We are dealing with team management that would rather reinsert a criminal into the locker room who no one talks to (Henry) than keep around a seasoned vet who is (was) a team leader (Anderson). 

We are dealing with team management who has let the best offensive lineman that this team has seen in at least 15 years slip away (Eric Steinbach). 

We are dealing with team management who has continually shown that they don't have any clue on how to win in this league (Mike 'Turdbox' Brown).  Speaking of which, here's an interesting stat.  The Bengals record before Mike Brown took over the team was hovering right around .500.  To be more specific, the Bengals record was 174-181 before Mikey took over as president, a winning percentage of 49%.  The Bengals record AFTER Mikey took over?  94-162.  A winning percentage of 36.7%.  This is what happens when someone who doesn't know anything about football tries to manage a professional team.

We are also dealing with management who doesn't know how to draft properly. 

For an example, take a look at the Indianapolis Colts and what they've managed to do with thier first round picks from 1994 to 2002 as compared to the Bengals:

1994 - Marshall Faulk (future Hall of Famer)                             1994 - Dan Wilkinson (relative bust)
1995 - Ellis Johnson (avg. 5.1 sacks over 10 years)                  1995 - Ki-Jana Carter (bust)
1996 - Marvin Harrison (future HOF)                                        1996 - Willie Anderson (4x Pro Bowler)
1997 - Tarik Glenn (3x Pro Bowler, played 10 years)                1997 - Reinard Wilson (bust)
1998 - Peyton Manning (future HOF)                                        1998 - Takeo Spikes (2x Pro Bowler...after he left the Bengals)
1999 - Edgerrin James (4x PB, Off. NFL lead rusher 2x)            1999 - Akili Smith (Oh....my....god....)
2000 - Rob Morris (relative bust, played 7 seasons, though       2000 - Peter Warrick (Bust...never caught more than 817 yards in a season)
2001 - Reggie Wayne (one of top 3 WRs in NFL, 2x Pro Bowler) 2001 - Justin Smith (Lead team in sacks 3 of first 5 years with team, now with SF)
2002 - Dwight Freeney(3x PB, NFL sack leader 2004 w/ 16)       2002 - Levi Jones (No notable acheivements)

The difference is staggering.  The Colts have also added players like Bob Sanders, Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez in recent years with first round picks, not to mention guys like Ryan Diem, Mike Peterson, Cato June and Antoine Bethea through the draft.  It's really no wonder why the Bengals continue to fail where other teams succeed. 

Does the beginning to this season even really surprise anyone, though?  We are talking about the Bungles here.  They looked awful in the preseason against teams that were giving 75% and the o-line let Carson get his face crushed.  I think Marvin Lewis is a pretty good coach.  Let's face it, he's the best coach we've had since Sam Wyche, bar none.  If we get rid of Marvin, we could EASILY end up with another Dave "Steakhouse" Shula or Bruce "The Spitting Cobra" Coslet.  Marvin is one of only two Bengals head coaches (Forrest Gregg) to have a winning record at this time.  Of course, that's likely to change after this season.

NFL bengals, mike brown, marvin lewis

From everything that I've heard so far during the morning after the Bengals first pre-season game and win at Lambeau field, everyone seems to be pretty optimistic about how the Bengals performed.   

During the post-game press conference, head coach Marvin Lewis stated:  "Our tackling really left something to be desired."  Are you kidding me?  The tackling was miserable.  I'm so sick of Lewis and his constant coach-speak.  Wouldn't it have sent more of a message to say something to the effect of:  "If we continue to make the same mistakes over and over again, we will not be competitive in the division."  Show the team that you have a pair and show the fans that you actually care about your job.

The Packers' first TD drive was one of the most embarrassing things I've ever seen on an NFL football field (for the Bengals).  When are these coaches going to teach their players to "wrap up" when tackling instead of becoming human torpedoes and bouncing off or missing intended ball-carriers?  It's the same thing year in and year out.

If Mike Zimmer can change this defense into just an average one, which I'm not yet convinced he can, the offense wouldn't have to be super-human all the time to win games.  If this defense doesn't get its act together within the next few weeks, they won't sniff .500.

NFL marvin lewis, bengals, mike zimmer, packers

According to the Associated Press, CBS Sports' lead college basketball announcer Billy Packer will end his 27-year tenure with the network.  Clark Kellogg will take his place in the booth along side Jim Nantz. 

Packer confirmed the move Sunday to the Miami Herald, through a CBS official.  Packer said that he is going to pursue other basketball projects and had declined further comment. 

Kellogg said he was "excited, humbled, and quite pleased" to be moving out of the studio and going courtside.

College Hoops billy packer, cbs, clark kellogg, college basketball, ncaa basketball

The Big Blue Nation can breathe a small sigh of relief for now as it looks like Billy Gillispie will be staying at UK for the time being.  It was announced Wednesday morning by Oklahoma State University that they have reached an agreement, in principle, with current UMass head coach and Kentucky alum Travis Ford to be thier next head coach.  Ford had also been mentioned in discussions for the LSU vacancy and had turned down an offer after an interview with Providence last week.

Speaking of Providence, they've been busy interviewing for a head coaching position and have found one.  Former Drake head coach and this year's Associated Press National Coach of the Year Keno Davis was hired by the Friars on Tuesday to drag a struggling Providence program out of the gutter.  Davis was not Providence's first choice, however, after interviewing UMass' Travis Ford and George Mason's Jim Larranaga, both of which turned down offers made by the school. 

Here's a list of a few more notable schools who have hired new head coaches for the 2008-2009 campaign:

Indiana - Tom Crean; California - Mike Montgomery; LSU - Trent Johnson; Marquette - Buzz Williams; South Carolina - Darrin Horn; Western Kentucky - Ken McDonald

College Hoops uk, billy gillispie, travis ford, tom crean, indiana, drake, providence

MATCH-UPS
6 USC vs. 11 Kansas St. – March 20, 6:10pm tip-off
Just about everyone knows, by now, about the spectacular freshman match-up that is going to occur in this game between local product O.J. Mayo and the Big-12 Player of the Year Michael Beasley.  The two best freshman in the country get the chance to upstage each other in front of a national audience to try to improve their respective draft statuses for next year (cause let’s face it, these two are hitting the NBA next year).  My eyes will be glued to the TV for this one.

5 Michigan State vs. 12 Temple – March 20, 10:30am tip-off
Lost productivity in the workplace is guaranteed for this battle between the Big Ten’s Spartans and A-10 Champion Temple Owls.  This game should prove interesting as the last time the Owls made the tournament (2001), it was Michigan State who knocked them off in the Elite Eight.  Revenge factor, anyone?  Dionte Christmas (no relation to Lloyd) is one of the A-10’s most exciting players and his flexibility to score in the lane or from outside could give the Spartans fits.  On the other side of the ball, State guard Drew Neitzel is nationally respected for being one of the toughest players in the nation.

TEAMS TO WATCH
2 Texas – South Region
If you watched the Big-12 Tournament championship game, you know of what I speak.  This team is one of the most exciting teams to watch in college basketball.  Their guard play is fantastic with D.J. Augustine running the point, averaging almost 20.0 PPG and A.J. Abrams jacking up three’s like there’s no tomorrow.  Their front court is solid with forward Damion James averaging a double-double and shooting 44.7 percent from downtown.  Forward/center Connor Atchley is contributing over five rebounds per game and shooting 55.3 percent from the field, including 43.7 percent from three-point range.  The Longhorns also managed to snag virtual home games in the regionals (Houston) and if they make the Final Four (San Antonio). Unless a team can play patient, possession basketball against them and limit their scoring opportunities, they are a lock for the Elite Eight.

10 Davidson – Midwest Region
Davidson has a great chance to make a run in this year's tourney and they are the highest seed that could make a good run.  Gonzaga is over-rated and they proved that in their conference tourney.  Georgetown is solid, but they've shown vulnerability over the past couple weeks.  Not only that, but Davidson had UNC and Duke both against the ropes early in the season, losing by 4 and 6, respectively.  Davidson, who owns the nation's longest active winning streak, is a team to be reckoned in this tournament and could end up in the Sweet 16.

NOTES
There’s been a lot of talk the past couple days about the ability of Georgia to beat Xavier in the first round.  That’s just not going to happen.  Yes, the Bulldogs won the SEC tourney, but their road there was a perfect storm (pun intended).  They got a no call against Kentucky, Tennessee and Vandy both got beat before they had to play them, and their entire tournament was practically a home game considering the fans of other teams had trouble getting into the venue.  Xavier is easily one of the best teams in the nation and could be the most balanced.  Xavier will win that game by double-digits.

Also, a lot of people are still trying to ride the Winthrop wave from last year's tournament.  Against teams in the tournament this year, Winthrop went 1-3, beating only Miami, and also losing to Ole Miss, who had its bubble popped yesterday.  They are not as good a team as they were last year.  The same can be said for George Mason.  You should not believe that either of these teams is the second-coming of Gonzaga until they can prove that they can hang with the big boys year after year.  Don’t make the mistake of moving either of these teams past the first round in your brackets.

College Hoops texas, march madness, davidson, usc, southern california, michigan state, kansas state, michael beasley, o.j. mayo, kentucky, tennessee, georgia, xavier, george mason, ncaa, winthrop, gonzaga

In response to the recent tradgedy that struck the Florida Panthers' Richard Zednik this week, many people are calling for more safety precautions from the NHL.  Zednik's corotid artery was slashed open by a skate, leading to emergency surgery to repair the artery.  Luckily, the surgery was a success and Zednik is recovering nicely.

The point of this article is to tell all the people who are calling for the NHL to implement "neck guards" and improved "safety precautions" to reassess their stance.  You have to understand that this was a freak accident, with some of the players involved saying they had never seen it before.  I would liken it to a pitcher in baseball catching a come-backer in the face.  Does it happen?  Yes it does.  Does it happen often enough to make pitchers start wearing face masks and body armor?  No, it doesn't.

Here's a comparison of reactions between what happened to Richard Zednik on February 10th, 2008 and what happened to Boston Red Sox pitcher Bryce Florie, who was hit just below the right eye by a come-backer on September 8th, 2000:

Lou Merloni, 3B, Red Sox (2000) - "I've never seen that, something like that, up close..."

Olli Jokinen, C, Panthers (2008) - "I think we were all in shock.  I've never seen anything like that."

Scott Hatteberg, C, Red Sox (2001) - "It was really the scariest moment I've had in baseball."

Olli Jokinen, C, Panthers (2008) - "There are bigger things than (finishing the game). It was terrifying."

The reactions by the players on the team were similar, if not identical.  Are pitchers wearing guards to protect their face now?  No.  So why should hockey players be forced to wear neck guards?

Hockey is a dangerous sport.  The players are skating at up to 30 MPH.  Shots can travel at speeds in excess of 100 MPH.  Every player has a "weapon" in their hands.  And to top it all off, they ride around on sharpened metal blades.  However, every single professional hockey player steps on the ice, night after night, and knows the inherent danger that they are about to immerse themselves in.  The people who criticize the lack of safety in the NHL are not hockey fans.  They do not watch hockey on a regular basis and probably have never played the sport themselves.  They only pay attention to the NHL when SportsCenter shows a goalie fight, someone getting hit in the head with a stick, or a player getting his throat slashed by a skate.  Leave it up to the players to decide what is plausible and what is not.  Let them use their common sense.  These are professionals, not children.  So, let's treat them as such.

NHL hockey, richard zednik

A lot is being speculated regarding the upcoming '08 performance of 2007 Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun.  It is pretty much concensus, however, that he will be among the top four third basemen in this year's fantasy draft.  How is a sophomore guy a second round pick, if not better?  Let me count the ways.

First off, let me tell you that this is a standard 5x5 league format.  In the second round, I wanted to sure up another infield position after drafting Chase Utley in the first.  With outfielders being available later and the Trinity of shortstops (Ramirez, Reyes, and Rollins) off the board I chose Ryan Braun.  In Braun's rookie season last year, he posted numbers similar to someone in their prime (.324, 34 HR, 97 RBI, 91 R, 15 SB).  Another plus he gives to a fantasy team is the fact that he'll be playing primarily in left field this year.  Since he stayed at 3B for all of '07, that means he'll be eligible at both positions.  Flexibility is a big bonus when dealing with high talent guys.  His value in keeper leagues is even more dramatic as he is only 24 years old.

Let's compare him to two other third basemen generally ranked above him.  Braun had more home runs than David Wright (30), a better average than Miguel Cabrera (.320), and only 26 less RBI than Cabrera (119) and ten less RBI than Wright (107).  All of this in at least 137 LESS AT-BATS than Wright and Cabrera.  That is astounding!  This guy has so much upside I would have been a fool not to take a shot at him.  Now, I'm not saying this guy is the next A-Rod or anything.  If all remains well with the Brew Crew, however, you could see Braun put up A-Rod-esque numbers this season. 

Fantasy Baseball ryan braun

Ocho Cinco needs to go.  Now.  Unfortunately for Chad, he's now realizing that you reap what you sow.  If you want to call attention to yourself, that's fine, but you have to accept the good with the bad.  Everyone loved Chad and his celebrations.  I loved "The Tiger Woods", "The Lord of the Dance", and "The Photo Op" (my personal favorite).  But all of those celebrations, chicken dances and horse races come with a caveat:  Win.  If you want to be heralded as a hero when winning, then you need to take the criticism when you lose.

Clever....but at what cost?

The fact that 85 is going to any media outlet possible and complaining that he's being cast as a scapegoat says a lot.  The fact that none of the guys in the locker room are backing Chad says even more.  When it boils down to it, that's who's opinons really matter.  Not with the fans.  Not with the media.  Not with the front office.  If the guys that are strapping on the pads and lining up next to 85 every Sunday are sick of him, don't want him there, and are tired of his antics, then that will affect the entire TEAM.  One player cannot carry a team to a championship.  But, one player CAN ruin the ability of that team to perform as a single unit.  If one cog is missing, the gears slip.  The only way keeping him on this team can be a positive is if he decides to stop being a crybaby, man up, and start being a professional.  Unfortunately, I can't see that happening.

Just For Fun, NFL 85, ocho cinco, chad johnson, bengals, cincinnati