Posts tagged RudiJohnson at FanHouse

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.

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.

...Perry claims he's "87.5 percent" healthy after entering minicamp at 80 percent. "It'll be a blessing to be back on the field," Perry said.

He flashed speed, quickness and acceleration the entire camp, and made numerous catches with his large hands. "I certainly hope he can sustain it and maintain it, because that will give us some juice we've been lacking," Bratkowski said.

Head coach Marvin Lewis passed out t-shirts to his Bengals team with the word NOW plastered across the back. It is the latest in a line of slogans Lewis' brings out to try to unite his team. I'm not as giddy about these things as the next guy, but I do like the sentiment.

However, to even attempt to deal with the NOW, you must remember the THEN because, of course, it is greatly affecting the NOW.

THEN: Chad Johnson's spring of chatting his way out of Cincinnati has been a blackest cloud over the organization. He's threatened not to show up to anything and has spent his time being a horrible teammate. NOW: Well, he is eating up a lot of cap space, is a huge part of what the Bengals want to do on offense and will be a huge distraction if he is or isn't in camp.

THEN: TJ Houshmandzadeh tied for the NFL lead in receptions last season. NOW: He wants to get paid like it. This story goes almost hand-in-hand with the Chad Johnson one. Housh deserves to get his raise ... but how much? And will it drive a bigger wedge between the team and Ocho Cinco?

A deal would be unlikely from the Bengals, who already have depth at running back in Kenny Watson - who rushed for 763 yards and seven touchdowns in 2007 - and promising third-year player DeDe Dorsey.

Wait. Did I just type that someone wants to be a Cincinnati Bengal? This spring, you haven't heard much of that. Chad Johnson and Levi Jones have spent the offseason begging to go somewhere else. Well, now we find someone that wants to be in the Queen City: Shaun Alexander.

Yes, Alexander is interesting in combing back to his roots and his agent said he will contact the Bengals:

"Making calls to teams. Bengals are on our list!" Jim Steiner, Alexander's agent, told The Enquirer in an e-mail Wednesday.

Alexander was born across the river in Covington and was raised in Florence, KY. He starred at Boone County High School which now sits off Shaun Alexander Way (and not too far from where I'm sitting). Since he left for college in Alabama, the locals have followed his progress with great pride ... and he still returns for various charitable causes.

But should the Bengals have any interest back? That's tough. They already have Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, Chris Perry and DeDe Dorsey. They used a second round pick on Kenny Irons last year, who then shredded his knee in the preseason. From a bodies standpoint, they have enough people back there.

"OK, what about adding a former league MVP to the mix in Shaun Alexander? ... Questions: If you are the Bengals, do you attempt to sign Alexander and bring him home to end his career? Would the move be more emotional than a dispassionate one that could help the team?"

... [I]f one of those top tight ends in the NFL Draft falls at some point, [Cincinnati] seem ready to pounce. ...

The Trojans' Fred Davis still looks to be the consensus top pick at that spot at the bottom of the first round or early in the second despite a late move by Texas A&M's Martellus Bennett. Notre Dame's John Carlson remains solidly a second-rounder.