The Sports Comic - Jason Jennings : Cincinnati Bengals
This team promises to be one of the most entertaining teams this year even if they arent the most successful. I actually think they could end up being both. With the addition of WR Terrell Owens to already over the top WR Chad Ochocinco, there wont be a void of quotes and touchdown celebrations. Can QB Carson Palmer keep both players happy while also incorporating WR Antonio Bryant (a fairly vocal player himself) and RB Cedric Benson into the offensive mix? Im sure coach Marvin Lewis is hoping so. Again, I think this just might work because youve got a strong relationship between Palmer and Ochocinco that the other players are just going to have to accept. Owens obviously is near the end of his career and if he truly wants to be on a championship team then it is in his best interests to toe the company line. Plus, the team has little invested in him overall so cutting him wouldnt be the end of their financial world. Bryant is also on whatever number team this is for him and surely has burned enough bridges behind him to realize that maybe for once he should embrace the concept of team. Even Benson has managed to revive his career after playing horribly in Chicago. Now if the offensive line can hold up its end this team has the makings of a very powerful offense. The big if on the line is 2nd year T Andre Smith who only proved that he was an out of shape loser last year and needs to quickly live up to his high draft choice status. If he cant play then the line will have to be shuffled and the continuity that they are striving to achieve will be disrupted again. And things could return to the same old Bengals status.
The defense if made up of several Cowboys castoffs plus some pretty good players. Ex-Cowboys S Roy Williams, DT Tank Johnson, and almost certainly on his God-forsaken last chance in the NFL CB Adam Pacman Jones will see extensive playing time with the first two holding starting positions. Hard to believe that an ownership group like the Bengals would take on players that even Jerry Jones regarded as too disruptive (dont forget about old T.O. in this conversation). If the Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis ever wonder why they have trouble fielding a team that cannot stay out of off the field trouble maybe they should stop bringing in people with the penchant for doing so. Thats what makes this team so interesting this year is the range from wild success to horrendous shipwreck is so wide open.
Fantasy choosing is a tough one although Benson will probably produce. And Palmer should be a good option but the unknown factor is how many touches the talented and demanding receivers will get. Thus all of their draft positions fall down a round or three.
SCs prediction: 10-6 record, 2nd in AFC North
This team promises to be one of the most entertaining teams this year even if they arent the most successful. I actually think they could end up being both. With the addition of WR Terrell Owens to already over the top WR Chad Ochocinco, there wont be a void of quotes and touchdown celebrations. Can QB Carson Palmer keep both players happy while also incorporating WR Antonio Bryant (a fairly vocal player himself) and RB Cedric Benson into the offensive mix? Im sure coach Marvin Lewis is hoping so. Again, I think this just might work because youve got a strong relationship between Palmer and Ochocinco that the other players are just going to have to accept. Owens obviously is near the end of his career and if he truly wants to be on a championship team then it is in his best interests to toe the company line. Plus, the team has little invested in him overall so cutting him wouldnt be the end of their financial world. Bryant is also on whatever number team this is for him and surely has burned enough bridges behind him to realize that maybe for once he should embrace the concept of team. Even Benson has managed to revive his career after playing horribly in Chicago. Now if the offensive line can hold up its end this team has the makings of a very powerful offense. The big if on the line is 2nd year T Andre Smith who only proved that he was an out of shape loser last year and needs to quickly live up to his high draft choice status. If he cant play then the line will have to be shuffled and the continuity that they are striving to achieve will be disrupted again. And things could return to the same old Bengals status.
The defense if made up of several Cowboys castoffs plus some pretty good players. Ex-Cowboys S Roy Williams, DT Tank Johnson, and almost certainly on his God-forsaken last chance in the NFL CB Adam Pacman Jones will see extensive playing time with the first two holding starting positions. Hard to believe that an ownership group like the Bengals would take on players that even Jerry Jones regarded as too disruptive (dont forget about old T.O. in this conversation). If the Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis ever wonder why they have trouble fielding a team that cannot stay out of off the field trouble maybe they should stop bringing in people with the penchant for doing so. Thats what makes this team so interesting this year is the range from wild success to horrendous shipwreck is so wide open.
Fantasy choosing is a tough one although Benson will probably produce. And Palmer should be a good option but the unknown factor is how many touches the talented and demanding receivers will get. Thus all of their draft positions fall down a round or three.
SCs prediction: 10-6 record, 2nd in AFC North