Courtesy of Joe Reedy, Ben Utecht will be out for the year after suffering the 5th concussion of his career. It's sad whenever a player has to miss extended time due to injuries. My condolences to the Utecht clan.
With that being said, Utecht is the last guy I would expect to get laid low by injury. That spiritual album he dropped should have shaved a couple tenths of a second off his 40 time, not had him put on the IR. Maybe God is a speed metal guy?
Anyway, who else is excited for the inevitable Tom Nelson at TE discussion during one of the final two Hard Knocks.
Mike Brown, "So what about Nelson at TE? The guy has moves. You don't see swiveling hips like those everyday."
Coach Hayes, "Kill me now."
This is bad news, and certainly having your bell rung that bad that many times does not bode well. Best of luck to Ben Utecht.
That being said, I am really interested to see if Chase Coffman is NFL quality, like one of my favorite writers Jason Whitlock claims.
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/1155419.html
Posted by: Rich | August 31, 2009 at 06:10 PM
Rich, this caught my eye from that article you linked.
"He will be a high-impact rookie, a difference-maker for some quarterback, an easy-to-exploit weapon for a creative offensive coordinator."
What piece of the puzzle delineated here do you see missing in Cincinnati? I'll give you a hint - it's not Carson Palmer.
Posted by: Mockenrue | August 31, 2009 at 06:37 PM
Good point, Mockenrue. We do lack a creative offensive coordinator.
They'll probably use him primarily as a blocker......
Posted by: Rich | August 31, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Time to pad the ol' Dan Coats stat sheet again in 2009, I fear.
Posted by: Mockenrue | August 31, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Easily, one of the most useless FA signings this team has ever had...
Posted by: TJanns | September 01, 2009 at 02:26 PM
I see in the Enquirer where Coats has been named the starter. Apparently there isn't a proven veteran, like Bubba Franks, available in the open market.... oh, wait a minute.....
Posted by: Robinsgr | September 01, 2009 at 03:42 PM
any of you f@gs that equates a player getting injured to a player being useless is a pathetic human being. you don't have what it takes to stand up and take a piss let alone play one snap in spring t'shirt/shorts walk-throughs. don't breed.
Posted by: votasi | September 01, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Ok, so KiJana Carter wasn't a bust then? I wouldn't be a bust, because I'M NOT A DAMN FOOTBALL PLAYER! You wouldn't expect anything out of me. When you are getting considerably less than expect, no matter the circumstances, thats a bust.
And believe me, votasi, I can stand up and take piss, I just did it.
Posted by: Slack | September 01, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Good for you Slack, you pissed by yourself.
Commenter's on this site need to stop bitching about Bubba Franks. Seriously when was the last time that guy was relevant? See the way it works is in the next week or so around 600 players will be cut from NFL rosters. I would be willing to bet there is a decent tight end in there. Probably a lot younger than Mr. Franks. Maybe the Bengals will sign one and he can contribute?
Before you come back with something stupid look up the stats on Dhani Jones. Also a player that the Bengals picked up that was cut. Does he help out the defense at all?
Posted by: WhoDeyFans | September 01, 2009 at 08:35 PM
Votasi, I'm trying to see things from your point of view, but I CAN'T GET MY HEAD THAT FAR UP MY ASS!!!
Do you ever have anything constructive to say, or are you just a motor-mouth pile of silly putty? Grow some self esteem.
Nag, nag, nag. You are such a nagger.
Posted by: MikeBrownGivesFreeBlumpies | September 02, 2009 at 09:57 AM
Whodeyfans,
My previous post is the first time I have mentioned Bubba Franks, and I was only using him as an example of a proven veteran tight end that was available on the open market when Kelly went down during the first week of training camp. Now they've lost Utecht and the projected starter is a guy they moved to fullback last year, before moving him back to tight end this year.
I agree there will be some good tight end available after the final cuts, but there are two problems with this;
First, anyone they pick up will not know the system and will be joining the team a week before the season. If they would have signed a veteran a couple weeks ago, they would already be learning the system and could contribute in week one.
Second, just because the Bengals could, and should, sign another tight end, there is no guarantee MB will.
I like Dhani Jones - I do - But he did not contribute until he learned the system. And you have to remember that he was released because Philly(?) believed they had two players on their roster better than him at the same position. How good would one of those guys have been if they were here instead of Jones? He is not a great player because he starts for the Bengals - he is simply the best they have at this time, at his position (see Daniel Coats, TE).
And before you come back with something stupid (to use your own words), remember that a defensive system is designed to free up the mike linebacker, which makes their stats look great. If he isn't leading the team in tackles, it is his own fault.
Posted by: Robinsgr | September 02, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Robinsgr,
Nice response. Mostly when you disagree with someone on this site you get called a Mike Brown lover or whatever. I also wasn't calling you out on Bubba Franks, it is just I have seen his name a bunch in the comments. This is a guy who has only played in 8 games in the last two seasons and had 4 catches last year. Will the fans be happy with a tight end that makes a meaningless catch in every other game he plays in?
To correct you on Dhani, while he did play with Philly, he was a Saint in the 2007 preseason. (Actually played against the Bengals.) He was cut on September 1st and the Bengals signed him on September 19th. On the 23 he played and had a team high 7 tackles that game.
I get the defensive transition is probably easier than the offensive player (TE). I think though that a younger guy just cut from a camp where he has been working out would get acclimated much faster than a 31 year old tight end on the back side of his career.
Now, if Mike Brown decides to do this or not I don't think anyone can predict.
Posted by: WhoDeyFans | September 02, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Whodeyfan,
Great response.
I was unsure if Dhani was with Philly before coming here, or if he had been with someone in between, which is why I had the question mark behind his name. But I do like Dhani. He brings a lot of energy to the team.
Since the Bengals failed to sign a proven veteran TE earlier in camp, I agree that, at this point, a younger player would be better because whoever they sign at this point is going to have to deal with a learning curve as the season starts. And as you stated, some good TEs will be on the market in a few days. I just think MB missed the boat by not addressing the need earlier.
I believe we do agree on two things;
We love the Bengals.
We want what is best for the team.
Posted by: Robinsgr | September 03, 2009 at 08:56 AM