Kaspers Korner

The Cincinnati Bengals the long awaited move of cutting offensive tackle Levi Jones.  Cutting Jones was simply foolish.

The Cincinnati Bengals already lost two starter to free agency in offensive tackle Stacy Andrews, as he joined his brother Shawn with the Philadelphia Eagles, and center Eric Ghiaciuc to the Kansas City Cheifs.

Now, with cutting Levi Jones the Bengals offensive line is seeming in shambles as they have a rookie starting at left tackle in Andre Smith, a fourth round pick from the 2008 National Football League Draft in Anthony Collins starting at right tackle, and a undrafted free agent from 2007 starting at center.

It would have been one thing if Jones was asking for more money, but that is not the case.  Prior to the 2006 season Jones signed a six year $40 million contract extension.

Jones was cut, because of his history of back and knee problems as he has only been available for 31 of 48 games after signing his contract extension.

The move by the Bengals was one of the stupidest things to do talent wise, and money wise long term.

New right tackle Anthony Collins was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 draft, which means his contract runs through the 2011 season.  So, if Collins starts all 16 games and earn some awards for his performance, then they will have a hold out on  their hand.

Base salary for Jones in 2010 would have been most likely around the five million dollar range as teams put guaranteed money in the beginning years of contracts.

In regards to a contract extension not only would they have to pay a base salary equal to Jones they would also have to pay Collins guaranteed money that equal to that.  That is due to the contracts signed this offseason by Carolina Panthers tackle Jordan Gross and Philadelphia Eagles Jason Peters.

So, what would have been the smart move?  That would have been keeping Jones at left tackle and playing rookie Andre Smith at right.  Then if Jones went down with an injury they could move Smith over to left and insert Collins at right.

However, the general manager of the Bengals is owner Mike Brown.  Brown took over the team in 1991 and since he has taken over the Bengals they are 101–186–1 with only one playoff appearance.

Nice going Brown you continue to cement your legacy as one of the most dumbest owner of all time.

The Cincinnati Bengals struggled last year with the loss of quarterback Carson Palmer for most of the year.  Even with Palmer back and the signing of wide receiver Laveranues Coles the Bengals will still have problems.

The Bengals have one major problem with their team.  That being their defensive line is just horrible.

The Bengals defensve last year was ranked 21st against the run and 15th against the pass.  That states the Bengals have some talent at the linebacker and cornerback position.

They do need to adress their right tackle position, since they lost Stacy Andrews to free agency.  However, if the Bengals were to adress their defensive line they would easily be in the playoffs.

Stacy Andrews OT unrestricted signed with Eagles six years
Cedric Benson RB unrestricted resigned with team two years $7 million
Darryl Blackstock LB unrestricted resigned with Bengals one year veteran minimum deal
John Busing S restricted

Chris Crocker S unrestricted resigned with team four years $10 million $3.5 guaranteed.
DeDe Dorsey RB restricted signed with Bengals
Ryan Fitzpatrick QB unrestricted signed by Bills
Jamar Fletcher CB unrestricted

Eric Ghiacicu C unrestricted

Shayne Graham PK unrestricted franchised by the team.
Orein Harris DT restricted resigned with team
Glenn Holt WR unrestricted signed with Vikings
TJ Houshmandzadeh WR unrestricted signed with Seahawks five year $40 million $15 million guaranteed.
Rashad Jeanty LB restricted

Brandon Johnson LB restricted

Evan Mathis G unrestricted

John Thornton  DT unrestricted

The Cincinnati Bengals were an awful team last year, which was mostly due to the fact that starting quarterback Carson Palmer was out for most of the season.  The Bengals have a lot of work to do as 10 players are unrestricted free agents.

The most important of them are wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh, tackle Stacey Andrews, running back Cedric Benson, and kicker Shayne Graham.  The next question is will the Bengals franchise tag anyone?

Most likely the Bengals will not tag anyone of them.  The reason is simply that the Bengals are cheap and with it being the last year of the salary cap salaries are through the roof.

According to Cincinnati.com the salary for a a kicker is $2.5, wide receiver is $9.9 million, and will most likely cost just as much for a offensive lineman and running back.

If the Bengals can pull it off and resign everyone then the Bengals will only have to improve on defense.  That is if the offense can stay healthy.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a huge weapon whose contract is about to expire, and become a free agent, in TJ Houshmandzadeh.  Letting TJ walk would be the wrong thing to do.

TJ has been a consumate professional, while his fellow starting wide reciever Chad Ochocinco looked childish.  Also, TJ has performed just as well as Johnson.

TJ, yes I am using TJ for the obvious reason of not having to type out Houshmandzadeh each time I mention his name, had 92 for 904 without star quarterback Carson Palmer, while Johnson’s numbers dropped.

That means that TJ is a pressure player.  When Palmer went down it was up to him, and Johnson, to pick up their play.  Meaning that they had to get themselves a little bit more open.

For any team he is a a franchise’s dream to have.  A player that works hard, performs, a leader, and most important of all does not cause distractions on the field.

It would be foolish of the Bengals to let TJ walk away, especially when Ochocinco has expressed several times last offseason that he wants to be traded.

If they let TJ walk it will be one of the most mind blowing things to happen, and the Bengals would be even more one of the worst teams in the league.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has been sidelined with a tear in a ligament in his elbow, which has been thought to be not bad enough to have surgery.  With the season lost the Bengals need to test Palmer’s elbow now.

It was thought that with rest Palmer’s injury should heal up, thus allowing him to play by the end of the year.  That is the right thing to do, especially with no surgery being involved.

The reason is that with playing by the end of the year the Bengals can see if the injury is fine, or worst.  Obviously, if it gets worst then Palmer will need surgery.

What the Bengals should not do is wait till next season to find out.  The reason being that if the elbow gets worst, then the 2009 season will be a complete lost.

In addition the Bengals need to drastically improve their running game.  They have not had one for several years now.

The glaring example of that is in Carolina, which after quarterback Jake Delhomme tore his elbow up decided to go back to relying on the running game.

Ligament injuries in either the elbow or the knee take time to get back to where it was before the injury.  Thus, if the Benglas are going to win next year they need to start improving the running game.

Hopefully, Palmer will comeback, and everything will be fine.  After all a league without stars is a dull one.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is the second person in a year to tear a ligament in their elbow.  The injury brings up a new concern that has not been faced by the National Football League.

The injury to Palmer brings one question to mind.  Has quarterbacks got to big, and strong for their own good?

NFL players have all gotten bigger, and stronger, over the years.  That is in part to the advancement of exercise and dieting.

However, it seems that getting too strong is not good for quarterbacks.  The reason is the amount of velocity that quarterbacks are putting on the ball through the use of their muscles.

It has seems that the NFL has gotten away from the philosiphies of the West Coast offense.  That being not about speed, and arm strength, but about technique.

So, why has quarterbacks gotten away from it? That being the simple glorification of Brett Farve’s arm, and the kid in us trying to emulate that when we are adults.

If quarterbacks continue to throw fastballs all the time at 100 miles per an hour, then more quarterbacks will blow out the ligaments in their elbow.

It has been confirmed that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco.  However, the real story is when the hell is going to stop.

You have to admit that a lot of the touchdown dances that he has pulled off have been funny.  However, this is just plain bizzare.

Being a parent, this reminds me of one of my kids, who are three and four years old, doing something crazy to get attention.  Which, this just plainly is.

The question is now when the hell is the rest of the team going to take him out to the wood shed and teach him a lesson once and for all.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a bigger problem on their hands than the whole Chad Johnson saga.  That is to get TJ Houshmanzadeh signed to a contract extension before he becomes a free agent after this season.

There have been on serious contract talks between the team and TJ’s agent, Kennard McGuire.  That is really puzzling considering his worth to the Bengals.

TJ caught 112 passes for 1,143 total yards with 12 touchdowns.

However, we are talking about the Bengals, and cheap is owner Mike Brown’s middle name.  So, it would not be surprising in the end they let TJ walk.

So, what happens from here.  Even with numbers that are expected to be down, thanks to an emphasis on the run this year, TJ will get hit with the franchise tag.

After that it is anyone’s guess, but by that time it is either pay him what he wants, or let him walk. 

The thing is the Bengals will be giving a hefty contract to rookie linebacker Keith Rivers, who was taken with the ninth pick in this years past draft.  That means a big pay day for him, and less for TJ.

How much can Rivers expect to get?  More than the tenth pick, which was linebacker Jerod Mayo, by the New England Patriots. 

Mayo received a contract worth $18.9 million, with $13.8 of it in guarantees and bonuses.  That means that Rivers can expect $15 to $20 million dollars.

Another example of why there needs to be a rookie cap in the National Football League.  Simply, so that teams can give the money to players that really deserve it.

The Cincinatti Bengals are forcing wide receiver Chad Johnson to play with the team this year.  Jusy when they thought that Johnson was on board they will have to think again.

Johnson is one of the most creative persons in the game of football.  He comes up with so many different touchdown dances, for when he scores a touchdown.  So, when Johnson complained after the first day of mandatory camp of back problem I was not surprised at all.

The fact of the matter is that keeping Johnson on the team is a dangerous move.  Johnson is a moody person, and ultimately keeping him may prove to be not the right thing to have done.

The question is now how much of a distraction will he be to the team when the seaon starts?