Hey, here's an idea to throw out there for you guys and gals: How about Jordan Shipley as the #2 receiver? Sure, he's coming back from an injury, but if he can return to form, I don't see why he shouldn't compete for #2. Here are some of my reasons:

1) FA are okay, but the Bengals record with FA WRs hasn't been good lately. Not to say it wouldn't work out this time, but I just have visions of A. Bryant's knee (or whatever it was) and a moody T.O. in my mind (of course, T.O. did pretty well for us, but, well, yeah).

2) Shipley is cocksure and headstrong (or is it the other way around?). But seriously, Shipley has great hands, great route-running ability, speed/quickness/agility, and he knows the system already vs. a FA (which is not to say a FA CAN'T learn it, but, well, yeah).

3) Dalton seemed to have a pretty decent rapport with Shipley before he went down. As T.J. Whosyourmama demonstrated with the Bengals, you don't need a superstar burner as a #2 WR; you just need somebody who'll show up at the right spot at the right time and catch the darn ball. Shipley should be that guy.

And the second part of this blog, as promised by the title: the Bengals should draft Devier Posey. Why? Here we go:

1) I saw on Walterfootball.com that Posey has "off field" issues that team will have to deal with. Those off-field issues are accepting some under-the-table money at a golf tourney. Not excusing it, but then again I don't think people should fault a kid who has no money from accepting money when a donor hands it out.

2) Full disclosure: I actually teach at his high school alma mater. Never had him class, but those who had speak very well of his work ethic in class. How does this translate to the football field? Maybe a lot, maybe nothing at all. But I feel the "character issues" are just ridiculous. Very soft spoken, humble kid. And he loves his momma.

3) He's got speed and sure hands. I didn't watch a ton of OSU games, but it always seems like he made big plays. Posey will fall to the later rounds, and I think the Bengals should draft him in those rounds if they get the chance.

What do you guys think?

Not that this is surprising, but this is what Peter King said in this week's Monday morning QB:

"8. I think the Bengals are doing their due diligence on the quarterback position, which tells me they might grant Carson Palmer his wish to be traded when the NFL finally gets a labor deal done. Talking to one Bengals official over the weekend, I was surprised to hear that whenever trades are allowed after the signing of a new CBA, the team will listen to offers for Palmer.

9. I think if I were Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke, I'd be strongly considering a good puzzle piece for my defense in this draft -- and then make a call to Mike Brown for Palmer when the market opens up, whenever that is. I'd love to see Palmer in the West Coast scheme, especially with a smart guy like Harbaugh at the helm. I don't think Palmer would miss Ohio for a second."

Maybe I still (stupidly) think that Palmer will somehow be back, but this is not exactly good news.  I'm just afraid that if Carson's jettisoned then we may experience the entirety of the 90s again.  To wit:

1) The loss of an established QB (Esiason vs. Palmer)

2)  Drafting a potential replacement (Klinger/A. Smith vs. ?)

3) Mike Brown existing and owning the team (both eras)

I'm not optimistic right now about the Bengals next year.  

Maybe, if we even have a season next year, the following things will happen for a successful 2011 :

1) We get a veteran QB that can manage the game.

2)  Our defense shows up next year.

3)  Running game carries offense.

4) Soft Schedule helps us.

I don't want to cause a panic the size of a Chinese fire drill, and it's not like we didn't know about the possibility of no Palmer next year, but...  I just don't know. 

Why do the Bengals make me sad?

I was at the game last Sunday between the Bengals and the Bucs when they announced that Palmer just passed 20,000 passing yards for his career... and he was booed.  By Cincinnati fans.  I talked to a few other Bengals fans who don't reside in Cincy, and they were shocked.  How does this happen?

Okay, that's an easy answer: we're 2-3, and Palmer threw 3 INTs that lost us the game.

But really, booing?  C'mon now.  I am as frustrated as everyone else about Palmer's poor performances.  It seems like another lifetime ago when we could count on a Pro Bowl performance nearly every game.  And now I just hold my breath whenever Palmer throws the ball.

Still, if you call yourself a true Bengals fan, you need to support the players.  No, Palmer isn't the All-World Guy we're used to seeing on Sundays, but he still has produced many memorable wins for this team, and I know he'll give us a few more.  The season isn't over by a long shot, and it seems that the Bengals play better against better opponents.

So please, if you're at the game, don't be That Guy who's booing.  I mean, it's not like he allegedly raped a girl or anything, or started a dog fighting ring. 

Thus ends my lecture.