Well, Andre Smith has signed. And before Bengal Nation starts back-slapping each other and high-fiving everyone in sight, let’s not forget a few things.
Smith has missed 30 days of practice. He has missed three preseason games. And judging from the picture posted by The Ocho, Andre the Giant isn’t in fighting shape just yet. So while I am excited that the big man is finally under contract, I’m not ready to forget the mistakes made by the Bengals’ front office. Yes, they finally got what they wanted. But at what price?
Who knows how long it will be before Smith is ready [...]

We’ve all heard it before.  Preaseason games don’t matter. Blah, blah, blah. Well, people say that until someone tears an ACL. Or a quarterback has his nose broken behind a bad offensive line. Or a starting running back really begins to struggle. And I hate to say it, but Cedric Benson is struggling. Again.
At halftime, Benson has five rushes for 17 yards. Maybe this wouldn’t be a big deal in itself. But this follows  a 10 for 28 performance against the Patriots. And an 8 for 28 performance against the Saints. (It adds up to about a 3.1 average). Anyone [...]

Remember this?
Also, here’s part of today’s Vikings story that didn’t make its way into our 18-page print section. It’s a quote from receiver/returner Glenn Holt, who signed with the team Thursday. He was talking about how the Bengals made a run at him after he had already agreed to terms with the Vikes:
At the end, they wanted me back, but I had already agreed to a deal with the Vikings,” Holt said. “I agreed on Monday night. The Bengals called me Tuesday and offered a little more money. But I wasn’t interested. It’s time for a new town and a [...]

Batten down the hatches, Bengals fans: WR Chad Ochocinco has a new book coming out in late October. Written with Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports fame, Ocho Cinco: What Football and Life Have Thrown My Way, is a $29.95 tome that promises to provide the Cincinnati club with a huge midseason distraction. Let’s take a peek at some of the fun we have to look forward to!
Ochocinco reveals what really goes on in the locker room, on the field, and in the clubs where so many of his fellow athletes get in trouble. He talks about fights with teammates, coaches, [...]

Former 1530Homer reporter and blogger C. Trent Rosecrans is among those trying to create a new home for Cincinnati sports journalism. It’s badly needed. With The Post a rapidly-fading memory, the Dayton Daily News reducing its coverage of Cincinnati sports and, of course, Clear Channel-owned 1530 not immune to its parent company’s financial struggles, all Bengals fans have is national guys like espn.com’s James Walker who, for the most part, lack detailed knowledge of the team; local TV and radio; and the city’s lone remaining daily, the Enquirer. The best coverage of the Bengals lately, at least in my opinion, [...]

Joe Reedy relayed a quote from Boomer Esiason in the latest version of Sporting News today. Here’s what our beloved former Bengal had to say about Carson Palmer’s status in Cincy.
“It’ll be interesting to see how much more Carson Palmer can take if the Bengals have another bad year. Sooner or later, he’s got to take stock of his career and wonder whether he can have the career he envisioned when he got to Cincinnati,” Esiason said. “They still haven’t signed their No. 1 draft pick (Andre Smith), an offensive lineman who’s a loop job anyway, and they’ll expect him [...]

Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback, looks at the Bengals in his AFC preview. He also looks at the Andre Smith holdout and sends most of the blame Smith’s way.
“Slotting” dictates 95 percent of a first-round pick’s contract, so Smith’s holdout can impact only 5 percent of his deal, while dramatically increasing the odds he will become a bust, and thus lose significant future income. As he sits munching chips and playing video games while his teammates sweat in the sun, Smith not only harms his chance of long-term success but alienates his future teammates. Imagine how the other Bengals [...]

The Bengals are getting more attention in the national media, although it’s not the good kind. Elizabeth Merrill looks at the WhoDey Revolution and Mike Brown’s myriad failures. What’s particularly interesting – or frightening – is that Brown has had one winning season in the 18 years since Paul Brown passed away. The article ends with Paul reciting a lesson he learned from his father.
“And yet if I were to tell you one thing I remember … It was that you just got up every day and you went about what you did and you did the best you could [...]

The Cincinnati Bengals and Alvin Keels, agent for first-round pick Andre Smith, spent four hours talking today and got nowhere.
And the beat goes on. Bengal fans’ hopes?

Updae: Per Keels, Bengals owner Mike Brown claims “the ship has sailed on the slotting system.”
Really, Mike? Looking around the league, the slotting system seems pretty solid. I see just one lone ship on the waves, one with orange and black sails. Hope you’re having a good time on the good sloop Mom ‘n’ Pop.

P.S.: Mike says the slotting system is dead? Buh…buh…I thought Katie Blackburn had the final say…? You mean to say [...]

Are the Cincinnati Bengals better in 2009 than 2008? Through two preseason games, the numbers are mixed:
Carson Palmer
2009: 7/11, 133 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
2008: 11/21, 83 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Good sign: In just one game, Palmer had more yards and a better completion percentage than he had in the first two preseason games in 2008.
Bad sign: No points, and the same lone pick. Oh, and Palmer’s hurt…
J.T. O’Sullivan / Ryan Fitzpatrick
2009: 19/24, 241 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT
2008: 17/23, 170 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Good sign: J.T. “Crabby” O’Monday’s has thrown for more yards and more points.
[...]