What We Learned About the Bengals Last Night

Last night was the kickoff for the new NFL season with the Hall of Fame game in Canton! We saw the Bengals scrimmage with the Cowboys and I think we already learned a few things. So what have we learned?

T.O. is going to work as a Bengal

Carson Palmer looked like he was more than comfortable going to Owens often and hit him on a quick out route. T.O looked like he fit right in.

Quan Cosby will not be a Bengal much longer

Jordan Shipley returned a punt almost 50 yards in the second half, and like that he took Cosby's spot. I don't see the Bengals cutting Andre Caldwell so the last receiver spot is between Jerome Simpson, Cosby, and Shipley. Whoever wins that spot will have to provide value in some other way such as returning kicks. Shipley is that guy.
Hide ya kids, hide ya wives! They sackin' everybody out here!

The Bengals first unit could not protect Carson Palmer. If you are a Bengal fan you had to be concerned with what you saw last night. Carson took more than a few big shots in the pocket. If the T.O. and Antonio Bryant signings are ever going to pay off your quarterback needs time to throw the ball.

Antonio Bryant Gives Terrell Owens #81

And like that, the first fire in Cincinnati is quietly put out.

Of course the network tried to make a big deal of this on 'First and 10' but Antonio Bryant has shown that he isn't going to feed into the drama. He quietly switched jersey numbers saying "he has a larger legacy than me." That it, no drama, no money exchanged, no dinners, nothing. Just a quick statement and business goes on as usual.

I'm glad that the Bengals have worked this out internally and it didn't become a media spectacle.

How Chad OchoCinco Will Tweet During NFL games

The Bengals Need To Trade CJ Now

As I said in this post, it would behoove the Bengals to go ahead and deal Chad Johnson now. The Redskins offered a first in this years draft and a third which would be a first if incentives are met in 2009. And the Bengals said? No deal.

Idiots!

Yes, Chad Johnson has your franchise by the balls right now and it's not fair. Yes he does not have to get traded but this guy clearly wants out and if he does play he will be a lame duck. Think Randy Moss in Oakland. No one wants that kind of cancerous cell on their team. Both parties would benefit greatly from a clean break.

For the Bengals, they benefit with two first round picks in a very solid draft class. They could take Sedrick Ellis at 9 if he's there and then take a few WRs later, such as James Hardy with the other first rounder and someone like Darius Reynaud or Jordy Nelson sometime later. Cut the cancer before he spreads Marvin, he will kill you locker room.

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Will Ocho Force The Bengals To Take a WR?

Ocho, ocho. Good ol' cinco. The Bengals flamboyant WR has certainly caused a stir recently, going to ESPN and making comments against his coach and franchise. Chad may not be wrong when he says the Bengals are cheap and uncommitted to winning but he is certainly not going about trying to get traded the right way.

Cincinatti claims that under any circumstances they will not trade Ocho, but should they? I'd say yes. It's been proven time and time again that a great WR will not deliver a championship by himself. And when that WR wants to leave on the next Greyhound, things are worse. The Bengals could quietly end the Chad Johnson Chris Henry AJ Nicholson etc. era, build a team of great character around Carson Palmer and allow him to become the leader he needs to be to get them to the promise land.

A great WR cannot bring you championships alone. But a great QB, with a team of great character and talent at the skill positions will. With that said, the Bengals should trade CJ, grab a couple of WRs in the top of the 3rd & 4th rounds (they found CJ in the 2nd and TJ in the 7th) and draft defense exclusively on the first day.

If I were trying to fix the Bengals that's what I would do. Let CJ walk, he doesn't want to be there anyways and dividing your locker room is not worth it for any WR. Ask the Minnesota Vikings who seem to be doing pretty well now after letting Randy Moss go about 5 summers ago.