Bengals Fans can relax

[RendeR]

This is going to be one unfuckingbelievable season!!!


Yeah, green Bay sucks, but even against bad teams you shouldn't see 34 points in a half.


Carson looks fantastic and very comfortable, the Iceman commands the Bengals Offense.

Love this team, can't wait to watch them win Super Bowl 41!!

[cougarfreak]

Yeah, I'd say so. GB has some pretty decent db's though, and Cincinnati and Palmer made them look like swiss cheese. Good news.

[saldana]

even though i am a niners fan, i love carson palmer, so this is outstanding news, and makes me happy to have not cancelled sunday ticket...that offense will be entertaining to watch every week with him healthy and in charge.

[kingnebwsu]

Stupid thought I put this to record on TiVo. 9/14 for 140 yds and 3 TD's (I think) is pretty awesome. Can't wait to see the offense.

If their D can catch up with a healthy Carson then Cincy should win at least 10 this year.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

If the police can't catch up with too many of their players then Cincy should win at least 10 this year.

Fixed that for you

[bob]

If the Bengals make the Super Bowl, the 49ers will beat them.

[kingnebwsu]

Jerry Rice would dance his way into the end zone and it would be very awkward.

[RendeR]

Good thing the Niners will spend the rest of this decade watching the Super Bowl at home then isn't it.

[kcchief19]

I'm not sure I'd get too hyped. Whether it was just being nice or following the "unwritten code" of the preseason, Green Bay did absolutely nothing to try and put pressure on Palmer. It'll be a lot different in week one when Gunther Cunningham will have his front line primed to put Carson down as frequently as possible and go Rodney Harrison on him.

Until then, I'll withhold judgement. It was an impressive performance. But it was just an exhibition game. Let's wait until we see it for real before we pencil the Bengals into the AFC title game against Jeff George and the Raiders.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I'm not sure I'd get too hyped. Whether it was just being nice or following the "unwritten code" of the preseason, Green Bay did absolutely nothing to try and put pressure on Palmer. It'll be a lot different in week one when Gunther Cunningham will have his front line primed to put Carson down as frequently as possible and go Rodney Harrison on him.

Until then, I'll withhold judgement. It was an impressive performance. But it was just an exhibition game. Let's wait until we see it for real before we pencil the Bengals into the AFC title game against Jeff George and the Raiders.

Did you watch the game, Palmer scrambled several times to avoid the pressure "that was not there", was knocked down twice, including being thrown down and spun on his injured knee. That vaunted Gunther Cunningham front line ranked 24th in sacks last year.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I'm not sure I'd get too hyped. Whether it was just being nice or following the "unwritten code" of the preseason, Green Bay did absolutely nothing to try and put pressure on Palmer. It'll be a lot different in week one when Gunther Cunningham will have his front line primed to put Carson down as frequently as possible and go Rodney Harrison on him.

Until then, I'll withhold judgement. It was an impressive performance. But it was just an exhibition game. Let's wait until we see it for real before we pencil the Bengals into the AFC title game against Jeff George and the Raiders.

I don't know if I buy the just an exhibition game theory right now...the starters are generally playing up until the 3rd quarter as the teams begin to fine tune for week 1.

although, I have to say, it is definately early to hype the team...lets see how they handle week 1,2,3 and then if they are still potent...hype all you want.

[MrKordell]

preseason

Don't get too excited yet.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by MrKordell

preseason

Don't get too excited yet.

The only thing that excited me tonight was to watch Palmer play tonight. I don't put any weight into preseason scores or the like, but Palmer was impressive tonight. All that, and he didn't complete a pass to Chad Johnson.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by MrKordell

preseason

Don't get too excited yet.

A guy named Kordell knows a lot about premature declarations of greatness.

[rowech]

As a Bengals fan, I felt Cincy would have beat Pittsburgh in the first round last season. I don't know if they would have gone to the super bowl, etc. but there is no question, they have no chance of the playoffs without Palmer. He looked good tonight. Still some timidness to really let go off of his front foot and straighten it out but overall, I actually feel like we can compete with anyone in the AFC.

The thing that I'm more impressed with is the defense right now. The addition of Sam Adams has already been huge...you can see what a difference it will make for the Dends especially. The secondary, I would put up against about any secondary in the league right now. The addition of Dexter Jackson and the return of Madieum Williams at the other safety close a MASSIVE gap that was existent last year with Adams closing the other. At this point, they haven't looked like they've missed Odell either.

I agree with thoughts...it is preseason...that's why I only watch the first half of preseason games. But at this point, I feel good about this season. Super Bowl? I can't say that at all but I also can't say there's no way either.

[PackerFanatic]

Even as a Packers fan, I enjoyed seeing Palmer get out there and play, he looked good after what was a bad injury.

Yes, the Packers looked like shit, Favre looked like he did last year, but I won't put too much on it...they looked like that against SD two weeks ago and came back to put on a good show against Atlanta. It is only preseason, I won't get too worked up until they start doing that in the regular season (*hopes not*)

[Cydney]

I wished more than anything to see the game last night - I'm a Bengals fan, and the Mrs. is a Packers fan. But! Fuckin TSN had to show the damned US Open. Fuckin tennis.

[scooper]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I'm not sure I'd get too hyped. Whether it was just being nice or following the "unwritten code" of the preseason, Green Bay did absolutely nothing to try and put pressure on Palmer. It'll be a lot different in week one when Gunther Cunningham will have his front line primed to put Carson down as frequently as possible and go Rodney Harrison on him.

Until then, I'll withhold judgement. It was an impressive performance. But it was just an exhibition game. Let's wait until we see it for real before we pencil the Bengals into the AFC title game against Jeff George and the Raiders.

Green Bay blitzed a lot last night. It is a falsehood to say they did nothing to try to pressure him. The truth is more than they failed to pressure him. Though even when they reached him, it didn't faze him.

For as big of a boob as Theisman can be, he made some great observations on Palmer's play last night-especially the progression from bending his plant knee early to straightening it out as the game went on. Also, the fact that when guys were diving around his legs, he did not look down. This was something he struggled with early in camp.

Now, for those spouting the "only preseason" mantra. We know. It's the not score that has us excited. (Though it was nice)

You have to remember that this offense was explosive last year. We're not basing our expectations on this preseason, but rather a return to last year's production. The only missing piece to that has been Palmer's health. Now along comes last night's game and we saw him play with no apparent ill effects. 7 1/2 months ago, many of us were afraid he was done. Or at least done for 06. That doesn't appear to be the case.

So excuse us our enthusiasm over a preseason game. We're thrilled to see one of the top offenses in the leage coming back in true form. And we're actually a bit excited to see some of the changes on defense showing good returns so far.

Police blotter jokes and Palmer's injury aside, the Bengals will play a big role in the AFC again this season.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by Cydney

I wished more than anything to see the game last night - I'm a Bengals fan, and the Mrs. is a Packers fan. But! Fuckin TSN had to show the damned US Open. Fuckin tennis.

You do have a remote control, right???

[Butter]

Still not sure why Baltimore is getting so much love this preseason. McNair is going to break down at some point this season, and their running game just isn't what it used to be. Plus, the defense has gone WAY downhill. Someone explain it to me. It will still be Steelers/Bengals battling for the AFC North again.

Injury aside, that's what you expect from Palmer. Efficient, deadly, poised, smart. That's just who he is. I kept waiting for him to have a Ki-Jana moment, just crumpling without being hit. Having the Bengals' luck, I'll probably be waiting for that moment every time he drops back this year. I just hope it never comes.

[scooper]

I cringed a couple times last night. When he took off running, Bengals fans everywhere were screaming "Go down!"

[Cydney]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

You do have a remote control, right???

We don't have espn here.....TSN usually carries the stuff, but not last night. They were our only hope....

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

Did you watch the game, Palmer scrambled several times to avoid the pressure "that was not there", was knocked down twice, including being thrown down and spun on his injured knee. That vaunted Gunther Cunningham front line ranked 24th in sacks last year.

I think we watched different games. I saw Palmer scramble once (not a couple of times) and (very wisely) slide down with no one within five yards of him. If Carson Palmer can play 16 games and never get sacked and get knocked down a grand total of 64 times (projecting last night's half over a full season), he'll be MVP. If you think that's indicative of the experience of a typical NFL quarterback, I think we do indeed watch two different games.

That's not going to happen. Green Bay got no pressure with the their defensive line, they didn't blitz much and when they did blitz the Bengals picked it up -- I have no doubt because the offensive line was coached to not let anyone get within arm's reach of Palmer.

I'm not pimping the Chiefs defense -- I'm just saying that I think Green Bay played the perfect foil last night by not trying that hard to go after him. Plus there is no way the offensive line can play at the high of a level to protect him all season. He's going to get hit -- a hell of a lot harder and a hell of a lot more times than he got hit last night. After that, I'll say he's back.

I'm rooting for him -- it's a good story. I just won't be rooting for him in week one.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I think we watched different games. I saw Palmer scramble once (not a couple of times) and (very wisely) slide down with no one within five yards of him. If Carson Palmer can play 16 games and never get sacked and get knocked down a grand total of 64 times (projecting last night's half over a full season), he'll be MVP. If you think that's indicative of the experience of a typical NFL quarterback, I think we do indeed watch two different games.

That's not going to happen. Green Bay got no pressure with the their defensive line, they didn't blitz much and when they did blitz the Bengals picked it up -- I have no doubt because the offensive line was coached to not let anyone get within arm's reach of Palmer.

I'm not pimping the Chiefs defense -- I'm just saying that I think Green Bay played the perfect foil last night by not trying that hard to go after him. Plus there is no way the offensive line can play at the high of a level to protect him all season. He's going to get hit -- a hell of a lot harder and a hell of a lot more times than he got hit last night. After that, I'll say he's back.

I'm rooting for him -- it's a good story. I just won't be rooting for him in week one.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs...90397/1082/SPT

[kingnebwsu]

IF Palmer is healthy all season and IF the defense plays slightly better, the Bengals are a shoo-in for the playoffs.

Saturday is the start of college football and I can't wait because summertime is boring as hell for sports.

GO FOOTBALL!!!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

Did you watch the game, Palmer scrambled several times to avoid the pressure "that was not there", was knocked down twice, including being thrown down and spun on his injured knee. That vaunted Gunther Cunningham front line ranked 24th in sacks last year.

How'd that last visit to Arrowhead go for the Bengals against the front line that ranked 24th in sacks last year? Let me remind you.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=260101012

Also, it's pretty obvious that you don't know that there are three new starters on the defensive line. Also, the Chiefs added Ty Law opposite of Patrick Surtain. The Bengals will have plenty of work to do. Consider the Bengals extremely fortunate if they get out of Arrowhead with a win (as should any other team that manages a win at Arrowhead).

[Butter]

Let's see, yeah, they rested Palmer because they had clinched the playoffs, and it was Vermeil's last game. No mitigating circumstances there.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

How'd that last visit to Arrowhead go for the Bengals against the front line that ranked 24th in sacks last year? Let me remind you.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=260101012

Also, it's pretty obvious that you don't know that there are three new starters on the defensive line. Also, the Chiefs added Ty Law opposite of Patrick Surtain. The Bengals will have plenty of work to do. Consider the Bengals extremely fortunate if they get out of Arrowhead with a win (as should any other team that manages a win at Arrowhead).

Yeah........that game meant alot since the bengals had clinched the playoffs, clinched the division, and rested the starters. I agree the bengals will be lucky to get out of Arrowhead with a win, it is one of the toughest places to win on the road, that's not what I was saying. If they do, it'll be more likely to be of the 35-28 variety than the 10-7 variety. I'm sure the Chiefs will have plenty of rushing yards against the Bengal defense.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Let's see, yeah, they rested Palmer because they had clinched the playoffs, and it was Vermeil's last game. No mitigating circumstances there.

So Palmer's being in the game = 34+ points? Interesting. Can't wait to see it happen. This guy must be the second coming. I'm sure that Palmer would have blocked much better for the offensive line that day. Opening day at Arrowhead won't give the Bengals any jitters at all.

***Cue happy music with lyrics about greatness of Bengals after one year of success***

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

***Cue happy music with lyrics about greatness of Bengals after one year of success***

All I said was there were mitigating circumstances, but you seem to want to poke fun at the Bengals fans for being optimistic. I think they'll win, but they might very well lose. But pointing at that game last year as proof that the Bengals will lose is laughable.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

So Palmer's being in the game = 34+ points? Interesting. Can't wait to see it happen. This guy must be the second coming. I'm sure that Palmer would have blocked much better for the offensive line that day. Opening day at Arrowhead won't give the Bengals any jitters at all.

***Cue happy music with lyrics about greatness of Bengals after one year of success***

Fuckin' A, don't disrespect the undefeated AFC North Preseason champs like that.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Fuckin' A, don't disrespect the undefeated AFC North Preseason champs like that.

Oh, well that's a different story then. I apologize.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

All I said was there were mitigating circumstances, but you seem to want to poke fun at the Bengals fans for being optimistic. I think they'll win, but they might very well lose. But pointing at that game last year as proof that the Bengals will lose is laughable.

First off, poking fun at the Bengals is a time-honored tradition.

Second, Chiefs fans don't accept players taking games off even if they don't mean something. The effort from your team was deplorable.

As crazy as Arrowhead is on any given Sunday, it is a absolute maelstrom on opening day. Any fan who takes a visit to Arrowhead comes away with a great respect for any team that can manage to win there.

I'll give you two names that you will know well by the end of the first game: Tamba Hali and Jared Allen. Two very good defensive linemen who will have a big advantage with the crowd volume.

[Butter]

You must be bored.

Rather than sitting around trash talking other teams' fans, I'll be home enjoying the second positive season my team has had in 18 years, so forgive me for squeezing some enjoyment out of it.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

You must be bored.

Rather than sitting around trash talking other teams' fans, I'll be home enjoying the second positive season my team has had in 18 years, so forgive me for squeezing some enjoyment out of it.

At this point Chiefs fans have nothing more to look forward to than poking fun at other teams fans. Their O-line is weaker, they still don't have a top flight Wideout, their defense must rebound from a bengal-eske performance last season and to top it all off, they have a new head coach who's gaming style becomes amazingly predictable and has shown zero ability to lift a team to the next level.

Don't stress the chiefs fans, all they've got is talk.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by RendeR

At this point Chiefs fans have nothing more to look forward to than poking fun at other teams fans. Their O-line is weaker, they still don't have a top flight Wideout, their defense must rebound from a bengal-eske performance last season and to top it all off, they have a new head coach who's gaming style becomes amazingly predictable and has shown zero ability to lift a team to the next level.

Don't stress the chiefs fans, all they've got is talk.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IMk5sMHj58I

[korme]

Interview with Odell Thurman up at ESPN's Page Two... very inspirational.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...t&lid=tab1pos1

Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman sits in a green velvet chair 16 floors above the street with his back to Cincinnati's Fountain Square, or what's left of it, as construction workers below loudly tear apart and rebuild one of the city's most famous landmarks. In effect, the same thing has been happening to Thurman this preseason.

While growing up in an impoverished part of rural Georgia, Thurman overcame the deaths of both of his parents to star at UGA. Several off-field incidents in college caused him to fall to the second round of the 2005 draft. But in Cincinnati Thurman emerged as the Chad Johnson of the resurgent Bengals defense. From his Mike 'backer spot he led the team with 148 tackles (46 ahead of the second-place tackler) and led all NFL rookies with five picks while his Tasmanian Devil style of play drew comparisons to Ray Lewis and restored the team's defensive swagger. "The sky's the limit with Odell," said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.
Those expectations, however, all came crashing down around him this summer when Thurman's second violation of the NFL substance abuse policy led to a four-game suspension to start the 2006 season. He says that missing tests while out of town this summer, as well as appointments with his NFL mandated counselor, are what caused the violation -- not another positive drug test result. (The NFL considers them the same thing.) And he denies, flatly, the notion that he skipped the tests because he was going to test positive. Now Thurman says he'll be tested several times a week and his next violation would result in a yearlong suspension.
Thurman, 23, was allowed to participate in all preseason activities but on Sept. 4 he will no longer be permitted to practice or be with the team on game days. As he neared the isolation of that cutoff date, Thurman, dressed in a striped Coogi polo shirt and sporting a massive chunk of tobacco in his right cheek, sat down after the Bengals' MNF triumph to clear the air with the first in-depth interview of his tumultuous preseason.

Tom Szczerbowski/US Presswire
After a great rookie season in 2005, Thurman received comparisons to Ray Lewis.

He began by placing one finger on the corner of the dark wood coffee table in front of him, saying …
"If this is the edge right here then I got one foot over the edge, I got one whole leg over the edge and the fall would be … I can't even see the ground. A one year [suspension] for me, if I were to make that mistake, it would be like committing suicide.
"I just want people to know I wasn't out there using all types of drugs. Basically, it was me missing a test. To be honest it was my first NFL offseason and I was out doing too much during the summertime, being irresponsible about the whole thing and not taking it real serious. I made a mistake. And I'm living with that mistake. And now I'm refocusing. I just worry that the fans have gotten the wrong impression on me, that they think I'm an addict with real problems with using drugs. I've heard some wild stuff, rumors about crack, methamphetamine, people saying I came into camp 50 pounds underweight. When the main thing to all this was me missing a test -- not failing it, missing it. Even though if you miss a test in this system, it's the same as having drugs in your system. That's the way they see it.
"I'm not the kind of person that's been portrayed by the media, a bad guy or a drug user. I'm not. That's not the case at all. I want people to see the situation I'm in and how critical this is for me. I know some people will still believe whatever they want to believe. But the people around me, they know what kind of a person I truly am. Missing the test is not on the same pedestal as using. Missing the test is irresponsible. Using drugs is stupid. I blame it all on myself, I was just being irresponsible about the whole situation. In some ways I look at it like, man, I didn't really mess up but I still come across in all of this looking like the real bad guy. I'm not perfect but I'm not on meth or crack cocaine, either.
"I knew for a couple of months, I was just waiting to hear back from the league what the punishment would be. The biggest problem was around camp, when the news came out, I was embarrassed and scared and I separated myself from everyone. Coach called me like five or six times but I was in denial. I didn't want to face it. I didn't want to handle it. I was worried how everyone would treat me. I mean, I used to be the happiest guy in the building coming into work. And I wondered if guys would still follow me on this defense. But my teammates welcomed me back with open arms and the Bengals didn't turn their backs on me either. They're, like, 110 percent behind me. Coach is like a father to me. It's that simple.
"Looking from the outside in, I don't get mad at people when they say that [the Bengals have character issues] because there has been a lot of stuff going on with this team. But there's a lot of people in that locker room and coaches can't control everyone. The Bengals organization can tell people, 'don't do this, don't do that.' But they can't control everyone in that locker room. They can't.
"When I finally came back to camp I sat down with coach and he basically said this to me: 'You're mine. I drafted you, I'm not pushing you away, I'm still behind you 100 percent. Just stay focused from here on out. Don't get down. Don't mess up again. Just get back on the field.' I think he knew that I had heard enough how bad I had messed up. I know what I did and that I had to take full responsibility for what I did. So the team said to me, 'we still love you around here, we're still your family, we're not going to push you out the door because of one mistake.' [Coach] called me every other day making sure I was okay, asking if I needed to talk or if I needed anything. I had tried to push him away at first, I thought I should deal with it on my own, but that was the wrong thing to do. I was really just hiding.

Tom Szczerbowski/US Presswire
Thurman will miss Cincy's first four games in 2006 -- including games at Kansas City and Pittsburgh and vs. New England.

"I feel like I came in as a rookie and I made a statement right away. I may have made some mistakes but I made them at a 100 miles per hour. As a rookie on the field, I could be a tiny, half step out of alignment and coach Lewis would jump down my throat. Like, 'GET UP AND GET OVER THERE, RIGHT NOW ODELL!' And I'd move one tiny step over and that's how far off I was, a few inches. That was the kind of small stuff he stayed on my back about and that's why I had a great rookie season on the field.
"I think coach Lewis is doing the same things with me, only now it's with my life. If I'm two minutes late for a meeting, he's gonna get on me. If I'm not dressed properly for practice, he's gonna get on me. All the small stuff, he's gonna get on me. And I appreciate having someone in my life like that and I know I need it. Being young and being in the situation I'm in right now, I can't make any more mistakes, not one more slipup.
"Missing the test for me was like one more eye-opener or another kick in the butt for me. Like, it's time to get focused again. I've got goals set higher than just being in the NFL. I really do feel like I can be one of the best. But I can honestly say, too, that I haven't worked like that. I haven't worked like I'm the best. I lift weights. I do this. I do that. I run. But there are times when I slip and I don't want to work out and I'm just being young and irresponsible. I've always had that in the back of my mind: that I'm the best, I'm the greatest. What I found out was everyone thinks that. But not everyone prepares to be the greatest.
"But now that I have this mistake on me, the magnifying glass will always be on me. I gotta work. I can't slip. I can't falter. All I have to do is make sure I don't hang myself. I gotta live my life more organized. I gotta plan ahead. And I gotta see the big picture of my life, which is football has gotten me everything I have. That's the main reason for where I'm at: football.
"Looking back on my whole career, this is how it's always been for me. Like at Georgia. I got suspended, I messed up and I knew that if I made another mistake I was out of there. And I went straight. Now I messed up in the league at an early point in my career. I have no more errors I can make. So now I have to make this a 10-year run -- at least.
"I know it doesn't seem like it because I almost blew it all, almost let it all go, but I appreciate what I got now, especially after where I came from. I don't think everyone out there truly understands where I came from. The way I grew up, I had an elbow in the back of my neck my whole life. Like, 'you're gonna do right, you're gonna be the one who makes it.' But 90 percent of the people out there, if they had been through the stuff I've been through in life, they wouldn't be where I'm at.
"I lost both parents at a young age. Basically I came from nothing: I mean 15, 16, 17 people in a four-bedroom house, sharing clothes with my cousins, four people in a bed, man if you came home late you had trouble finding a spot to sleep. I'm serious. We were rich with love, though, we were rich with love.
"My dad's death was much harder to take than my mom's. Being at such a young age when she died [in a car wreck when Odell was in the fourth grade] I kinda didn't really understand it. It hurt but I didn't understand it. When my father died [of liver and kidney failure three years ago] it came at a key point in my life -- when I really needed him he was gone. I was 20, had just had a kid of my own [Odalyus, now 4] and it was the week before my first college game. At that point I didn't have a parent to support me. Nothing. I had uncles and family and my grandma but there's nothing like having your parents behind you.
"My dad came to watch me in the Red-Black scrimmage before my sophomore year at Georgia. I had a good game. We celebrated. Three or four days later my auntie calls and says, 'You need to come see your daddy.' Now, I had just talked to him earlier in the day and when I came home to see him in the hospital, he was already like a vegetable. A few days earlier he had been complaining about a stomachache. But it was kidney failure, they said. He was dying from kidney failure from drinking too much. But he wasn't a drunk. He went to work, sober, every day for eight, nine years. His body just couldn't take it any more.
"What I remember the most was the doctor's wording when I asked him a question about talking to my dad the next day. And he said to me: 'If he makes it through the night.' If? I caught that. I remember that. If? My family was hiding from me how bad it was. But I remember that word: if. I left the hospital and drove back to campus and in the hour it took me to get back to Athens, he died. He left me too early. That's what I think. He left me too early. I played that week. I didn't start. But I played a good game. I needed to get back around my teammates.
"And that's what I need now. It's gonna be a long month, I'm not gonna lie about it. But I think I'll be alright. Watching games, being close but not being able to get in there with my teammates, that's the worst punishment right there. Not playing, I've been looking at this team like this: Damn, they're good, but now imagine if they had me too? What if I was out there? I really do believe that I play a key role on this team. Then I look at our offense and it's like, they can just score whenever they want to. Most teams talk about the Super Bowl this time of year but for us, it's a realistic goal to set.
"Man, we could be like the Colts last year, winning 13, 14 in a row. That's not even thinking outside the box with this team. It's not. We've got a great team that can really do something like that this year. We're stacked at every position. Most teams this time of year are like, 'we need a quarterback, we need a running back, we need a safety.' But I can't name one position in that locker room that we don't have guys who are the best in the league at their position. This is a team full of Pro Bowlers.
"And I'm still a part of this team, I'm still a Bengal. That's what I need to stay focused on right now. I've still got a job to do when I get back. I know I have to do the right thing now, so I'm not scared. It's all up to me. I control it. And in my mind I think I'll be a Bengal forever. It's gonna take time, I know, but I think I can be one of the most beloved players around here.
"Once I step back on the field I'm hoping all of this stuff will diminish. People will see that I'm still focused, that I'm still the player I was last year, that I'm still the Bengal they used to love. I think this will pass over. That's what I'm hoping.
"I just want everyone to see the truth: that I made some mistakes but that doesn't make me a bad person. I did make some mistakes. I'm not denying that. I did get in the program to begin with. And to get in you had to be doing something. But I'm not the first and I won't be the last to deal with this type of stuff. I just want people, however they looked at me beforehand, that's what I want to go back to.
"I just don't want to end up a sad case, you know? I don't want to look back one day and have to say, 'coulda, shoulda, woulda been.' I want to be able to look back in 10 years and say I was one of the greatest. I want to be a success story. I want people to say he came from nothing and made it all the way to the Hall of Fame.


"From nothing to the Hall of Fame. That's the story I want. A success story.
"I don't want to end up no sad story."

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

First off, poking fun at the Bengals is a time-honored tradition.

Really? perhaps you should look at the criteria for such things and head over to the San Francisco or Arizona joke stalls then, ours is closed.

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Second, Chiefs fans don't accept players taking games off even if they don't mean something. The effort from your team was deplorable.

Yes, the effort our 2nd and 3rd team players put out against your BEST was deplorable, and hence you won the game handily. I still get confused...who went to the playoffs after that game?

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

As crazy as Arrowhead is on any given Sunday, it is a absolute maelstrom on opening day. Any fan who takes a visit to Arrowhead comes away with a great respect for any team that can manage to win there.

I won't argue with this one, Arrowhead is a loud, obnoxious, insane place to play football, not unlike PBS when the crowd gets going. I have no doubt it will be a very tough day for the offense, but our offense is far enough ahead of KC's defense that I trust they'll do just fine.

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

I'll give you two names that you will know well by the end of the first game: Tamba Hali and Jared Allen. Two very good defensive linemen who will have a big advantage with the crowd volume.

Hali COULD be quite a pickup, but he's a bit undersized for a D-lineman(265?). Remember he's gotta face Big Willie Anderson and/or Levi Jones, two of the best tackles in the game right now. He'll be hard pressed to out maneuver either of them more than once in a game.

Allen is definitely a pass rush talent, but again, he's facing two of the best tackles in the game, If he even begins to take over his area they'll double team him with a tight end or FB.


Seriously though, player for player right now, the Bengals have more talent, they've got a proven head coach and the single cooest most composed under pressure QB in the game right now. Though my personal belief is that our number 1 positive is an offense thats been together for 3 years now and knows one another inside and out.

Cohesion factor anyone?

Bengals win by at least a TD.

[Aylmar]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Seriously though, player for player right now, the Bengals have more talent, they've got a proven head coach and the single cooest most composed under pressure QB in the game right now.

When did the Bengals trade for Tom Brady?

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Interview with Odell Thurman up at ESPN's Page Two... very inspirational.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...t&lid=tab1pos1

*Snipping rediculously hard to read cut and paste article*


You could have just give the link and a quick comment shorty that mess you posted is hard to read.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Yes, the effort our 2nd and 3rd team players put out against your BEST was deplorable, and hence you won the game handily. I still get confused...who went to the playoffs after that game?

Seriously though, player for player right now, the Bengals have more talent, they've got a proven head coach and the single cooest most composed under pressure QB in the game right now. Though my personal belief is that our number 1 positive is an offense thats been together for 3 years now and knows one another inside and out.

Cohesion factor anyone?

Bengals win by at least a TD.

Yeah, the first team looked a whole lot better in the playoff game. Oh, that's right. One player makes your whole team. Second coming of Joe Montana no doubt.

Printed and stapled on bulletin board........ready for repost after week #1.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Aylmar

When did the Bengals trade for Tom Brady?

no offense to Tom, but when he's getting chased down regularly he makes some really fantastic mistakes.

Last 2 minutes of the Dolphins game on MNF? fumble and INT to lose a lead and the game.

Playoff game VS broncos, pressured into bad throws and costly turnovers.


Brady isn't Joe Cool anymore, he's showing his humanity.

Palmer is a block of ice out there. And he's got more talent. Homer-ize over Brady all you want, Palmer is a better QB.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Printed and stapled on bulletin board........ready for repost after week #1.

Just remember to post it when we WIN as well as if we lose that game

[Noble_Platypus]

Isnt this where all of the dumbasses chime in and say that "Brady has the rings, so he must be better", because its an armwrestling contest and only the QB decides the outcome?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Just remember to post it when we WIN as well as if we lose that game

Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that scenario........

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by RendeR

no offense to Tom, but when he's getting chased down regularly he makes some really fantastic mistakes.

Last 2 minutes of the Dolphins game on MNF? fumble and INT to lose a lead and the game.

Playoff game VS broncos, pressured into bad throws and costly turnovers.


Brady isn't Joe Cool anymore, he's showing his humanity.

Palmer is a block of ice out there. And he's got more talent. Homer-ize over Brady all you want, Palmer is a better QB.

you no longer are allowed to make serious football comments.

[korme]

Uh, for the record, Palmer is the second coming. It's not just speculation. That is all.

[Noble_Platypus]

The Pats had several injuries on D last year and started the season 4-4, if I remember correctly. If Brady is the sole reason they win and lose then why werent they 7-1, or 6-2 over that stretch? It seems to me to prove that he is a good QB on a team with a great D, and thats why they dominate.

[MikeVic]

The correct answer is Jeff George.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Uh, for the record, Palmer is the second coming. It's not just speculation. That is all.

So noted. I hear his team is roughly +35 points when he's in the lineup vs. when he's out.