Yeah, I'm talking to you, Gregg Easterbrook. And everyone else on TV who continue to make lolzy jokes about the Bengals being a criminal camp or having bail bondsmen on the sidelines or not being able to play road games out of state or giving the warden financial advice in exchange for a few bottles of beer. I get it. Really, I do. A disproportionate amount of Bengals were arrested over the past few seasons. Yeah. Driving under the influence, boating under the influence, playing under the influence, getting influenza, whatever. Yes. Stop beating the dead horse, people...I can barely even recognize Eight Belles' corpse these days.
I can't be the only one tired of these stupid "the Bengals are all felons!" jokes, right? Really. I'm aware. Get some new material, professional sportswriters. Oh, and no, writing about Favre doesn't count.
It's a smart move resigning Chris Henry though. If people start talking about Marvin Lewis harboring criminals again, maybe they'll stop noticing what a terrible football coach he is.
It's nice to see the NFL posts start to come though. I almost put up a post this morning about the Pats having a ring ceremony the other day where Kraft gave them all rings that say the words "Undefeated Season" on them but I got torn between two angles and then just forgot about it.
Posted by: Vandelay | August 19, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Plus, if you want to talk Bengals news, the fact that Chad Johnson (according to Sporting News) is taking steps in Florida to legally change his last name to Ocho Cinco is far more interesting, if it's true.
Link to the story:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/10861/chad_johnson_finds_genius_way_around_fines
Posted by: bethany | August 19, 2008 at 07:32 PM
I saw that. That would be incredible. I'm all for him doing that just to see Roger Goodell overreact and make another bad decision.
Posted by: Newman | August 20, 2008 at 08:12 AM
How about giving the Bengals a little credit for giving the kid a second chance?
/dws
Posted by: jackie | August 20, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Second chance?
Posted by: Newman | August 20, 2008 at 08:30 AM
I wholeheartedly welcome Chad into the Ocho Family. Just like in my sense of power BJ post, we are both just misunderstood good guys.
Posted by: Ocho Ocho | August 20, 2008 at 08:32 AM
I think Lewis should recruit and sign only people who have had brushes with the law. Like Parcells says "if they dont bite when they are puppies, they won't bite when they grow up" We are not playing tennis or golf here. Unbridled agression, self entitlement, and other criminalesque qualities make for greatness.
Plus it would allow all the athletes at the U and Oklahoma to remain together.
Posted by: Ocho Ocho | August 20, 2008 at 08:36 AM
I forget the player, but a retired NFL lineman for the colts once said that the NFL was a great outlet because he could do things on the field that would get him thrown in the pokey in society. So the lines are a little blurred. Big deal.
Posted by: Ocho Ocho | August 20, 2008 at 08:38 AM
I agree, Ocho. All I could think when I watched Steeler games last year was "damn it, we could really use some more drunk drivers out there on that football field".
Posted by: Newman | August 20, 2008 at 08:38 AM
Plus it would allow all the athletes at the U and Oklahoma to remain together.
Let's not forget Va Tech.
Posted by: Dr. Tim Whatley | August 20, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Second chance?
You need to pay closer attention, Newman.
Posted by: jackie | August 20, 2008 at 08:41 AM
I think Lewis should recruit and sign only people who have had brushes with the law. Like Parcells says "if they dont bite when they are puppies, they won't bite when they grow up" We are not playing tennis or golf here. Unbridled agression, self entitlement, and other criminalesque qualities make for greatness.
Not necessarily the same thing, but Ocho's post made me think of this Al McGuire classic:
"My rule was I wouldn't recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house. That's not my world. My world was a cracked sidewalk."
Posted by: jackie | August 20, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Allow me to submit Notre Dame as exhibit number two.
Posted by: Ocho Ocho | August 20, 2008 at 09:09 AM
"I agree, Ocho. All I could think when I watched Steeler games last year was "damn it, we could really use some more drunk drivers out there on that football field".
At least they would not fear hitting or being hit.
Posted by: Ocho Ocho | August 20, 2008 at 09:24 AM
We had domestic abusers though. You'd think that would be enough.
Posted by: Vandelay | August 20, 2008 at 09:35 AM
"We had domestic abusers though. You'd think that would be enough."
Nope. I'll see your domestic abuse and raise you an HGH juicer. And I'll bump you some illegal videotapes. Still not enough to run the table.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 20, 2008 at 09:42 AM
I think TMQ brought a new angle to the "arrest story" showing how the family favored nepotism GMs and hired weak coaches. Weak coaches = can't control players = many arrests.
Posted by: Crazy Joe Davalo | August 20, 2008 at 10:32 AM
You need to pay closer attention, Newman.
I think that problem is that I don't recognize who dws is.
Posted by: Newman | August 20, 2008 at 10:39 AM
I think that problem is that I don't recognize who dws is.
Fair enough. He's my boy...Dripping With Sarcasm. Cool cat.
Posted by: jackie | August 20, 2008 at 11:13 AM