No Attempt at Matt Birk? T.O. Cut

As I mentioned, the Laveranues Coles signing could be promising individually.  But the Bengals' free agency performance still has ignored the Bengals' greatest needs, Center and Offensive Tackle.  One of the two best Centers available, Matt Birk signed a 3 year, $12 million contract on Wednesday ($6 million guaranteed) with the Baltimore Ravens.  The other, Jason Brown, signed a 5 year deal worth $37.5 million with $20 million guaranteed (conceded that this contract was probably too rich).  Who knows if Birk would've ultimately come here but the contract was reasonable and the Bengals were not mentioned in connection with any attempt at signing Matt Birk or any Center for that matter.  While Laveranues Coleslaw definitely helps out after the loss of T.J., one has to be nervous about Carson or Crazy Legs Fitzpatrick [Insert Name of Crappy 2009 Backup QB] still playing behind a depleted offensive line that performed abysmally last year, and the potential of our running game continuing to suffer due to poor O-line play.  It is unclear why the Bengals' front office continually ignores our greatest needs. 2007 and 2008 starter, Eric Ghiaciuc has struggled mightily and he's a free agent this year.  If we bring him back, we know what to expect (horrid run game and opposing Defensive Tackles getting pressure on Carson).  If we don't bring him back, who will line up at Center?  At this point, it looks to be either a rookie or an average/below average free agent Center.  Both prospects are not promising in the short term.  Perhaps Bobbie Williams will move over (a reader, Randall, pointed out that he is now listed as a G/C on the Bengals roster) but as we recall, that never got off the ground last year and if he did move over, his effectiveness at the position is uncertain and a need is created at Guard.  While Coles helps us to digest the T.J. loss and is an interesting change, the needs at OT, Center, FB and even a #2 RB still exist.  It's tough to imagine us addressing all of those positions in the draft, especially for the 2009 season.

In completely unrelated news that the Bengals should not concern themselves with but is nonetheless interesting and surprising (but not as interesting and surprising as ESPN will surely make it out to be), the Dallas Cowboys cut Terrell Owens.

Comments

[Scott Ricketts]

Mike is a redeemer, who knows, we may see T.O. here before the end of the season.

[K. Phelps]

Jason brown got signed, not Jason Smith. Jason smith is the offensive tackle that the Bengals MUST get in the draft. Jason Brown is the rams current Center.

[K. Phelps]

Also I would like to question why we don't trust Kenny Watson or even James Johnson at RB #2. We have 3 RBs now, and we really need to focus on O-Line and FB before #2 RB. Even #2 QB is more important right now, although if we sign JP Losman I'll be happy. Here is what I suggest Mikey Boy does:

1. Sign JP Lossman
2. DRAFT JASON SMITH
3. DRAFT ALEX MACK (trade up for a higher draft pick if you don't feel comfortable waiting 'till the 2nd round for him)
4. Sign Leonard Weaver or Heath Evans for FB
5. Maybe try to find a good LB
6. Find a back up RB (since we already have 2 good back ups)

Thats how I see it

[randy]

Well it looks like we're going to end up with JT O'Sullivan for our backup. We'll see if they actually sign him.

[Who Dey NYC]

Thanks K. Phelps...corrected.

[Rich]

Yeah, I'm with whomever had said on these comment boards that Birk should have been courted before Laveranues Coles. And Coles over T.J. - that just screams that the Bengals wanted T.J. gone. Either that or that the Bengals are just total fucking idiots. Unfortunately, either idea is equally plausible.

I really like WDR's idea of buying and wearing the jerseys over over-hyped, ex-Bengals. You know, go get yourself an Odell Thurman jersey and wear it. I'm just wondering if it would be acceptable if I went ahead and got a Laveranues Coles jersey in advance of this ending poorly in 2-3 years.

[Tim]

The Bengals should go after TO immediately. I know that he has ruined 2 great teams and was well on his way to ruining the Cowboys but the bengals have nothing to lose. TO can't ruin the Bengals, he can't even hurt them. They are just going to continue screwing it up anyway.

When I was in school, they told us about adding two negatives together to get a positive. With this knowledge, I theorize that TO will completely fix the Bengals, as well as bring together the team and the fanbase :)

We will get him at a discount anyways. He wants a good QB and no team with a good QB would even consider taking him (he mentioned Indy or New England lol). We have Carson, who is by far the best QB he stands a chance of playing with next year, and we have nothing to lose.

Plus, we could finally cut Chad!

[PAl]

The Coles signing is looking much better to me now. If Laveranues wasn't signed by Mikey yesterday, TO would be speaking behind a microphone to the local media at MBS right now.

[Aaron]

I was thinking that since the Boys cut T.O., maybe we could trade them Ocho Cinco for a lineman(either side) or LB and a mid to late round pick.

Chad's younger and significantly less mouthy than Owens as long as his team is doing good. That is exactly what Dallas would want right now and this would allow the Bengals to move Coles up to #1 and build a new offensive identity for the team.

PS: As a current Seattle resident I'm really sad to see T.J. leave the Bengals, but at least I'll be able to watch him on a regular basis now.

[ItmightbeJB]

Stay far away from T.O. Has anyone heard any news about Jeremi Johnson lately? Has he eclipsed the 400 lb. mark yet? I think either Eugene Monroe or Jason Smith will be there at #6 and the Bengals have to go after either of them. Then they gotta hope one of the three big time centers last until the 2nd round. I can't fathom the thought of watching Giachuck getting pushed back into Carson's knees again.

[Legs]

It makes me sick to think that Coles will be taking the legendary #11 worn by our very own crazy legs fitzpatrick