Maybe it is because he can no longer break a big one and has some trouble holding onto the ball.

So it comes as no surprise that he is continuing to bitch and moan that the Bengals have not focused him on offense. Never mind the fact that the Bengals made the playoffs or the fact that they were nervous he was going to get a sizable suspension for beating up some guy in Texas. He is upset he did not get more carries.

I wonder if I am the only one that is tired of his act so I look at some of the comments on the latest news on ProFootballTalk.

Ced had the seventh-most carries in the NFL despite missing a game and a half. Don’t know what he has to gripe about.

And the Bengals made the playoffs…by not running it as much.
They tried in the beginning of games, but kudos to Jay Gruden for realizing it wasn’t working and switched it up to passing on first/second downs, here and there.
Whether that was the line’s fault or Ced’s, it doesn’t matter.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.

The Bengals had 455 carries this year, good for 10th in the league. They had 535 attempts, which ranked 20th. It would appear that the Bengals counted on the run more than your average team. You can whine about “identity” all you want, but which is more likely to succeed: a pass from Dalton to Green, or a handoff to Cedric Benson? I rest my case.

Yeah, people are just as tired of it as I am.

The Bengals are an exciting young team. Most of the players seem to be out there to help the TEAM win and it seems Benson has fallen in the act of looking out for his own stats. Really, he could be under a large deal right now if he could keep himself out of trouble.

Good luck to Benson in the future, I am sure teams will line up to sign an overpriced running back who cries when he doesn’t get the offense run his way.

“He better get better or he won’t be good enough,” Gruden says. “You have to be great at that position…”

I love that.

Obviously Gruden believes that Andy is up to the challenge. With the bar set by last season’s performance, Gruden–like fans–want to raise it.

One of the keys to raising Andy’s level of play comes in improving the hands on the receiving end of the ball. Getting Jordan Shipley back to roam the middle with Gresham should help. So will getting a more productive receiver than the Incredible Disappearing Mr. Simpson.

In commenting on that strategy to do that very thing, Hobson said something that immediately caught my eye because it was not what I wanted to read.

Conventional wisdom is that the Bengals head to the combine seeking a running mate for Green at the other starting wide receiver and a No. 1 running back…

I steadfastly contend that free agency is the better way to fill the need for a #2 receiver. Even with Green and Shipley, the Bengals do not have time to wait for a rookie to develop and adjust to the speed of the pro level, which generally takes most of his first season.

But according to Hobson’s “conventional wisdom,” the front office is focused on finding that guy at the combine. Could it be that they are still haunted by the memory of Antonio Bryant and Laveranues Coles?

As good as he is, the Bengals would be crazy to go after Mike Wallace.

In the past few days, Bengals nation and some media types have become aflutter with the possibility of Cincinnati making a move for Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. Since the Steelers are tight against the salary cap, a deal could be structured that would make it difficult for Pittsburgh to bring Wallace back. However, because Wallace is expected to be a restricted free agent, the Bengals would have to surrender a first-round pick if they were to sign him.

And that my friends, is insane.

First, you have to understand the importance of a first-round pick. With the new rookie wage scale in place, first-round salaries have been held in check, allowing you to lock in a talented player for four years (or five, if the team uses its option) at a very reasonable rate. For Cincinnati, this would be a significant benefit considering how many of their key players will be approaching free agency in the coming seasons (Jermaine Gresham, Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, etc). The Bengals have to keep their salaries down as much as possible to ensure they can keep their talented core players together.

Second, you have to realize that there are some alternatives available that wouldn’t cost the team a first-rounder. Robert Meachem and Mario Manningham aren’t quite as good as Wallace, but they’re not that far off. And they wouldn’t cost that cherished first-round pick either. So think of it in trade terms. Would you rather have Meachem and a first-round pick (say Dre Kirkpatrick or David DeCastro) or just Mike Wallace? The answer should be obvious.

Luckily, I think Mike Brown realizes this. Brown has been rather reluctant to trade draft picks over the years, instead holding onto them like they’re a 12-year-old phone book on a Hoarders episode. Now, with the rookie wage scale in place, those picks are even more valuable.

Even Wallace, a Pro Bowl receiver who would energize the Bengals and weaken the Steelers, isn’t worth the sacrifice.

So it’s time to end the talk of acquiring him.

It’s all insane.

ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper concluded their video segment Draft Lab with a look at linebackers, defensive backs and some players who are risk or reward picks. Here are the videos:

The Bengals got a bit of a jump on free agency with the signing of former Detroit Lions running back Aaron Brown yesterday. Brown is heading into his fourth NFL season after having spent his first three seasons with Detroit, who selected him in the 6th round of the 2009 NFL draft.  Brown was cut by the Lions in November.

Brown is a former Horned Frog from TCU, and was a college teammate of Andy Dalton during Dalton’s Freshman and Sophomore years.  He was not invited to the NFL Combine that year, but did receive the attention of national scouting agencies and was predicted to go in the 6th-7th round.

Brown played a total of 22 games with the Lions, with 2 starts.  He finished with 45 attempts for 189 yards (a 4.2 yards per carry average) and caught 18 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.  In

Will Brown do backflips in Stripes?

college, he appeared in 41 games at TCU.  He collected 2596 rushing yards on 487 carries (a 5.3 average) with 20 touchdowns.  He also caught 81 passes for 857 yards and 5 scores.  Additionally, Brown has experience as a kick-off return man in both college and the pros. 

He is generally considered to be an extremely fast runner and quick through the hole.  On the negative side, he’s a bit on the thin side for a back, has thin legs and runs high.  He isn’t seen as a bell-cow back, but more of a change-of-pace runner and an excellent receiver.

Check out some video:

The Bengals got a good look at him in last year’s first pre-season game.  Brown got several opportunities in that contest back on August 12, 2011.  Brown finished with 21 yards on 4 rushes, and collected another 49 yards on 5 catches.

I don’t think this signing changes anything in terms of offseason planning for the Bengals.  They will still certainly kick the tires on some free agent backs and will likely draft at least one in April.  That said, I think Jay Gruden may see Brown as a good West Coast running back in the LaSean McCoy, Charlie Garner type of role.  Additionally, he may add value in the kick return game, where Brandon Tate disappointed last season.

What do you think of this signing?

The Bengals have announced the addition of Hue Jackson to the staff.

“Hue is a tremendous addition to our staff,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “I relied on Hue greatly when he was with us (in 2004-06), and his success overall in the NFL, including being selected for a head coaching position, is well documented. He has expertise in all aspects of the game, and we are fortunate to have obtained his services.”

“I just want to coach football. I have a long relationship with Marvin and I’m looking to helping and assisting whoever in trying to help the organization attain its goal,” Jackson said. “I’ve got a lot to learn, but who better to learn from than Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer? Those are two guys that I know and I’m comfortable with and Darrin is one the better special teams coaches in the league.”

It is also reported that former Raiders CB Stanford Routt is in town visiting the Bengals as well.

Stay tuned for more updates!

ESPN's Mel Kiper believes the Bengals should target offensive linemen and cornerbacks in the upcoming draft.

Draft guru Mel Kiper, the man who has played a major role in making the NFL Draft the fun-filled, fan-friendly event that it is today, spoke with me recently for my upcoming book, Draft Daze. As I’m known to do, I eventually steered the conversation toward our emerging Bengals. Kiper, as always, had some interesting things to say. Here’s what he thinks about Cincinnati’s needs and their draft plans, starting with pick No. 17.

“I think they have to look at the offensive line. The offensive line is obviously an area of need. They will be looking at running back too and corner is a pressing need as well. With Leon Hall’s injury, their most pressing need might be at corner. They have two first-round picks, maybe they’ll get Dre Kirkpatrick or Janoris Jenkins, or maybe they’ll look at an offensive guard, a guy like Cordy Glenn or David DeCastro.”

“It’s a great spot to be in and they had a heck of a draft last year. Marvin Lewis has done a great job. They’ve now won in four different eras. They made it to the Super Bowl and lost with Ken Anderson and then made it again and lost to San Francisco in a great Super Bowl with Boomer Esiason and Sam Wyche. Now they’re back in (the mix). Some of the Carson Palmer era was successful and now they have the Andy Dalton era. It’s really their fourth era of success.”

With Kiper and McShay both noting the Bengals’ draft position (great with two 1st rounders) and needs (none are overwhelming), it should be obvious that it’s a great time to be a Bengals fan. If the team can simply make solid selections with trouble-free players who are steady professionals, the team has a great opportunitty to produce a run of success that it hasn’t seen in a long time.

Bengals fans might also be interested to know that Kiper’s first draft with ESPN was the same year that Boomer Esiason was selected by the Bengals in the second round.

…

Many thanks to Mel for the interview in what is the football equivalent of tax season for an accountant. Follow Kiper’s work at ESPN’s Draft page, along with his analysis on Twitter (@MelKiperESPN) and his entertaining podcast, First Draft.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, two guys who were nice enough to talk Bengals football with us recently, are also analyzing a number of draft picks in their video segment, Draft Lab. In the latest episode, Kiper and McShay look at the offensive and defensive lines, two areas that the Bengals are likely to address in the draft. Here’s what they think about the prospects…

Mel Kiper has released his Mock 2.0

17. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

“The Bengals held up pretty well against the pass last year, but should look for the heir to Johnathan Joseph, whom they lost to Houston before the 2011 season. Kirkpatrick fits the bill as a big, physical corner who doesn’t give up much in coverage given his size (nearly 6-foot-3), which makes him particularly good inside the red zone. He’s also not one to shy away from run support. The Bengals need a running back, too, but they can find value at that position much later. Glenn is also an option if the Jets don’t make that pick.”

This is the pick that had me screaming for joy.

21. David DeCastro, G, Stanford

“I have guard as one of the top needs for the Bengals, and they won’t do any better than DeCastro at this spot. A player who plays with exceptional awareness, DeCastro is the kind of guard who helps you crack off bigger gains in the run and screen game because he gets a great initial punch, but will also get to the second level and throw great blocks out in space. Again, I don’t think Cincy gets enough value here at running back, but DeCastro helps the run game, too.”

I would absolutely LOVE it if the Bengals were to land DeCastro. Since he declared for the draft I have been dreaming of the Bengals selecting him. NOW, the chances of DeCastro being at 21 are NOT likely I don’t think, but you never know. Eric Steinbach was supposed to be a first rounder and he slipped.

How great would these two picks be for the Bengals? Let’s hope it happens!

A significant number of mock drafts are connecting Jenkins to the Bengals. Given Brown’s history of playing “redeemer” (and picking up talented-but-flawed players at a discount), the assumptions are understandable, even if irritating as a fan. The Bengals have done a far better job of drafting character guys the past couple of years, and most of us would like that trend to continue.

But if the Bengals could add a certain wrinkle, would you be more inclined to take a chance on Jenkins? (Side note: I am not a contract lawyer, so I have no idea if this idea would ever hold up.)

Performance clauses are commonplace in NFL contracts. What if the Bengals could add some sort of a “good boy” clause to a contract with Jenkins? Instead of paying a bonus up front, the Bengals retain a portion of his pay (and I mean a healthy portion, like half) that gets paid in full at the end of the season if, and only if, Jenkins is a good citizen and stays out of trouble. And if he should find his way into handcuffs, then he would also find himself forfeiting a large sum of money. If he needs a babysitter, like Josh Hamilton, then get him one to prove that this is about his own good and not hoping to score another discount. If money talks, losing half your earnings shouts to stay on the straight and narrow.

Jenkins would probably be reluctant to sign a deal with such a clause. It is sort of like a pre-nup in that the Bengals would be stating up front that they don’t trust him. (And why should they?) But if there is any man in the NFL equipped to play this kind of hardball and win, it’s Mike Brown.

Again, there could be legal issues that disallow a clause like this. But if Jenkins would sign a deal with this kind of clause, could you be OK with the Bengals drafting him? Or do you choose to avoid him, no matter how good he is, because of his past?

Even if the Bengals sign a running back in free agency, it’s likely they’ll select one in April’s draft as well. Fortunately, it’s a fairly deep draft class, headlined by Alabama’s Trent Richardson. In this segment of Draft Lab, ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay discuss the draft’s best running backs. Enjoy.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

• RB Ray Rice
• OG Ben Grubbs
• MLB Jameel McClain
• DE Cory Redding
• OLB Jarret Johnson
• S Haruki Nakamura

I will be dumbfounded if the Ravens let Rice get to free agency. If he does, his price tag will likely give Mike Brown’s wallet a heart attack. But wow could he turn a deficit area into an asset!

Grubbs ought to be on the Bengals radar. Landing Grubbs or Carl Nicks would be a huge upgrade. The Ravens have several key guys to care of this offseason, meaning there could be a couple of tough decisions, and Grubbs could possibly be one of those them that they don’t want to let go but can’t keep.

Nakamura would not start if the Bengals take care of Reggie Nelson like they should. He would be a solid backup and a good replacement for Gibril Wilson. And being a University of Cincinnati product, he would be a popular player around the city.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

• D’Qwell Jackson
• Peyton Hillis

After fighting injuries for a couple of years, Jackson had a huge 2011. With Maualuga continuing his relentless streak of bone-headed moves, Jackson would be an enormous upgrade in the middle.

When healthy, Hillis is a formidable runner. And he has yet to play on a team that ended with a winning record, let alone made the playoffs, which might make the 2012 attractive to him. Could you go there?

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

• WR Mike Wallace
• WR Jerricho Cotchery
• RB Mewelde Moore
• CB William Gay

The Steelers will tag Wallace if they have to, but could you imagine pairing him opposite A.J. Green for 3+ years? Good grief!

Cotchery had 4 really good years with the Jets, but his numbers the last two year have been down, although in 2011 he was buried behind Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. Could he make a productive #2 receiver in Cincinnati? He would not draw double teams, but he would be a far better route runner than Jerome Simpson.

Gay isn’t a great CB, but he isn’t bad either. With the glaring lack of depth, he could be a guy to consider. Plus he could give the Bengals an inside eye into Dick LeBeau’s mind. (Hmmm… I wonder how many jerseys this guy sells.)

For my money, Ben Grubbs and D’Qwell Jackson would be outstanding free agent signings. So would Jarret Johnson and Jameel McClain. Haruki Nakamura and William Gay could be fairly inexpensive guys to add depth to the roster.

Nine dollars is a small price to pay to be my hero. Make it happen. Make. It. Happen.

We’ve all been there.

It’s Valentine’s Day and you’ve been slacking, there’s no present or plans prepared for that special someone in your life. This year, we’ve got you covered.

Nothing says “I love you” like thong underwear screen printed with the name of your favorite Bengals blog. And better yet, it’s made in America. And it’s only $8.99.

Think about it. You get to combine your two favorite things in one spectacular gift: the Cincinnati Bengals and exposed female body parts. That my friends, is a win-win.

As an added bonus, if you buy this today, you’ll also get another gift, my undying admiration for at least the rest of this month. Which is a pretty big deal considering this is a leap year.

So there you have it Who Dey Fans. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Right Sisqo?

Visit the WhoDeyFans.com online store to get the WDF thong along with other shirts, hoodies, and perhaps more tasteful gear. 

From the makers of WhoDeyFans.com comes RedlegFans.com.

“We decided to start the site because we share an excitement for the Reds that we have shown here on WhoDeyFans.” says Mickey Mentzer, owner of RedlegFans.com. “By bringing in some new blood on RedLegFans we are pumped with the opportunity to share our thoughts on the Reds and this upcoming season is a great time to start.”

Redlegfans.com will also feature a weekly podcast similar to Who-Dey Weekly. The new “Redleg Weekly” podcast will be a weekly 30-40 minute podcast that will cover the Reds all summer long. The show will also be hosted by Nick Seuberling.

“We’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth over the past year with our Who-Dey Weekly audience. They have been fantastic and we love our fans! We really do appreciate all the support. We have gotten many questions asking if we would do a Reds podcast, and naturally since Mickey and I are both Reds fans it was a no brainer.” says Seuberling. “Plus with everything the Reds have done this offseason as far as trades go, it seems like this summer will be a very exciting summer to cover.”

The Redleg Weekly podcast will be produced by SPNT (Sports Podcasting Entertainment Network) and will be available to download on iTunes, Zune Marketplace, and more.

If you like our Bengals coverage you’re not going to want to miss out on RedlegFans.com. Go check us out today and let us know what you think!

What can Carrier do with Reggie Nelson, Taylor Mays and the young Bengal DB's?

The lingering questions regarding the Bengal coaching staff were put to rest today as the team announced the addition of former Safety Mark Carrier as defensive backs coach and the elevation of defensive assistant Paul Geunther to Linebackers coach.

Guenther has been with the Bengals since 2005 serving in a variety of roles.  Most recently, he coached the safeties for former secondary coach Kevin Coyle and assisted Mike Zimmer and Darrin Simmons on various aspects of the defense and special teams.

Carrier may be best remembered from his playing career in which he was a force for the Bears.  He also logged time with the Lions and Redskins before retiring in 2001 with 32 interceptions.  He has experience coaching defensive backs as the secondary coach in Baltimore from 2006 to 2009, and worked for Rex Ryan and the Jets as defensive line coach since then.

Guenther is an uninspiring pick to most fans, but at just 40 years of age, he may be coming into his prime as an assistant coach.  More importantly, he seems to have be the guy Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer wanted for the job.

“Mike Zimmer and I both have high confidence levels working with Paul,” Lewis said via a team release. “and we’re excited about what he can bring our defense in this new role.”

As for Carrier, personnally I’m jazzed.  I liked the idea of Rod Woodson (though some disagreed), but I like this choice even better.  Carrier knows what it takes to play for 11 seasons in the NFL (much like Woodson), but he also has 5 years of NFL coaching experience on some very good NFL defenses in Baltimore and New York.  If he can get guys like Taylor Mays and Reggie Nelson playing to their potential, the defense will be all the better.

Rex Ryan’s take from Monday afternoon (from Bengals.com):

“Everyone already knows Mark Carrier as a player, but I also know him as an outstanding coach. He is one of the up-and-coming coaches in this league and did a great job working with me as the secondary coach in Baltimore and the defensive line coach here with the Jets. We had a veteran line in 2010 and had to break in a younger one in 2011, and in both seasons, the line’s play was strong. He’s a good man, an outstanding teacher and has a great passion for the game. I know he will do an excellent job for the Bengals and I wish him the best.”

 

 

 

Besides Brees, the Saints have two other key unrestricted free agents to deal with: WR Marques Colston and OG Carl Nicks. Both are great players at positions of need for the Bengals. So the more money that Brees takes from the Saints’ remaining cap, the harder it will be for them to sign one of both of these guys. With the cap space available to the Bengals, they can make it very difficult for the Saints to sign them… if they choose to.

Carl Nicks is the top FA guard available not named Evan Mathis, and he would be a sorely needed, powerful upgrade in the running game. Poaching both Nicks and Robert Meachem from the Saints would be a huge free agency win for the Bengals.

Landing Colston would give the Bengals a second enormous receiving threat to pair with A.J. Green. His 1143 yds receiving in 2011, combined with Green’s 1057 yds, would create a serious matchup problem for every defense that had to face the Bengals.

The problem, then, becomes that the Bengals would have to divert from their typical strategy of laying low in free agency if they want to get either of these guys. Both will command significant money. But with the Bengals poised to become a serious force in the AFC North with with an aggressive move like this in free agency and a solid draft in April, now is the time to be daring. Make it happen, Mike Brown.

Could the Bengals’ early struggles with Andre Smith and the Alabama coaching staff scare the team away from taking Bama players this season?

I doubt it.

But considering the number of Crimson Tide players expected to go in the first round and Cincinnati’s last dealings with Alabama, it is an interesting point to consider. In case you’ve forgotten, Marvin Lewis didn’t believe the Alabama coaches were completely honest (“weren’t shooting straight”) when sharing information about Andre Smith, a first-round pick who struggled with weight and injury issues before playing fairly well this past season.

Whether or not Smith’s previous struggles will affect this year’s draft strategy remains unlcear, but I think it’s rather unlikely. Alabama has a number of first-round prospects, including running back Trent Richardson, and I think it’s doubtful that a previous sore spot would completely scare the Bengals away from Alabama players. But it is an interesting storyline in a draft that always seems to have plenty of them.

Stay tuned.

Todd McShay offered up some interesting possibilities for the Bengals' draft.

I spoke with ESPN’s Todd McShay for my upcoming book, Draft Daze, and was able to cram a question about our beloved Bengals into the conversation. McShay has become one of the country’s foremost experts on the draft by logging an impressive amount of time in film study. He watches several game tapes of all the prospects before the draft. And when you consider that there are more than 220 players selected each year, you start to realize the hours involved.

So McShay’s opinions and analysis are well-informed and worthwhile. Here’s what he had to say about the Bengals’ plans for the upcoming draft:

“I think having two first-round picks and with a team that’s on the upswing, having a franchise quarterback in place and a player on the upswing in A.J. Green, (gives them some options). They haven’t been in this position. They still have some needs, but do they package some picks and get Trent Richardson if he falls or do they sit back and maybe get a really good player (at another position) that they don’t necessarily need? That’s what Baltimore has done for so many years. I’m really interested to see where they wind up going. I think the best bet is to sit there (and pick a player at No. 17) and then see if you can get a trade (at 21) and get another pick. If you don’t get Trent Richardson, you might as well wait until the second round and get (Miam’s) Lamar Miller or (Virgina Tech’s) David Wilson or (Boise State’s) Doug Martin. If I’m a Bengals fan, I think I’d like to see them use one pick on a corner, get Dre Kirkpatrick or Janoris Jenkins, and then trade the second pick and get an extra pick…There will be a team that wants to move up (at No. 21).”

However, it’s possible that the team could be a bit more active this year with two first-round picks and a roster that is fairly solid already. Personally, I hope the team doesn’t make any drastic moves that would deplete their cache of draft picks. I’d be okay with jumping a few spots (to grab Trent Richardson perhaps), but other than that, the team should grab the best available player with each pick.

It might not be the sexy philosophy, but it will likely bring the most success.

Click the image to read McShay’s article on ESPN.com.

Clipped from: insider.espn.go.com (share this clip)

]]> http://whodeyfans.com/2012/02/10/bengals-draft-mover-and-shaker/feed/ 0 http://whodeyfans.com/2012/02/08/free-agency-hot-corners/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-agency-hot-corners http://whodeyfans.com/2012/02/08/free-agency-hot-corners/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:31:47 +0000 Nate http://whodeyfans.com/?p=5175

When free agency opens next month, there will be some big-name cornerbacks hitting the market. Cincinnati could use one, but it is unclear if the team will spend its considerable cap space on the position. For one, the team has already locked up Leon Hall long-term. And Nate Clements should be back for another season. So it would be a bit surprising if the team were to go after someone like Cortland Finnegan or Rashean Mathis. My guess is that the team will re-sign Kelly Jennings and rely on the emergence of Brandon Ghee and a potential draft pick.

If it were me, I would at least explore the market for both Finnegan and Mathis. Finnegan might be fiery and somewhat combustible (see: fistfight with Andre Johnson), but he is also a physical player with plenty of talent. Mathis, meanwhile, is moving toward the later stages of his career, but he also would be good insurance for Hall, who is not guaranteed to be back by the beginning of the season.

Perhaps one of them would even be willing to take a short-term deal (maybe two years) and hope for another shot at free agency in the near future. Neither scenario is likely, but the team should at least take a look.

Here’s a list  of the cornerbacks who could be available in free agency this offseason. 

Re-signing Reggie Nelson will give the Bengals more flexibility in the draft,

As free agency nears and the draft approaches, there is continued speculation about who the Bengals will acquire at guard, running back, cornerback, and safety. All those positions are considered to be significant needs. But is the last one really that significant? I’m not sure it is. Here’s why.

Most people expect the team to re-sign Reggie Nelson. The Bengals are expected to have the most salary cap room available and Nelson is perhaps the team’s No. 1 target. Thus, the deal should get done, giving the Bengals an above-average, although not breathtaking player at free safety. They also have Robert Sands behind him, who has great size (6-4), good athleticism, and should be familiar with the Bengals system in his second season.

(It should also be noted that Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer like their safeties to be rather hybrid types, so the lines between free safety and strong safety are blurred somewhat in coverage).

At strong safety, Chris Crocker will likely be relegated to a backup role if he’s kept at all, so the team will be looking for a replacement. Behind him is Taylor Mays, a second-round pick in 2010 that the team acquired from San Francisco. Mays also has tremendous size and athleticism (6-3, 230 pounds) and played rather well in limited action last season. He’s believed to have some limitations in coverage, but there are similar concerns about the top safety prospect in the draft, Mark Barron.

Therefore, the question must be asked. Do the Bengals really need a safety – especially if one of the top prospects available this season is similar to a player already on the roster?

My answer is yes and no. The team shouldn’t bother drafting a safety in the first round, but they need to acquire one somewhere for depth. Crocker and Gibril Wilson, who was a backup and a special teams staple last year, are in the final stages of their careers. The Bengals need another body, but it doesn’t have to be a big name. A second-tier safety in the draft (South Carolina’s Antonio Allen or Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith) or free agency would make more sense.

So forget going safety first.

It’s not an an overwhelming need.

Without further ado, the winner of the football is…..

Justin Bateman of Belleville, Ontario

Justin listed his favorite player as Reggie Myles. He’s not the biggest name Bengal so I had to ask, why him?

“I love the special teams guys and Reggie Myles was one of the first teamer’s that stood out to me. I was also a big Ethan Kilmer fan too.” said Bateman.

When asked about winning the football Bateman, seemed pretty excited too. “Sweet, this is awesome I never win anything!” he said.

Many of you may know him as @bater41 on Twitter and if you follow him you know that he is quick witted and provides very humorous tweets for all his followers to see. In his spare time, Bateman also blogs about the Bengals at his website BengalsNorth.com, a nice tribute to his Canadian roots.

Bateman is partial to one current Bengal player though, “If I had to pick a current Bengal I would have to say Andy Dalton.” he said.

Can’t argue with him there.

Congratulations to “Bater” on winning the Dhani Jones autographed football and thanks again to everyone who participated! WHODEY!!!

This system isn’t a bad system. It’s just a system. It can be an effective system as long as they target the right players to keep. (A list that does not include Nate Livings.) Landing a big name free agent generates buzz, but it is no guarantee that the player will fit the system or back off after landing the mega-deal he was chasing.

This year, the Bengals have 20 unrestricted free agents, ten on offense, nine on defense and one on special teams. Some are clear keepers, some are clear dumpers, and some are debatable.

Offense: Cedric Benson, Andre Caldwell, Anthony Collins, Donald Lee, Nate Livings, Mike McGlynn, Dennis Roland, Bo Scaife, Jerome Simpson, Bobbie Williams.

Half of this list needs to be cut loose: Benson, Caldwell, Livings, McGlynn and Simpson. If I read that any have been offered a new deal, you’ll find me at Best Buy replacing the computer monitor that I put my fist through. The one clear keeper, Collins, will be difficult (if not impossible) to bring back because he can’t get the starting job that he deserves in Cincinnati.

As for the rest, Williams would be a good asset as a backup guard. I guess that they will try again to get Scaife on the field and let Lee walk (unless they decide to jettison Chase Coffman instead). And if Collins goes, they may need to extend Roland’s duties as backup tackle.

Defense: Jonathan Fanene, Kelly Jennings, Brandon Johnson, Adam Jones, Manny Lawson, Reggie Nelson, Frostee Rucker, Pat Sims, Gibril Wilson.

Most of these are worth bringing back. Fanene, Rucker and Sims are a big part of the rotation on the D-line, and at least two of them need to stay if not all three. Johnson is a solid LB, and Lawson is worth bringing back to tussle with the rest of the mid-fielders for a spot. For the secondary, Nelson is a keeper. My preference is to let go of both Jones (legal issues) and Jennings (skill issues), but one of them may get an offer simply to keep from completely gutting a group that is already thin.

Special Teams: Mike Nugent. Despite the stumbles at the end of the season, he is an easy keeper.

In addition, the Bengals have four restricted free agents: Clark Harris, Nick Hayden, Chris Pressley, and Dan Skuta. Harris, Pressley and Skuta have all functioned well in their roles and are no-brainers to bring back. Hayden only saw 33 snaps in 2011, but he should see a new offer, especially if Fanene decides again to chase the better deal that he wanted last year.

Out of 24 total free agents, only a handful are so bad that re-signing them is unjustifiable. Over the coming weeks, we should hear news begin to trickle out from PBS of the Bengals reaching deals with a dozen or more of these free agents. Most won’t get much attention, garnering little more than a tweet from Joe Reedy announcing the deal. But cumulatively, they will solidify the 2012 team.

How does Dan Skuta make the team better? Simple. The fewer pressing needs that the Bengals bring to the draft in April, the more that they can focus on drafting the best player available. (If that player happens to be a linebacker, then take him and let Skuta raise his game to stay on the team.) And good teams are able to draft for skill instead of needs higher than rebuilding teams are. I want the Bengals to be able to draft like a good team.

This beard would be an immediate upgrade on the Bengals line. So would its owner.

Let’s take a moment to consider the value of free agency before examining the guards. Let’s say the Bengals add a starting-caliber guard and perhaps even a safety and a wideout once free agency begins. Then, the team will enter the draft with no glaring holes (outside of running back), and will be able to take the best available player whenever their pick arrives. It would be a perfect situation to be in, so let’s hope the Bengals can do just that. Here are a few guards that might be good fits for the Bengals.

1) Jacob Bell – Bell, who played left guard in St. Louis last season, would be an immediate upgrade over Nate Livings. Plus, Bell played college ball at Miami of Ohio so he might be willing to return home. Yes, Cincinnati could still use some help at the right guard position, but with Otis Hudson (who the team thinks highly of) and Clint Boling already on the roster, there would be some options available. Plus, it would eliminate the need to draft two guards in the draft, opening up other positions.

2) Jake Scott – Scott played with the Titans last year and they may decide to keep him with a younger quarterback likely to take over a run-heavy offense. ScoutsInc. rates him as the 21st best guard in the league, so he’s got some ability even though he’s a bit smaller than the Bengals usually prefer (he weighs in at 292). Scott also gets points from me for having a spectacular beard.

It’s also worth noting that Carl Nicks, a New Orleans Saint who is rated as the 3rd best guard in the league by ScoutsInc., could be available, but he’ll likely command the amount of money that would scare off Cincinnati. Regardless, the Bengals should have plenty of opportunities to acquire a player who is an upgrade over Livings (who is rated as the 53rd best). It would make sense to sign a guy there, leaving the team with one less need heading into the draft.

Game on!

In honor of Valentine’s Day and all the ladies in our lives and on our site, we’re launching the first-ever (perhaps first annual?) search for Miss WhoDeyFans.com. To compete, ladies must be 18 and should send a picture and a few words on why they should be selected (50 words or less, we’re not very good at reading) to Number 1 fan at whodeyfans @ gmail.com. We’ll post the candidates on our site and let our visitors vote throughout this month. The winner will receive a spot on an upcoming podcast and some other WhoDeyFans.com prizes that will be better than most Valentine’s Day gifts.

Questions? Comment on this thread and we’ll make sure to answer them.

Other than that, spread the word and come back often to vote for your favorite ladies.

Who Dey!

Could Meachem be a Bengal in 2012?

We’re about a month away from the beginning of free agency (March 13th), where the Bengals will likely sign a few players to fill in some holes before the draft. One of the team’s targets should certainly be wide receiver. With Jerome Simpson’s status uncertain due to legal troubles, the team needs a player to start opposite A.J. Green. In my mind, it makes more sense to find that player in free agency rather than the draft.

An older receiver is a more proven commodity and should be able to make an immediate contribution in 2012. Here are a few players that would be logical targets for the Bengals next month.

1) Robert Meachem – Meachem’s talents have been somewhat minimized by a Saints offense that spreads the ball around and doesn’t focus on any particular receiver. However, he’s a young player with good deep speed and he’s accustomed to being a No. 2 receiver, so there shouldn’t be any ego conflicts with A.J. Green. There’s also a great chance he will be available since the Saints also have to re-sign Marques Colston as well.

2) Pierre Garcon – The Colts may attempt to re-sign Garcon, but if he’s available, the Bengals should definitely consider him. He has good ability after the catch – which is important in a West Coast offense – and enough experience to be a valuable contributor. He’s also got some pretty good size and is used to being a No. 2 as well.

3) Harry Douglas – While not being perhaps a sexy acquisition, Douglas did catch 39 passes as a third or fourth option in Atlanta. He has decent size (6-feet, 183) and would likely be effective enough as a bigger part of the Bengals offense.

4)  Mario Manningham – Like Douglas, Manningham was the third option in his offense and didn’t produce a whole lot of receptions last season (39). However, he’s also only 25 years old and has produced some big games when others have been out with an injury. I like the idea of another explosive receiver opposite Green, because whoever it is will see a lot of one-on-one matchups with Green and Jermaine Gresham also on the field.

Any of the players above seem more appealing to me than a draft pick at the receiver position. Most of the guys above will be entering the prime of their career and should have plenty of knowledge and experience to adjust to a new offense. The Bengals’ free agency targets are hard to predict, but the receivers above would be pretty good fits in the offense. Don’t be surprised if one of the is in a Bengals uniform in 2012.

Much of Bengaldom is so excited about the NFL Draft – and the two first-round picks that come with it – that they have forgotten some other important players in the 2012 season.

In addition to the first-rounders, Cincy will also welcome back Jordan Shipley, Keith Rivers (barring a salary cap cut), Dontay Moch, and Roddrick Muckelroy, after all four missed the vast majority of the previous season. Within those players, lies a potentially huge boost to a team that is already flush with young talent. All of them were drafted in the fourth round or higher.

Shipley is a sure-handed slot receiver who seemed to be developing a good chemistry with Andy Dalton before he was lost for the season. Rivers is a former first-round pick who has had some good moments as a defender and is pretty solid in pass coverage. Muckelroy was a tackle machine at the University of Texas, impressive in limited action as a rookie, and a potential starter before injuries derailed his season last year. Moch, who had impressive sack totals in college, was mentioned by Mike Zimmer as a guy who could help the defense before migraines and other ailments kept him from contributing.

It’s probably unlikely that all will emerge as big-time contributors in 2012, but if a few of them do, it will be a big boon for a blossoming team. So as the mock drafts and prognosticating continues as we approach the NFL Draft, remember one thing.

Don’t forget about the new old guys.

One of the topics that came up was putting a team in LA. Bob wanted to consider which team would be the most likely to make the move. In response, Goodell asserted that while the NFL wants to have a team in Los Angeles, he does not want a current NFL city to lose its team. He then floated the idea that the NFL could expand to 34 teams. (This question begins at 9:38 in the video.)

This poses an interesting problem for a league built around competitive balance. The current 8 divisions balances perfectly. But it is mathematically impossible to balance 34. Not with 5 divisions (4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 3). Not with 4 divisions (5 + 4 + 4 + 4). Not with 3 divisions (6 + 6 + 5). Not even with 2 divisions (9 + 8). However, with 17 teams, they could set up a system where teams play every other team in their conference once, with no inter-conference play until the SuperBowl.

It seems to me that if the NFL expands to 34 teams, it is only a matter of time before it will expand again to 36 teams. Having 36 teams would allow each conference to have 3 divisions of 6 teams each. Much like the days when the Bengals played in the AFC Central.

Would you support another NFL expansion? Does it dilute the quality of the league? Or is more football always a good thing?

So I am hitting the ‘reset’ button and asking my question in a totally different way.

The Scenario: the Bengals have just gone on the clock to make the 17th pick of the 2012 draft. These players are left on the board. (I know, not all of them will still be on the board, but I have seen almost all of them connected to the Bengals in different mock drafts.) Who do you take? And who do you really hope to still see sitting there when the 21st pick comes around?

Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Scouting Profile: NFL scouts will love Barron’s size, as he registers at 6’2” and 218 pounds. He has decent speed, too, generally running in the mid-4.5s in the 40-yard dash while being clocked as fast as 4.47 from that distance. Barron is a solid pass defender, but he is best at stepping into the box and playing against the run right behind the line of scrimmage. He is both a hard hitter and a sure tackler.

David DeCastro, OG, Standford

Scouting Profile: Almost everything about this young man jumps out at you. With that in mind, he isn’t a special athlete, but beyond that DeCastro has all the tools necessary to be an elite lineman. He can mirror with the best of them because of great footwork. He’s got a great base that can anchor and hold up defenders. DeCastro has a thick frame from top to bottom and does very well to keep leverage with his pad level.

Alfonso Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Scouting Profile: Dennard is a classic example of an aggressive cornerback with good athleticism, but he lacks any elite skills. He’s a well-rounded cornerback who will need to improve his tackling; that aside, with some technique coaching he will develop into a solid pro.

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Scouting Profile: He is very good at the point of attack and displays a great knack at beating press coverage. Whether it is using his hands to disengage or simply shielding defenders away from the ball, Floyd can separate from his man in short spaces. Gifted with long arms and the ability to climb the ladder, he can make plays on deep balls. He is not blessed with elite speed, but can adequately challenge corners down the field.

Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Scouting Profile: The Riverdale, GA native has outstanding size at 6’5” and 348 pounds. He generally runs in the 5.2s in the 40-yard dash and he has been clocked as fast as 5.12 from that distance. Glenn is relatively nimble, has a good burst off the ball, and is stellar in the run game. He isn’t athletic enough to play left tackle at the next level, but he will be a force in the middle of any offensive line.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Scouting Profile: He is a quick reaction player with elite quickness and above average speed. Jenkins really excels as a cover corner. He shows great body control, fluid motions and decisive movements to make plays on the ball. He is very aggressive when the ball is in the air, to the point that he will sometimes get beat for big plays.

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Scouting Profile: One of the tallest cornerbacks in the business, Kirkpatrick stands at 6’2” and 192 pounds. He doesn’t have top-notch speed to go along with his size, but he generally runs a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash and has been clocked as fast as 4.42 from that distance. Kirkpatrick will have to add some bulk to his lanky frame before he heads to the NFL…

Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Scouting Profile: He generally runs in the 4.7s in the 40-yard dash and has been clocked as fast as 4.68 from that distance. He is not an elite athlete and his relative lack of speed has never allowed him to be a prolific pass-rusher or sack-master. Quite simply, though, Kuechly has an incredible nose for the ball and is one of the most fundamentally-sound tacklers in the business.

Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

Scouting Profile: Martin is a thick back that runs low to the ground. He lacks straight ahead speed, but he accelerates into the line of scrimmage very well. His ability to move well in crowded spaces helps him a great deal. Using agility and good balance, he’s able to fight for yards after contact.

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (FL)

Scouting Profile: Miller is built solidly at 5’11” and 212 pounds. His speed is what is going to earn him his paycheck on Sundays; he generally runs a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and has been clocked as fast as 4.32 from that distance. With that combination of speed and size, Miller is a load to tackle and he rarely goes down on initial impact.

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Scouting Profile: Richardson stands at just 5’11”, but he is load to bring down at 224 pounds (not entirely unlike Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jaguars, although obviously not quite that short). He generally runs around a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash and has been clocked as fast as 4.42 from that distance. Richardson has especially impressive breakaway speed…

(I almost left Richardson off of this list because he is clearly the highest value and I doubt that he gets past the Jets at #16. But more than one mock draft has sent him to the Bengals, so I decided that I had to leave him in. If you take TR, please humor me and name a contingency pick.)

So there are the choices setting before you as you lead the Bengals war room. Do you bolster the running game by adding a powerful RB first? By beefing up the offensive line? Do you dare to take one of the talented-but-troubled CBs (Jenkins or Kirkpatrick)? Or do you get unconventional with a LB or WR? Which two of these first rounders maximizes the Bengals value in the draft?

Don’t forget Who-Dey Weekly is now recorded LIVE each and every Wednesday night at 9 pm. Featuring live video and a Bengals chat room where you can interact with the hosts. Come join us each week at http://whodeyfans.com/video.

Want a chance to win a signed football by former Bengals LB Dhani Jones? Click here.

In this week’s show:

Timm and Seubs discuss the Pro Bowl and the pathetic effort put forth by the players

Scott breaks down the winner and loser from last week’s Senior Bowl

Scott’s first mock draft has the Bengals taking Stanford OG David DeCastro at 17. Rejoice!

Shoutouts

Who-Dey Weekly takes it first live caller from long time listener Quenton

Title: Man Did You Watch That Pro Bowl?
Show Length: 42:19
File Size: 19.6 mb

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Since this isn’t a Pittsburgh Steelers blog, I assume everyone can read. With that in mind, please allow me to shamelessly plug my own efforts and toot my own horn (Tooooooooooooooot!).

Anyway, I recently published my first book, a first-hand account of my experience as a teacher in inner-city Philadelphia. There’s no mention of Boomer Esiason or Chad Ochocinco or any Bengal in between. But I think some of you might still enjoy it, especially those of you who might be educators yourself.

Click the picture for more information. And please forgive me while for patting myself on the back so vigorously. I’ll get back to the Bengals now.

Clipped from: www.amazon.com (share this clip)

The Courtyard by Marriott, the Official Hotel Sponsor of the NFL, is going to be showcasing their refreshed lobby at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis for the Super Bowl. They will be the host of the NFL Experience, the NFL’s interactive theme park, from Friday, January 27 through February 4.

From the Courtyard by Marriott’s official release.

In addition to the survey results, Courtyard will be showcasing its refreshed lobby at the Indiana Convention Center during the NFL Experience, pro football’s interactive theme park open to the public Friday, January 27 through Saturday, February 4. Courtyard is holding NFL player autograph signings with NFL stars including Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford, DeMarco Murray, Mark Ingram and more. Dhani Jones, former linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals and host of Travel Channel’s Dhani Tackles the Globe, will also be in attendance.

Compared to where the Super Bowl is usually hosted, Indianapolis is just a short drive from Cincinnati. If you go, you should stop by to meet the players and go through the NFL Experience and the Courtyard’s renovated lobby.

When it comes to the Dhani Jones-signed football, all you have to do is leave a comment telling us who your favorite Bengal of all time is. The contest will go from now until the 6 p.m., just prior to the kickoff of the Super Bowl. Please only leave one comment per person. Then following the game Sunday, we’ll enter all of the names of the people who commented into a system that will choose one at random. Once a name is chosen, we’ll get some more information from that lucky winner and they’ll get the autographed football.

Thanks to all of you who frequent WhoDeyFans.com and thanks to the Courtyard by Marriott for helping put on this great contest.

Mock drafts are popping up like dandelions on my lawn in April, and many are not as smart as they pretend to be (at least where the Bengals are concerned). I am much more interested in what you, the WhoDeyFans, have to say about the draft.

I see different strategies proposed on which positions to pick first, so let’s have a study group and compare notes. I am mainly interested in position, but comments on players are encouraged. I want to learn your strategy for the draft.

I think most of us would agree that the biggest needs are running back, guard, corner and safety. Some of you might put a receiver or a D-lineman in the group. Where would you target each position to maximize the Bengals draft? Please go at least 3 rounds deep, further if you want.

Personally, I am all about the offensive and defensive lines, so I would go like this:

• Rd 1A: SS (Mark Barron)
• Rd 1B: OG (Cordy Glenn)
• Rd 2: CB (Chase Minnifield)
• Rd 3: RB (Isaiah Pead)
• Rd 4: WR (Tommy Streeter?)

I consider CB a bigger need than S, but after Barron the field is thin and the drop-off is steep. I know that some of you will prefer to take a RB in round 1, but I follow the theory that a good back behind a good line is better than a great back behind a mediocre line.

That’s my draft strategy. Tell me yours and convince me it is better.

Wes Bunting has Richardson getting Stripes

National Football Post’s West Wes Bunting published his second Mock Draft today, and in it he has Alabama RB Trent Richardson falling all the way to 17, where the Bengals happily snatch him up.  Richardson, the consensus top back in this draft class should be long gone by 17, but Bunting suggests it will happen due to the needs of other teams ahead of Cincinnati, and the fact that running backs tend to slide.

Four picks later, he predicts the Bengals will grab troubled North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins at 21. Bunting predicts that the Bengals will look past his character issues and smaller-than-ideal stature to snag help for their depleted secondary.

Can Cincy afford to look past Jenkins' past?

Regarding other prospects that have Bengal interest, Stanford OG David DeCastro goes at 11 to the Chiefs, South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore goes at 20 to the Titans, OL Cordy Glenn goes at 23 to the Lions, Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd falls to the Texans at 26, Nebraska S Mark Barron goes 21 to the Patriots, and Baylor WR Kendall Wright goes at 30 to the 49ers.

Miami RB Lamar Miller falls to the second round.

Frankly, I’m not sold on Richardson as the kind of back Jay Gruden wants for his West Coast attack, and I’d prefer the team avoid Jenkins and his character flaws. 

What do you think, Who Dey Nation?

The case between Cam Newton and Andy Dalton is not nearly so simple.

Total Passing Yards

Newton will win the ROY award because of his 4051 passing yds. That’s an impressive number. He surpassed Peyton Manning’s rookie record of 3739 yds, bettering him by 312 yds. He passed for over 400 yds in each of his first two games. Clearly he was a major force for his team. And he came into the league far better prepared to succeed than many of the experts thought he was.

By contrast, Dalton only had 3398 passing yds. That’s only the fifth highest amount by a rookie, behind Newton, Manning, Bradford and Ryan. But Newton topped him by 653 yds, and that’s all that will matter.

If you care to look a little deeper (ROY voters won’t), you’ll see something interesting. When experts discuss teams, strength of schedule gets a lot of run. But you won’t hear SoS that discussed when comparing stats between Dalton and Newton.

In logging his 4051 yds, Cam faced all of one top-5 passing defense, the Texans. If you want to look at top-10 passing defenses, add one more name, the Jaguars. Cam had two of his three worst games against those two opponents, throwing for only 307 yds combined (153.5 yds avg).

Dalton faced many of the top passing defenses in 2011.

Care to guess how many games Dalton played against top-5 passing defenses in the regular season? SEVEN!!! Pittsburgh (#1) twice, Cleveland (#2) twice, Houston (#3), and Baltimore (#4) twice. If you want to look at top-10 passing defenses, add St Louis (#7) and Jacksonville (#8). That’s more than half of the season throwing against top-10 defenses! In fact, the worst passing defense that Dalton faced was Buffalo at #19. (We can only speculate how many yards he might have thrown for had Andy played 11 games against bottom-half passing defenses like Cam did.) In those nine games, Andy threw for 1808 yds (200.9 yds avg).

Clearly Dalton was better when facing quality passing defenses.

Total Rushing Yards

Newton ran for an impressive 706 yds on 126 rushes, making him the #26 rusher in the league. Dalton ran for only 152 yds on 37 attempts. This does give Newton’s game a dimension that Dalton simply does not have, and it will further cement the (misguided) notion that Newton is a prohibitive favorite for the ROY award.

While this is not a completely irrelevant factor, I do not weight the rushing yards heavily simply because it is not something we require to call a guy an “elite” QB. Let’s look at the rushing stats for guys we generally consider the best in the biz.

• Aaron Rodgers: 249 yds on 60 att
• Drew Brees: 86 yds on 21 att
• Tom Brady: 109 yds on 43 att
• Eli Manning: 35 yds on 15 att
• Ben Roethlisberger: 70 yds on 31 att
• Matthew Stafford: 78 yds on 22 att
• Matt Ryan: 84 yds on 37 att
• Philip Rivers: 36 yds on 26 att

That’s 747 yds among 8 QBs combined. Again, I’m not saying this is totally irrelevant, but asking “Who is the better rusher?” is not among the top-level or even mid-level criteria I use to compare QBs.

Common Opponents

The Bengals and Panthers had five opponents in common, all of the AFC South and the Cardinals. Let’s see how the two QBs fared against common opponents.

AZ: The Cardinals are the most difficult to compare because of how bad their defense was at the beginning of the season (they started out 1-6) and how good they were at the end (they finished 8-8). The Cardinals and Panthers squared off in Week 1. While Newton had a huge passing game against the Cards (422 yds), the Panthers scored only 21 pts and gave the Cards their only win in Sept/Oct.

Meanwhile, the Bengals played the Cardinals in Week 16, who were 6-1 in Nov/Dec. Dalton threw for only 154 yds as a vastly improved Patrick Peterson did a solid job against A.J. Green. But those 154 yds were enough to get a 23-16 win over the Cards.

IND: The Bengals played the Colts in Week 6, while the Panthers played the still-winless Colts in Week 12. Both teams scored 27 pts to beat the Colts. Dalton threw for 264 yds, while Newton threw for 208 yds and ran for 53 yds.

JAX: In Week 3, the Panthers scored 16 pts behind 158 yds passing and 27 yds rushing by Newton, which was enough to beat the Jaguars in Blaine Gabbert’s first game. Two weeks later, the Bengals dropped 30 on the Jags behind 179 yds passing by Dalton in a game that was close into the 4th qtr while facing a Gabbert who was beginning to get comfortable with the NFL game.

TEN: In Week 9, the Bengals turned a 10-point halftime deficit into a 7-point win as Dalton threw for 217 yds and 3 TDs. The following week, the Panthers managed to score only 3 points despite 212 yds passing by Newton.

HOU: In Week 14, the Bengals lost a heartbreaking game in which they led for all but the final 2 seconds, continuing their bafflingly bad record against rookie QBs like T.J. Yates. Dalton threw for 189 yds. The next week, Newton threw for 149 yds and ran for another 55 yds as Yates’ rookie luck ran out in a 28-13 Panthers win.

In all, Newton went 3-2 in these games while Dalton was 4-1. Newton threw for 146 more yards in these 5 games, but the Bengals scored 123 pts while the Panthers scored only 95 pts in these 5 games. Again, more yards for Newton, more wins for Dalton.

Wins

Aren’t wins the ultimate gauge of effectiveness in the NFL? Dalton led a team that appeared in serious disarray (most experts doubted they could win three games) to a 9-7 record in the toughest division in football and a playoff berth. Yet somehow that is being largely overlooked for a guy who threw for a ton of yards but ultimately ended up 6-10.  **facepalm**

In the end, I am not bemoaning the fact that Cam Newton will win the Rookie Of The Year award on Saturday. Both he and Dalton had incredible rookie campaigns, and unless you want to advocate a wimpy “co-winner” award, someone has to lose out.

The travesty here is that Andy Dalton is receiving nothing better than “also ran” treatment when he has a legitimate case for anyone willing to look at the numbers. Andy was significantly better when facing elite passing defenses. I consider them roughly tied against common opponents, leaning a little to Andy’s favor since he came up one win better. Yes, Cam can run. But Andy carried his team to the playoffs.

All the award voters will care about is 4051.

If you would have asked me when the season ended if the Bengals would have both coordinators back for next year, I would have called it 50-50. A coin flip. Even up.

Now, unless something crazy happens in the coming months, it seems that both Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer will be back on the Bengals sidelines in 2012. And that my friends is a huge win.

Gruden kept Andy Dalton from looking like a rookie in a season that was shortened by the lockout. He helped put A.J. Green in the Pro Bowl and has installed an offense that is productive if not eye-popping. And on the other side, Zimmer has done what has become his trademark. He’s produced a defense that is strong against the run and stingy when it seems to count, giving the team a chance to win in almost every game.

The fact that both men will return next year is a huge win. It provides consistency and continuity and should help the team make progress this offseason, both on the field and on the roster. Gruden and Zimmer both know what players they need to make each unit better. They know the strengths and weaknesses of their schemes. And they know what could make them even better.

Do not underestimate the importance of both guys being back with the team. It could be an advantage that leads to many more in the coming months.

It’s a huge win.

And as a Bengals fan, I’ll take as many as I can get.

The Bengals are still in need of a true playmaker deep in the field. Nelson has moments but is not that guy. This is a position that the Bengals need to address early in the draft.

Reggie Nelson: 16 games. 85 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 INTs, 2 forced fumbles.

I like Nelson, but his propensity to be caught out of position at times can bring an unintelligible string of pseudo-profanity (the kids are usually within earshot during the game) out of me at times. He is a free agent, but I expect him to be someone the Bengals want to re-sign.

Chris Crocker: 16 games. 61 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Crocker has been a solid contributor to the Bengals for four years. But I would like to see the Bengals find that guy who could take this spot up to the level of a Bernard Pollard or Kenny Phillips. Those guys are not easy to find, though, and with one year left on his contract, Crocker will likely start again in 2012.

Gibril Wilson: 16 games. 33 tackles, 1 forced fumble.

If someone were going to unseat a starter, Wilson has the potential to do it. But he did not have much impact after returning from an entire season on IR. Wilson is a free agent, and I expect he will be someone that the Bengals try to re-sign on another short deal to see if he can have a bigger impact in 2012.

Taylor Mays: 10 games. 10 tackles.

After being traded, Mays had trouble getting on the active roster, let alone the field, at the beginning of the season. He still has yet to play up to the potential he showed in college, but with two years left on his rookie deal, he will get another shot to be the guy that Marvin traded for.

Jeromy Miles: 16 games. 16 tackles.

Miles was able to stick when guys like Tom Nelson, Marvin White and Morgan Trent didn’t, but he has yet to get much further than special teams. He is a restricted free agent, but as an undrafted CFA, he will not garner a large offer.

Robert Sands: 1 game. (no stats)

The rookie from WVU only saw the field once, during the blowout at Pittsburgh. The fifth round pick will be back next year to compete for a spot against Miles and a (hopefully high) pick from this year’s draft.

Looking to 2012

The safeties (and corners) will have a new position coach now that Kevin Coyle is the defensive coordinator in Miami. I am very curious to see whether Marvin will hire a proven name or promote an assistant to fill the vacancy.

The free agent market is not especially deep in quality players. Of the 50 free agent safeties available, only 12 received a rating from PFF above 0 (including Reggie Nelson) and none were above +5. If the Bengals want to bring in a veteran, they may be forced make a trade for the third year in a row (although University of Cincinnati product Haruki Nakamura will be a free agent after spending most of 2011 on IR with the Ravens).

As for the draft, only Mark Barron of Alabama is projected to go in the first round. CBS Sports has him at #18. The Bengals will likely have a difficult decision to make when they go on the clock at #17. Several players at positions of need — Barron, a CB (Dennard or Jenkins), an RB (Miller, Martin, or some suspect even Richardson) and an OG (DeCastro or Glenn) are all likely to be available at #17.

I suspect that unless the Bengals are seriously impressed with Barron, they will choose from the other three positions, as safety becomes deeper in rounds 3-5. I would prefer to see safety addressed by round 3, as they have not had much success with safeties taken later in the draft.

A kiss is just a kiss if it follows disappointment like our 2012 playoff stinker.

Watching the Pro Bowl for a Bengals fan is like kissing a girl goodnight after a horrible date.  There is a big buildup, then a big letdown, and then you kiss her because it is the customary thing to do even though it means nothing and you should probably cut your losses and look forward to the next date.  That said, in the first few plays I remembered why I don’t like to watch the game:

1. Too many players I absolutely hate.  Ray Lewis flapping his lips.  Ben Roethlisberger wearing a ridiculous trucker’s cap.  I feel sorry for the Hawaii 5-0, because with those two in town there could be a lot of rapes and murders (allegedly)…
2. An unbelievably apparent lack of effort by the players, especially the linemen on both sides of the ball.  I was stunned at how bad the play was.  It was worse than watching 7 on 7 drills at training camp.  It reminded me of one of those walk through’s that players do when the coach is trying to teach them a new play.  The offensive and defensive linemen stand facing each other, arms outstretched, like they were at a school dance before the boys and girls hit puberty.  It was pathetic.  I loved that the crowd boo’ed them early in the game.
3. Too many guys there on name alone.  Especially at positions where fans don’t have counting stats to look at, the same guys go year after year.  Joe Thomas deserves a nod over Big Whit?  Are you kidding me??

Just in case you didn’t watch the game, I will break down the play of the Bengals in this farce of a game.

1. AJ Green made a great play, burning Patrick Peterson on a double move to get a score on a pass from Roethlisberger.  He later made a bone headed move of stretching out for the end zone and getting the ball knocked out of his hand for a fumble.
2. Andy Dalton looked sharp, going 7/9 for 100 yards and two touchdown passes to Brandon Marshall.  His pass in the corner of the end zone to Marshall was a thing of beauty, while his bomb into double coverage was not…  but it went for a score when the defenders collided and Marshall, flat on his back in the end zone, kicked the ball into the air and caught it.  Marshall set a Pro Bowl record with four touchdowns.
3. Geno Atkins must have not gotten the memo that he was supposed to stand there and waltz with the NFC linemen, as he was in the backfield and tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage.  He nearly got the elusive Cam Newton down for a sack.  Atkins really seems to be a star in the making.
4. Jermaine Gresham was his usual self, able to make a nice catch on a 14 yarder but disappear for long stretches of the game.

The AFC won the game, and Dalton especially looked good moving the AFC on scoring drives and not making the big mistakes that he made in the playoffs.  I hope the players had a good time, but it would be nice to see them not make it back to Hawaii next year… because we will be in the Super Bowl.  Who Dey!

Has anyone even seen this movie?

Buried amid the NFL’s largely non-contact all-star game was a little bit of news about Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham. AFC Coach Gury Kubiak was impressed with the Bengals tight end and said he believes that Gresham could soon be a big-time player.

We’ve known it for a few years now. Now everyone else knows it too. The same goes for Cincinnati’s other Pro Bowlers, Geno Atkins, A.J. Green, and Andy Dalton.

What does it mean? It means that the Bengals need to start extending their impact players sooner rather than later. When Gresham and Atkins get close to free agency, their increased profile thanks to the Pro Bowl will drive their prices up. And we all know that Mike Brown isn’t a fan of high prices.

Thus, it makes sense for Cincinnati to take some of the team’s bountiful cash and the corresponding space under the salary cap (thank you Carson Palmer!), and start using it. The team got a head start by extending Kyle Cook, Andrew Whitworth, and Leon Hall last season. Gresham and Atkins should be up next.

If the team hopes to keep its emerging talent, it needs to pay the players earlier than everyone else. Because once free agency gets near, the Bengals lose their leverage and their players get more expensive.

Now is the time.

Lock ‘em up.

The number of mock drafts already sailing through cyberspace is reaching preposterous levels. And many of them are placing Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard with the Bengals in the first round. However. according to ScoutsInc.’s Steve Muench, Dennard’s rough week at the Senior Bowl, where he’s been struggling to keep up with wide receivers, might be pushing him into the second round.

“Dennard isn’t in a free fall, but he’s likely slipped to the middle of the second round and forced teams to go back to the tape for another and check his ability to locate and defend the deep out, among other things.”

Now, no one knows if NFL scouts feel the same wasy as Muench (they certainly might), but I don’t like Dennard with the Bengals anyway. He’s shorter than the coaches usually prefer  (around 5-10) and the Bengals have bigger areas of need elsewhere. (I’d start with guard and running back myself). So for me, it seems like the second round (or perhaps even free agency) might be a better place to go shopping for a cornerback.

But don’t be surprised if the mock drafts continue to say otherwise.

As of right now, though, I stop short of calling him great. He is near the threshold, but not over it. A few productive years on another team might change that. But for one simple reason, barring injury of course, A.J. will clear the hurdle that Chad has not yet.

Yes, I know Chad’s numbers. He is currently #26 on the all time receiving yards list. He had a fantastic run from 2002-2007, and I allow for the possibility that he could have another year like that again. It might not be a strong possibility, but it could happen.

Chad was on the trajectory to greatness until his “Trade Me” media tour following the 2007 season. In 2008 we learned that the fun-loving freelancer couldn’t freelance if he wasn’t having fun. He had the skills, he had the work ethic, but he didn’t have the discipline. Here are his own words from a post on PFT.com admitting it.

“This is one of the first times I’ve been about doing exactly what everyone told me to do. It wasn’t about the numbers. It wasn’t about money. It wasn’t about me.”

That is what has separated him from true greatness. For years he was a little bit more concerned about himself than about being on the game plan. Thus the stare-downs between him and Palmer. And the frustration of many Bengals fans.

By contrast, even though he has only one season under his belt, I have no qualms in declaring that A.J. Green will surpass Chad because he does not struggle with his own sense of self. As evidence, I submit this quote from his head coach at Georgia, Mark Richt.

“Everybody knew he was an extremely talented guy and he could’ve shown up and said ‘here I am, look at me,’” Richt said. “Instead, he came in with a humble attitude knowing that he needed to learn.”

Humility will take A.J. where Chad has yet to go.

Could Rod Woodson replace Kevin Coyle?

With Tampa Bay looking way outside the box and selecting Rutgers coach Greg Schiano to lead the Bucs, it looks like Mike Zimmer will be in Cincinnati for the 2012 season.

All together now:  Whewh!

Sure the Raiders are still without a coach, but the chances that Zimmer gets that one are few, especially since he hasn’t interviewed.  As much as I think we all would have felt happy for Zim had he got a chance to lead a franchise, having him return for a 5th season in Cincinnati is happy and welcomed news.  The things Zimmer has been able to do with this defense are just short of miraculous, and the continuity gained in terms of scheme and leadership should serve the team well in 2012.

That said, it appears there will be some turnover on the staff. PFT reports that secondary coach Kevin Coyle is close to landing the defensive coordinator gig in Miami, working for old friend Joe Philbin.  Coyle spent a decade coaching the Bengal DB’s, and the Bengals apparently granted the Dolphins permission despite turning down the same request from Philadelphia last year.  Assuming Coyle gets the job, and all the tea leaves seem to suggest it, Marvin Lewis will be looking for a new secondary coach.

But that’s not all.

News around the campfires is also that linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald’s contract will not be renewed.  Last year at this time word got out the Fitz wouldn’t be back, but it turned out he was brought back.  This time, his departure seems more certain, especially with Lewis stating that he has one opening on his staff currently.

It will be interesting to see who Lewis brings in to fill these jobs.  One name I’ll just throw out there as wild speculation is Rod Woodson.  Woodson played for Lewis in Baltimore and they seem to have a mutual admiration.  Woodson interned with the Bengals in 2010 and spent the 2011 season coaching the Oakland cornerbacks.

As it turned out, with the strong play of the defensive line, the corners proved to be at least adequate. They still gave up plays, but the big plays were less frequent than in years past.

Then came the injury to Leon Hall. His absence in the second half of the season, as the Bengals were playing so many of their tough opponents, left a bigger hole than we realized at times. Clements did a solid job considering the situation, but Adam Jones and Kelly Jennings were clearly a step down from Hall.

Leon Hall: 9 games. 0 sacks, 32 tackles, 2 INTs.

No one is ever going to accuse Leon of being a shutdown corner, but he does a nice job of reading routes, disrupting patterns and being a general nuisance. He will get burnt now and then, drawing the ire of fans, but he really is a solid corner. His Achilles injury makes his availability to start the season questionable at best. The Bengals must strategize as though he will be on IR in 2012, and if he should recover in time, so much the better. Hall is signed through the 2015 season.

Nate Clements: 15 games. 1 sack, 55 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 INTs.

Bringing Clements back to his home state proved to be a very good move for the Bengals. Though less than perfect in his 11th season, I shudder to think what the secondary would have been without him in November and December. Clements is under contract for 2012.

Adam Jones: 8 games. 0 sacks, 28 tackles.

Trouble again found Jones in the offseason as he rehabbed from another injury. Once he was able to get back on the field, Jones was decent (+0.8 rating by PFF) but not exactly what we thought he should be. Jones is a free agent. His inability to stay out of handcuffs (and likely suspension by the league if gets a new contract) will not make it easy for him to find another gig. Then again, when Mike Brown smells a discount, don’t get between him and the salad bar.

Kelly Jennings: 13 games. 1 sack, 33 tackles.

Seattle fans grieved very little as Jennings packed his bags for Cincinnati. His -3.4 rating shows why. As a free agent, I would be tempted to write him off for 2012, but the Bengals may be looking for bodies to round out the roster.

Brandon Ghee: 7 games. 1 tackle.

We have seen very little of the third-round pick, logging only 10 tackles in 13 games over two seasons. A groin injury landed him on IR in 2010, and he missed time this year due to a hamstring. He was drafted under the premise that he would be there to replace Joseph or Hall should they leave. He will likely be expected to step up as a 3rd or 4th corner in 2012.

Looking to 2012

For this group, I am confident in only Clements and Ghee playing in 2012. If Hall makes it back, great! But that is iffy at best. So the Bengals could be looking for two new CBs, possibly three if they want to carry six on the roster. Three is a lot, which is why I can’t rule out Jones or Jennings returning, even though they ought to be let go.

But having multiple open spots gives us lots of reason to debate draft picks and free agents, our favorite winter activity. With at least two spots to fill, one of each makes sense, right?

First, let’s take a look at the available unrestricted free agents, which is not nearly as exciting of a pool as last year’s was. (The Bengals don’t play the RFA game.)

• Brent Grimes of ATL (+16.0)
• Cortland Finnegan of TEN (+15.8) [The Mouth!]
• Carlos Rogers of SF (+9.9)
• Tim Jennings of CHI (+7.4)
• Corey Graham of CHI (+3.4)
• Brandon Carr of KC (+2.7)
• Roderick Hood of STL (+2.6)
• Dimitri Patterson of CLE (+1.5)
• Michael Coe of NYG (+1.0)
• David Jones of JAC (+0.9)

These are the 10 UFAs rated by PFF as better than Adam Jones. We can scratch the top 4 off the list because the amount of money they will ask for will cause Mike Brown’s wallet to run away, screaming with horror. Someone who is a small, “affordable” upgrade is much more likely. Unfortunately, I expect that more of a lateral move than an upgrade is what we’ll get, rendering this list meaningless.

Now for draft possibilities. Like many, I expect to see the Bengals take a CB with their 17th pick and a RB with their 21st pick (although I would prefer they take an OG than a RB).

• Morris Claiborne
• ‘Dre Kirkpatrick
• Alfonso Dennard
• Janoris Jenkins

The likelihood of Claiborne and Kirkpatrick being on the board at #17 and/or #21 are small. Most mock drafts are giving Dennard to the Bengals with the 17th pick, although a few are saying Jenkins instead. Probably because he fits the Mike Brown formula: high skills + troubled past = discount! (Learn more about Jenkins’ history here.)

I’m not enough of a draft geek to tell you which guy is the right pick for the Bengals. I won’t dismiss Jenkins out of hand, despite the trouble, because people can change. If he has, I have no problem with him. If he hasn’t changed or carries himself like a diva, I want nothing to do with him. Should that be the case, I’ll take a less physically gifted Dennard if he will work hard, play in Zimmer’s system and fit easily in the locker room.

My projected 2012 crew at CB is Clements, Dennard (or Jenkins), Ghee, Jennings, and some fairly non-descript and unexciting free agent. ($1 to the person correctly guesses today who that free agent ends up being.)

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But I was surprised to see in a post by Mike Florio of PFT.com that Giants players admitted that his team did just that only a couple of days after it may have worked on 49ers returner Kyle Williams. Such openness with the media about targeting to concuss is begging the league to take some kind of action.

For the Bengals, who play 25% of their games against division opponents who pride themselves on having a hard-hitting, head-hunting style of play (including the poster child of illegal hits, James Harrison), the prospect of opponents targeting to concuss is a dangerous reality. Especially as the league is beginning to take action to prevent concussed players from reentering the game.

I wrote last month about my concerns that concussion will permanently alter the NFL. This is one more small step in that direction.

Like the defensive line, important decisions must be made about the LB corps. Strengthening this group will toughen the entire defense. They don’t need an overhaul to get there, but what move will they make to take another step forward in 2012?

Rey Maualuga: 13 games. 0 sacks, 88 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 1 INT.

Rey made the transition to MLB where we all believed he would be best, but the transition was not perfect. He is still prone to over-pursuit. His -6.3 rating by PFF was the worst among all LBs, leading to speculation that the Bengals may draft a MLB and move Rey back outside. He has one year left on his rookie deal.

Thomas Howard: 16 games. 1 sack, 99 tackles, 2 forced fumbles.

When Keith Rivers was not able to start the season with an injury, the Bengals scrambled and brought in Howard on a 2-year deal. His performance, however, was not as solid as we had hoped. Offenses would try to match up their tight end on him. It’s never good when opponents want to run the play at you.

Manny Lawson: 16 games. 1.5 sacks, 52 tackles.

Lawson’s +10.2 rating shows that he was a solid pick up in free agency. But he had less than 500 snaps, around the same number as the heavily rotated Fanene and Rucker. Lawson is a free agent.

Brandon Johnson: 16 games. 0 sacks, 31 tackles, 1 forced fumble.

Johnson has been a solid backup in his 4 years in stripes. He is adequate at all three positions, posting a +0.6 rating. He has not missed a game in his time in Cincinnati. Before signing his current contract, he was not satisfied with his role as a backup. As a free agent, we will find out if he has embraced that role or if he is still unsatisfied. (At a glance, his numbers are not good enough to garner many offers to be a starter.)

Dan Skuta: 16 games. 0.5 sacks, 31 tackles, 1 forced fumble.

Early on I didn’t take Skuta seriously, but he has shaped up to be a solid backup. He isn’t flashy, but he gets the job done when he is needed without looking like a backup. He is a restricted free agent, but I expect the Bengals to make sure he is back next year.

Vincent Rey: 16 games. 6 tackles.

VR saw the field very little, mainly on special teams. He is an exclusive rights free agent this year, meaning that he can only market himself if the Bengals choose not to make him an offer. That offer may not happen.

Keith Rivers: IR

Rivers never saw the field this season due to a wrist injury. Fan rumblings that Rivers is a bust has been growing, but as the #9 pick in 2008, I say the Bengals really over-reached for him. He and Thomas Howard likely will compete to start next year.

Roddrick Muckelroy: IR

A ruptured Achilles tendon took Muckelroy off the field for 2011, setting back his development. He will be a backup as well in 2011.

Dontay Moch: (no stats)

A foot injury and migraine headaches kept Moch inactive in 2011, so we have yet to see if he will live up to the praise in his scouting reports that led the Bengals to take him in the third round of last year’s draft.

Looking to 2012

Everything hinges on what the Bengals decide to do at MLB. If they conclude that they need to move Maualuga back outside, which would mean that the entire back 7 is again learning to follow another leader. If they were going to draft that guy, there is really only one option: Luke Kuechley of Boston College, who is projected to go in the top 20.

There are several options if the Bengals dipped into free agency for a MLB. The top rated options are:

• Stephen Tulloch of DET (+20.8)
• London Fletcher-Baker of WAS (+19.8) [old!]
• D’Qwell Jackson of CLE (+18.4)
• Curtis Lofton of ATL (+12.9)
• Joe Mays of SEA (+10.8)

Of the few positions on the field where I would risk going after a top free agent, MLB is one of them. With the Bengals signaling that they have no plans to do such, free agency would likely net someone more like Dhani Jones than Connor Barwin. And at that rate, it’s probably better to stick with Maualuga.

Once the middle is settled, the outside can be worked out. According to his scouting reports, Moch has a lot of promise, but he is completely unproven. Lawson, Johnson, Skuta and Rivers are all nice support players.

My suspicion is that this group is one player and/or a little reshuffling away from being a much better group in 2012. But because there is not a glaring need like at other positions, I don’t see this position being picked until the 4th or 5th round, if at all. I suspect we will see a trio of Rivers-Maualuga-Lawson as they work Moch into the mix. Hopefully they get some more discipline from Maualuga, and a guy like Moch or draft pick/free agent can be a catalyst to change in the middle of the field in 2012.

Coach Zimmer is still in the running in Tampa Bay.

According to sources in Tampa, the Buccaneers are still interested in Bengals Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer for their vacant head coaching position.  The Tampa Tribune states that Zimmer will get a second interview, though apparently several others will as well:

The Bucs are scheduling second interviews from a list of known candidates that include former Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, former Vikings coach Brad Childress, former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

Former Packers coach Mike Sherman is also a “finalist.” 

This second round appears to be in response to the team being spurned by their first choice, Oregon head man Chip Kelly.

Reactions:  Zimmer has my full endorsement, though I won’t cry too hard if he’s snubbed. Right now, I just want these teams to make up their minds already.  While I realize they are doing their due diligence and trying to find the best man for the job, they are really screwing everyone else around in the midst of Senior Bowl preparations.  If we are to lose Zimmer, the sooner the better so that appropriate replacements can be found before the available coaching talent is snapped up elsewhere.

Gotta also feel for Zimmer considering that Jay Gruden, a coordinator for all of one year, is turning down Head Coaching interviews even after he’s on record as saying he’s staying put.

With multiple players reaching free agency this year, the Bengals have some big decisions to make along the D-line.

Carlos Dunlap: 12 games. 4.5 sacks, 23 tackles.

A hamstring injury suffered against the Titans limited Dunlap’s effectiveness in the second half of the season. While still not a starter, Dunlap is very effective on passing downs. Dunlap still has two years left on his rookie deal.

Robert Geathers: 14 games. 2.5 sacks, 29 tackles.

While Geathers has never come close to repeating his dominating 10.5 sack season in 2006. However, Geathers and Dunlap have made an effective tandem at LDE. Geathers has one year remaining on the 6-year deal he signed after that huge season in 2006. Could he have another “contract year” in 2012?

Michael Johnson: 16 games. 6 sacks, 42 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT.

Johnson is freakishly large and fast, but coaches were unsatisfied enough with him that they pulled him as the starter. With one year left on his rookie deal, MJ does not need to have a “contract year” to get a new deal. He simply needs to live up to his potential.

Frostee Rucker: 16 games. 4 sacks, 44 tackles.

Rucker has never been outstanding, but he has always been a solid contributor on the D-line. Entrusted with greater responsibility, he responded with his best season as a Bengal. Rucker is a free agent, rated a solid +3.9 by PFF.

Jonathan Fanene: 16 games. 6.5 sacks, 24 tackles.

Fanene tested free agency last season but found no takers. The Bengals brought him back on a one year deal, and he responded with his third good season. Fanene is also a free agent, rated a decent +0.2 by PFF. The Bengals like multiple role guys like him, who can play either end or tackle.

Geno Atkins: 16 games. 7.5 sacks, 47 tackles, 2 force fumbles.

Atkins selection to the ProBowl in his second year tells us all we need to know about how well Atkins has played. He has paid the groundwork for a big payday when his rookie deal is up. If the Bengals are smart, they will sign him to a big raise and extension next year (when the salary minimum takes effect), locking him up as a Bengal for another four years or so.

Domata Peko: 16 games. 2.5 sacks, 66 tackles, 1 forced fumble.

Being the run-blocking tackle isn’t a job that will grab attention or kudos, but Peko is pretty good at it. With three years left on his contract, he will be back as a starter next year.

Pat Sims: 11 games. 1 sack, 20 tackles.

Sims’ numbers and -4.1 rating from PFF belie his value to the D-line. Like Peko, he is not a pass rusher but is an effective run blocker. And in the AFC North, run blockers are a necessity. Sims is a free agent now that his rookie deal is through, but I expect the Bengals to try to re-sign him.

Nick Hayden: 2 games. 2 tackles.

As a restricted free agent who had an OK 2010 in Carolina, my guess is that the Bengals will make him a minimum offer in hopes of snagging a 6th round pick off of a team that wants to bring him in to compete for a starting job. I doubt he wears a Bengals uniform next year.

Looking to 2012

With Rucker, Fanene and Sims all unrestricted free agents, the Bengals must carefully weigh their options. The ability to rotate 8 players on the line to stay fresh as opposing offensive lines wore down was an enormous advantage that they do not want to lose.

Rucker seems happy to be a Bengal. If the Bengals offer him reasonable money, I expect to see him return. And Sims’ numbers do not represent his full value, so he may not draw interest from teams that are not all that familiar with him. So IMO, the guy with the greatest likelihood not to return is Fanene.

Fanene has had three solid years over the past four. (He landed on IR with a hamstring injury after playing in only two games in 2010.) He was looking for a payday that never came last season. The Bengals will likely make him an offer, but I am not sure that they will offer him what he wants. If another team likes him enough to outbid the Bengals (knowing full well that Mike Brown won’t get into a bidding war), I believe he will follow the money.

While continuity is precious, bringing in new blood is important as well. They must re-sign at least one of these three at a minimum. Letting all three go is too much turnover. Drafting one guy and bringing in a free agent could replace the other two. But considering that bringing in a guy from elsewhere will likely cost more than re-signing two of them (probably Rucker and Sims) is better.

Would anyone argue that they must re-sign all three? Or that Sims or Rucker ought to be the odd man out?

The Bengals ought to draft a defensive lineman, but don’t look for him to be taken in the first round, and probably not in the second either. There are currently 10-12 tackles (including University of Cincinnati product Derek Wolfe) and 10-12 ends graded good enough to go by the end of the third round. The Bengals will wait to see which of these are still available at pick #85 and take one then.