Who Dey? (Covers head with protective gear)

[Julio Riddols]

Hey... How bout that Carson Palmer and them Bengals? This guy could be a freak of a QB.

(Controlling giddy laughter, knowing the disappointments of the past)

[TargetPractice6]

I watched the tape delay last night and enjoyed the first half quite a bit. :D I thought Rudi Johnson looked very good too.

[korme]

31-3 is when I stopped watching. Carson impressed me. Corey did so bad. I was in bliss last night.


WHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO DEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYY

[scooper]

I'm cautiously optimistic about Palmer after the first two games. His stat line the first game 3/8 with in int was not indicitive of his play as his WR's gave him no help whatsoever (the INT was a blatant drop.)

I realize the Pats ran a vanilla game plan, but it was still the starting superbowl champion defense. In fact, the Pats left their starters in on D until halfway through the fourth. Kitna and the second string drove and scored on their staring defense.

The key is Rudi and O-line. Rudi looked good both games. And I think this will be the best O-line in Cincy since 88. See what happens when you spend some high picks on o-line Mikey?

[rkmsuf]

I realize the Pats ran a vanilla game plan, but it was still the starting superbowl champion defense. In fact, the Pats left their starters in on D until halfway through the fourth. Kitna and the second string drove and scored on their staring defense.



No actually the Pats starters were yanked after two series and every single one of them was replaced. Belechick told them to just sit there and made them all come back in mid 3rd quarter.

[scooper]

No actually the Pats starters were yanked after two series and every single one of them was replaced. Belechick told them to just sit there and made them all come back in mid 3rd quarter.
Actually, I think we're both right here. On the play by play recap, there are a couple tackles listed by NE starters in the first half well after the second series. It looks like a mix. Oh well, I'm still optimistic.

Interestingly, the nfl's play by play recap stops after the Pats' first possesion in the second half so I don't have proof, but the Bengals's radio guy was commenting about the Pats' starters still playing for the Bengals' first second half drive. When I watched the tape delay that night, I didn't pay attention to names in the second half, so maybe you are right.

But like I said, I'm still optimistic. At the very least, the first two drives were beautiful and they were long drives against the Pats' starters.

[rkmsuf]

Actually, I think we're both right here. On the play by play recap, there are a couple tackles listed by NE starters in the first half well after the second series. It looks like a mix. Oh well, I'm still optimistic.

Interestingly, the nfl's play by play recap stops after the Pats' first possesion in the second half so I don't have proof, but the Bengals's radio guy was commenting about the Pats' starters still playing for the Bengals' first second half drive. When I watched the tape delay that night, I didn't pay attention to names in the second half, so maybe you are right.

But like I said, I'm still optimistic. At the very least, the first two drives were beautiful and they were long drives against the Pats' starters.

Belechick was ripping mad after it was 14-0. He sat their asses. Maybe a couple of guys went in or out but he put the entire starting unit out there during garbage time.

Cincy was certainly fired up and NE clearly was not and the score refected it.

[scooper]

You're right. They were fired up, and they needed to be. First home game against the defending champs with their former star player. That would get any team up.

However, I wouldn't chalk it up to only being fired up. The Bengals have quietly put together a very potent offense built around what is possibly a top 5 offensive line, a good power running game with a few good backs, a stable of WR's and a QB with the potential to be very good. There aren't many offenses in the NFL I'd trade for at this point.


The defense is still a bit iffy, but if you look at the roster, there are a lot of former first and second round draft picks on that unit who are being coached by a guy considered to be one of the best defensive minds in the game.

As Julio alluded to, I remember the disappointments of the past, but this team could be a good one.

[panerd]

Me and a friend were discussing this about the Bengals last night. (I am a huge fan, he is not) Do you think that the veteran players on Cinci hate Corey Dillon or sort of understand where he is coming from? I think younger guys like Chad Johnson and Justin Smith probably hate the guy, but I would bet that a lot of the older guys understand. I mean 8-8 was their best season in like 10+ years! Not justifying what Dillon did, and I think he irks it on more by blabbing all of his problems to the media, but I think a lot of the older guys probably are thinking I would have gone to the Patriots too if I could just get out of this contract.

[scooper]

I don't think they hate Corey. In fact, some of them hung out with him quite a bit out of football when he was here. I think it's the fans that don't like him. That said, I don't think the players were sad to see him leave.

The thing about Corey is, his loudest complaints came last year while the team was in the midst of a 6-2 midseason stretch with big wins over a few playoff teams. But he wasn't the center of those wins and wasn't getting carries. I don't think he minded losing as long as he was making pro bowls and getting paid. The writing was on the wall they they could win without him and that's when his situation turned ugly last year.

That's what a lot of fans don't get when they talk about Corey. They chalk his bad attitude up to losing but his biggest complaints weren't about the team's record. This team sucked when he threatened to flip burgers but he smiled pretty as he signed a large contract. He could have left the Bengals then, but chose to stay when they showed him the money. He then started a string of probowls and was happy up until Rudi took his job.

Just going to a more successful franchise won't shut him up. If at any point during this season, Corey ceases to be the man in the backfield or if Bellicheck doesn't bow down to him, I would not be surprised to hear sour grapes from him again.

Corey wants to be the man and have his butt kissed. It's not about wins and losses for him.

[JeeberD]

Julius Jones was running so good against the Raiders the other night that it made my dick hard! I love Jules!

[scooper]

[Joiningthreajack]

I'm in no way a Boys fan, but I am a Julius Jones fan. He was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal season last year for ND. I think he'll develop into a fine starting rb for Dallas.

[/leavesthreadjack]

[Alf]

[threadjack III]

Hi Julio, long time no see. How are the Wildfires doing since you retirement ?

[endthreadjack III]

[TargetPractice6]

Yeah Scooper, I think Palmer will do the job just fine. It seemed he could move around in the pocket well and was decent at rolling out to get away from the defenders. One thing that annoyed me about Kitna was that he just wasn't very mobile and that isn't good when you have a tendency to fumble. That said it's going to be nice having a guy like Kitna as a backup this season incase Palmer does stumble some.

[Julio Riddols]

The Wildfire.. Heh...

Must admit I don't much remember my playing days that well after the car accident, but I'll say I have watched a few of the old game tapes from my "good" years and I guess I was a decent player.. I still keep in touch with a couple guys from the team, and I even spoke with the new coach about coming in as a consultant before I lost most of my memory and motor skills.. Today, I'm about 60% what I used to be, and the scars are kind of unsightly, but it's life I guess.

I remember bits and pieces of the years after my retirement, when I moved back up here to Chugwater and coached a little league team for a while.. Never did better than 3-5 in any season, but I enjoyed the whole thing immensely.. It kind of made me think about when youre a kid and football isn't a business to you, you know? Things get too serious as we grow older.

Anyway, guess I'll sign off for now.. Gotta empty this colostomy bag again..

Thanks For remembering me man.

"Good ol' Number 12"

(Or was it 14? To hell with this memory loss!)