As for College BBall, a couple weeks ago Cintucky Zone gave our mid season report cards. I predicted that all 5 of the Cintucky teams (UC, UD, XU, UL, UK) would make it to the big dance in March. As we sit here today, 3 of those teams are directly on the bubble.
UC has given us deja vu of last year and completely fallen off the table. The Bearcats currently sit 10th in the Big East with games remaining against UConn, Marquette, #4 West Virginia, #5 Villanova, and #8 Georgetown. I see little chance of them making it to the NCAA tournament.
UL has continued it's season of unpredictability with their latest loss coming at the hands of St. John's. Their schedule is not any easier than UC's with two games against #3 Syracuse, plus #8 Georgetown, not to mention Notre Dame and Marquette. UL has A LOT of work left to do to make it to the NCAA tournament.
And finally my alma mater, UD. Unlike UC & UL, the Flyers have been more than impressive lately. After back to back 1 point conference losses, the Flyers have rebounded by beating Xavier by 30 and Charlotte (was #1 in A10) by 28. Both very impressive wins for a team that has struggled to put together offense in the last 100 years. A win over #17 Temple later this month would all but secure a bid for the Big Dance.
Ok now onto what I really wanted to discuss/rant about. I'm sorry anyone who was expecting something different. But it's the same thing I've been complaining about since this website was created. The Bengals.
It's kind of funny how sad this organization has become in regards to player personnel decisions. Everyone in Cintucky jokes when another team releases one of those "slightly-over-the-hill-had-a-year-of-injury-not-the-best-locker-room-guy-but-had-at-least-one-good-year-in-the-league-or-at-least-showed-potential" guys that Mike "the Redeemer" Brown would hop all over (both literally and figuratively). When I started thinking about writing about this, it was last week when the Ocho was vying for Terrell Owens to join the Bengals. It hit me like a ton of bricks that this was a serious possibility for the Bengals. Today, when Marvin Lewis was asked about Terrell Owens and his potential of becoming a Bengal, Marvin responded by calling Owens, "a hell of a player." Oh boy. This wasn't the end of it though. Donte Stallworth was reinstated into the NFL last week after a year of being suspended for a DUI that killed someone. My first thought when I heard this on the radio: "ha oh man how long till the Bengals work him out?". Sadly enough it was about 1 day. As reported here, the Bengals are taking interest in him. Now, just tonight, as I pulled up Cincinnati.com, a headline caught my eye: "Bengals interested in ex-Jags WR". When I first read this I quickly remember, "The Jags recently parted
ways with Torry Holt, hmm yea hes old." And then I saw the rest of the story. They weren't interested in Holt, they were interested in MATT JONES. According to Joe Reedy, the Bengals have offered Matt Jones a contract along with the Tennessee Titans. Jones was a first round pick a few years back, but never achieved even a quarter of his potential. And then was arrested for flunking a drug test. Sounds like a perfect guy for the Bengals. So the list of pathetic, cheap, "i have no scouting department so i'll let other teams do my scouting for me" decisions by Bengals management will continue to grow. My next prediction: Antonio Pierce. He was released by the Giants today. Has been to the Pro Bowl, won a Super Bowl, and was with Plaxico Burress when Burress shot himself in the leg. If that doesn't sound like a Bengal, then I don't know who does.Matt Jones is not the receiving answer the Bengals need for 2010. TO is not either. A 2010 draft pick is not either, if we're talking about winning in the 2010-2011 season. My answer to the offensive woes (beyond firing Bob Bratkowski which we've covered enough) is to acquire Brandon Marshall. Yes, he hasn't been the super best teammate, but that hasn't stopped the Bengals before. And yes he would be worth a pretty penny. A first and third round pick since he will become a restricted free agent and the Broncos are sure to make the maximum of
fer for him. However, the Bengals will be tendered an additional 3rd round pick this draft due to TJ Houshmanzadeh leaving in free agency last year. Furthermore, the Bengals have shown zero ability to draft quality wide receivers, combined with the fact that the best one, Dez Bryant, would most likely be gone by the time the Bengals 21st pick comes around. Throw in that rookie receivers typically don't do much, and in Marshall you would be getting an incredibly proven, humongous wide receiver who can catch 15 balls a game. I can't think of anything the Bengals need more than Brandon Marshall on their team next year. Obviously they would have to (and need to) get rid of Laveranues Coles before signing Marshall. But there is not a receiver in the draft this year that can make the impact Marshall can for the Bengals next year. Carson is not getting any younger and it's doubtful he has the years left to let another highly drafted wide receiver not pan out (hello Jerome Simpson).In other Bengals news, today was the first day that NFL teams could tender the Franchise Tag on their players. Let's hope they are smarter than last year and don't give a gajillion dollars to another kicker who cannot kick under pressure. Let's hope they don't offer it to anyone this year, because really there is no one on this team worthy of it.
We've got 70 days until the NFL draft. There is a lot that can and will happen between now and then. Lots of former and future criminals can make their way into Bengal stripes by then. Stay tuned!
Greg "please get Marshall" R.
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