Posts tagged JeromeSimpson at FanHouse

Cincinnati: the NFL's halfway house. In news that should've surprised no one, the team re-signed chronic law breaker Chris Henry yesterday. At the time, the move was thought to be a combination of things: injuries to starters Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and less-than-expected progress by the two rookies, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell.

And today, Bengals.com confirms as much: the team, faced with the possibility of going into the season without two of it's best players and nothing behind them, prompted the re-ushering in of the Chris Henry Era. Ah, good times, indeed.

The signing indicates that Chad Johnson's sprained shoulder is serious enough that the Bengals look to be preparing for the possibility that Johnson could be sidelined for several weeks, although Johnson insisted Monday night he'll be back for the opener.

But that's not the only injury that has clouded the receiver picture in the last 48 hours. There is also rookie receiver Andre Caldwell's sprained foot and T.J. Houshmandzadeh's hamstring. He's 50-50 at best to play in his first preseason game Saturday night against the Saints, and the Bengals could be forced to sign a receiver in addition to Henry.

But it gets better: according to Henry's agent, the gun-toting, jersey-wearing evil doer is broke, but has apparently "undergone a transformation in order to get his life back in order." Translation: "I'm broke and I need to quit acting like a jackass long enough to get paid."

You know what happens when your No. 1 receiver bellyaches through the entire offseason, your No. 3 receiver is released for clinical stupidity, and you realize that the second- and third-round wideouts you drafted are nowhere near as good as you hoped?

You re-sign the stupid one. Obviously.

We'd mentioned at various points this summer that the Bengals, intrigued by chronic law breakers who are really good at football, had been contemplating giving Chris Henry another chance to prove he can't be as dumb as his arrest record might indicate. And now, it looks like the band's gettin' back together!

The Cincinnati Bengals are close to reaching an agreement with free-agent receiver Chris Henry, a source told ESPN.com Monday night. Henry is en route from Charlotte, N.C., to Cincinnati to sign a contract with the team as early as Tuesday, the source said.

The Bengals refused comment on Henry when contacted by ESPN.com on Monday night.

ESPN's James Walker writes that the team thinks it may have overreacted in cutting Henry after his latest arrest but before the charges were eventually dropped. Maybe.

That Chad Johnson was injured last night, T.J. Houshmandzadeh is battling a hammy, and rookies Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell are underperforming, I suppose this move makes perfect sense.

Well, until Henry gets arrested again, anyway.

The Cincinnati Bengals offense looked poor ... again ... in their 27-10 loss to the Detroit Lions.

The bigger news coming from the game is that Chad Johnson left the game after injuring his shoulder. He injured his shoulder on the Bengals first series when he attempted to catch a Carson Palmer pass. Detroit CB Brian Kelly laid a hit on Ocho Cinco (forcing a tipped interception) that landed him awkwardly on the field:

The Pro Bowl receiver rolled around on the field in pain for several seconds, then got up and went to the sideline. Trainers examined the shoulder on the field before Johnson went to the locker room for further examination and treatment. He was ruled out for the rest of the game.

After the game, ESPN's Bob Holtzman was told by the team that Johnson suffered a sprained shoulder and would not play next week.

Johnson had a different take, however, telling ESPN that he would return next week against New Orleans.

This is big news since Cincinnati's other Pro-Bowl receiver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, has been slowed by a hamstring injury. After T.J. and Chad, no other wide-out has made any kind of positive impression (though rookie Jerome Simpson came alive in this game).

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: If there is one constant on this team, it is Carson Palmer. Sure, Palmer didn't have his best season a year ago, but his off seasons are better than many QBs best years. In reality, other things factored into his poor season (injuries to the line, injury to Rudi Johnson, receivers pouting). The only issue here is what happens in Cincinnati if Palmer gets hurt. They have no one groomed to come in. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe are in their second seasons with the team and Carson's brother, Jordan, is fighting for a spot. Heat Index: 8

Running backs: Injuries have hurt this unit in the past couple of years. Workhorse Rudi Johnson finally hit a wall; Kenny Irons blew out his knee in his first preseason game; Chris Perry has never been able to stay on the field. Well, Rudi and Perry are healthy again, with 2007 surprises Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey around to give the offense a different dynamic. Cincy needs this unit to get back to form to allow the entire offense to explode. Heat Index: 4

Receivers: Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are one of the best receiving combos in the NFL. T.J. tied for the lead in receptions; Chad was third in receiving yards. However, this could be the last season either is in Cincinnati. Johnson's issues with the team are well documented. T.J. is in his final contracted season. Chris Henry is finally gone and there are several guys trying to step into that #3 spot. Rookie Jerome Simpson will get a strong look, as will Andre Caldwell and Antonio Chatman. Chatman is the only one with experience and could get the nod. Heat Index: 8

I live and work in the Metro Cincinnati area and the Bengals are usually on everyone's brain. During the season, I will gather a few of my co-workers (Tom Otten, William Morgan and Dave Chandler) together "at the water cooler" and discuss some Bengals topics.

Sportz: Last year, we all talked about a variety of topics during a disappointing 7-9 season. Now that camp has started, what are your expectiations for the upcoming season?

Tom: It's the Bungles. You scream and throw your beer at the TV. It's a rollercoaster ride of pride, pain and pathos.

Dave: As usual, just good enough to miss the playoffs. Sad life of a Bengals fan.

Tom: Just beat Cleveland

William: Playoffs.

Sportz: Man, that schedule is a beast. I think they'll be better than last year ... but their record may not prove it. That being sad, is this a make or break season for Marvin Lewis?

Dave: Break. And a scary thought because who will [Bengals owner Mike] Brown replace him with?

William: I think so. Marvin Lewis doesn't have to win the Super Bowl ... but I think he needs to make the playoffs.

Tom: Uh, is his contract up? Talk to me then.

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet The ...
Chad Johnson media circus. Seriously, dude, just shut up and play. Other than him -- though I doubt he thinks we're all aware there are actually other players on the team -- there's a decent crowd of players here with whom fantasy owners are quite familiar. Rudi Johnson and Carson Palmer are traditional high picks, and T.J. Houshmandzedah has really come on strong as an elite wideout.

The Breakout
As much of a punk as he is, Chris Henry put up numbers in this offense when he was actually on the field. Palmer doesn't utilize his slot receiver like Peyton Manning, but he does it quite well. So will it be Jerome Simpson or Andre Caldwell? Palmer's already raving about the maturity of Caldwell and is weary of the rawness to Simpson. That's enough for me. Andre Caldwell is your Bengals breakout for '07. It's gotta be late in a bigger league before you decide to take him, but he's still got a chance to hit it quasi-big this year in the slot.

While Chad Johnson plans his next move, Carson Palmer is getting on with his life. This is probably good advice for all of us. After months of bellyaching about his untenable situation in Cincinnati, last week Johnson admitted that he would, in fact, show up for the Bengals' mandatory practice because, in his words, "I may be crazy but I'm not stupid." Duly noted, sir.

Palmer spoke recently with Bengals.com and stressed that the players in camp have done a wonderful job of focusing on football and blocking out everything else. Palmer, perhaps sensing that the wide receivers corps could unexpectedly feature some new faces in 2008, has gone out of his way to mentor rookie wideouts Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell.

"I'm trying to help them, but so are Antonio (Chatman) and Marcus (Maxwell). Everyone is trying to help them. There is no selfishness whatsoever and that's what we haven't had in a long time and it's great to be a part of this."

Palmer added, "Of course, that'll all change when Chad finally decides to drag his ass into work, but in the meantime, it's been kinda nice."*

Thanks, Chad. I've been forced to listen to you bellyache about your currently untenable situation in Cincinnati for, oh, four months now. At every opportunity you talked about wanting to be happy, wanting to be wanted, blah blah blah. And now, just like that, you're caving. You're gonna show up for the Bengals' mandatory offseason workouts despite all the bluster.

Actually, I get that; daily fines that run into the tens of thousands tend to help make those decisions for you, and I'll never begrudge someone for wanting to get paid. But in the process, Marvin Lewis called your bluff. That's kinda embarrassing, I'd think. First, he kicked your ass during halftime of the 2005 wild card game*, and now this. Ouch.

Anyway, Ocho Cinco, who's apparently working part-time for ESPN The Magazine this summer, writes in the latest issue of his plans to return to Cincy:

Am I coming back? Of course I am. I told my coaches I'm going to California to act, but the truth is I may come back to the Bengals as early as June. I may be crazy but I'm not stupid.

Yes, because not everybody can just quit their day job, drive west, and land a part in a major motion picture.

For the Bengals, I suppose this is good news, if for no other reason than 2008 second-round pick Jerome Simpson won't be forced into duty before he's ready. And more importantly, quarterback Carson Palmer will have somebody to throw to.

Next stop: playoffs.

* pretty sure that's not true

Hat tip: PFT

A lot of NFL types were surprised when the Bengals' used their second-round pick on Coastal Carolina wide receiver Jerome Simpson. The always reliable mock drafts had Simpson pegged as a fourth-rounder, but the Bengals obviously felt otherwise. Plus, with Ocho Cinco's immediate future in doubt, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh wanting more dough, Cincinnati needed to restock the position.

In addition to Simpson, the team also drafted Andre Caldwell, brother of Reche. He'll have to carry the burden of being a University of Florida wideout, but he's a potential bargain as a third-round pick.

Caldwell probably won't be forced into a starting role as a rookie, but he could contribute on special teams. Another down-the-road option could be seventh-rounder Mario Urrutia out of Louisville.

The 6-5, 232-pound Urrutia has the size of a tight end but is athletic for his size and flashed some potential in the Bengals' first minicamp. Urrutia, a seventh-round pick, is in a fight to make the roster in his first season, but he's exactly the type of player who could stick on a practice squad, even if he is released in the final wave of cuts.

Urrutia would've been better off returning to college for his senior season, but given the Bengals' sudden need at wide receiver, maybe things worked out for the best. Of course, there's a reason he lasted until the draft's final round, and it has everything to do with his size. While it's nice to be 6-5, Urrutia struggles to get open, which is sorta important as a wideout.

There aren't many people who expect much from the Bengals this season, what with Chad Johnson whining about his lot in life, and Cincinnati cutting more players in a week than most teams sign in an offseason*.

And while the draft seemed like a swell opportunity to add a few starters and some quality depth, the Bengals' second-round pick raised more questions than it answered. Jerome Simpson was selected 46th overall, about 100 picks too soon according to some mock draft nerds experts.

Not to worry, though; Simpson's college coach thinks the Bengals made out:

"I had been telling people for months that if he didn't go early in the draft, I know he should have," [Coastal Carolina assistant Hank] Spivey said.

"I'm hoping I'm right, I think I am, and obviously the Bengals feel that way. When Bengals wideouts coach (Mike) Sheppard came to work him out, I could tell that he was very impressed with Jerome. I was around the kid every day, and he made catches that no one has ever made before. Catches only Jerome Simpson can make. By Jerome's sophomore year, we knew that he was pretty special. We knew physically and ability wise that he was gifted."

A few laudatory words from a college coach is hardly enough to make up for the fact that the Bengals might've over-drafted Simpson, especially with Limas Sweed, DeSean Jackson and Malcolm Kelly still available.

But small-school guys shouldn't be summarily dismissed; things worked out alright for Jerry Rice, Rod Smith and Terrell Owens. And unlike Kelly, at least Simpson's coaches didn't try to torpedo his NFL aspirations. So there's that.

* gross exaggeration