I saw there was a calling for all Who-Dey Fans in NYC and thought I'd share an experience I had this past Sunday in Chicago while in town on business...

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Can anyone possibly explain to me why it is that when players have their media picture taken that the team uniforms they wear do not have any numbers on them?  You can clearly see this for all the players if you click on their link at Bengals.Com.  ...and it's not just the Bengals...this occurs with all teams.  Why wouldn't they just wear their own uniform? 

I suppose you could make the point that this is in case the player changes his number...especially for the rookies...but you really don't see the number anyways...so what gives?

I understand this is a very minor, meaningless question...I am just curious.

Someone asked that I post the same analysis that I did for the Steelers and the Ravens. (This is the Ravens edition) To save space and energy I did not include their entire draft history and all the individual grades. However, I do have them for anyone's review if anyone wants me to post them. ...and as I've come to realize, rip me for my rating basis.

The key is to read the "Takeaways" section at the end of each team's review. This explains (in my opinion) the disparity between the Bengals and our two main division rivals.

(And no, I didn't do an analysis for Cleveland...as I think even their fans will agree their drafting is disgusting)

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Someone asked that I post the same analysis that I did for the Steelers and the Ravens.  (This is the Steelers edition)    To save space and energy I did not include their entire draft history and all the individual grades.  However, I do have them for anyone's review if anyone wants me to post them. ...and as I've come to realize, rip me for my rating basis.

The key is to read the "Takeaways" section at the end of each team's review.  This explains (in my opinion) the disparity between the Bengals and our two main division rivals.

(And no, I didn't do an analysis for Cleveland...as I think even their fans will agree their drafting is disgusting)

STEELERS - DRAFT PICKS SINCE 2000:

(Total Excludes ’07 and ’08 since those years are virtually impossible to grade at this point)


Total Picks = 54

Failures       = 32 (59%)      ** 6 players from ’07-’08 look to fall into this category

Average
Players        =  6 (11%)       ** 6 players from ’07-’08 look to fall into this category

Good
Players        = 10 (19%)     ** 2 players from ’07-’08 look to fall into this category

Excellent
Players        =  6 (11%)      ** 1 players from ’07-’08 look to fall into this category

** If you use the same modeling to try and come up with the total figures using grades for the ’07 and ’08 players the percentages still turn out in the following manner:

Failures = 55%
Average = 17%
Good = 17%
Excellent = 10%

Total = 69 Picks

BEST YEAR:

-- 2002 (K. Simmons, Randel El, C. Hope, Larry Foote, V. Hayyes, B. Kiesel)

Honorable Mention:

WORST YEAR:

-- 2004 (6 misses out of 8…* but drafted Roethlisberger though)

Honorable Mention:

-- ‘06 (6 misses out of 9…* but drafted S. Holmes, A. Smith and W. Colon)
-- ’01 (5 misses out of 7…* but drafted Casey Hampton and Kendrell Bell)

TAKEAWAYS:

1. The Steelers do not swing and miss on 1st round draft picks.

’00 = Plaxico Burress (Failure…though Good/Excellent w/ NYG)
’01 = Casey Hampton (Excellent)
’02 = Kendall Simmons (Good)
’03 = Troy Polamalu (Excellent)
’04 = Ben Roethlisberger (Excellent)
’05 = Heath Miller (Good)
’06 = Santonio Homes (Excellent)
’07 = Lawrence Timmons (Good)
’08 = Rashard Mendenhall ** (??)

2. On even the Steelers "Worst" years they still drafted pro bowl players.

3. Only 70% average/failure ratio opposed to Cincinnati’s 76%

4. 30% Good/Excellent ratio versus Cincinnati’s 23%

5. Has a President of Football Operations and solid management system in place with a great history that has consistently promoted the same message for decades: Run the ball, play intimidating defense and promote growth from within.

Since I/we were discussing draft analysis I thought I would post some thoughts I put together a few months back.  Warning: this post is long.  If you have A.D.D. or if you're one of the Jungle regulars who really just doesn't like me, read no further...

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In response to Kirk's '05 Draft Entry from the other day I thought I'd post some thoughts I had on the subject in case anyone cares.  Feel free to call me an idiot if you so choose...

I did a Bengals Draft Analysis prior to the '09 Draft (I will also post) and upon doing that decided to go back and grade all players picked by all 32 teams during the first two rounds of 2005.  I graded each player individually as to how their career has panned out.  I then concluded which teams have had the best success, and adversely, which teams have had the least.  Below is the summary.  I think most will be surprised at the outcome. 

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http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9601836/Ranking-the-NFL:-Insider-grading-on-every-franchise

Adam Schein ranks the Bengals #25th, per his criteria.  Hey, at least the Browns are ranked #30.  Note that this is not a "Power Ranking" but an overall "Franchise Ranking."

As much as I'd love to disagree with his assesment, I can't.  I know most of the Jungle's readership frowns upon the national media's perception of our beloved Bengals...but it's hard to dispute.

I think this is big news.  Does anyone else agree?

It is good to see that at least one of "Oil Slick's" clients is seeing that this guy's advice might not be all that it's cracked up to be.  I don't know, maybe holding out every year, demanding to be traded, alienating the organization you work for -- as well as your peers -- isn't such a good idea afterall.  Kudos to Boldin for figuring this out.

I'm thinking of a certain latino themed, gold toothed jackass who might stand to take a page out of Anquan's book.  Might do 'em good. 

Schein had a pretty interesting take on C. Johnson...while we all are beating this subject to death, why not beat it down some more?

Schein's Nine: Don't blow it in draft

by Adam Schein

When you think about it, it really isn't rocket science.

You take the best player on the board who fits your coaching staff and an area of need.

But yet, every single year we see goofy picks and questionable moves.

For our draft week SCHEIN 9, we offer friendly reminders to NFL teams — do not blow it.

6. Cincy must trade Chad Johnson

Marvin Lewis says he doesn't know why there is talk about trading Ocho Cinco.

That's why I am here, Marvin.

Chad recently cried to old friend T.J. Houshmandzadeh that he wanted to be traded. Ocho Cinco's act has worn thin. He's a distraction. Johnson was suspended, by you Marvin, last season before a national television game for violating team rules. You can't have rules for 52 guys and then rules for one. He's a headache, distraction and side show. It's the ultimate addition by subtraction move. And he hasn't played like a Pro Bowler in two years. This isn't about you and Mike Brown digging your heels in and showing you won't let a player talk his way off the team. It's about what is best for the team. You have needs all over the field, including offensive tackle, running back, receiver, defensive tackle and linebacker. Trade Chad. End it. Don't blow it.

The fact that last play wasn’t challenged is mind boggling. 

Fumble or incomplete pass, no one – not even a Steelers fan – could argue that the call shouldn’t have been reviewed.  Had the call been overturned, Arizona would have had the ball on the Pittsburgh 29 with roughly 8 seconds left – time for a minimum of one attempt into the endzone.  Had the play been confirmed by replay then this conversation might be moot.  It’s not moot.

Or how about Santonio Holmes TD celebration?  (using the ball as a prop, he mimicked LeBron James’ chalk-toss)  …I guess the refs forgot that was a 15 yd penalty for excessive and/or illegal celebration.  …the outcome certainly WOULDN’T have been different had the Steelers had to kickoff from their 15 instead of the 30…

Wow.  Referees determining the outcomes of games.  Infuriating.

Even beyond the absurd ending, what about the almost consecutive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Cardinals on a key Pittsburgh scoring drive?  One was a phantom roughing the passer call against Roethlisberger.  Funny too, I remember a very similar call in the Baltimore game a few weeks back.  (Lets not get into the phantom roughing the punter call in that same game or we will REALLY digress)  However, if that roughing the passer call wasn't enough, how about the 15 yard face mask penalty by an Arizona defender who coincidentally was having his very face mask twisted simultaneously by the same player he was deemed to have fouled?

Or how about the refs blatantly botching two calls in the Steelers favor that the Cardinals were luckily able to overturn thanks to replay?

We could also talk about the penalties – 106 yards by the Cardinals to just 56 by the Steelers. 

Listen, I know certain penalties or judgment calls are sometimes missed or botched by referees.  I understand they’re human and that the “human element” is part of the game.  But does anyone wonder why the Steelers always seem to be on the favorable end of such controversial calls?  And now for a second time in 4 years the Steelers have won a Super Bowl amid a myriad of controversial calls.  Does anyone think this is fishy?

I do.

The 2006 Super Bowl was a complete joke.  I don’t need to re-explain how terrible the officiating was in that game. 

Unfortunately, this game smells just like Super Bowl XL.  Does the NFL have a vested interest in seeing the Steelers win?  The Steelers do after all have by far the biggest fan following in perhaps all of sports.  Could the NFL be secretly pulling for the Steelers to get into the Big Game…and ultimately win it?  Just think of all the NFL licensed apparel, merchandise and ticket sales that will now certainly increase.  I’m sure the NFL doesn’t mind this at all. I mean, revenues are shared throughout the league.

One can only wonder.