The Cincinnati Bengals-coached North squad was crushed 35-18 in the Under Armor Senior Bowl Saturday. Jacksonville’s coaches put special emphasis on stopping DT B.J. Raji, star of the North’s practice week, scheming against him from the first snap. Now, as coach Marvin Lewis told his team after the game, it’s on to Indianapolis and the combine.
While Raji got the attention during the week, it was another North defender, OSU LB James Freeman, who shone during the game with eight tackles. Even though the North lost, Freeman echoed the praise of others for the way Lewis and the Cincinnati staff coached them during the week.
As the Senior Bowl winds down, attention turns back to current Bengals, and whose name pops up, as usual? Why, Ocho’s of course, in connection with a PFW rumor that the New York Giants are interested in 85. Big Blue View calls the rumor “[r]idiculous! Complete, utter nonsense! Lunacy! Irresponsible off-season rumor-mongering at its absolute worst.”
PFW isn’t done with Cincy receivers, and also reports that the wideout-hungry Seattle Seahawks covet potential free agent WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Housh has always expressed a preference for playing for a West Coast team so he can be closer to his family (he lives in California). Likewise, Houshmandzadeh’s name is being bandied about as a possible 49ers acquisition.
Bengal fans should keep an eye on Tampa Bay, where Bengals QB coach Ken Zampese is set to interview for the offensive coordinator’s job today.
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It doesn’t matter what Big Blue View says about the improbability of a trade for Ocho, it would be a deal made in heaven. To begin with, the Giants have a need for a good, seasoned wideout; Plaxico Burress is done at the Meadowlands and Amani Toomer, 35 next season, is about done in football. CJ wants out of Cinci, is signed through 2010, has never been a problem with drugs, the law, etc., would love to play for a Super Bowl contender in the Big Apple. The Giants have an extra pick in the mid-2nd round. So why not? Sounds like a win-win-win deal — for the Bengals, Giants, and Ocho.
Rob
I agree that moving The Chad would be great. I also agree that the Giants would benefit as well as Chad would benefit. But for a mid-2nd rounder. That is like stealing… hell the Skins we’re ready to give us 2 1st rounders last year. I realize he had a down year, but look at the reasons… a backup QB and a horrible team. If they get him for a 2nd rounder I’ll scream… that would be a huge steal for the Giants and a blunder by the Benglas!
If the Bengals can get a second for Chad, I say they should take it and move on. I think several factors will conspire to lower Chad’s trade value this year: the draft is much stronger this year at WR than it was in 2008; there’s a good crop of potential free agent wideouts; there are other good WRs like Boldin also rumored to be on the block; Chad is the wrong side of 30 and has had injury issues the last two seasons, and; with a trade he will want a new, big-bucks deal and the five-year proration limit on bonus money this year makes it hard to give him the kind of “Fitzgerald money” he’ll want. I hope I’m wrong, but in the end I don’t see Chad playing anywhere else come next fall.
David
Very good points. I didn’t think about the new contract and the fact of the proration period. Although I think Chad wants out of Cinci and may be willing to take a little less to play elsewhere… if he had some say in where he went (almost using it like a “No Trade Clause” in MLB).