Cincinnati Bengals: Winners and Losers vs. Colts

Aug 28, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cobi Hamilton (87) makes a catch prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Cobi Hamilton

…and it isn’t based entirely on his performance.  Cobi Hamilton is one of the most erratic Bengal players of this off-season.  He’s clearly the most talented receiver amongst the Bengals reserves, yet has struggled at times to catch the ball.  His talent is undeniable and so he has the ability to make big plays for this team as was seen in last night’s game.

But Hamilton’s play can be as polarizing as Andy Dalton’s.  Yet Hamilton’s biggest reason for being a winner here is the Bengals’ seeming obsession with finding him a place on this team (an obsession I support).

As frustrating as he can be, Hamilton’s talent would certainly catch the eye of an opposing team; I was amazed he wasn’t signed away from the Bengals practice squad last year.  It would be a shame if Hamilton was to find his groove with another team after the Bengals drafted him as a steal in the sixth round of last year’s draft and took all this time to develop him.  Although Hamilton can be vexing, I believe he has the talent to be a real impact receiver for this team going forward.  If he does develop in this way, the combination of A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, Dane Sanzenbacher, and Cobi Hamilton would give the Bengals a plethora of receivers for their future and give opposing secondaries fits, while trying to cover the incredibly talented group.