrimmage, the other positions barely matter. At least that would get us 6-8 wins, which is a heck of a lot better, on average, than we typically can expect from a Mike Brown "constructed" team. My guess is that Junior is infatuated with Graham Harrell - which should lead to about 10 wins over the next 5 seasons...

[WC]

The Bengals could have four Albert Haynesworth's and it wouldn't put them within sniffing distance of a jock from the Steeler/Cowboy/Patriot/Tennessee teams! That's how piss-poor depleted that the Bengals are -- on both offense and defense.

Think about it... the Bengals have no real linebackers. They need one great one and at least one good one. They have no defensive backs. They need four good ones. They have Mr. Samoan, Peco, he's treading water. So basically they need a minimum of seven good -- or better defensive players. Then do you really want to talk about the offense? A new offensive line is needed. We got a pricey Tight-End with which we don't throw to -- so let's dump his salary and put it towards enticing a lineman? We suck in the backfield and Palmer still isn't a sure thing with his elbow. So now as for starters... we needs at least 14 good to better players! Anyone thinkin' Haynesworth is going to provide that? Go see a doctor because your 'nucking futs!' Basically, the Bengals are the team with all the POS's in the NFL. They need virtually everything.

You state that we have no pass rush... it's worse than that... ...We have no running game. We have no current quarterback as 'The Mind' Fitzpatrick needs to go back home and tend bar! Because we have no QB, we realistically don't have too much of a passing game -- and judging by everyone probably leaving via FA -- it isn't going to get any better. We can't stop the run and force the opposition to pass because our linebackers can't find their assholes with a fucking map! We can't stop the pass because we have no defenisve backs. Where does it end? You'd be better firing everyone and trying to build the team with one draft because the quality that you'd get that way would be no worse than we already have now -- excepting that it wouldn't be as expensive. That's how pathetic this team is. We have a kicker and a 'possible' QB -- oh, and I forgot -- the perennial longsnapper one Brad St. Louis!

My bet is if everyone fell into the Bengals laps and there top three picks turned out to be phenominal players, the Bengals would still be four years away from making the playoffs -- if all the other teams play to their potential.

...And again... just what in the FUCK would an indoor practice facility add to the situation? Are you stuck on that for some reason? You do know that the Bengals played 'how many' games indoors this year? Indianapolis and Houston... that's ALL. That means that the Bengals have to play outside all the other times and be exposed to the elements. You don't train in conditions that don't mimic what you will play in! If you want to bitch about something indoors -- bitch about the fact that Brown and that stupid fucking city council and equally retarded two county commisioners decided to build an open air stadium instead of a dome that might just be able to be used for other events (and therefore bring in more revenue...) and actually make sense! Then you can gripe about having an indoor practice facility.

All in all, if you are going to bitch about something, make damned sure that there is a reason to back up why you are bitchin'.

[The Real Tyke Beasly]

Well, WC is obviously a bit angry. He wants to practice in what you play in? Isn't that a Mike Brown quote? We have a real linebacker named Keith Rivers, but do need another. We have two solid corners who have only been in the league for 3 years combined, give them time.

What I really wanted to talk about was trading T.J. Now before everyone goes crazy, think about it. He is either gone next year or we franchise him and he's gone the next year. If you can trade him for a good starting O lineman, DO IT! (plus a draft pick would be preferable) Wide reciever is the easiest position on a football team to replace. Carson is your team, protecting him is your number one priority. Plus, if he has 5 or 6 seconds to throw the ball every play, he's going to find someone open. I think Utecht can be Carson's "T.J" if T.J isn't here. Run a two tight-end set with Reggie Kelly who is an excellent blocker and let Utecht run some real routes that aren't just safety dump offs. I'd also deal Chad if we could get O line or D line help and the salary cap hit wasn't too big, but T.J. is better trade bait right now.

[Deric]

We will not get Haynesworth. For one, he will want to go to a winner, or two, he will go to a team offering a RIDICULOUS amount of cash. Hello...Mikey is dreading paying a top 5 draft pick already. Haynesworth won't even be on our radar. I just cant wait to see how the 2008 mess will morph into the 2009 mess. How will they screw up situations with Chad, TJ, CedBen, etc?? I see them letting TJ go, keeping chad through another offseason of rants from agent Drew Rosenhaus, Letting CedBen go, Drafting Beanie Wells, Drafting another "project" center, signing maybe 2-3 "no-name" cheap free agents for the o and d lines, announcing Ocho & Henry the starting WR's, and putting off surgery for Carson, only to watch the tendon in his elbow snap in week one like a stick of baseball card bubble-gum. Oh...and another season of Marvins infuriating chuckle-filled post-loss press conferences...at least til he is fired & Bratkowski is announced as Coach. But this is just my prediction.

[reginald]

So WC...let's get this straight. You think we're ridiculous for trying to change the organization and you think the Bengals have zero hope. Why in the world do you still follow this team?

[TigerJ@w]

reginald, because he is a she and that is Katie posting.

[TigerJ@w]

btw, the reason we will never get a guy like Haynesworth is because Mike Brown will screw it up, e.g... Shaun Rogers (2009 Pro Bowler). and the Commish will never let it happen. Enough said......

[Groundhog Day]

WC....you are missing the point. Teams in Northern climates need an indoor facility due to weather in November and December. What if it rains in Cincinnati all weak in November? What good is it to practice in the rain four straight days? That is stupid. An indoor facility is a GOOD THING to have. The Bengals are the northern-most team in the NFL without one of these. This type of facility shows that the Bengals are serious and care about having effective practice sessions in bad weather. UC Bearcats want one and will get one. Why? Because its help when the weather is bad outside. It is just not effective to practice in snow or driving rain. If they felt it was good to mimic these conditions, they could always go outside. Ohio State has one....they are pretty good at football.

As for your other beefs...the Bengals have many missing pieces. No argument there - although I think you a little hard on some of the position groups.

Chill out and have a beer.

[Mockenrue]

Everyone seems to be saying that either

1) This is a brilliant idea and we should do it or
2) It will never happen because Mike Brown doesn't sign big names

What happened to the realistic option? That no player who cares about his future would ever sign here? This is the same logic that criticizes the Bengals for not getting a deal done with Houshmandzadeh. "Why haven't they signed him yet? They really need to get that deal locked up!"

Have you ever thought that Housh is simply too smart a person to ever want to come back here? I can almost guarantee you that he told his agent near the beginning of this abysmal season, "Do not make a deal with this franchise under any circumstances for any reason," then put it out of his mind.

Similarly, I have to think that someone with an NFL future as bright as Albert Haynesworth's would never, for any amount of money, come to the Bengals. The man has nothing to prove as far as talent, can start anywhere, can get his asking price from any number of clubs, and there are 31 options that don't include Mike Brown.

Can we stop talking now about big name free agents we want here? Until the ownership structure changes, you will simply see more Dexter Jacksons and the occasional Antwan Odom. This is the Bengals reality.