With rumors floating around the labor talks that a new CBA agreement might not be reached until September, there is really only one team that is in an untenable position as the draft approaches and that is the Cincinnati Bengals.
Forgotten about, thrown in the dustbin and considered an accepted loss, the Cincinnati Bengals are easily the most vilified, downtrodden franchise in the NFL and for good reason. A history of bad management, dubious coaching decisions, and historically terrible draft picks, the Cincinnati Bengals are a team that has been floundering in the bloody waters of the NFL since the loss of its founder Paul Brown in 1991.
Each time it seems that the beleaguered Bengals have found a way out of the hole, some terrible incident comes along and reshuffles the deck on the Bengals, sending them back to the bottom. This time it is their franchise quarterback Carson Palmer.
Having decided enough is enough, Palmer has threatened retirement rather than returning to the helm of the team. Whether he should or shouldn’t retire or retract his demand for a trade is not for me to say. Every man has his limits and if Carson Palmer has reached his, well then good luck to the man. Ownership continues spouting the positives, as it should. "We want him to re-up and we want him back in good spirit and my belief is in time he will come around," Mike Brown said.
However, with the looming labor crisis in the NFL, and no way for the coaching staff to even communicate with Carson Palmer, the Cincinnati Bengals are left with no options as far as its quarterback situation goes. Backups Jordan Palmer and Dan LeFevour are not starting quarterbacks and yet rumors still abound that the Bengals might actually reach out in the draft and take wide receiver A.J Green from Georgia.
This talk need to end.
It is time for Bengals ownership as well as its coaching staff to step forward and start making decisions that could make or break the future of the Cincinnati Bengals. With no proven quarterback, the Bengals could have the best wide receiver corp in the history of the league and still end up in the cellar with the rebuilding Cleveland Browns.
Article comments
1 - CincyB
Just say NO to Akili 2.0! No QB in this draft is worth the #4 pick.
Draft defense at 4 and O-line at 35 and hope you can find a QB to groom in the 3rd rd like Andy Dalton. Then just find a "John Kitna type" journeyman QB that can get you thru the season. If it all falls apart draft Andrew Luck or Landry Jones next yr.
2 - Cullen
I agree no way I am taking a QB at 4 unless it's Andrew Luck, who we know isn't coming out this year. I go D-line or CB. Preferably we would not take a QB in this draft. We would go with what we have and draft Luck next year.
3 - C. David Apgar
Alright, Alright! :) That's what I wanna hear, some growls coming out of the Bengals Den! Show the world you got some claws!
Both of your points are valid, nobody wants another Akili Smith situation (although I think Newton is way more talented than Akili ever was but I digress). So you don't agree, then who is to be?
If Big Cat Carson Palmer decides it's time to set out the rest of his career, because we know it will take a stroke for Mike Brown to let him go, who's it to be...bi-polar Vince Young, mediocre Kevin Kolb, aging Donovan McNabb, injury prone Chad Pennington, dismal failure Matt Leinart? Or do we depend on unproven Jordan Palmer and the rookie Dan LeFevour?
Also, if not a QB at #4 then give me some names folks not generalities. I hear D-line but what about O-line? Our front five was as porous as swiss cheese last year, what do we do with that situation?
This is our franchise folks, we pay for the tickets, buy the gear, and shed the tears so let your voices be heard. Growl and roar!
Reporting from deep inside Bengals Nation,
C. David Apgar
4 - CincyB
Unfortunately, there are no O'linemen worth the #4 pick either. All of the value at that spot is going to be on the defensive side of the ball. We're guaranteed to get one of...
Robert Quinn DE
Marcel Dareus DT
Nick Fairley DT
D Bowers DE
Von Miller OLB
ALL of those guys would be great additions and all well worth the #4 pick.
Danny Watkins OG, would be a FANTASTIC pick-up in rd 2! He'll be an instant starter and upgrade at LG.
5 - CincyB
Also, as far as Cam...he might have all of the athletic talent in the world, but he'll NEVER be able to read an NFL defense and if you're going to be a successful NFL QB that is an absolute must.