As ESPN is wont to do, they're all over the Bengals now that T.O. has signed. While it may be true that T.O. loves him some him, ESPN most definitely loves them some T.O. We really don't learn much here, but it is interesting to watch Owens and Ochocinco interact with one another. One thing that ESPN should be discussing more, besides the Owens circus, is how his presence -- combined with Chad on the other side -- will benefit players like Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, Jordan Shipley and tight ends like Kelly, Coffman and Gresham; provided the latter signs soon enough to be a factor during his rookie year.

The speculation about the Cincinnati Bengals signing safety Gibril Wilson has ended, thanks to the Twitter account of agent Alvin Keels, also the agent of Andre Smith.  Wilson's signing is just another move made to strengthen the Bengals' secondary.

While the Chris Crockers, Roy Williams and Chinedum Ndukwes of the world are expected to earn the biggest chunks of playing time, the addition of Wilson, previously of the Miami Dolphins, gives Mike Zimmer even more depth to work with.

Interestingly enough, Wilson's Wikipedia page has already been updated to reflect his new team; well, at least the right column has. The entry still lists him as a free agent.  Oh well, that's nothing a quick edit can't rectify.

By now, most of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that by the end of the day, there's a very real possibility Adam "Pacman" Jones will be a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Feelings and reactions to the idea vary, quite naturally. Some see it as a joke of a move, while others see it as a "it doesn't hurt" exercise.

While I lean more toward the "don't do it" side, Mike Zimmer's confidence makes the idea easier to stomach.

That being said, does the idea of a more humble Jones -- let's be honest here, he really isn't in any position to act anything but humble, at least in relation to NFL employment -- and the fact Zimmer believes it to be true, make the idea easier for you to tolerate and/or endorse?

Let us know below.

While the offensive line position isn't the first thing you think of when the thought "What do the Bengals need to address in the upcoming NFL Draft?" pops into your head -- normally, sexy positions like wide receiver (Mardy-Mar in the house) or tight end come to mind -- it's a safe bet that if someone of quality drops in the first round, Cincinnati is apparently willing to provide more protection to Carson Palmer.

Enter the workout and visitation of Idaho Vandal, Mike Iupati.

While Iupati may not be as popular as Russel Okong, Bruce Campbell or Trent Williams, you better believe teams in need of a solid offensive lineman are certainly aware of him.  In fact, the Bengals were one of just nine teams showing interest in Iupati, most of which -- except perhaps the Bengals -- are in need of a quality offensive line.  This includes Oakland, Kansas City, Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco.

Again, these are teams that need quality offensive linemen more than the Bengals.  Nevertheless, if he isn't snatched up by the 21st pick, don't be surprised if Mike and Marvin pull the trigger -- and if that happens, Brown won't have to worry about any ugly Andre Smith-style holdouts either.  Well, at least I hope a 21st pick wouldn't be that arrogant, unless, of course, he's getting low-balled by the front office (like that EVER happens in Cincinnati).

Here are some of Iupati's particulars:

The 6-foot-6, 331-pounder is coveted by NFL teams for his intensity, athleticism, long arms and brute strength.  While he still needs to refine his techique and adjust to a higher level of football, he's regarded as a rising draft prospect.

He also has an awesome head of hair.

Who knows?  Maybe the Bengals' front office wants to add another player with bad-ass hair to the team, because if Iupati joins the likes of Jonathan Fanene, Domata Peko, and Rey Maualuga, the Bengals would have a team of veritable Sampsons. 

Here's a question for you guys:  Let's say both Dez Bryant and Iupati fall all the way to the Bengals' first round slot.   Who would you draft?

Last season I made the misguided statement about the Bengals having one of the best linebacker groups in the NFL. Now, while my exuberance may have been responsible for such an outburst, one thing's for sure: While there may be a question about which team has the best, the Bengals appear to have one of the deeper squads out there.

The re-signing of Brandon Johnson ensures that, even if he's a University of Louisville alum.

Last season, Johnson played in all 16 regular season games, recording 67 tackles, 1.5 sacks and generally playing like a member of a quality depth unit should. As indicated, Johnson's return ensures the Bengals have some options if one of the starting linebackers gets hurt. Currently, I would expect the 2010 starters to be Dhani Jones, Rey Maualuga, and Keith Rivers; although, Rashad Jeanty might have something to say about who fits in the starting rotation.

Now, if the Bengals can add that kind of quality depth to their receiving group, who knows what the upcoming season will bring?

We've been pretty much all about the upcoming NFL Draft here at CJ for these last couple of weeks, so I figured today would be a good time to catch up on some players who have already been through the draft process. Popular folks like Dhani Jones and Chad.

As we all are very well aware, both Jones and Johnson are quite good with today's modern media; although, Jones is nowhere near as prolific as Chad is. Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped The Travel Channel from doing another season of Dhani Tackles the Globe, which was one of my favorite "reality" shows, perhaps ever.

The first episode debuts on the 19th of this month and Dhani's first stop will be in Italy, where he'll try his hand at Olympic-level cycling.  Again, I see nothing but beneficial things from Jones' travel show.  First of all, it goes a long way in shedding the "Bengals = jailbirds" stigma -- Dhani's great personality obviously contributes here, and again, training for events like Olympic Cycling will only help in regards to getting physically prepared for the upcoming season.

At the top of this post, there's a preview of what you can expect when the Dhani Jones World Tour continues.  I, for one, am looking forward to it.

As for the Bengals' favorite son, his Dancing With the Stars exploits gives me an excuse to look at, talk about, and post videos featuring the incredible Cheryl Burke, Ochocinco's partner.  Chad's participation in this mess is just one more step in his adoption by the mainstream media, so we might as well enjoy the ride.

Did I mention Cheryl Burke, because if not, I should probably go ahead and do it, because, to quote Butters from South Park, her butt is like a big mountain of pudding (link is SFW), and that's just alright by me.  Anyway, since this is about the Bengals, I'd should probably mention Chad survived the second week of his DWTS competition, but it didn't look like he did that great in the scoring column.

Maybe he should try doing his Riverdance celebration next time.  Here's some video of his latest performance, with lots of Miss Burke thrown in for good measure.

All things considered, it's been a fairly smooth offseason so far, although, I'm betting Chad's upcoming VH-1 dating show might just change that a little.  And with that, we have your non-NFL Draft update for the day. 

Isn't all this talk about Cheryl Burke's tight end better than worrying about whether or not Mike Brown drafts one?

I'm tempted to use my standard, go-to phrase to greet the news of Rashad Jeanty's re-signing, but I'll refrain. In case you are curious about what I'm talking about, watch this video and you'll understand.  I am happy to say, however, that, with the agreement between Jeanty and the Bengals, the linebacker position has more depth, which isn't a bad thing if there's any residual hangover with Rey Maualuga's off-season shenanigans.

It would seem the Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis agree, something the Jeanty contract indicates nicely.  With that in mind, do you still see the Bengals committing even more to solidifying the linebacker position, especially in the upcoming draft?

As for Jeanty, his signing is obviously for depth purposes -- the one year/$1.2 million deal say as much -- but he is a serviceable back up to players like Dhani Jones, Keith Rivers and the aformentioned Maualuga.

Because CJ is a family-friendly site, I'll refrain from using the language I want to use. Let's just say Richard Pryor would be proud of my unedited departure speech for one Larry Alphonso Johnson, Jr.

For now, I'll merely offer this:  Goodbye, Larry.  

Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.  Try not to spit drinks on any females who aren't feeling your rap; or stiff-arm any unwanted advances, either.  Enjoy splitting time with Clinton Portis.  Who knows, maybe you'll be the one who can successfully block for Jason Campbell.

If not, there's always check-down passes, right? Hell, maybe Mike Shanahan can rejuvenate your sorry ass revitalize your career.  

I suppose I should be thankful for Larry's one really good game (his 22-carry/107 yard effort against the Browns) and for the fact he didn't create any waves during his brief tenure in Cincinnati, but then again, where's the fun in that?  I was against this signing from the beginning, and it's only through the grace of injuries that Johnson's services were even needed.

Considering the fact he's gone without leaving a smoldering crater where his Bengals locker once stood, I'll call Johnson's tenure at Cincinnati a push -- meaning, I certainly didn't want it, but it wasn't as painful as it could've been.

I'm probably one of the last members of the CJ group to take a stab at this, and while my list might not differ from the rest too much, it's all about perspective. Instead of a long introduction, I'm going to jump right in with my list.

Wishful Thinking
This section focuses on such restricted "never happens" like Brandon Marshall, Owen Daniels and Miles Austin.  It's safe to say just about every Bengals follower out there would welcome players of this stature.  That being said, these same followers have a good idea the team owner isn't the type to go after expensive pieces like that.

With that in mind, there's really no point in continuing here, because it's like being dead broke and window shopping in Beverly Hills.  However, I should probably list a few others, just to make mouths water even more:

Vincent Jackson (Obviously)
Braylon Edwards (PSYCHE!!!!!!!!!)
Elvis Dumervil (Pass rushers never go out of style)
Antoine Bethea (Why not get one of the better safeties out there?)

OK, are you sufficiently disappointed?  Let's move on to the realistic side of things:

Continue reading this post »

With his size (6-6, 220), there are some rumors going around that Matt Jones might be playing tight end when the Bengals kick off the 2010/11 season.  While he's not known as a blocker, if Jones decides to give a damn, he has the talent to be a Ben Utecht/Jay Novacek-style of tight end.

The question is, is Jones motivated enough to be effective in that area? 

The reason I ask is because when that not-very-flattering report about Jones' workout for the Bengals broke, PFT speculated Bengals coaches were trying to motivate Jones by criticizing him to Yahoo Sports.  Of course, they also said, "It's more likely that the sources are fighting back against a move orchestrated by owner/G.M. Mike Brown."

Whatever the case, it's up to Jones to decide whether or not he wants to be a contributing member of this team, be it at receiver or tight end.  Considering the amount of talent in the upcoming NFL Draft at both tight end and receiver, I'm hoping the Bengals wouldn't suffer an unmotivated Jones for very long.

On the other hand, perhaps Jones can channel such fine folks like Dhani Jones, Cedric Benson and Tank Johnson and use the Bengals to revitalize his career.  It's all up to him.

Needless to say, drunk driving incidents involving underage ladies aren't the most "pillar of the community" actions, and if you are a professional athlete, they can be downright embarrassing.  So what is one to do if one commits this kind of a social sin in order to show remorse?  Turn to Twitter, of course.

Just ask Rey Maualuga, who took a page from the Chad Ochocinco playbook.and issued an apology on his Twitter account.  Granted, it was under the 140-character limit -- short, but sweet -- but I do get a feeling of sincerity from Rey, if only for being ashamed of getting caught.

Whatever the case, Rey's sorry and he wants to earn the respect he apparently lost back. 

Of course, if he starts the 2010-11 season with a three-sack, ten-tackle performance, most Bengals fans will have a "Oh, I forgot" reaction to Rey's drinking and driving misadventures.

OK guys.  It's been a little while since I've posted -- sorry, I'm still not over the loss to the J-E-T-S (Suck, suck, suck) -- but I do have a public service announcement to make:  Cincy Jungle, the best Bengals blog on the web, now has a Facebook fan page.  It pulls RSS feeds from CJ, while also giving us another place to congregate at.

All in all, it sounds like a win-win to me... Unlike Shayne Graham's kicks against the Jets.  Anyway, enough crying over missed field goals.  Join the Cincy Jungle Facebook fan page and lets continue to show our undying support for the hardest franchise in the NFL to love.

;)

That's video of Chad Ochocinco proposing to the cheerleader from a few seasons ago. Considering the topic of this post, I think it's fitting.  In order to test the health of his recently-MRId left knee, Ocho used a method of testing most men would approve of:  

He had sex... And talked to the press about it.

Naturally.

When asked about his knee -- the report appears in the New York Post, surprisingly enough -- Eight Five indicated the moves he used mid-coitus gives him confidence his knee is good shape.  Joking or not, one thing's for sure:  Considering who Ochocinco will be going up against on Saturday, super-stud/cornerback supreme Darrelle Revis, he'll need his knees to be as healthy as possible.

A gimpy knee = doom against a player like Revis.  

In other news, I'm left wondering if Marvin Lewis suggested Ocho's method of treatment.  Now that would be a conversation I would love to see on HBO's Hard Knocks.

It would shame the financial advice discussion we we're privy to.

Simply awesome. Happy Holidays, boys and girls.

H/t to Sporting News for the vid.

Last week, Chad Ochocinco (I don't like typing that anymore) joked about the passing game opening up a little more, and lo and behold, it did.  At least for him. Chad finished with nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown.  To wit, Carson Palmer finished the game only throwing for 220, meaning over half of his production came courtesy of "Esteban," who, in an effort to appeal to our Hispanic Bengal fans, lived up to one of his many namesakes by donning a sombrero and a matching poncho to celebrate his TD grab.

Good times for those of us who have been missing Chad's touchdown celebrations (guilty).

No doubt a fine will be handed down from Roger Goodell and his crew later this week.  Anyone want to make a guess on the amount?  I'm saying it will be more the $50K.

Speaking of unpleasant financial situations, starring our talented wide receiver, Chad is also being sued for apparently defaulting on a car loan.

The player was sued Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court by Daimler Chrysler Financial Services, accused of not paying for his 2008 Dodge Challenger.

Ochocinco bought the car Aug. 12, 2008, using his former name, Chad Johnson.

He paid $55,5487.35 for the vehicle but put $20,000 down on it, getting a loan for $37,975 for the car he bought from Northgate Chrysler Jeep.

The suit accuses him of being in default on the loan, having paid $3,200 on the car in 13 months.

It claims he owes $34,709.72 on that loan plus 15 percent interest annually from Sept. 10, 2009, likely the last payment the company received on the car. His monthly payments are $847.11.

So that's why he legally changed his name from "Johnson" to "Ochocinco." Finally, the truth comes out. All so he could defraud on a car loan. For shame.  Granted, Chad could probably pay that $35 or so thousand with one of his game day checks, so I'm not sure why he wasted his time defaulting.

Oddly enough, the news of Chad's automotive financial "trouble" also sheds light on him and Marvin Lewis discussing smart ways to invest money during HBO's Hard Knocks.  Obviously, Chad not only needs a financial adviser, said confidant should also be adapt in total account management.

If you guys want to watch the Bengals play Detroit on TV Sunday, you better tell your rich friends to buy up the rest of the remaining tickets, otherwise, all of us will be running around, screaming for active streams. Thanks to the 24-hour extension, there's still time to act.

Who knows?  Maybe Ocho or perhaps Kroger can again salvage Cincinnati's 50-straight regular season sell out streak (Alliteration For The Win!).  Or hell, how about everybody's favorite anti-hero, Larry Johnson?  He's still got that Kansas City money and since he's so eager to turn over a new leaf and show everybody just how awesome he really is, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

If LJ can help us avoid a blacked-out game, I might even come off of my high horse about him.  Doubtful, but there's certainly a chance.

Now that the Cincinnati Bengals have their running game humming along at a good pace -- one that's bound to improve now that Ced the Pred is back -- Chad wants the Bob Bratkowski to throw a bone, and the ball, to the receivers a little bit more.

If, by a little bit, I mean 50 times a game, that is.

In what is being deemed as joke by the Bengals.com writers, Chad actually did say something along the lines of "now that running game is going, it's time to start passing the receivers the ball more."  Taking the approach that winning cures all ills -- something Chad himself indicated on his Twitter account -- Chad mentioned the staff couldn't ignore the receivers for three games in a row:

"I'm not going to let them treat us like that for three straight games," he said of his receivers. "We won the game. We had a wonderful day on the ground. Bernard Scott and Larry Johnson played extremely well. I asked for us to run the ball. This basically solidifies us being able to run the ball right now. It helps us once we do get to the playoffs.

"Now next week things are going to have to change. The roles need to be reversed. I'm speaking on behalf of myself and the receiving corps. We would like to throw the ball 50 times. I just want to relay that message."

Granted, after a two week accumulation of seven receptions for 105 yards, a total he can achieve in one half of football, I could understand Chad wanting the ball more.  Thankfully, he's not going about it in an "I'll undermine the team" way and is making jokes about it.

Obviously, even Ocho knows the only way the Bengals will throw the ball over 50 times is if they are down by a bunch of points and a Carson Palmer-style air-it-out fest is the only way to get back in the game.  However, while the comments came off as playful, I have zero doubt Chad wants to see the ball thrown his way a little bit more.

Furthermore, he hasn't had a touchdown since his two scores against the Chicago Bears.  This means if he wants to exhaust the money he set aside for fines, he needs to find his way to the end zone a few more times before the season ends.

I, for one, have no problem admitting I miss seeing his touchdown celebrations.

Oh, and yes, that is Ocho's foot getting a massage.  Considering how important feet are to receivers, I found that picture quite fitting.

If you've been out shopping after yesterday's feast, you were not alone. Our hero, Chad Ochocinco, was with you in spirit as well.  I just want to say, that's a damn smart Snuggie, Chad.  Well done.  And look, it was only $5 as well.  Did you get yours?

After Ocho's got finished chasing good sales, it was on to practice and preperation for the Cleveland Browns.

Here's hoping the Oakland loss still stings to the point where the Bengals take out all their frustrations out on Brady Quinn and company.  In other news, is it me, or does Chad look like one of the Tusken Raiders from Star Wars?

H/t to Sports Pros(e) for the find.

There's a little bit of contention going around CJ, thanks in large part to the Larry Johnson signing and the residual fallout.  With that in mind, I thought it might be prudent to lighten the mood around here by posting the video of Bernard Scott's awesome kick off return against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  As we all know, it was the game's only touchdown, and because it was so essential to the Bengals victory, it needs to be celebrated -- especially in light of the newest acquisition.

The best part of Scott's return, besides him crossing the goal line, has to be Steelers kicker Jeff Reed's "attempt" to "tackle" Scott.  Granted, kickers aren't usually known as the best tackler, but that was just poor.  It would've been better if Reed simply escorted Scott to the end zone, for all the good his bullfighter approach to tackling did.

One last thing, make sure to look for Quan Cosby knocking the stuffing out of Stefan Logan right before Scott goes into score.  It's around the 18 or 19 second mark.

Um, you were saying Terry? Would you like to repeat those sentiments about Cincinnati's chances against your beloved Steelers? Don't get me wrong, I still think Howie Long would whip your behind, but hell, since you were so damn incorrect about the Bengals, perhaps you should just reach over and smack Howie in the mouth next Sunday.

Take a chance.

It couldn't be any worse than your Bengals/Steelers "prediction."

OK, Cedric Benson, I understand, but if this particular rumor comes to fruition, you'll never hear the end of it from me. Apparently, Mike Brown is interested in disgraced Kansas City Chief running back, Larry Johnson.  Let me be clear here, in no way is this a good idea.  Absolutely zero.  If you want to give Cedric Benson a breather -- and folks, the team has been riding him a great deal -- Brian Leonard or Bernard Scott are quite capable, and aren't nearly the headache Johnson has shown to be.

Sure, folks are allowed second chances in life, but as a resident of Kansas City, and therefore front and center for much of Johnson's shenanigans, he's already had them.  Trust me.  There's nothing else he brings to the table that justifies signing he and his 2.7 yards per carry to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Johnson is not a positive influence on the locker room.

Johnson is not a positive role model for the community.

Johnson's paltry performance does not merit signing him.  In no way.

Josh and I have already written about Johnson for another publication, and he's a little more forgiving than I am.  Don't get me wrong, as a single NFL running back who's supposed to be King Ding-a-Ling in KC, I'd probably get pissed if this lady turned me down -- but I don't think I'd spit a drink in her face as a response.  Oh, and for those of you wondering, I'd feel the same if this was the 1700-yards/double-digit-touchdowns Larry Johnson we were talking about.

Cincinnati has a wonderful thing going.  Furthermore, they struck gold with Cedric Benson (and Dhani Jones, Roy Williams, Chris Crocker, etc) but at some point, that well -- or mine, if you will -- is going to dry up and the returns could be less than desired.  Judging by experience, Johnson represents one too many chances of trying to spin straw into gold.

The Bengals have plenty of depth at running back.  Adding Johnson to the mix is not worth jeopardizing the precious chemistry the team has established this far.

Want to offer an official a one dollar "bribe" so maybe he'll make a call in your way -- or just to do so in a playful manner? That'll cost you. A lot, in fact.  Just ask Chad Ochocinco, the proud new owner of a $20,000 fine, courtesy of King Roger Goodell and his band of enforcers.  Apparently, when Ocho used the word "bribe" to describe his actions, his fate was sealed.

Granted, the bribe was just another shenanigan in a long line of Chadisms, something he acknowledges by saying, "I was just being me. I wasn't going to do it for real."  Obviously, that matters little to Goodell and company, who plainly don't want anyone to think NFL referees are anyway influenced by players or particular game situations.

With that in mind, does anyone know the spread for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh?

One more note about Chadwick's fine -- apparently, he knew about it before today and was told not to tweet about it, which brings up a follow-up question:  Why the subterfuge?  What does Goodell have to gain by telling Ocho not to say anything about his fine?  Why is it so important the league office breaks the news?  Seems like a case of excessive micromanagement to me.

In a move that will certainly please many of you, Marvin Lewis has put the kibosh on Chad Ochocinco's latest attempt to rile his opponents.  Seeing how the Pittsburgh Steelers play their home games at Heinz Field, Ocho thought it would be a neat little dig if he sent them some mustard, much like the deodorant care packages he delivered to the Ravens.

Well, Lewis found out and put a stop to that nonsense, much to the delight of many Bengals fans, I'm sure.  Count me among those who likes Marvin's decision.

Normally, Chad's antics don't bother me, but this Sunday's game is particularly huge and it would be nice if we could focus on the actual game instead of trash-talking and one-upmanship.  Obviously, Lewis feels the same way.  Granted, this is part and parcel of how Chad conducts business, but it's nice to know Coach Lewis still has sway over the most outspoken and noticeable player on his team.

In other news, in light of the mustard denial, there's this sign discussing NFL Rule #1059, which warns opposing defenders about the risks of trying to cover Ocho man to man.  Apparently, it's on display at Chad's locker.

Is this the weekend the Bengals see their first round draft pick hit the field for the first time this season?  Considering what we were told going into the bye week, no doubt many Bengals fans were thinking, "Yes, I'll finally get to see Andre Smith play when the Ravens come to town," however, those thoughts might have been a bit premature.  It's either that or Marvin Lewis just wants to keep everybody on their toes. 

Or he's just practicing his non-committal skills.

Offensive line coach Paul Alexander would not discuss Smith's status. On Wednesday, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Smith "would have to be one of the best 45 guys" to suit up.

So yeah, that sounds like an "I'll never tell" if there ever was one. It seems the Bengals staff seems really hesitant to use any of the offensive rookies at their disposal. Granted, Smith's ankle and his weight have been issues, but while every other team in the NFL showcases their new offensive talent, the Bengals take "wait and see" to a totally different level.

Now, if you are a defensive rookie with miles of potential, you'll have every opportunity to play through your mistakes. Unfortunately, that same level of approval seems to be missing for known college stars like Chase Coffman, and now Smith. Of course, the lack of Andre Smith "he's playing" talk might just be gamesmanship on the behalf of the coaches. Or it could very well be Lewis and his staff doesn't want Smith to stop working hard, and they feel any news about playing time could affect Smith's preparation.

Considering how well the Bengals have been running the ball, it's hard to not think how an Andre Smith, a player known as being an incredible run-blocker, might improve that aspect even more.

I'm not sure how many of you got to see them this morning, but now that ESPN has fully embraced Internet technology, we have video. According to the First Take site, this is part one, meaning there's more where this came from. There's also a segment where Bayless reviews Chad's new book, and if it's anything like Rick Reilly's, I'd say he's not that impressed with it.

One thing's for sure:  Chad is certainly making the most of his bye week.  With so many appearances, I'm surprised he hasn't designed  "Ochocinco's Bye Week World Tour" t-shirts.

Do you think Skip would buy one?

It's been a couple of weeks since I made a Chad-related post, but with the bye week on hand, there's plenty to talk about.  Speaking of, what will you be doing this Sunday when the Bengals aren't playing? Catching up on housework? Mending that fence your significant other has been dogging you about? Going outside?  Whatever it is, ask yourself this:  Will I be as busy as Chad Ochocinco will be?  Doubtful.

Here's part of his itinerary, which should rack him up a decent amount of frequent flier miles:

Thursday morning, Ocho will be on ESPN's First Take, debating the host everybody loves to hate, Skip Bayless, followed by an appearance on Colin Cowherd's radio show. After that, Chad will be be on The David Letterman Show, where he will undoubtedly be discussing, among other things, his new book, which promises to give everyone who buys it the finger. 

If not two.

On Sunday, Ocho will be a guest on CBS' The NFL Today pregame show.  I, for one, can't wait to watch Chad, Shannon Sharpe and of course Boomer "St." Esiason discuss all things Bengals.

So yeah, the life of a popular NFL player can get pretty damn busy, although, I'm sure it's the type of busy we'd all enjoy.  Oh, there's one more thing I wanted to share with you:  Chad has peculiar tastes in music, something one of his endless amount of Tweets tells us:

Just went and grabbed Brian McKnight,Rick Ross (triple c),Creed, Micheal Jakson (this is it) and Lil boosie albums,jammin n the locker room

Wait a minute. Did he just say "Creed?" Are you kidding me? The same Creed fronted by Scott Stapp? Um, yeah. I didn't expect that one.

Something occurred to me while watching Cedric Benson hulk out on the Chicago Bears yesterday:  Cedric Benson is a Predator.  Yeah, the same alien that whipped Arnold's crew's ass, only this time, our Predator saves his beatdowns for the NFL, not those who are carrying military armament. 

Maybe it's Benson's dreads that do it for me, but there are other similarities:

- Both wear battle helmets
- Both are well-armed, especially Cedric
- Both have powerful friends who watch their backs (see here)
- Both have natural camouflage
- Both have self-destruct mechanisms *
- You don't see either of them coming **

See? It's not just hyperbole from an awesome performance talking, either.  Granted, I doubt Chicago Bears fans share the level of complimentary descriptions I've made -- in fact, there's no doubt they'd like to be the ones who hunt him down and finish him off -- but there's not much you can do to deny a Predator-like 189 yards and a touchdown.

It's almost as if Ced the Pred specifically targeted the Bears for systematic destruction and his feelings spilled over on the rest of the team.  I'm not sure what else aptly describes Cincinnati's total domination against Chicago.

* Fortunately, we narrowly avoided Cedric's going off on the infamous boat trip.

** No one expected much from Benson, but now that he's a league-leader in rushing yards, his invisibility field probably doesn't work anymore.  No matter. You still have to stop him.

Because we need some good news around here, and because it's getting close to the holiday season (look at your calendars ladies [Do we have any here?] and gents), I figured now would be a good time to share the good news: The Ben-Gals have released their yearly calendar and the results are perhaps more than we could've hoped for.

I've always been a fan of being true to your team and I think those lead images qualify.

You know, this might be a bit sexist of me, but I have no idea what the names of the four ladies gracing this post, and honestly, after yesterday's disaster, I haven't been bothered to learn.  I will say, however, in light of the Antwan Odom news, the calendar preview has been a much-needed distraction.  There are 25 images in total, and while I doubt the calendar itself will be much use for annotating appointments and events -- due to the lack of writing space, of course -- the visuals will be make the months have a little more pop to them.

Sorry this post isn't recap-related, but I just don't have it in me to relive that offensive mess. 

H/t to my man Scrap for the find. Viva La Ben-Gals!!!!