Bengals Gab

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James Walker of ESPN reports that Bengals rookie LB Rey Maualuga will enter rehab after his latest incident:

Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga will spend at least 30 days in a rehab center in California, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Maualuga was arrested on Jan. 29 and later pleaded guilty to a DUI charge after hitting two parked cars and a parking meter. On Wednesday, the AFC North blog reported that Maualuga met with NFL officials to discuss the situation.

At this point the league has not determined if Maualuga will face a suspension to begin the 2010 season.

Once one’s team is eliminated from Super Bowl contention, it’s a natural human compunction to decide which of the last two horses to pull for.  Watching the game is much more exciting with a rooting interest of course, so for entertainment purposes only, we proudly announce our support for…

The New Orleans Saints. 

Choosing the Saints was a tough call.  After all, as a Bengals fan I typically pull for the AFC’s participant.  Growing up in the eighties, I watched the NFC team win 13 consecutive Super Bowls.  It irritated me to no end then, and while I detest the dynasty recently formed by the New England Patriots, (and don’t get me started on the Steelers!) I usually go AFC over NFC.  Its worse this year, as the AFC team is right up the road from Cincinnati.  Indianapolis is probably the closest team in proximity to Cincinnati, and there are many Colts fans to be found in Ohio.  Pulling for the Colts seems to be the no brainer. 

Besides, how can you root against one of the Manning boys? 

Well, for starters, this is New Orleans’ first appearance in the big game.  The franchise was epically bad for the first two decades of its existence and has toiled in mostly obscurity for almost 50 years.  That alone has to appeal to Bengal faithful.  The Saints, like Arizona last year, proved that a pedigree is not required to win in today’s NFL. 

While some fans are calling for Carson Palmer’s head on a platter, I’d hasten to remind them that Drew Brees, now widely considered to be one of the best in the business, was summarily dismissed in San Diego as washed up.  If he can turn his career around, there’s hope for Palmer and the Bengals offense too. 

Then there’s Adam Zimmer.  The son of Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Adam is a defensive assistant on the Saints staff.  Winning a Super Bowl championship would be great for the Zimmer family, especially after the tragic death of Mike’s wife Vicki last year. 

And if you think it’s hard to root against Manning, then how about rooting against the city of New Orleans?  After the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina, a Super Bowl championship would do wonders for the people of the city. 

Besides, I believe in the Saints.  Their offense is at least as potent as Indianapolis’, and the Saint defense under Gregg Williams is opportunistic and aggressive.  

So for one day, Bengals Gab will be trading in our “Who Deys” for a “Who Dat.” We’ll be pulling for the boys from the bayou.  

Bengals Gab says, “Go Saints!”

Longtime Bengals coach Dick Lebeau was selected to the 2010 NFL Hall of Fame class today.  The former Lions defensive back retired as a player some 37 years ago, compiling a whopping 62 interceptions during his 14 year run.  Drafted by Paul Brown’s Cleveland Browns in 1959, Lebeau was cut in training camp and ended up playing his entire career with the Lions. 

The current Steelers defensive coordinator, Lebeau has many ties to Bengaldom, having served in the organization for 18 years as secondary coach, defensive coordinator, and head coach. 

He will enter the hall as a Lion. 

For the Bengals, Lebeau served as secondary coach on Forrest Gregg’s Super Bowl XVI Bengals squad, and was defensive coordinator for Sam Wyche’s Super Bowl XXIII team.  He was brought back for a second stint as defensive coordinator in 1998, and when Bruce Coslet resigned after an 0-3 start in 2000, Lebeau became the oldest rookie head coach in NFL history.  He went on to coach the team through the end of 2002, compiling a 12-33 overall record.

Lebeau is perhaps best known as the father of the zone blitz defense.  The innovation revolutionized defense in the NFL and popularized the 3-4 base front.

Let’s face it:  We are all looking forward to Super Sunday.  It doesn’t matter if you are a Colts fan, a Saints fan, or a supporter of one of the 30 other teams that didn’t make it this far.  Heck, it doesn’t even matter if you know what N.F.L. stands for.  How many non-football fans will be watching the game with you this Sunday?  You know who they are; talking during key points in the game and asking simple questions.   You’ll grit your teeth, roll your eyes and bear it. How many people will tune in for the spectacle alone; for the singing of the national anthem, the halftime show, and the new commercials?  I’d venture to say a large portion of that demographic wouldn’t recognize Peyton Manning if they passed him on the street.  They remember the “bud bowls”, but not the games played in between them. 

I don’t point this out to belittle these people, nor do I intend to start a program for remedial football 101 at University of Phoenix. 

I am simply pointing to these self-evident facts as proof positive that football in general, and the Super Bowl in particular, has transcended the status as a simple game and has secured higher ground in our national consciousness.  It is not our national pastime.  It is our national passion, our obsession, our fixation. And the Super Bowl is its pinnacle event. 

What other sport can compare? The MLB?  Please.  It’s been dying for decades.  The NBA?  Not a chance.  The NHL?  Lucky to be alive.  None of them come close.  None of them choose their champion on one day. The NFL is the only professional sport that can provide the kind of drama and pure, undiluted emotion that we hunger for and the Super Bowl is the most dramatic, most emotional, most awe-inspiring thing the NFL has to offer. 

And so, this Sunday millions (perhaps billions) will huddle around Hi-def flat screens and grainy cathode ray tube televisions throughout the world.  America, the richest and most powerful of nations, will stand still.  Time will stop on Maple Street for 3 hours.  If there was ever a perfect time for a terrorist attack, a communist coup, or an alien invasion, it’s Sunday around 6:00 PM.  No one would even find out until late Monday some time, after the game, and the commercials and post-game season premiers have been discussed at length.  It would only be discovered after the party food was critiqued, the hangovers medicated, and the halftime show choreography reviewed. 

By then the evil emperor of the army of planet Zorg would have his 12-toed feet up on the desk in the oval office.  

Go ahead. Laugh.  I may sound like Rod Serling, but you know it’s true.  

Therefore, I offer one simple suggestion:  Make Super Bowl Monday a national holiday. 

No one wants to go to work anyway.  Between the parties, the food and the drink, a post game recovery period is required.  After daylong pre-game shows, the national anthem complete with jet flyovers, the halftime show, the post-game interviews and reports, the commercials, and, oh yeah, the game, no one has the strength for work a few short hours later.  Simply too much sensory overload. 

Now I know some of you will call me a crazy old coot; a fool that takes this child’s game played by grown and overpaid men way too seriously.  In response, my only defense is “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.”  You know you say the same thing every year. “Man I wish I had tomorrow off.”  Maybe you even do it. 

The fact is that the Monday after the Super Bowl is known throughout all businesses and industries as an uncommonly popular “sick day”.  They call it “Super Bowl-itis.”   MSNBC recently reported that roughly 17% of the American workforce will miss work Monday.  In addition, those that have the fortitude to make it in will provide less than ½ their normal productivity, costing the economy millions. 

So why should we lie to ourselves?  I’m just being a realist. Let’s call a spade a spade.  Call it “Valentine’s Day for the dudes”, or “All Commissioners Day” or the “National day of mourning for the end of football.” I don’t care how we label it or what we call it. Just make it happen. 

If you are reading this, President Obama and the Congress, I beg you to fast-track this bill through now.  Forget such minor and inconsequential issues as national healthcare, foreign policy, and the budget deficit.  Who cares about that stuff? Make some real, appreciable change.  Do something that unites and not divides! Reach across the aisle! Let us recover from a football induced stupor!  Make Super Bowl Monday our next national holiday!

Bengals.com and the Cincinnati Enquirer are both reporting that Chad Ochocinco has begun a campaign to bring Buffalo WR Terrell Owens to Cincinnati. 

Participating in the media carnival that is Super Bowl week, “The Ocho” was his usual impetuous self. In fact, he brazenly said that he was “sure” the 36 year old Owens would be wearing Bengal stripes in 2010. 

“Eighty one and eighty five, what more is there to say?” he said.  

It’s a well known fact that Chad has admired T.O. for several years, and that the two are friends.  They also share an agent in Drew Rosenhaus.

So the question becomes, would the Bengals actually do it?

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Owens will become a free agent on March 5^th. Also barring unforeseen circumstances, 2010 will be an uncapped year, theoretically allowing Scrooge McBrown to pay the man without worrying about the salary cap implications.  There is little doubt that having Owens across the field from Ochocinco would improve the passing offense, replace the deep threat lost with the death of Chris Henry, give defensive backfields fits.  Besides, T.O. is looking for another second chance, and that’s the Bengals’ specialty.

On the other hand, the Bengals don’t like bringing in older players, and T.O. will be 37 before next season ends.  His loud-mouth act may be too much for the team to take.  After all, there aren’t enough microphones in Ohio for the talking T.O. and Chad could do together.  He doesn’t seem like Marvin Lewis’ type of player either.

Nonetheless, it could happen.  If Ralph Wilson could sign him, so could Mike Brown.  The one thing clearly missing on the team last year was a competent receiving corps for Carson Palmer.  It’s a weak wide receiver draft class too. 

 “Can we not say take an extra step in the playoffs and even the Super Bowl?” Ochocinco said, “It would bring more excitement to the city.”

He could be right.

What do you think?  Sound off by leaving a comment!

Seems like all the talk in Miami yesterday was about Chad Ochocinco’s appearance on NFL Network talking about wanting Terrell Owens to come to the Bengals in 2010, lining up opposite him:

Begals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who was appearing with NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and Warren Sapp, thinks Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens will be a Bengal in 2010. Owens said that it could happen because both players have the same goal in mind, winning a Super Bowl. “Of course we could, I did shared the football with Jerry Rice in San Francisco.” Owens told NFL Network’s Deion Sanders.

Would Ochocinco and Owens work? Sure right now as the guys are sitting around in shorts and flip flops giving love back and forth to each other they say it will, but no one would really know until it happens. Yes, the Bengals could use another receiver, but again, would Owens keep his mouth shut if the team loses a game in which he doesn’t have a lot of passes thrown to him? That’s the real question.

Chad Ochocinco will be making an appearance today, Friday, February 5^th, at the McDonald’s Mac Snack Wrap Experience at the Super Bowl Fan Zone at South Beach located at 7^th and Ocean.  

Here are the details about the event: 

As the title sponsor of the 2010 Pro Bowl, McDonald’s teamed up with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco to share his love for McDonald’s and the new Mac Snack Wrap while creating a fan experience on Miami’s South Beach. Throughout the week fans can visit the McDonald’s Mac Snack Wrap Experience at the Super Bowl Fan Zone at South Beach to hear live music from DJ Affect, take photos, receive McDonald’s giveaways and meet McDonald’s #1 Fan, Chad Ochocinco. Ochocinco will also unveil a can’t miss Top Ten list during his visit.  

Dates/Times: 

Mac Snack Wrap Experience: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 – Saturday, February 6, 2010 

Ochocinco Appearance: Friday, February 5, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET

*Free McDonald’s Mac Snack Wraps offered to first 100 fans at 11 a.m.

For those of you interested in re-opening old wounds, NFL Network is replaying Super Bowl XXIII between our Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers tonight at 8:30 PM and again tomorrow morning at 1:00 AM.

For those of you too young to remember, the Bengals lost 20-16.

So, if you’re into self-torture, (and being a Bengals fan you are!) check it out.  Relive the concern of seeing Tim Krumrie’s leg snap!  Feel the ecstacy of Stanford Jenning’s kickoff return touchdown!  Scream at the TV again as Lewis Billups drops a sure interceptions!  Bite your nails anxiously as Roger Craig gains way too many yards on a dump off pass.  And finally, watch in horror as Joe Montana leads that last drive, culminating in John Taylor’s touchdown catch with 34  seconds left!

Exquisite agony for all Bengals faithful on NFL Network!