Who says work related emails don't pay off?  Here's a very interesting take on NFL helmets from the eyes of a graphic designer.  His summary:  The Bengals have the best helmets.  Period.

Penalty! Unnecessary Blandness! Redesigning the Worst NFL Helmet Graphics BY Ken CarboneMon Nov 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM

The conservative columnist George Will once said football combines the two worst things about America: violence punctuated by committee meetings. As a designer who occasionally gets caught up in the fury of the game, I'd like to add graphic design to what's wrong with football.

With the help of Skycam I spend as much time enjoying the color, patterns and graphics that add to the spectacle of the sport, as I do enjoying a deftly-completed pass. Now that the Yankees have won the World Series and the season shifts from batting balls to banging heads, I've been musing about NFL helmet design. For inspiration (and some truly bizarre helmet design), I visited the Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Created centuries ago, these designs (left) are more about shock and awe than waging battle but are truly extraordinary.

Today's high-tech helmet with its wireless headset and polycarbonate visor has come a long way from the padded leather ones of yesterday. It not only serves its essential protective function but is also a gleaming sign for a team's brand. Yet in many cases the graphics are blunt and formulaic, usually involving slapping the team's primary logo on both sides of the helmet.

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The NFL named Bengals right end Antwan Odom the Defensive Player of the Week Wednesday after he

 tied a franchise record at Green Bay this past Sunday with five sacks in the Bengals' first win ever at Lambeau Field. The Bengals, who have compiled individual sack records since 1976, had seen such a performance only once previously, when left end Eddie Edwards logged five sacks against Cleveland in the 1980 finale.

Also Wednesday Tampa Bay picked safety Corey Lynch off the Cincinnati practice squad and the Bengals replaced gun with rookie cornerback Rico Murrauy. 

According to the Bengals' Odom press release:

 Odom produced 31 yards in losses with his five sacks of Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers. Two of his first three sacks helped push the Packers out of field-goal range, forcing punting situations, and midway through the fourth quarter, he pushed the Packers into a third-and-15 situation at their 28, with a punt the result of that drive.

 Odom also recorded two sacks vs. Denver in Game 1, and his seven-sack total leads by three in the NFL sacks race. Odom and Edwards now share the Bengals record for most sacks over any two-game span, as Edwards had seven over the last two games of 1980.

 Elias Sports Bureau reports this week that since 1982, when individual sacks became an official NFL statistic, no player has matched that total for the first two games of a season. The previous record for Games 1-2 of a season was 6.5, by Detroit DE William Gay in 1983 (Gay finished ’83 with 13.5).

via cdn2.sbnation.com

"Mmmmhmmm....that place has good ribs, but go over two blocks...see that church steeple?  Across the street is the best Waffles and Fried Chicken in town."

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Without getting into any sort of Sun Tzu tripe, one of the things I like about SB nation is to be able to check out what fans are saying about their beloved team, and gain better insight.  It's kind of fun to see others drinking Kool Aid this time of year.  But the point here is to learn who we face and how or if we can beat the tar out of them and get off to a good start this season.

There's a LOT of turmoil in Denver.

Coach Shannahan.  Gone.

Jay Cutler.  Gone.

Brandon Marshall.  Gone?

They still have their beloved Champ Bailey though.  They build snow and ice sculptures of him all the time.

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While reading what seemingly was an irrelevant article about the NFC North, I found this little gem:

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While nosin around NFL.com I discovered this tidbit tucked away in the fantasy area.   Fantasy players, be bullish on Palmer, Ochocinco

QB Carson Palmer told reporters that this current Bengals team is as good as any he’s had during his seven years in Cincinnati.

This time of year is full of hyperbole, but fantasy owners should take notice.

“The mindset of the team, the amount of distractions is down and the focus is where it needs to be,” Palmer said. “As far as talent wise, this is probably the best talent we’ve had but the most maturity we’ve had by far. We’re where we need to be, we’re headed in the right direction.”

What Palmer is basically saying is that he’s happy WR Chad Ochocinco finally got his butt into camp, isn’t complaining about being traded and is instead concentrating on being the best receiver in the league. Not happy enough that Palmer will invite Ochocinco to move in with him, but still happy.

And here’s the secret, if you have followed along with our NFL.com chats: Ochocinco’s name is most mentioned when the discussion turns to best receiver in the league. Cortland Finnegan (chat) and Darrelle Revis (chat) were two guys who said Ochocinco was the best receiver in the league. I’ll take their word for it.

Palmer is ranked No. 11 in Michael Fabiano’s fantasy rankings, though that seems a little low. Really, Jay Cutler ahead of him? Cutler’s top receiver is “Stonehands” from Neccessary Roughness. Palmer has Ochocinco. Palmer also went in Round 8 of our “experts” draft. I grabbed Tony Romo in Round 6, but would probably feel better about getting Palmer in Round 8. Ochocinco went in Round 4 of that draft, just prior to my pick, and I’m still seething.

Update your boards and keep an eye on Palmer and Ochocinco — it’s going to be a big year in Cincinnati.

– ADAM RANK

During last night's weekly poker game, someone at the table makes a comment about Chad's "prediction" of the playoff dream.  While I had to agree with everybody there (Cowboys Fan, Patriots Fan,2 Bills Fans, Dolphin's Fan, Giant's fan) that a playoff berth is being extremely generous and very optimistic, I had to stick up for my team.

Then came the wager.

The Cowboys fan (btw he bets on sports regularly) says "OK, I'll bet you $50 that the Bengals can't finish .500"

My brain did some math, retracing dozens of posts and speculations from Cincy Jungle, and I took the bet.  The Bengals are 8-8 or better, I win.

Like every fan in preseason, the hopes and aspirations of how well their team will fare is high right now.  But being a Bengals fan is different.  We're less optomistic normally, or at least we are in the back of our minds.  I have been reserved talking smack, as the team needs to produce, but I just feel this year is different.  This year the Great Striped Pumpkin will rise out the Pumpkin Patch and be respectable.  In fact, I'd be just fine with 8-8, as we need to get out of the NFL doghouse and it's the only way to get over the thug jokes and the bungles monniker.

So, my question to you all, do you think I just gave my freind $50 or do we really stand a solid chance of being 8-8 or better?

LIGER

That thought just occurred to me.  I'm a little slow sometimes, and I've had my fill of the Ochocinco, Andre the Agent Killer, Bengals from OZ news.

I'm also contemplating drinking the Kool Aid.  In fact, I have my R.Johnson jersey on at work today, ready to take on all comers (aka Steelers Fans).

 What's the point of this post?  Well, I think that first, as Bengals fans we have had to put up with a lot of BS over the past 20 years since being a playoff team.  We put up with the Bungles jabs, and have to grit our teeth everytime we even SEE a Steelers fan.  Just seeing that logo makes me angry.

Secondly, The preseason is upon us.  And this preseason is different.  We actually have reasons to have hope.

Don't get too worked up by the press.  Don't feel you have to comment on every stupid tired Yahoo "article" about the Bengals.  Seriously... F-em!  Let it go.

I think it's good that we will be on Hard Knocks.  It will keep Ocho occupied.  He's already thinking about what he's going to say and how he's going to act.  The more he does that the less he'll be in the way.  I hope.  The plus side is that maybe all of the OZ prison jokes that have started will get old for everyone and they'll watch the show and realize this team is pissed and they are going to go out and want to dispel the Bungles attitude once and for all.

And if they don't realize it then, They just might take notice during the season opener.

Lastly, that season opener is a loooong way away.  Lighten up, Relax!  Have some fun.  I'd be happy with 8-8.  Estatic with 10 - 6.  Cloud 9 with a playoff game.

Thoughts?