There are few topics which truly hold equal amounts of interest and aversion.  Bruno.  Tryout week of American Idol.  That freecreditreport.com guy.

However, the one topic that sports fans have heard about daily for the past few weeks (months?) is king of them all.  Days of our Favre.  As predictable as the story line for this soap opera has been, we still tune in and act surprised.

Yesterday, Brett Favre announced a day before training camp is set to open in Mankato (or "the big city" as Laura Ingalls would call it) for the Minnesota Vikings, that he would not be joining them.  After his promised deadline (like those mean anything to Favre) of Friday passed, who would have guessed anything different would have happened?

When reading the news, I had conflicting emotions: I breathed a sigh of relief while still wishing he was suiting up in purple today.  There was relief in the sense that maybe, just maybe, we might be able to enjoy some training camp news without hearing anything about Favre.

The other side of me, though, wished he had the chance to prove the critics wrong, which would have ended up proving the critics right. 

It's like clockwork: every year Brett Favre retires, every year media outlets immediately doubt it, every year it encourages Favre to reconsider, every year he plays chicken with whatever team was written down on the one of 32 $100 bills he had in a hat.

"Hey, Minnesota, bitter rivals of my beloved Packers, I might want to play for you.  Say, what's the most you've ever lost on a coin toss?  I've been playing for 18 years, and now I'm here.  And it's either heads or tails.  And you have to say.  Call it."

When this happened last year with the Jets, it was sold as the missing piece for the Jets to win the Super Bowl.  "The Jets, inspired by neither Chad Pennington nor Kellen Clemens, acquired the charismatic leader they sorely needed to galvanize a revamped roster and make a run into the playoffs," says an ESPN report from the time of his signing last year.

Of course hindsight is 20/20, and we know that Favre started out strong and then flamed out in enough time for Eric Mangini to lose his job.  Surprised, were you?

This year it was the Vikings, and again Favre is painted into the saivor role, less so from the media as by the Vikings themselves.  If there were an approval rating for quarterbacks as there are for presidents, Favre's would drop daily.  More and more bloggers and mainstream media begin asking the right questions: does Favre really change that much?   Can he handle another season?  Wasn't the Jets' dissappointment enough of an indicator of what is bound to happen here?

And then, just as soon as Favre announced his, ahem, retirement, you can hear the Vikings front office conversation.

*silence*

"Um, do we have anymore quarterbacks on the roster?  OK, Tavaris Jackson, I've heard of him, not that great from what I hear. Sage Rosenfels?  Is he the guy I picked up on my fantasy team when Drew Brees was on his bye?  Didn't know we had him..."

There are many casualties to Favre's decision to just stick to Wrangler Jeans commercials.  Vikings fans who had already ponied up for their authentic #4 jerseys are out about $300.  Jackson and Rosenfels get to battle it out in camp, sure, but whoever comes out on top will be "the guy we had to settle for since mighty Brett can't be here."  It will take a lot of gumption on either player's part to summon up enough leadership to get past the doubt your own team has in your abilities.

But the greatest loss can be attributed to Favre himself.  He had every chance to walk away from Green Bay with the legacy of a champion, a quarterback with arguably the best career any quarterback has ever had giving everything he had in his final playoff loss.  Instead, he is remembered as the guy who couldn't make up his mind.  The guy who has held up NFC North teams two years in a row.  Green Bay was able to overcome it to get Aaron Rodgers on track, but it's questionable whether Minnesota will be able to.

It must be hard to know that you had more success than anyone in the league ever at your position, but don't have it anymore.  I'm not even sure Favre realizes this, but if this is indeed his final answer to the retirement question, he may not think so now, but he will thank himself years down the road when he realizes all he missed out on was an opportunity to look old.  To look more Jerry Rice and less Barry Sanders.  To be a walking trivia question (with what team did Favre have his last unmemorable and potentially embarrassing season) instead of entering Canton as the greatest quarterback of all time.

Enjoy retirement, Brett.  You are fortunate in this world to be able to enjoy it at all, much less with as much of your life ahead as you have.  Rest now, Brett, and we promise that although you will not be on the Sportscenter bottom scroll every day, we will remember you the way you deserve to be remembered.

NFL brett favre, retirement, minnesota vikings, green bay packers, new york jets, tavaris jackson, sage rosenfels, aaron rodgers

One time, long ago, I attended an appearance by local writer/former 700 WLW employee Paul Daugherty as he was promoting his book of past columns.  He made mention that he graduated with the worst degree possible for becoming a sports journalist.

Surprisingly enough, his degree was in journalism.

From listening to national sports talk radio recently (as there is very little local fare remaining), it is very clear that a majority of reporters nationally squawk on daily without the slightest integrity as journalists.

Too often national sports news doesn't surround what is truly newsworthy in the sports world, but rather what they believe is the most interesting angle to the majority of sports fans.  The coverage of the NBA playoffs this year is quite the indicator of today's state of affairs.

To the casual fan, a Lakers/Cavs final would be splendid.  Correction: a Kobe/LeBron final would be splendid.  In fact, if they could find a way to pit 5 Kobes against 5 LeBrons then that would be something, wouldn't it?

Unfortunately, the teams that are playing more like teams, the Nuggets (who are tied in their series) and the Magic (who are winning theirs), are getting very little media love for playing well in the playoffs.  You know, the one time in the NBA schedule when winning actually matters?

Case in point: on today's ESPN Radio Sportscenter, the lead went something like this: "Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough.  The Nuggets beat the Lakers 120-101 to even the series."

Quick note: WHO CARES how many Kobe scored when they got spanked by 19?  It should be an afterthought, not the first item mentioned out the shoot.

"In other news, John Smith is distraught over the loss of his favorite pen.  That pen was one of many casualties in the apartment fire that killed 7 residents."

For the record, the internet counterpart ESPN.com does a better job of telling the story, emphasizing the injured Carmelo Anthony (y'know, the star of the winning team last night) and the efforts of the Nuggets to pick up the slack when Anthony couldn't contribute.

But what came over the radio airwaves is no anomaly, it's the rule.  I've heard more talk about where LeBron's going in 2010 then what the Finals is going to look like if Orlando advances.  Even in that context, it's assumed that Orlando is on their way to winning the series already, but not explicitly mentioned.  LeBron's apparently what people would like to hear about, not the current season's playoffs.

As Michael Vick might say, I don't have a dog in this fight.  (I figured I would throw the Vick reference in to get the casual fan in the door.  Oh, and Brett Favre, too.)

It doesn't matter to me either way who ends up in the Finals, and I believe that likewise, sports journalists should just report.  Orlando is dominating the Eastern Conference finals, and if you were a casual fan, all you would know is that LeBron hit a great game-winning shot in Game 2.  You might even think, if you weren't paying attention, that Cleveland was already in the Finals.

That's where coverage needs to address what's really happening, not viewer's fantasies or the glitzier matchups.  Cover what's happening, not what your marketing department would rather make promos for.

Basketball's not the only sport getting this treatment.  Golf coverage has been vilified for it, and rightly so.  Certainly Tiger's performance in any tournament is newsworthy, as it may be the only recognizable player many know.   But keep the Tiger coverage in the "notable finishes" section, not as the lead.

Beyond the emphasis on the stars of sports, there is a considerable lack of accountability in reporting.  From an overabundance of anonymous sources to straight-up uncorrected errors, it's a wonder the truth ever finds its way out.

Heard recently on those same useless airwaves, and as can be verified here, this wonderful fact:

"Albert Pujols hit his 333rd home run, passing Moises Alou and Bobby Bonds for eighth all-time."

Confusion sets in...eighth all-time?  Really?  Try 88th. In fact, the eighth-place player has 250 more homers than Mr. Pujols.  And was also a Cardinal.

It can be written off as a mistake, but it's an 80-place mistake that was repeated (I heard it again in the newscast later that morning) and hasn't even been corrected on their website five days later.  And even though Albert Pujols did indeed pass Bobby Bonds and Moises Alou for 88th place, it's not newsworthy.  Let's begin talking about it when he hits more significant milestones like 400 or 500.  Until then it's not even worth mentioning.  Unless you really, really like Albert Pujols.

What is worth mentioning is that the Cardinals got a win against a strong division foe (the Cubs) behind a strong performance from Adam Wainwright (5 hits over 8 2/3 innings).  Not what Pujols' mundane place on the career HR list might be.

You might be led to find ESPN's ombudsman to complain, but she is no longer employed by them.  In fact, her parting shot made mention of how the elite teams received a disproportionate amount of coverage.  So, yes, there is a solid basis for those Yankees/Red Sox gripes.

Unfortunately, in this day and age of instantaneous information,  the real story is still not readily available.  It still takes digging into the box score or, heaven forbid, actually watching the games, to find out what's really going on.

espn, media, nba, nba playoffs, brett favre, michael vick, tiger woods, albert pujols, steroids, sensationalism

I know, many of you are letting this day get you down.  Maybe you missed out on (fill in your week one undrafted star here).

Take heart, because there is still hope.

Now, many of you play in leagues with an all-hardcore owner group.  Many of you do not, and now is the time to take advantage - quietly, I might add - of newer owners who are desperate.

Sure, they got a great pickup on the waiver wire.  But be sure to check out who they might have dropped to get that so-called gem.  I am in four different fantasy leagues (all with 12 teams); here is a summary of who is currently available as free agents or as waiver pickups effective tomorrow:

Willis McGahee

Ryan Grant

Fred Taylor

Chad Johnson

Marques Colston

Laveranues Coles

Ronnie Brown

Jake Delhomme

Bernard Berrian

Felix Jones

Jamal Lewis

Joey Galloway

Chester Taylor

I know that some people on that list have valid arguments for dropping them as well as for keeping them, but some of them should by no means be dropped.  Four of those are starting running backs on their respective teams; a couple of others are getting enough playing time to be viable from a fantasy perspective.

So, maybe you didn't get your Dante Rosario waiver request processed, but there's gold to be found...one man's trash is another man's treasure, right?

Fantasy Football, NFL willis mcgahee, ryan grant, fred taylor, chad johnson, marques colston, laveranues coles, ronnie brown, jake delhomme, bernard berrian, felix jones, jamal lewis, joey galloway, chester taylor, dante rosario, waiver wire, tag spamming

So, it's been a while since the servers supporting this site have had to endure the overwhelming traffic generated by those seeking out my epic, incredibly accurate, ever-insightful analysis on fantasy football.

Of course, what they don't know is that I guess.  Lots.  Nor have they bothered to follow up on my outlandish advice after the fact and lob virtual tomatoes at me.

The time has come to provide them that opportunity once again.  Premiering today, and every Tuesday, yours truly will put his ear to the streets and find out who's hot and who's not, who's the dog and who's the king.

Fantasy Stockwatch: commence!

STOCK UP

A bunch of rookie RBs and stuff...yeah...: I guess this is the part where you would expect me to tell you who they are.  Well, in order of impact:

Chris Johnson went from a "whenever it happens" guy to a "now" guy in his first official NFL game.  Many pondered how long LenDale White would maintain his loosening grip on the starting gig, and all it took was 127 total yards and a touchdown from the East Carolina product to shoot a hole in the 50/50 split theory.

It's not to say White has lost all value, but Johnson has quickly emerged as the more explosive player.  The Titans sorely need life in the offense, and Johnson should see more and more of the attention come his way.  A matchup in week two against Cincinnati only makes his prospects better.  If he is still on the waiver wire, grab him immediately.  If you have White, he may be worth a flex start in week two, but his role will diminish.

Another rookie to shine in his debut was the Bears' Matt Forte, who quickly gave fans hope that the void that developed in their running game last season has been filled.  Forte rumbled for 123 yards and a touchdown in week one, though the Colts' defense isn't partially known for stopping the run.  Regardless, any hopes that Kevin Jones owners had of him getting that job are gone.  Forte should hold the job down with no problems, though a good test will come in week two at Carolina.

First overall pick Darren McFadden looked good for the time he was on the field, racking up 46 yards on nine carries, though he left in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.  He is due to be reevaluated Tuesday, but it looks to not be serious.  The problem is that he is expected to split carries with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush, and if he is on the shelf any amount of time, he will not be rushed back unless Fargas or Bush severely drop the ball.  More than likely, he was drafted too high in the first place, but there is hope that he will have value this season.  Check his status in week two before playing him, but he should only be a low-end RB3 until the running back situation takes better shape in Oakland.

In equal situations are Felix Jones and Jonathan Stewart.  Both are clearly backups to their respective veteran teammates, and both would get a huge boost if the person ahead of them goes down to injury.  However, Marion Barber and DeAngelo Williams (respectively) have the job locked down.  Stewart probably has the greater likelihood of overtaking Williams if he doesn't play well, but week one was a good week for Williams.  Jones in incredibly ready to be a featured back, but unless Barber misses time with the rib injury he suffered in week one (which is unlikely), he'll only get touches in garbage time.

Lastly, everyone knew it, even the guy who took Ahman Green in the late rounds of your draft: Green will go down.  There is no way he can stay healthy for an extended period of time.  But the first week?  C'mon, now.

Green has a sprained ankle, and the Texans are scrambling.  Steve Slaton is scheduled to start, and wasn't spectacular in his debut in week one, but he was facing a Steelers defense that is traditionally stiff on the run.  The upcoming schedule doesn't bode well (Baltimore, at Tennessee and at Jacksonville) but anytime you can pick up a starter on the waiver wire you do it, or at least if you're like 90% of fantasy teams who need help at RB.

Summary: Buy on Johnson, Forte and Slaton; hold on McFadden, Jones and Stewart.

DeSean Jackson: It's become commonplace to see rookie running backs have plenty of success early on, but rookie receivers - that's another situation entirely.  Many of the highly drafted receivers (James Hardy, Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas) are fighting to see daylight. 

Enter DeSean Jackson.

He is in a great situation: a team that has its share of underperforming wideouts and a great passer.  Donovan McNabb blew up in week one, and spread the ball around enough to give three receivers over 100 yards each.  Jackson has looked good enough in the preseason (and now week one) that he might push perennial underachiever Reggie Brown onto the bench.  Jackson's not a big target, but he's a quick one and looks to be a big part of the Eagles' offense.

Summary: Buy, and expect him to be a good bye-week replacement and reserve.
 
Eddie Royal: Apparently this is the rookie edition of the Fantasy Stockwatch.  Another rookie receiver to excel in his debut, Royal shined, um, regally in his Monday night debut.

Those of us who have played fantasy football for a while know the drill: there is always a week one receiver that puts up sick yards who is certainly not worth wasting waiver priority on.  Let's remember that Royal was benefitting from the absence of Brandon Marshall, who returns next week.  He still has a starting spot, but it's inconceivable that he will sustain that level of production.  Is he a bad pickup?  Not really…if you other wire choices have been taken.  Is he worth starting?  Let's see how he fits into the offense once Marshall is back.

Summary: Low buy, if you're really hurting for receivers and don't have other waiver wire targets.

STOCK DOWN

Matt Hasselbeck: If I said that the Seahawks were considering starting Seneca Wallace, and that it was in conjunction with the declining fantasy value of Hasselbeck, you would wonder how you missed the story that Hasselbeck was injured, or threw 18 picks last week.

Don't worry, Hasselbeck is healthy and still very capable of leading the offense.  But it's true that the Seahawks are considering starting Wallace - as a receiver.

Hard times have fallen on the Seahawks receiving corps.  They were already missing the presence of Deion Branch and Bobby Engram, and then Nate Burleson went down for the year.  In short, Hasselbeck has no one to throw to right now.  Seattle's offense is crumbling quickly; you'd better find a good, solid backup QB while you still have the chance.

Summary: Sell, sell, sell!

Carson Palmer: In a matchup between two bad teams, the Cincinnati Bengals looked far worse.  Most of that had to do with the offense, which failed to record a touchdown and scraped together only a field goal from a short drive.

In short, their offensive line is not what it has been in years past.  Therefore Palmer, the prototypical pocket passer, found himself scrambling or on the ground most of the game.  Many fantasy owners certainly snatched up Palmer when the second or third round quarterback run began in their league, and are they ever sorry to see under 100 passing yards and an interception.

His stock may be slipping, but keep an eye on him.  There's no way their line can be that bad week in and week out.  Eventually they'll gel and at least give him a couple of seconds to throw, and he still has many targets to throw to.

Summary: Hold, and slight buy if Palmer owners start freaking out.

Vince Young: Let's not even talk about the injury, which has everyone guessing.  Is it his hamstring?  Is it his knee?

Wait, I changed my mind…I do want to talk about it.  You know what it is?  His ego.  That's what's hurt.

Listen, if you want to have a starting job as a quarterback in the National Football League, you need to be able to pass.  That fleet-footed, run-first attitude might work in college, but not in the pros.  Michael Vick wasn't able to pull it off.  Randall Cunningham was the closest, but he could throw the ball.

If you drafted Vince Young in the first place, more than likely it was one of many crooked stickers you stuck on your draft board after a few too many Natty Lights.  If you've sobered up enough to read this, take my advice: get another backup.  He's not worth keeping around, especially with the stories floating around about his mental state.

Summary: Drop him like it's hot.

Randy Moss???: Two years ago, I was the resident Fantasy Stockwatch writer, and I always jabbed Moss at the end of every article.  At the time, he was a hopeless Raider, and many Raider fans can attest to that state of malaise.

So, what happens my first week?  Tom Brady gets toe-up.  Out for the year.  And I didn't even think about this, but I've heard it from many other people, so I had to keep this in here.  What about Randy Moss?

Look, if you're still reading this, it means the world hasn't ended yet.  So what if Matt Cassel hasn't started a game since high school.  Do you really think the New England Patriots can make a bad personnel decision?  I thought Roger Goodell made that line of thought illegal.

So, to avoid my potential eight-game suspension, I'm going to say this: Moss will be fine.  He certainly won't post numbers like he did last year, but he'll still have fantasy value.  If Cassel can't get the job done, the Patriots will get someone in there who can.  Heck, they might already have Vinny Testaverde on speed-dial.  I hear he keeps up on all the playbooks around the league by playing Madden.  He especially likes the Oilers when he plays it on Sega.

Summary: What are you talking about?  Drop your first-round pick?  Larry Johnson says that's ridiculous... 

Fantasy Football, NFL waivers, chris johnson, matt forte, darren mcfadden, felix jones, jonathan stewart, desean jackson, eddie royal, matt hasselbeck, carson palmer, vince young, randy moss, tag spamming

General Cincinnati population, you so-called Reds fans, I'm ashamed of you.

Your exterior is admirable. You talk about Opening Day, stand close to the Hot Stove and talk about the year to come. You cry (or rather, whine) profusely about not getting Opening Day tickets. You camp out in the cold overnight at Fountain Square for a chance at some nosebleeds on March 31st.

You take off work, take the kids out of class and take them to a rather underwhelming parade. (Check out Harvest Home in the fall for a real parade.) You don your red and white (and black for the new-school fans) everything and attend opening day. You nudge your friends because you see Bob Huggins or Jack Ruby.

Then, you call it a day, place the Reds gear right next to the mittens and the undersized boxers you really think you're going to fit into by the fall and call it a year.

Monday's Opening Day attendance: 42,498.

Wednesday's attendance: 14,016.

No, the numbers aren't transposed. No, this isn't a Marlins game.

Opening Day may be an unofficial holiday in Cincinnati, but its observance is just as hollow as Cinco de Mayo, when everyone loves Mexicans all of a sudden. If you're celebrating the Reds, why not continue throughout the rest of the homestand? Where are you?

Opening Day in Cincinnati is just a place to be seen. The opening of the Grand Slam of Cincinnati events, including Taste of Cincinnati, Oktoberfest and the Crosstown Shootout.

For all those who disagree, I understand where you're coming from. It was cold. It was late. Yeah, that's pretty much what happens in April at a game that starts at 7:10. (If the Reds began starting them at 6:40, people would complain that it's too early.)

Now, I'm not saying that you need to attend every game. I know that it's not free to attend for most people. (I rarely buy tickets and only go when I get free ones as well, but that has more to do with opportunity and finances rather than desire.) I know, though, that there are plenty of people with means who could attend those games and don't.

It's because Cincinnati is not a baseball town. If it was, the stadium at a minimum would be half full every game. Even rainy days.

If it was, this week there would be more people attending the games because they would realize that the Diamondbacks and the Phillies, both National League postseason teams last season, are in town for this trip and this trip alone.

If it was, there would be significantly fewer people asking where Josh Hamilton is, and why the Reds didn't back up the Brinks truck for him to stay.

If it was, there wouldn't be the most disgruntled future Hall of Famer in the majors wearing the Reds uniform. (Can you picture St. Louis fans treating Albert Pujols the way that this city treats Ken Griffey Jr.?)

If it was, people would be sad, but understand why Joe Nuxhall doesn't win the Ford Frick Award year after year. Trust me, I know how much the Ol' Lefthander means to the area and to Reds baseball, but he is only a memorable voice to those who grew up in this area.

If it was, when Johnny Cueto made his major-league debut with seven innings and 10 strikeouts, the main topic of conversation wouldn't be Chris Henry's release.

It's OK for Cincinnati not to be a baseball town. I love being a baseball fan in this city, and I know there are many, many passionate fans who understand what I'm trying to express and bleed Cincinnati red. Maybe you couldn't make it because of family, or because you work hard, or because you can't afford it or the cable to watch the games. You can still be a great baseball fan without the personal appearances at the ballpark and cheer your team on in your own way.

The fact remains, though, that we do not live in a baseball town.

Instead, we live in a city where the Bengals rule supreme and a guy who hits 40 HRs a year and racks up 100 RBIs and 100 BBs a year is constantly berated for his defense and his strikeouts.

It's cool, just admit it. This is a football town. The Reds are great, but the Bengals hold your interest more. It's really OK.

I've gone through excessive bitterness on this issue, but banging this out on the keyboard is a bit of catharsis. Enjoying Edwin Encarnacion's three-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth on Wednesday in person, and listening to Cueto's amazing performance on the radio helped as well.

MLB reds, cincinnati, opening day, fair-weather fans

The University of Cincinnati basketball team is riding high a year earlier than expected, currently a surprising sixth (8-5) in the Big East Conference.

The buzz around town is not only about UC's near-guarantee of postseason play in the NIT, but maybe taking the Big East tournament title - and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that comes with it - all the way to those hallowed March brackets.

But not even 20 minutes away lies a team in waiting; a team finding success right under the city's nose.  Sure, you hear about it, but there's not a whole lot of discussion about the remarkable season Xavier is having.

Maybe it's the stigma that the A-10 is a has-been conference, but anyone who has watched this team play would be hard-pressed not to root for them.

Earlier this year, when so-called experts proclaimed Xavier to be a three-seed in disguise, no one payed attention.  Not even Skyline-eating, pig-run-training Cincinnatians.

Yet, here they are, decimating the A-10 and dominating the month of February like they have for the past few years, and only after they crack the top 10 do they get any credit.

Still, it's only a blip on the radar in this self-proclaimed college basketball town.  Even the uncharacteristically average Kentucky Wildcats are getting more love.

There is no doubt that UC is making an incredible showing of their own, and Big Blue supporters have their eyes set on an outside chance to make the tourney as well, but Xavier deserves all the fan support they can get.  They play like a team (something fans from this area typically admire) and have a good shot at running deep come March Madness time.  No coaches are there threatening the fans (ala the Bearcats) to show up or else; Sean Miller continues to steer the ship and his players are putting their nose to the grindstone regardless of the amount of praise they get for doing it night in and night out.

Unfortunately, Xavier has tried to make noise through their stellar play and no one notices.  Many trees have fallen this season at the hands of the Muskies, but area sports fans for some strange reason aren't around, and are wondering if any noise is being made at all.  They will miss out on one of the greatest local seasons in recent history, and will swear they were there all along as the accolades come in March and April throughout their long tournament run.

College Hoops xavier, cincinnati sports fans, respect

Reports from league sources say that Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan and linebackers coach Ricky Hunley have both been fired.  Although the Bengals have not officially announced these moves, they should not shock the majority of fans.

Bresnahan has been fighting for his job since last season, and although the defense did show slight signs of improvement over the second half of the season, from where does the Hunley firing come?  The Bengals had more linebackers this year than the Reds have relievers with ERAs over 5.00.

You surely can't fault Hunley for a team that was fielding Robert Geathers at LB due to all the injuries/suspensions?  Honestly, playing linebacker for the Bengals has been an arduous task for a couple of years now.  Anyone remember in 2006 saying at game time, "Brian Simmons is not playing AGAIN?"

No offense, Marvin (if you had a say in this at all), but the Bengals need personnel, not coaching changes.  At least not this one.  Since David Pollack suffered that horrific injury and Odell Thurman was first suspended, this team has not been able to provide the players necessary to man the position.

You really think it was Ricky Hunley's fault that Corey Mays played so poorly?  No, Corey Mays should never be on the field except for maybe special teams.  This team's problem is personnel foremost, then coaching.

It was probably time for Bresnahan to go, especially with the wealth of talent floating around that could be the next defensive coordinator.  (Rex Ryan, anyone?)  And maybe Hunley's firing has more to do with the rumored move to a 3-4, but I doubt it.  It looks like he's just the scapegoat.

NFL bengals, offseason