The Lawsuit Against Ben Roethlisberger Has Too Many Shady Facts to the Story

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What’s Bugging Me? Is a weekly column that can be found at FantasyPros911.com

What’s bugging me this week? The ambiguity of the Ben Roethlisberger saga.

Last week, an employee of Harrah’s casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, filed a civil lawsuit against the Steelers quarterback, claiming that he sexually assaulted her in a penthouse from the hotel.

The 31-year-old Andrea McNulty claims that after she met Roethlisberger one afternoon in the hotel lobby, he raped her when she showed up to repair a broken TV he complained about. Apparently, this all took place in the month of July 2008.

No, that is not a typo. I said July 2008, not July 2009.

For the record, I am not taking sides about who is right in this situation. Unfortunately, the only ones who truly know what happened that day are Roethlisberger and McNulty. However, it’s hard not to consider the timing of this news story.

The fact that this story is coming out over a year after it took place makes the entire situation shady. These types of situations should be reported hours after they happen, days at the most. So if this accusation is true, why would McNulty wait an entire year before she went public about it?

According to reports, McNulty claims in the lawsuit that Harrah’s officials did everything they could to cover up the case when she first reported it the next day. Instead of performing an investigation, they tried to silence her.

Another report from WPXI in Pittsburgh claimed that McNulty has been treated for depression and anxiety five different times at five different medical facilities, all while returning to work.

Also, McNulty claims in the report that the reason she stayed away from the outside authorities to file a criminal complaint is because of her fear of getting fired. Apparently, Roethlisberger is a friend of Harrah’s regional president: John Koster.

At this point, there are numerous accusations that the media and fans around the NFL can make about the situation.

Some of them claim that McNulty is just another person trying to fatten her wallet from a well-known athlete, since she is coming out with the complaint a year later. Others are accusing Roethlisberger of taking advantage not only of another woman, but of his stardom as a popular NFL Quarterback.

As far as Roethlisberger is concerned, he claims that this woman’s accusations are ridiculous and he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his family and reputation. He claims that he would never do such a thing to a woman and the truth will come out over time as he is willing to work with investigators to get to the bottom of this case.

At this point, it’s hard to believe who is right and who is wrong. All we can do over the next couple of weeks is wait-and-out and see who the real victim is.

 

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This article was originally posted on FantasyPros911.com

Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for www.NFLTouchdown.com and is a columnist at FantasyPros911.com

You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Eagles_FanVoice.

Inside the NFL: A Look at All 32 Teams

Arizona Cardinals: There have been plenty of talks surrounding LB Karlos Dansby. He and his agent have been trying to negotiate a long-term deal for two seasons now and will be entering his second straight season as a franchise player. Last season, Dansby recorded 119 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions with the Cardinals.

 

Atlanta Falcons: On Thursday, the Falcons signed fourth-round pick Lawrence Sidbury to a four-year deal worth $4.4 million. The defensive end from Richmond recorded 11.5 sacks for the Spiders last season. The signing leaves the Falcons with only two draft picks who have yet to be signed—Peria Jerry and William Moore.

 

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens made Terrell Suggs the highest paid linebacker in NFL history by signing him to a six-year deal worth $63 million. The contract gives Suggs, who had eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions last season, $38 million in guaranteed money.

 

Buffalo Bills: CBs Cary Harris, a sixth-round pick out of Southern California, and Ellis Lankster, a seventh-round pick out of West Virginia, are the Bills only two draft picks to sign with the team. This leaves the team with six unsigned draft picks, including defensive end Aaron Maybin (Penn State) and center Eric Wood (Louisville).

 

Carolina Panthers: Looks like defensive end Julius Peppers will play the 2009 season with a franchise tag since a long-term deal wasn’t negotiated before the deadline on Wednesday. Peppers was looking for a long-term deal with the Panthers, but the two failed to reach an agreement, meaning he will play under the one-year deal worth $16.7 million.

 

Chicago Bears: Besides the arrival of QB Jay Cutler, one of the popular talks surrounding the Bears this offseason is their wide receiver corps. The team hopes Devin Hester can emerge as a true No. 1 wide receiver, but the team is still in need of weapons for Cutler to throw to. Earl Bennett, who played with Cutler at Vanderbilt, is expected to be the team’s No. 2 wide receiver.

 

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals signed fifth-round draft pick Kevin Huber to a four-year deal worth around $1.95 million. The former punter from Cincinnati should have no problem competing for the starting job considering the Bengals released Kyle Larson shortly after the draft in April.

 

Cleveland Browns: QB Derek Anderson is healthy and ready to compete with Brady Quinn for the starting job. Anderson suffered a calf injury during minicamp but is fully recovered thanks to rest and rehab. Anderson hopes to bounce back after a disappointing 2008 season in which he only threw for nine touchdowns in the 10 games he started.

 

Dallas Cowboys: QB Tony Romo continues to be the talk of the town for the Dallas Cowboys after his recent breakup with Jessica Simpson. On top of the breakup, 2009 may be the year that decides Romo’s future as a Cowboy. He has a combined 5-8 record in the month of December and is 0-2 in the playoffs.

 

Denver Broncos: As the Broncos close in on the rookies reporting to training camp, Denver still has nine rookies who have yet to be signed, including five that were selected in the first two rounds. Some of the unsigned draft picks include RB Knowshon Moreno and LB Robert Ayers. The only draft pick signed by the Broncos is C Blake Schlueter.

 

Detroit Lions: There is plenty of excitement in Detroit about seventh-round draft pick Zack Follett. The 6’1″ linebacker signed a three-year deal with the team on Monday and hopes to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster. Follett made first-team All-Pac-10 during his senior season at California.

 

Green Bay Packers: LB Nick Barnett looks to bounce back in 2009 after suffering an ACL injury last season. He only played in nine games in 2008 before reconstructive surgery on his knee. After OTA workouts and minicamp, Barnett hopes to practice during training camp, but his time may be limited depending on how much his knee can handle.

 

Houston Texans: Last week, the Texans signed fourth-round draft pick Glover Quin. The cornerback out of New Mexico is expected to compete for playing time in the team’s nickel package after impressive workouts in the offseason.

During his senior season, he had 16 passes deflected (first in the Mountain West Conference) and a career high five interceptions.

 

Indianapolis Colts: For the first time in 13 seasons, the Colts will have to adjust to life without WR Marvin Harrison. The release left Reggie Wayne to officially take over the No. 1 receiver slot and Anthony Gonzalez to fill in the void left by Harrison at No. 2 receiver.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars: Now that RB Fred Taylor is playing in New England, Maurice Jones-Drew will receive the opportunity to be the Jags’ full-time starter this upcoming season.

The 6’1″ Jones-Drew has split carries with Taylor the first three seasons of his career. He may have only rushed for 824 yards last season, but he did finish with 12 touchdowns.

 

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have been criticized for giving QB Matt Cassel a contract extension for six-years and $63 million ($28 million guaranteed) before even playing a single game with the team. Many believe he should prove himself before receiving that type of deal and proved that last year’s run in New England was not a fluke.

Cassel threw for 3,693 yards last season and 21 touchdowns after QB Tom Brady went down in Week One.

 

Miami Dolphins: Word around Dolphins camp is that RB Ronnie Brown is in the best shape of his career. Last season, he rushed for 916 yards and 10 touchdowns while splitting carries with Ricky Williams. Now that the Dolphins know he can play a full 16-game season without ACL issues, look for Brown to return to his playing level we saw in 2007 before his ACL injury.

 

Minnesota Vikings: Coach Brad Childress told the media that QB Brett Favre’s throwing arm “looked fine” in a workout video he saw. Whether or not Favre will join Childress and the Vikings this upcoming season should be determined by next week.

Favre told the team he would give them a decision by July 30 after he did more testing on his surgically repaired throwing arm.

 

New England Patriots: While Tom Brady’s return from an ACL injury will be the main topic discussed for the Patriots this upcoming season, expect talks to surround the team’s running game.

As of now, Laurence Maroney is the No. 1 running back, but if he can’t bounce back from his disappointing 2008 season, he could be replaced by backups Sammy Morris or Fred Taylor.

 

New Orleans Saints: After a successful offseason, Saints QB Drew Brees is showing confidence in his team’s chances this upcoming season, recently stating that he believes they are the team to beat in 2009. Last season, Brees led the league with 5,016 yards passing, which was 16 yards short of Dan Marino’s record.

 

New York Giants: The main question concerning the Giants as training camp approaches is who will fill in the void left by Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer at the starting wide receiver positions. As of now, third-year WRs Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon are expected to be named the starters on Opening Day.

However, scouts have noticed that four other receivers—Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Hakeem Nicks, and Ramses Barden—had an impressive minicamp and could all compete for a starting job.

 

New York Jets: As of now, Kellen Clemens is the starting quarterback for the Jets over Mark Sanchez because of experience. Clemens is the only quarterback on the Jets roster who has started a game at the NFL level.

However, Sanchez still has a chance to be named the starter come August, depending on how well he performs during training camp and preseason.

 

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders signed the first of their draft picks by signing sixth-rounder Brandon Myers to a four-year contract. The team hopes to work the former Iowa standout as a blocking tight end to allow Zach Miller to be used more as a receiving weapon.

 

Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Maclin is the only unsigned draft pick for the Eagles, as the rookies are expected to report to training camp next week. However, Maclin’s agent, Jim Steiner, reported that the two sides are expected to discuss a contract later this week.

The wide receiver from Missouri was selected by the team with the 19th overall pick in April and is expected to compete for valuable playing time this season.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers: If the Steelers want QB Ben Roethlisberger to remain healthy this season, they will need to do a better job protecting him with the offensive line, considering he has been sacked 133 times over the last three seasons.

Last season, four of the five Steelers offensive linemen started for the first time in their career. They should also improve leading the way for RBs Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, who could be splitting carries come September.

 

San Diego Chargers: All eyes will be on LB Shawne Merriman at the start of training camp last week as he returns from a knee injury that almost ended his career. Also, the pressure may be on LaDainian Tomlinson, as he ran for a career-low 1,110 yards last season.

Those numbers may not seem all that bad, but Tomlinson’s career average of more than 1,500 yards before last season and the emergence of RB Darren Sproles have many of us wondering how much gas L.T. has left in the tank.

 

San Francisco 49ers: WR Michael Crabtree remains unsigned but is expected to be ready to go for training camp after offseason surgery on his left foot. Crabtree discovered a stress fracture in his left foot at the scouting combine back in February. He was selected as the 10th pick in April’s draft.

 

Seattle Seahawks: The team’s top-three draft picks—Aaron Curry, Max Unger, and Deon Butler—remain unsigned as training camp is expected to begin next week. Curry—the fourth pick in this year’s draft out of Wake Forest—was brought in at linebacker to help improve the Seahawks’ run defense.

 

St. Louis Rams: Earlier this week, the team signed fifth-round draft pick Brooks Foster to a contract. He may not be competing for a starting position, but look for him to compete against WRs Chad Lucas, Derek Stanley, Nate Jones, and Tim Carter for playing time. The Rams still have five more draft picks to sign before rookies report to training camp next week, including tackle Jason Smith and LB James Laurinaitis.

Minnesota Vikings are Taking Advantage of Brett Favre for Preseason Ticket Sales

What’s Bugging Me is a weekly column posted by Dan Parzych at FantasyPros911.com

Last week, Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell traveled to Hattiesburg, MS, to watch Brett Favre perform a workout to determine how well his throwing arm was after shoulder surgery.

According to a report by Ed Werder on ESPN.com, Favre performed a workout that consisted of him throwing at least 100 passes.

The report also stated that Favre told Bevell and Vikings’ head trainer Eric Sugarman that he wants to play for the Vikings this upcoming season. However, the decision will come down to whether or not he can manage to stay healthy to play a full 16-game season.

For the second year in a row, the NFL offseason was filled with an overwhelming amount of rumors surrounding whether or not Favre would come out of retirement and return to the NFL. The only difference this time is that he may be returning to play for the Vikings, instead of the New York Jets.

The talks surrounding Favre’s possible return seem to be discussed more by the media than Obama’s plan to get the country out of the current economic recession. No matter how many important headlines were going on in the sports world, SportsCenter would always find the time to make at least one update every day about the Favre situation.

The constant updates on whether or not Favre is returning to the NFL to play for the Vikings would be a great topic for this week’s edition of “What’s Bugging Me.” However, this week’s topic has to do with the team trying to convince him to return: the Minnesota Vikings.

According to reports from The Pioneer Press, there were rumors circling that Favre and his wife Deanna placed a $30,000 deposit on a condominium near 50th and France in Edina. If this rumor is true, it would be pretty obvious that Favre is planning to return to play for the Vikings. However, this still isn’t what’s bugging me this week.

What’s bugging me about the whole Favre-Vikings situation involves ticket sales. If Favre would return to play for the Vikings this season, he would play the Green Bay Packers twice in 2009, the same team he played 16 seasons with and built his legacy around.

In the same article by The Pioneer Press, Charley Walters also reported that the announcement of Favre to the Vikings is expected to come before single-game tickets go on sale July 20. Does this seem like a coincidence to increase ticket sales? It does when you hear about the only way to see Favre play his former Packers’ team.

Apparently, the Vikings are requiring anyone who purchases a single-game ticket to the Vikings home matchup against the Packers on Oct. 5 (Monday Night Football) to also purchase a ticket for the preseason matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 21.

Obviously, the Vikings-Packers game will be one of the most anticipated games of the 2009 season if Favre ends up playing this season. It’s not even a debate this game will sell out faster than XBox’s Halo series on the first day on the market.

This requirement by the Vikings means they will be one of few teams in the NFL who actually sell out one of their preseason games. For most fans, preseason games are not nearly as exciting as regular season games. Therefore, it’s rare to see die-hard fans to go out of their way to attend a preseason game for their favorite team.

From a business perspective, this is a genius move by the Vikings to make some extra revenue in ticket sales for preseason games. However, this should not be a move necessary for the Vikings to make some extra revenue.

Before last season’s home-playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Vikings had a streak of 114 sellouts in a row at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, a streak that has lasted since 1998. Obviously, the Vikings should not worry about ticket sales for their regular season games.

However, it’s unfair for the Vikings to take advantage of their fans by requiring them to purchase tickets for a preseason game, just to see one of the most anticipated games of the 2009 season.

We are currently part of a recession where money is tight for just about anyone living in this country. It’s already going to be tough for some of us NFL fans across the country to be able to afford tickets to watch our favorite teams play live this upcoming season.

The fact that the Vikings are forcing their dedicated fans to purchase two sets of tickets in this state of the economy just, to see the game against the Packers, is nothing short of ridiculous.

Considering all of the hype surrounding a team that finished on top of the NFC North last season and the success of ticket sales since ’98, there is no reason not to believe the Vikings will have any issues selling tickets this upcoming season.

Still, the Vikings and the rest of the other teams in the NFL realize how hard it’s to sell preseason tickets compared to regular season tickets.

Did the Philadelphia Eagles require their fans to purchase a ticket to a preseason game when single-game tickets went on sale against the Dallas Cowboys so they could see Terrell Owens? Of course not.

Like I stated earlier, it’s a smart business move for the Vikings to require their fans to purchase preseason tickets against the Chiefs, if they want to buy tickets for the Packers game.

From a die-hard fan’s perspective, this just seems like an expensive investment with no guarantees.

How will the fans react if Favre fails to make his decision before the start of single-game tickets on July 20? Better yet, how will the fans react if Favre ends up staying retired because his body can’t handle another 16-game season.

No matter what happens with Favre and the Vikings in the next couple of weeks, one thing is for sure; it is unfair for the organization to require fans to purchase tickets for a preseason game against the Chiefs when they really just want to attend the game against the Packers.

This article was originally posted on FantasyPros911.com

Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for www.NFLTouchdown.com and is a columnist at www.FantasyPros911.com.

You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Eagles_FanVoice.

Philadelphia Eagles 2009 Predictions: 13-3 Record, Top Seed in the NFC

With training camp slowly approaching, expectations are higher than ever this season for players and fans of the Philadelphia Eagles after strong late-season performance last year.

After a Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last season, a game in which quarterback Donovan McNabb was benched in the second half, the Eagles sat at 5-5-1 and would need to play perfect football the last five weeks of the season if there was any hope of making the playoffs.

Against all odds, the Eagles went on to win four of their final five games and squeaked their way into the playoffs with help from other teams around the league, such as the Raiders and Buccaneers.

As a No. 6 seed, they looked impressive in two road wins against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

With an NFC Championship matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, who the team previously beat 48-20 earlier in the season, the Eagles appeared by some to be a team of destiny on their way to a Super Bowl after miraculously making the playoffs.

Despite the 32-25 loss, the Eagles held their heads high considering most analysts and fans around the league never gave them a shot of advancing as far as they did.

All they could think about was the fact that they needed to carry their hot streak over to 2009.

The fans will say whatever they want about the Eagles’ offseason departures of key players, such as Brian Dawkins. He is irreplaceable at the safety position and will always be respected as one of the greatest players the franchise has ever had.

However, the Eagles arguably had one of the greatest offseasons in free agency and the draft.  In March, the team signed free-agent fullback Leonard Weaver to a one-year deal worth around $1.75 million.

He should have an immediate impact blocking for the Eagles, who never really used the fullback position last season.

The team also acquired offensive tackle Jason Peters from the Buffalo Bills, who is arguably one of the best at his position in the league.

The 6′4″ 340-pound Peters should improve an offensive line that is dealing with the loss of Tra Thomas, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.

In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Eagles were lucky enough to trade up and select Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin with the 19th overall pick. Maclin joins a wide-receiver cast that already consists of Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson, two players who have shown they are capable of having 1,000-yard seasons.

The team also traded two fifth-round draft picks to the New England Patriots for cornerback Ellis Hobbs.

If anything, the Eagles make a strong case for finishing atop the NFC East this season thanks to the offseason. With the departure of star wide receivers Terrell Owens and Plaxico Burress, the NFC East may not be seen as competitive of a division as it has been the last few seasons.

The division may be strong, but there may be other divisions such as the NFC South or AFC East who are stronger.

Not only will the Eagles have to deal with playing Dallas, New York, and Washington twice each season, but they have tough matchups with other opponents that may cause problems throughout the season.

They have the ninth toughest schedule in the league with key away games against San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta and Carolina.

Still, the Eagles showed they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the league with the way they performed toward the end of last season. There is no reason not to believe they will finish atop the NFC East, if not the NFC.

The main factor for the Eagles in 2009 will be health.

Last season, Curtis only played in nine games due to a sports hernia he suffered at the beginning of the season. He looks to bounce back in 2009 after a disappointing campaign last year, in which he finished with 390 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

However, he may not be the most important player that needs to stay healthy on the team’s roster.

From ankle injuries to sports hernias, McNabb has seen his fair share of injuries as an Eagle. However, last season was the first time McNabb was healthy enough to play in all 16 regular season games since 2003.

As long as McNabb can stay healthy for the second consecutive season and takes advantage of the weapons he has on offense, look for the Eagles to finish 13-3 with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in 2009.

Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for www.NFLTouchdown.com. and is a columnist at www.FantasyPros911.com.

You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Eagles_FanVoice

Sorry, Terrell Owens: Philadelphia Misses the Talent—Not the Player

Here’s a statement the city of Brotherly Love never would have expected: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens misses the city of Philadelphia.

During an interview with Mike Missanelli on ESPN 950, Owens expressed how he misses the city of Philadelphia and their fans that supported him each game. He expressed how much the fans got him fired up before each game and how he had his best season and a half as an Eagle.

In the 21 games he played with the Eagles from 2004-05, Owens caught 124 receptions for 1,963 yards, and 20 touchdowns. Midway through his second season with the team, he was deactivated and eventually released.

When Owens first arrived to the Eagles in 2005, some could say he was the savior to a city that was in desperate need for a star wide receiver. Throughout his career, quarterback Donovan McNabb has been known to play without that “go-to-guy.” He helped lead the team to three straight NFC Conference Championships, all in which they lost.

After Owens signed with the Eagles in 2004, it seemed the team had found the missing piece to the puzzle that would get them over the hump and advance to the Super Bowl. Owens and McNabb wasted no time becoming one of the deadliest-duos in the league by hooking up for three touchdowns in Week One against the New York Giants.

That season, the team finished 13-3 and advanced to their first Super Bowl in 24 years. Even though he missed the entire playoffs due to an ankle injury, Owens played a major role in the Eagles success in 2004.

Owens even defied his doctor’s orders and played in Super Bowl XXXIX against the New England Patriots. Despite the Eagles losing 24-21, Owens managed to finish with nine receptions for 122 yards.

Whether Eagles fans want to admit it or not, it’s hard to imagine Super Bowl XXXIX finishing as close as it did if Owens was watching from the sidelines.

They may have fell just short of holding the Lombardi trophy, but the fact that they were able to get over the “NFC Championship Hump” gave fans and players high expectations for the following season.

Unfortunately, the Eagles’ 2005 season became one to forget before they could even begin organized team activities. When Owens hired his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, in April, he made it clear that he wanted to re-negotiate his contract. Owens made $9 million in 2004, but was only supposed to make around $4.5 million in 2005.

One of the main reasons Owens was unhappy with his contract situation was because he would not be within the top 10 paid wide receivers in 2005, despite his impressive 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in the 2004 season.

The Eagles on the other hand, who have a history of refusing to re-negotiate contracts once they are in place, felt his contract was fair and denied Owens the re-structured contract he desired. Little did the Eagles know this was just the beginning for the “drama fest” that was about to take place between them and Owens.

The relationship between Owens and McNabb took a turn for the worst when T.O. made a comment that he, “wasn’t the one that got tired in the Super Bowl.” This comment was seen by many as a personal shot at McNabb, who some say appeared “tired” in the final drive against the Patriots in the Super Bowl XXXIX.

To go along with the comment, Owens was also remembered in the offseason for his famous “home workouts.” He stayed true to his holdout by boycotting training camp and set up a workout bench outside his New Jersey home to perform his own workout in front of reporters.

Eventually, Owens gave in and showed up to Eagles camp before the start of the 2005 season. However, he continued to cause controversy for the team during the regular season as he continued to make comments to express his unhappiness with the organization.

At first, the beginning of the 2005 season seemed like a roller coaster ride for Owens and the Eagles. In a Week Two game against his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, Owens caught five receptions from McNabb for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

The two seemed to have put both of their differences aside and were on the verge of returning to the best of friends, like we saw in 2004.

Just when we thought the drama surrounding Owens was finished, it reappeared a few weeks later before a game against the Dallas Cowboys. In a radio interview on 610 WIP, he made a comment that if he could flashback to the 2004 offseason, he would not have signed with the Eagles because of the contract situation.

First off, why would any player in the National Football League make a comment like that for a team they are currently playing for? The comment made by Owens was nothing but disrespectful towards his teammates, fans, and the Eagles organization.

The Week Five game against the Cowboys was one to forget for the Eagles, who could not figure out a way to stop wide receiver Terry Glenn, who finished with 118 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

After the game, Owens made headlines once again by supporting a Cowboys jersey (Michael Irvin’s) after the game. He may be good friends with Irvin, but this was still a questionable move by Owens considering the Eagles had just lost the game to the Cowboys 33-10.

When it seemed like Owens could not possibly do anything else to cause drama for the Eagles franchise, he went on to make comments in an interview with ESPN analyst Michael Irvin regarding McNabb. He stated that if the Eagles were led by former Packers quarterback Brett Favre instead of McNabb, the Eagles would be undefeated right now, simply because Favre is a warrior.

A couple of days before a Week Nine matchup against the Washington Redskins, head coach Andy Reid suspended Owens four games, for conduct detrimental towards the team. The suspension would eventually lead to him being deactivated for the remainder of the season, followed by his release from the Eagles.

One thing about Philadelphia fans is they have been given a nasty reputation for the way they behave at some of their sporting events. Some call them obnoxious. Some call them absurd. Ask any of them personally, and they will tell you that their actions speak for their love of their Philadelphia teams.

When Owens was released from the Eagles, the fans made sure they said their beloved good byes to their once awaited savior by hosting a “mock funeral” in the parking lot at Lincoln Financial Field before a Monday Night Football matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Fans were encouraged to bring their Owens jerseys to place in a coffin that would be donated to charity.

To some, this may seem a little harsh. In reality, this is no surprise to anyone who is or has seen Philadelphia fans act when they are aggravated about something. Either way, this action was a pretty clear-cut sign that the fans from the city of brotherly love were parting ways with their once beloved savior.

Now that his drama with the Eagles had come to an end, what else could Owens possibly do to get underneath the skin of Eagles fans? How about sign with one of their most intense division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys?

In March of 2006, Owens signed a three-year deal with the Cowboys worth around $25 million that included a $5 million signing bonus. The signing also indicated that the star wide receiver would have the opportunity to square off against his former Eagles’ teammates twice a year, including one guaranteed trip to Philadelphia each season.

When Owens first faced his former Eagles-squad for the first time in 2006 since his signing with the Cowboys, it was obvious he wanted nothing more than to march into the Linc and destroy his former team who refused to re-negotiate his contract and give him the money he believed he deserved.

However, Owens was lucky enough to even play in the game against his former team.

A few weeks prior, Owens had accidentally overdosed on a pain medication called hydrocodone. When the story first broke out, there were reports that the overdose was a “suicide attempt” for a depressed Owens.

However, he confirmed the next day, after his release from the hospital, that it was not a suicide attempt and that he had just experienced an allergic reaction with another supplementary he had been taking.

Owens and the Cowboys found themselves visiting the Eagles during Week Five of the 2006 regular season. This game may have been one of the most hyped-up Eagles games of all time as the fans wanted to see nothing more than a Cowboys loss and a disappointed Owens on the sideline.

In the end, it was McNabb and the Eagles who got the last laugh, as they went on to defeat the Cowboys 38-24 in a game that was sealed towards the end after Drew Bledsoe threw a late interception that was returned 102 yards by Lito Sheppard for a touchdown to put the Eagles up 14.

Throughout the entire game, the fans would boo and call-out Owens any time he even came near the ball. There were even chants of “O.D.” in regards to his overdose experience (talk about harsh).

He had gone from one of the most beloved players to one of the most hated in a span of a year. He finished the game with just three receptions for 45 yards, but it was his post-game tantrum that made headlines as he was yelling at his teammates in the locker room following the frustrating loss.

This routine continued for Owens during his three-year tenure as a Cowboy. There were games where he dominated the Eagles defense, and there were games where he was shut-down by some of his former teammates. Each time he returned to his former home, the fans would show him no-love and get on his case for every single move he made.

In his last game against the Eagles as a member of the Cowboys squad, Owens finished with an impressive six receptions for 103 yards. However, his statistics were not much of a factor as the Birds manhandled the ‘Boys 44-6 and clinched the No. 6 seed for the NFC in the playoffs.

Now that Owens is with the Bills, he will not be guaranteed that once-a-year visit to Lincoln Financial Field where Eagles fans can bash on him all they want. Whether or not he will get the chance to play in Philadelphia again is something we will just have to wait around for since we never know how the schedule may play out.

Owens may miss the way the fans fired him up before each home game. However, the way Owens departed the Eagles is something that fans will never forget.

For so long, they had waited for that star receiver for McNabb to hit. When he first signed with the team in 2004, it seemed as if McNabb would have a go-to receiver for the rest of his career as an Eagle.

Instead, McNabb and the rest of the team were left with nothing but a headache that was too stressful to deal with on a regular basis. Even the fans were frustrated with Owens as they wanted him to accept the fact that he was already making millions and should just do his job as a wide receiver.

One can’t help but wonder what kind of success the Eagles may have had if they were able to work things out with Owens. The talent he brought to the table each week may be seen as irreplaceable considering he is one of the top wide receivers in football.

Owens’ talent will always be missed by players and fans of the Eagles across the country. Unfortunately, the type of individual and player he was is something that will never be missed, no matter how hard the case is made.

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“Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for NFLTouchdown.com. You can view his work here.”

Palmer and Ochocinco Appear To Be on Same Page for Bengals

Forget everything that has happened in the past; Bengals’ Carson Palmer and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco appear to be on the right track to becoming one of the deadliest duos in 2009.

When Bengals’ Palmer addressed the media a few weeks ago about Ochocinco’s absence from organized team activities, it appeared to be another drama-filled season for the Bengals. He seemed frustrated at the fact that nobody had seen nor heard from Ochocinco, who was supposedly staying in shape on his own.

The last couple of seasons have been interesting for Ochocinco and the Bengals. He has expressed his unhappiness with the organization and has requested to be traded the last two seasons. However, his wish was never granted by team owner Mike Brown, who said there were no intentions of ever trading him.

Despite missing OTA’s, Ochocinco made it clear that he would be present once Bengals’ minicamp started on June 18. Not only were many questioning what type of shape he would be in, but what to expect after Palmer stated Ochocinco’s job could be in jeopardy due to the impressive play from wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry.

After the first few days of minicamp, everything seems to be going just right for the Bengals. Palmer is looking like a leader more than ever. James Walker of ESPN reported Ochocinco is in fantastic shape as he did two sets of 14 40-yard dashes. Even Coles and Henry appear to be faster and stronger from last season.

A few weeks ago, the start of minicamp seemed to have potential for nothing but a headache for the Bengals with all of the drama surrounding Ochocinco. Now, it seems like things could not be going any better for Palmer and company.

To make up for lost time during OTA’s, Ochocinco has agreed to stay with Palmer’s family in July to get in some extra practice before the start of preseason in August. It’s hard to believe a few weeks ago these two players were on the verge of a divorce from one another.

Whether or not Palmer and Ochocinco will be able to re-establish their strong connection from a few years ago should be determined over the next couple of weeks. For the first time in a while, the two appear to be on the same exact page and have a chance to make another run for an AFC North title like they did in 2005.

Last week, Ochocinco made a statement to the media, guaranteeing the Bengals would make the playoffs in 2009. He has been known for running his mouth in the past and making ludicrous predictions. However, the media and analysts around the league may be taking him serious for once with the way the team is progressing so far.

NFL Organized Team Activities: Team-By-Team Updates: Part One

So far, it has been a busy offseason for all 32 teams in the NFL when it comes to organized team activities. Over the next couple of days, I will conduct a four-part series looking at each of the 32 teams and examine the main stories that are making headlines.

We’ll begin the 32 team analysis with the first eight teams in alphabetical order:

Atlanta Falcons

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Falcons center Todd McClure stated he has no plans of retiring and looks forward to another season in one of the top-ranked rushing attacks in the NFL.

Last season, the Falcons’ offensive line finished second in the league by averaging 152.7 yards per game. With the presence of McClure and the rest of the remaining starters from last season paving the way for RBs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, the Falcons should be near the top of the league in rushing for the second-straight year.

 

Arizona Cardinals

The NFL has strict rules when it comes to rookies participating with their new teams before school is out of session. Now that class at Ohio State finished up last week, Cardinals’ rookie RB Beanie Wells can finally begin attending organized team activities.

Wells has the potential to fit in a nice running back rotation with RB Tim Hightower, who will be the team’s starter for now. Whether or not Wells sees the amount of time he desires will depend on how good of shape he can get himself into from here on out.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are keeping an eye on former Northern Arizona DB K.J. Gerard, who is making a strong case to make the team as a rookie free agent. What makes this story even more interesting is this is the first time Gerard has played the safety position.

At Northern Arizona, he played cornerback and set the school record for career interceptions with 19. However, the Ravens felt he lacked the speed needed to be a successful cornerback in the NFL, so they decided to give him a shot at safety.

If he continues to impress coaches with the way he plays, the switch may end up being one of the best moves that ever happened for Gerard.

Buffalo Bills

Even though he is entering his second season, Bills LB Alvin Bowen has never played a game in the NFL after tearing his ACL during training camp last season. This season, he looks to compete for a starting spot as he is making his way to a full recovery.

Coach Dick Jauran has Bowen starting OTA’s with the team’s third string to keep his knee from being overworked. When the season starts in September, there is a good chance Bowen will see himself as a starter, assuming he stays healthy.

Carolina Panthers

Julius Peppers has made plenty of headlines this offseason trying to determine whether or not he would play for the Panthers. After all of the drama surrounding Peppers, there’s still no guarentee whether or not he will show up to play for the Panthers this season.

However, there may be some potential progress, as the Associated Press reported LB Jon Beason, who is close with Peppers, expects Peppers to be ready to go once training camp starts up in August. Last season, Peppers finished with a career high 14 1/2 sacks for the Panthers.

Chicago Bears

Out of all of the teams in the NFL, no team may be dealing with more injuries right now than the Bears. LBs Brian Urlacher, who is suffering a groin injury, and Hunter Hillenmeyer, who is recovering from a sports hernia, look to get plenty of rest over the next couple of weeks to help be back in time before the start of the 2009 season.

Also, second-year RB Matt Forte is recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for the last two weeks.

Cincinnati Bengals

As long as QB Carson Palmer stays healthy, the Bengals offense has the potential to be one of the most dangerous squads in the league thanks to a strong receiving corps. All of a sudden, Palmer and Chad Ochocinco seem to have rekindled that old spark that made them one of the most dangerous quarterback-receiver duos in the NFL.

Palmer continues to establish himself more as a true leader this offseason and has been impressed with not only Ochocinco, but the play of WRs Chris Henry and Laveranues Coles have been nothing short of amazing as well.

 

Cleveland Browns

It is no surprise NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Browns WR Donte’ Stallworth this week after he recently pleaded guilty to a DUI manslaughter charge. This week, he started his 30-day jail sentence and must serve two years of house arrest once he gets out.

However, the details of the house arrest will allow Stallworth to continue playing as a wide receiver. The Browns spent two of their draft picks this year on wide receivers and signed free-agent David Patten during the offseason in case the Stallworth situation does not work out.

 

 

What’s Bugging Me: Vince Young Refuses to Play As a No. 2 Quarterback

On January 2006, now Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young put on one of the best performances we’ve ever seen at the college level in a National Championship game. The former Texas Longhorns quarterback helped his No. 2 ranked team shock the world by upsetting the No. 1 ranked USC Trojans 41-38, in arguably one of the most exciting games in NCAA history.

In my opinion (and I’m sure others will agree), Vince Young would not have been selected as high in the draft a few months later if not for his performance in the National Championship game. He single-handedly denied the Trojans their third straight national championship, and ended their 34-game winning streak, their first loss since a regular season game against California in September 2003.

Young took home MVP honors as he finished the night 30-for-40 for 267 yards, along with his 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns. With the Longhorns down 12 late in the fourth quarter, Young ran for two scores in the final five minutes of the game, including an eight-yard touchdown on a critical fourth-and-five play with 19 seconds left in the game, to give Texas their first lead since the midway point of the third quarter. After Young ran in to complete a two-point conversion, the Longhorns took a 41-38 lead en route to their fourth national championship in school history.

To read full article, click here

Philadelphia Eagles: Team Must Adjust to Offseason Changes

Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a playoff spot in one of the most bizarre ways we could have imagined.

In the final week of the season, the Eagles received unlikely help from the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans just to be in contention for a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

After manhandling the Dallas Cowboys 44-6 at home, the Eagles found themselves heading to Minnesota to play the Vikings in the opening round of the playoffs.

With back-to-back wins against the Vikings and New York Giants, the Eagles surprised the world by reaching their fifth NFC Conference Championship game in eight years as a six seed.

Despite falling just short of the Super Bowl by losing 32-25 to the Arizona Cardinals, the Eagles were impressive toward the end of the season, winning six of their final eight games.

After a strong finish to last season and an offseason in which they took advantage of free agency and the draft, the Eagles are suddenly considered by some analysts as favorites in the NFC this season.

For some, this is an easy statement to believe considering the way the Eagles played at the end of last season. However, the road to the Super Bowl for the Eagles may be more challenging than people realize.

Sure, the Eagles were nothing short of impressive this offseason when it came to signing players through free agency and the draft. However, there were other moves made that may cause the Eagles to make adjustments they never thought they’d have to experience come September.

Whether they were for the best or for the worst, the Eagles offseason was filled with numerous changes that will have an impact on the upcoming 2009 season.

 

Jim Johnson takes leave of absence for chemotherapy

No matter what team you play or cheer for, we all hope for the best for Jim Johnson and his family during these difficult times.

In 1999, Jim Johnson was recruited by Andy Reid to take over as defensive coordinator for the Eagles. Ten years later, the two are still working together and have had plenty of success with the Eagles.

For the first time in his coaching career with the Eagles, Reid may have to start the regular season without Johnson by his side as defensive coordinator. In January, Johnson was diagnosed with melanoma for the second time since 2001.

He spent the final two games of the 2009 playoffs coaching from the press box since he was in too much pain to be on the field.

A few weeks ago, Johnson announced that he would be taking a leave of absence from the Eagles to undergo his second round of chemotherapy. Whether or not he will be able to return before the start of the season remains unknown.

Secondary coach Sean McDermott will take over the defense until Johnson’s return.

At issue is whether or not Johnson’s absence will have an impact on the Eagles’ defense. Johnson is known throughout the league as the coordinator who loves to blitz the quarterback on a consistent basis, and he has had the Eagles defense ranked near the top of the league each season.

In 2001, Johnson and the Eagles became the fourth team in NFL history to give up 21 points or less in 16 straight games in a season. Last season, his defense finished fourth in the league by giving up just 18.1 points per game.

Hopefully Johnson can make another full recovery and return to the Eagles as soon as possible. However, this is one of those situations where Johnson’s health is more important than whether or not he is on the sideline.

As much as the Eagles and their fans would love to see him back as soon as possible, we all want the best for Johnson. If this means his leave of absence is longer than expected, than the adjustments will be made.

The rest of the Eagles staff has adjusted to Johnson’s style of play on defense the last 10 years. McDermott should do a solid job as far as taking over the defense in the meantime.

 

Filling in the void at safety left by Brian Dawkins

For the last 13 seasons, Brian Dawkins, also known as Weapon X, was the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles. Words can’t describe his passion for the game of football and the city of Philadelphia loved him for that.

Before the offseason, any Eagles fan would have laughed if you asked them if they thought Dawkins would ever play for a team other than Philadelphia. When March rolled around, those fans weren’t laughing anymore.

After 13 seasons that consisted of 545 total tackles, 21 sacks, and 34 interceptions, Dawkins and the Eagles went their separate ways when he signed a five-year deal worth $17 million.

The city of Philadelphia has seen its fair share of fan favorites depart over the last couple of decades. However, no departure of a fan favorite hurt more than Dawkins leaving for Denver.

Does this mean the city of Philadelphia will be mad at Dawkins? Of course not. The reasons behind his signing with the Broncos were fair. The Eagles front office felt that his gas tank was running out and weren’t going to offer him the contract he thought he deserved. The Eagles have 100 percent support behind Dawkins’ move.

Still, it’s hard to replace the leadership Dawkins provided for the Eagles during his 13-year career. The way he would flex his muscles after a tremendous hit on the opponent would send goose bumps to anyone, no matter where they were watching from.

The Eagles can search all they want for Dawkins’ replacement. No matter how many players try to fill his void, no safety will ever be able to fill his shoes in the city of brotherly love.

All the city of Philadelphia can do now is accept the fact that they have to adjust to life without Dawkins starting at safety every Sunday. Wish him the best of luck with his new team and welcome him when he returns to The Linc on Dec. 28.

 

The signing of Leonard Weaver at fullback should provide enough blocking to improve the running game

One of the most frustrating things about the Eagles last season was there third and fourth down plays for short yardage. Most of the time, they failed to convert in these situations simply because nobody was blocking the way for the running back.

This season, things should be a little different for the Eagles when they find themselves in these types of situations.

Last March, the Eagles signed former Seattle Seahawk Leonard Weaver to a one-year deal to provide the Eagles with the type of fullback they haven’t seen in years.

The most exciting feature about Weaver is that he is a fullback that can do whatever is necessary to help his team win. He can block the way for running backs. He can run and catch the ball.

Last season with the Seahawks, Weaver finished with 130 yards rushing and 222 yards receiving.

Weaver should be an immediate improvement for the Eagles at the fullback position this season. He may be seen by some as the “triple-threat” as he can provide help in any way possible on offense. Not to mention he will make a great fit for those third and short/fourth and short situations, an area where the Eagles struggled last season.

The one Eagle who should benefit the most from the signing of Weaver is Brian Westbrook. Weaver should provide excellent blocking for Westbrook and help him find the necessary holes to gain that extra yardage.

If everything goes according to plan, the Eagles may be looking to sign Weaver to a long-term deal after next season.

 

McNabb may not have landed the big name receiver he desired, but he has weapons.

During the offseason, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb made a statement that he would not negotiate a long-term deal until he saw what the team did in the offseason.

For most of his career, McNabb has been known to play without that “big name” receiver. Ever since the departure of Terrell Owens, the Eagles have made numerous attempts to land that big name wide receiver to play alongside McNabb.

Some of the receivers whose names have been thrown around include Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Obviously the Eagles have not landed that big name wide receiver. However, this may not be the worst thing in the world after the recent draft.

When Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was still available late in the first round, the Eagles knew they needed to take advantage of the opportunity and find a way to draft him.

After trading with the Cleveland Browns to move up two spots, the Eagles selected Maclin with the 19th overall pick. Maclin would be joining an Eagles receiving corps that consisted of DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis.

McNabb may not have landed the big-name wide receiver that he wished for in the offseason, but he was still happy with the moves the Eagles made in the draft.

All of a sudden, McNabb appears to have a group of weapons at the wide receiver position, which is something he isn’t used to having.

Jackson and Curtis have both proven they are capable of being 1,000-yard wide receiver. Maclin has the potential to have a similar rookie campaign we saw with Jackson last season. Now that McNabb appears to have a talented group of wide receivers, it’s up to him to show the rest of the league what he can do with them.

 

Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews should have an immediate impact on the offensive line

It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to see a family member go on to the NFL—it takes even more work to see two.

Eli Manning and Peyton Manning will always be compared to each other about who is the better quarterback.

Ronde will always be separated from his brother Tiki as the Barber brother who had the opportunity to win the Super Bowl.

Whether they are brothers or cousins, it’s always fun to compare members of the same family who play in the NFL. This is what happened for the last two years once offensive lineman Stacy Andrews was drafted by the Bengals. He and his brother Shawn would always be seen as the brothers who played on two different teams.

That is until this offseason.

Shawn and Stacy Andrews will share an experience that most brothers will never experience during their NFL careers—they will play together for the first time in their football careers by protecting Donovan McNabb.

Not only did the Eagles sign Stacy to a six-year deal this offseason, but they also traded for another offensive lineman in Jason Peters, who is seen by some as one of the best offensive lineman in football.

The Eagles surrendered the 28th overall pick and a fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in last April’s draft to acquire the rights of Peters, who was threatening another holdout in Buffalo if he didn’t receive the contract extension he desired.

After the Bills made the trade, the Eagles immediately signed him to a six-year extension worth $60 million.

It might not seem obvious now, but the signing of Andrews and Peters should have an immediate impact on the offensive line. McNabb will have more protection in the pocket to find his open receivers. Running back Brian Westbrook should be able to find more holes to escape down field.

Offensive lineman in the NFL never receive all of the credit they deserve. Most of the time, the people watching the game couldn’t even tell you the names of the linemen in the game.

One thing is certain: people should know the names of Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters once they start watching the Eagles games come September.

 

“Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for NFLTouchdown.com.“

Cincinnati Bengals: Five Factors To Help Reach the Playoffs in ’09

The 2008 season was one of those years that the fans and players of the Cincinnati Bengals would like to pretend never happened. Everything that could have gone wrong seemed to go wrong for Carson Palmer and company.

Despite finishing the 2008 season on a three-game winning streak, the Bengals started 1-8-1, causing them to finish with a disappointing 4-11-1 record.

Believe it or not, the city of Cincinnati has high expectations entering the 2009 regular season.They may play in a tough AFC North division, but there is no reason to not believe that this team has what it takes to make the playoffs in January.

Of course, nothing in life comes easy. There are five important factors that will determine whether or not the Bengals will find themselves playing in January or watching from their living room.

 

1. The Return of a Healthy Carson Palmer

Last season, Bengals starting quarterback Carson Palmer was limited to four games due to an elbow injury. In the four games he played in, he threw for 731 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

It’s obvious Palmer’s absence was one of the reasons behind the Bengals’ disappointing campaign last season. In three seasons prior to 2008, Palmer led the team to a 26-22 record, throwing for 12,002 yards and 86 touchdowns. In 2005, he led the organization to their  first playoff appearance in 15 years after claiming the AFC North title. 

If Palmer remains healthy, he should help the Bengals improve their record from last season. One fact we learned about the team last season is that Ryan Fitzpatrick is not nearly the same type of quarterback as Palmer is. It’s difficult to replace a former Heisman Trophy winner with a former Ivy League standout.

Once again, the Bengals appear to have one of the best offenses in the league on paper. The team may have gone their separate ways with T.J. Houshmandzadeh (who signed with the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason), but they found his replacement by signing Laveranues Coles.

Not to mention many analysts are predicting a break-out season from Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.

We learned last season how heavily this team relies on Palmer. Last season, the team finished last in the league as far as total offense per game (12.2 points). The previous year, they finished 10th in the league with Palmer at quarterback by averaging 23.8 points per game.

If Palmer can stay healthy, this team has the potential to make a strong case for a playoff position by having one of the best offenses in the league. With all of the weapons they have on offense, it’s hard to see them struggle like they did last season.

 

2. Second-Half and Fourth Quarter Performance

There is a popular phrase in sports about how a game is never over until it’s over. Each game in the NFL lasts 60 minutes, meaning no team is determined a winner until that 60 minutes comes to a close (unless overtime is needed of course).

Looking back at the Bengals 2008 season, they appeared to be one of the worst second-half performers in the league. Take a look at the facts:

• In 16 games last season, the Bengals scored 58 total points in the second half of games.
• In six games, the Bengals were scoreless the entire second half.
• In 10  games, the Bengals failed to score a single point in the fourth quarter.

The Bengals may have finished 4-11-1 on the year. However, there were numerous occasions where the Bengals’ second-half performance could have won them the game.

In Week Three against the New York Giants, Carson Palmer threw a late touchdown to T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 4:39 left in the game to give the Bengals a 20-16 lead.

Unfortunately, the Bengals appeared to be wearing down on defense as Eli Manning led the Giants down the field before tossing a four-yard strike to tight end Kevin Boss in the end zone with 1:50 left to give the Giants a 23-20 lead.

All of a sudden, a sure upset seemed to turn into another disappointment for the Bengals squad. Even though the Bengals managed to tie the game as time expired after a questionable last couple of play calls by Marvin Lewis, they ended up losing in overtime after John Carney kicked a 22-yard field goal to win the game.

This was only one of many disappointing second-half performances for the Bengals in 2008. In a Week Four game against the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals were winning the entire game before giving up the lead in the fourth quarter and losing 20-12.

They even had a chance to defeat the Eagles during Week 11 when Shayne Graham failed to make a field goal as time expired in overtime, resulting in a 13-13 tie.

The Bengals have what it takes to be a playoff contender in 2009. However, they will have no shot at making the playoffs if they fail to perform well in the second-half and fourth quarter of each game. They need to play strong for an entire 60 minutes if they plan on succeeding.

 

3. Chad Ochocinco and the Rest of the Wide Receivers

It’s not surprise that Chad Ochocinco continues to make headlines on a weekly basis. Last week, Carson Palmer took a shot at Ochocinco during an interview on “Movin’ The Chains” for missing out on voluntary workouts for the Bengals.

Palmer discussed how he was excited about the group of receivers competing for the spots that were once occupied by Houshmandzadeh and Ochocinco.

Ochocinco may still be on the Bengals’ roster, but there is no telling what will happen with him in the future. For the last two seasons, his request to be traded has been declined over and over again by owner Mike Brown.

According to Palmer, he hasn’t spoken to Ochocinco lately not has any other of the Bengals players. Whether or not he is going to be a factor for the Bengals this season is still up in the air, but statistics show he could be a major factor.

For the first time since his rookie season, Ochocinco failed to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season. In the four seasons prior to 2008, he had over 5,000 yards receiving and 31 touchdowns. Last season, he had 53 receptions for 540 yards and four touchdowns.

Whether or not Ochocinco and Palmer can rekindle their chemistry will be a debatable topic until the season starts in September. However, let’s not forget about the rest of the wide receivers that can make an impact for the Bengals this season.

No player has benefited more from Ochocinco than former Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Over the last four seasons, he has a total of 4,084 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. Some say he was a No. 1 wide receiver playing at the No. 2 spot and succeeded since defenders focused mainly on Ochocinco.

After Houshmandzadeh signed with the Seattle Seahawks, they signed free agent wide receiver Laveranues Coles from the New York Jets. His numbers may not match Houshmanzadah’s, but he has the potential to benefit off of defenders focusing most of their time on Ochocinco.

Another player that has the potential for a break-out season is fifth-year wide receiver Chris Henry. According to Palmer’s interview on “Movin’ The Chains”, Henry has had an amazing offseason and is looking for a fresh start after his incidents with the law over the last couple of years.

As mentioned before, the Bengals have one of the best offenses in the NFL on paper. Not only do they have a former Pro Bowl quarterback in Palmer, but they have two wide receivers with experience as a No. 1 go-to guy. If everything goes according to plan in Cincinnati, the Bengals may see Palmer having another career year.

 

4. Offseason Acquisitions

Over the last couple of years, the Bengals have been known to be quiet in the offseason. This year, they took advantage of the players available to them through free agency and the draft that should have an impact on making improvements from last season.

With the No. 6 pick in the 2009 Draft, the Bengals selected offensive tackle Andre Smith from Alabama to help protect Carson Palmer. Smith should have an immediate impact improving an offensive line that ranked third in the NFL last season allowing opposing defenses to record 51 sacks.

The addition of Smith should allow not only more time for Palmer, but for running back Cedric Benson to find more holes.

The Bengals also lucked out in the draft when University of Southern California linebacker Rey Maualuga fell into their hands at No. 38. The former Trojan recorded 194 tackles in three seasons while earning All-American and All-Pac 10 honors each season.

With him in the starting lineup playing alongside second-year linebacker Keith Rivers, the Bengals defense could cause headaches for opposing teams.

Laveranues Coles was one of the biggest headlines as far as the Bengals’ free agent signings this offseason. However, it was the reuniting of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and former Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams that got the city of Cincinnati excited.

The ex-Cowboy Williams signed a one-year deal with the Bengals after he was released back in March. Williams was a perfect fit for Zimmer’s 4-3 defense in Dallas and hopes to regain his reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the league.

Last season, the Bengals finished 12th in the league by allowing 325.5 yards per game. On top of that, they only allowed 22.8 points per game, ranking them 14th in the league.

The Bengals defense has been decent over the last couple of seasons. The offseason acquisitions on should improve the defense from the 2008 season. If they can get the job done to help Palmer and the rest of the offense, this team could be making a push for a playoff spot in January.

 

5. Discipline, Discipline, Discipline!

Let’s do a word association. What comes to mind when I say professional football team and law enforcement?

If the answer that came to mind was the Cincinnati Bengals, make sure you pickup your prize on the way out.

The Bengals have established a reputation in the NFL over the last couple of seasons. Unfortunately, the reputation is one of the ones people wish not to be known by.

There have been over a dozen Bengals players arrested this decade, including cornerback Leon Hall who was arrested at the beginning of April for drunk-driving.

In fact, the Bengals have had so many issues over the last couple of years, they recently agreed to a deal with HBO to be the featured team in the series Hard Knocks.

What’s even more frustrating for Cincinnati is their lack of discipline from head coach Marvin Lewis. Entering his seventh year with the Bengals, Lewis has been criticized by the media for the lack of discipline on his players.

After the organization released Chris Henry in March 2008 because of his most recent arrest, they ended up re-signing him in August before the start of the regular season.

There are some fans around the league who like to make jokes about how no matter how much trouble a player gets in with the law, they can always sign with the Bengals. Henry did. Cedric Benson did.

However, these players may have had their run in with the law but they are trying to clean up their act. Benson played well enough towards the end of last season to be rewarded another contract for this season. Henry wouldn’t be back again if Lewis and the rest of the organization didn’t think he could have an impact on offense.

Still, the matter of fact is that the Bengals will never achieve their desire of a playoff birth if their guys can’t stay out of trouble. When a player gets in trouble with the law, it not only affects them on an individual level but the entire team.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to stay out of trouble with the law. All the players have to do is be smart about the decisions they make so they can continue to play football. 

The last thing a player wants to do is perform a stupid act that impacts how a team finishes their regular season.

 

“Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for NFLTouchdown.com. You can view his work here“

“For questions or comments, email him at djp746@gmail.com“

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