Here's what I see shaping up with the Bengals in the 2008 Draft.

Here's what I think will be the likely first 9 selections of the first round.

1. Miami - they need everything but I think they will take a player that will pay dividends for years to come in Jake Long.
2. St Louis - they don't use a 3-4 defense alignment so I think they will opt for DE Chris Long in order to strengthen the rush.
3. Atlanta - They need a QB to replace Vick but I think they can't afford to pass up a lock in Glenn Dorsey.
4. Oakland - Against better judgment Oakland again will draft erratically and take RB Darren McFadden.  
5. Kansas City - I going to go out on a limb here and say that the New York Giants will trade up with KC and take Vernon Gholston.  I see this as a real possibility considering that the Giants have a couple of LB positions to fill.  If this doesn't happen I see KC taking QB Brian Brohm.
6. N Y J - If the Giants do make the trade then I see the Jets taking RB Jonathan Stewart or if the Giants don't trade up they will take Gholston.
7. N. E. - Since New England lost 2 starters at CB I see them working real hard to strengthen that position.  So in that case I see them taking either Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie who's stock has really risen or Leodis McKelvin.  Although the could I don't think that NE will go after Sedric Ellis because of the need at CB plus they already have youth at DT.
8. Baltimore -  I see the Ravens being a real spoiler here because I think they will move to prevent Cincinnati from getting a top notch DT.  Therefore I see them taking Sedric Ellis if he is still on the board.  If not on the board I think that they will draft QB Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan.  Both of these are typical pocket passers and I think that is what Balt is looking for plus it will provide insurance to them at QB.  In the event that neither of those players are available I think that they will go after OT Ryan Clady to shore up the offensive line.   
9. Cincinnati - Since both Dorsey and Ellis will be gone by the time that Cincy picks I see them taking either Rashard Mendenhall at RB or Derrick Harvey at DE.  Harvey would appear to be a good pick for them but he and Mendenhall are really not the best player on the board at the number 9 pick.

With this scenario I see that Cincy really needs to work out a trade with either St. Louis or Atlanta in order to move up in the draft so that they can get Dorsey.  Preferably I think Cincy should work out a trade with St. Louis for the number 2 position so that way they can get either Dorsey if he's not the first pick or Chris Long who is bona-fide DE.  Note if it comes to them taking Chris Long I feel that it will work out because they will be able to move Geathers back to a rover LB position plus they can always pick up a DT during a later round.  I see them swapping first round positions with St Louis plus throwing in either their 3rd round pick or perhaps a veteran player instead of the pick.

After that I think that Cincy should focus on WR James Hardy or OLB Shawn Crable or WR Devin Thomas or MLB Phillip Wheeler MLB with their 2nd pick.  I'm thinking Hardy will add the depth for the loss of Chris Henry but OLB Crable will add further depth at the LB position.

For their regular 3rd pick I feel they should take either WR Andre Caldwell or DT Frank Okam depending on whether they trade up on the first round.  I really like Okam if they can get him. He has plenty of bulk and in a 4-3 set should really solidify the defensive line.  Of course if they do trade up it's possible that this pick will be lost via the trade.

For their 3rd round compensatory pick I think they should focus on with DT Red Bryant or WR Jordy Nelson or OG Roy Schuening, or OLB Beau Bell.  WR Nelson appears to be a burner and could be a kickoff specialist.

For their 4th round pick I see RB Tashard Choice or TE John Carlson or OC Steve Justice as possible picks.  The RB sounds appealing based on last years running game but I also see a need to pick up a backup Center.  

For their 5th round pick I see WR Will Franklin who has good size or WR Kennan Burton does also or CB Tyvon Branch who can give depth at CB or DE Kendell Langford which has good size at the position or OG Jordan Grimes who can provide OL backup.

After the above picks they will still have 4 picks in the 6th round that they can use to pick up backup OLM.

Why didn't Landon Johnson simply resign with the Bengals instead of signing with the Panthers.

Surely the money must have been close and his value with Cincy must have been appreciated.

My thoughts are that I'm wondering if players would rather be out of Cincinnati.  Considering that Justin Smith, Madeiu Williams and now Landon Johnson signed elsewhere without so much as looking back plus the barking of Chad Johnson, I'm wondering if players are wanting to flee Cincinnati.

Are there any facts out there to substantiate this?

I see all the pundits are naming Sedrick ELlis or Glenn Doresy as the top defensive picks.  I'm thinking that they're all wrong and I think that Chris Long will be the first player taken.  I'm also seeing Jake Long as the second pick. (it will be pretty amazing to see the first 2 players taken in the draft having the same last name)

After that I see McFadden going 3rd followed by QB Ryan at number 4.

I'm also seeing players like Vernon Gholston falling out of the first round.  Maybe it's just me but I feel that Gholston is too small to be a DL prospect.  

Okay, now that they leaked the name to us last week and then the enquirer gave us the full story on his credentials, the team decides to make him the new DC.

Now that we've had a few days to let it soak in, what is everyone's perspective on him being named DC?

Does anyone have any positives or negatives or just plain opinions on him?  Will he make a difference?  Will he be his own man and make the moves that need to be made?

Anyone have any other opinions? <lol>

In my best Hobson prose.......Chad Johnson bumps Funnybone. <lol>

Turns out that I think the reason that Chad is mouthing off about being traded is that he is probably sensing the clamor of his upcoming June trial on Fraud charges over the fake give away of a Lexus at a local comedy club.

I guess the messy lawsuit along with local embarrassment and perhaps an NFL suspension over the court case probably has Johnson wishing he were in Ottawa right now.

Trouble is that Chad will have to stay put, least that's what Marvin says.  Funny thing about Chad and this is no pun, I know that he always has the yardage but I wonder when Chad is really going to stop complaining and be a real winner.  Yardage is nice but being a winner on and off the field is real character.  So, Chad, if you're wondering who has your back and since you read the boards and know that everyone is saying bad things about you, tell us, when are you going to grow up, shut up and go out and just play football?

This whole thing kind of makes you wonder how much Chad is really worth to another team. Maybe the Bengals should let Chad in on any of the negotiations so he can see what he is really worth.

Okay, now the really bad side of the whole issue.  If he's found guilty, how many games will be suspended?  

I watched the playoff pregame shows both yesterday and today and heard that they had plenty of updates on the searches going on in Miami, Baltmore and elsewhere but heard nothing about what is going on in Cincinnati.

I know it may be a good policy to keep a tight lid on what they are doing but more and more this club appears to be so out of norm with all the other teams in the NFL that it's unbelievable.

Where's the news media with this and why can't they find out what is happening?  Do they have anyone posted at the airport?<lol>

Oh, I guess it's just wishful thinking wanting to find out what is going on but I haven't heard about any planned visits or anything.

Anyone else heard anything?

I found 3 facts today through the media.

1.  Carson Palmer says that he thinks that there needs to be some coaching changes made for the team to be able to turn it around.
2.  During Marvin's post game press conference he admits that he doesn't like Sporting News Chick Ludwig and that he would throw him out with the trash when cleaning up the garage.<lol>
3.  I read where Bengal Fans are wanting the team to draft LBs first, OL second and DL third.  Without a doubt I think that Cincy has to go after DL early in the draft or free agency.  Personally I don't see what Fanane and Rucker have done for the team in the past 2 years and I think that both of these players are likely gone.  

Maybe it's me but considering that O'Dell got suspended for 2 seasons shouldn't Mike Vick be serving more time than 23 months.

I know that Vick faces prison and that is far more serious than being suspended but still again isn't the crime far greater too?

I have a problem with the equality of justice and I wonder when the owners will seek to remove the commissioner.

I wanted to post a comment to Mr. Kirkendall's original post on this comment but I could not discover how to do so.  Hence I make a post here.

A funny thing is that I tried to post comments on the Odell situation on Bengals.com but found that they actually censor comments on that site.  Funny that, they asking for our comments but then deciding on what we should or should not see. To that I can only say let freedom ring.  

Perhaps the same thing will happen here but I will try my post none the less.

I think the NFL is completely and unequivecally out of bounds on the Thurman decision.  I know that everyone has probably chewed up and spit out numerous comments on the subject but I will try to offer yet another view of the event.

To me, I say, did this guy meet his obligations to the league and has he done what was asked of him in order to be reistated. If it would have been otherwise then I feel the league owed it to him, the team, and all of us loyal fans in Cincinnati to know the exact truth. This did not happen and obviously this is not the case because we have heard nothing from the NFL and nor are we likely to do so.  Again, let freedom ring.

Likewise, I say, if the guy has met all requirement of the federal, state, and local laws then what other obligations can the NFL have?

Accordingly, if a guy has to make the team and must be able to play in order to get paid then this guy is clearly being denied the opportunity to do so.  If the player has signed a personal services contract to the team which says that he must make the team and be physically able to play in order to be paid then this player is clearly being denied the opportunity to do so.  

If this player has been suspended and met every condition set forth by the leagues for his reinstatement and is still denied the opportunity to play then he is being discrimminated against.  

Further, if the NFL denies any player equal opportunity under the laws of the nation then isn't the league discrimmating against that individual. Also, to compound the situation, based on contractual obligations to the Bengals it's perceived that the individual is under contact and is not free to play elsewhere.  Under that scenario wouldn't the individual be denied the opportuity for pursuit of happiness under the constitution?  Again, wouldn't this be discrimnation?  

I could go on and on but the simple point is this.  If the NFL can capriciously control who is on the field then are we seeing the best players in the league and on the field?  I think in this case that the answer is no.  Obviously this is the same kind of mindset that we saw in individuals who were behind payola scandal of recording industry in the 50's.  The next question to this is......are the best players playing in the NFL and are NFL games controlled.  

Obviously the NFL is a monopoly and is granted a special exemtion from antitrust laws in order to exist.  Under this scenario one could ask if the NFL violating federal laws.  Further one could ask if the NFL os discrimminating against and denying opportunities to individuals and should they be allowed to maintain the special antitrust exemption as they are today.  These are things that must be considered when thinking of the current NFL and the commissioner of the NFL.

Note that the commissioner is not jamming his shoulder into the ground trying to catch a deep end-zone pass like Chad Johnson.  Nor is the commissioner getting 4 vertabre broken during a punishing hit during the season yet gutting it out through the end of the season for the benefit of the team.  Note that neither the commissioner nor the owners are taking dibilitating hits or standing on the frozen tundra during the freezing snow of December trying to win a game.

How dare the comissioner or any owners try to control the opportunities or destroy an individual for the purposes of personal gain.