Amidst all this madness of March, who really cares what's going on with the Bengals? That's what I said too, until I heard the name Terrell Owens. The Bengals wide receiver corps is depleted to say the least, and at this point, there is no doubt Mike Brown will be breaking out the check book to ink Chad a partner in crime. Anybody who thought Laverneus Coles would thrive in this offense is just plain ignorant, almost as ignorant as taking Jerome Simpson over the likes of Desean Jackson and Super Mario Manningham. I understand Simpson's freakishly large hands were essential in the Cardiac Cats clinching the AFC North last year, but the man isn't going to be contributing to the Bengals anytime soon.
And of course there was the devastation with death of Chris Henry (RIP Slim). Let's be honest, the Bengals were nowhere near the same team without him. Without Slim, the Bengals were a lowly 4-5 as compared to 6-2 with him in the corps. This need for a deep threat appeared to be addressed with the signing of 6-6 bad boy Matt Jones earlier in the offseason, but he has a lot to prove before anyone can consider him anything more than one heckuva(n) asset on your Madden roster.
Although Andre Caldwell could be a budding star in the slot position TJ Housh vacated, there is no doubt the Bengals need to add a receiving threat for Carson. Such names as TO, Brandon Marshall and Antonio Bryant have surfaced, as well as a deep crop of talent in the draft, but who really would be the best fit? As far as I am concerned, anytime you can get a talent like Brandon Marshall, you go for it. The Broncos tendered him so that any team interested would have to give up their 1st round pick, but in the case of the Bengals, a 21st overall pick is more than worth it. His numbers show nothing but top notch consistency as he has posted 100+ receptions the past three years, and he is arguably far from reaching his best years. The only downside to Marshall is the fat contract that would likely come along with him. Some predict a roughly 5 year $50 million deal would be in store, but if the Bengals honestly felt Coles was worth $7 mill a year as a washed up slot receiver, BM is well worth 10+ fat ones a year. Why the Bengals didn't pursue Anquan Boldin harder is beyond me. Baltimore only gave up a 3rd and 4th round pick to get a top tier threat, but at this point, the Bengals can only focus on what's in front of them.
As far as other options, I think bringing in Antonio Bryant would be borderline senseless. He would demand top dollar simply because he is the "best available" WR on the free agent market, and his lack of consistency and sketchy health screams mediocrity at best in stripes. Now for that other old guy on the market: TO. From the Bengals perspective, I in all seriousness see this as the most logical guy to go after. They could likely sign him to a one year deal for considerably less than the $6.5 million he got last year from the Bills. 36 or 26, this guy can make plays, and I get chills thinking about an Ocho and TO combo in the nasty Nati. I just can't stop thinking about Dean Portman/ Fulton Reed bash brothers combo (Mighty Ducks all the way) when I imagine these two gentlemen suit up side by side. Throw in Matt Jones, and you've got yourself a trips formation of grade-A bad asses. Just think about it for a second, and pardon the chills.
Sure the Bengals could go for a big name from the draft, but as far as I am concerned, either Marshall or TO is the way to go. Let's face it, these guys will all feed off the attention when they are flyin high in the Nati together, and as far as Mike Brown is concerned, I don't think there will be too much trouble filling seats with Ocho, Jones, and BM/TO going to work every Sunday.
That's all I got for now. Muskies about to do work in the A-10 tourney and beyond. It's the most wonderful time of the year! With that, Burnside, out like a fat kid in dodgeball.
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