If today’s game against Buffalo was the ‘final test’ before the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers passed (more like ran) with flying colors, at least for the first 3 quarters.  In his 100th career win as a head coach, Mike Tomlin led the Steelers in one of their more impressive wins of the season.  Pittsburgh dominated both sides of the ball despite some very erratic play from Ben Roethlisberger.  The Bills offense could not get anything going against the Steelers’ defense until it was too late and could not stop the run to save their lives.

Oh, speaking of running—Le’Veon Bell had a record setting performance, rushing 38 times for 236 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Bell was on fire, consistently busting 10+ yard runs and keeping the Buffalo defenders on their heels all game thanks in large part to Pittsburgh’s offensive line.  The line was dominant all game, particularly BJ Finney, who made his 2nd career start replacing the injured Ramon Foster.

Ben Roethlisberger, on the other hand, had a pretty bad day.  Although not all his fault, Roethlisberger had a number of inaccurate passes leading to 3 interceptions.  He would have thrown at least 2 more if the Bills’ defenders had not dropped them.  The difference in Roethlisberger’s home and road game performances is significant and disturbing.  He just isn’t the same player outside of Heinz Field and that needs to change for the playoffs.

Pittsburgh’s defense continued their impressive streak of performances against a solid team.  It became apparent early on that Pittsburgh’s front-7 would just be too fast for Buffalo’s run game to handle.  LeSean McCoy was unable to get to the boundary and turn up field before getting hit by a host of Steelers and Tyrod Taylor had pressure in his face all day thanks to the numerous blitzes called by Keith Butler.  The pressure forced several errant throws and kept the Bill’s offense from getting into a rhythm.

Much of the impressiveness of the defense can be attributed to young players stepping up.  Artie Burns made his third career interception while Sean Davis had another strong game in the box; making 1 1/2 sacks along the way.  Bud Dupree also had his breakout game of the season with 2 sacks.  Although not exactly high quality, Dupree’s sacks came through shear effort, which makes them good enough.

As the score would indicate, however, not everything was perfect.  Although yes, Pittsburgh dominated the Bills on both sides of the ball, Buffalo still managed to put up 20 points.  Still, their first touchdown came on a short field after a Roethlisberger interception and the third came in garbage time at the end of the game.  There was really only one drive where the Steelers’ defense suddenly forgot how to tackle that led to Buffalo’s second touchdown.

In the end, this was a big win for the Steelers who are now in line to face all three of their division rivals to finish out their season.  Although Baltimore is obviously their biggest threat, they cannot afford to look past the Bengals, who will be looking for revenge after losing in week 2.  The past few weeks have shown a surprising turnaround for this defense, which will provide high hopes for Steelers’ fans going forward.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday announced that they have decided to part ways with Kicker Mike Nugent. Nugent, who has been with the Bengals since 2010, has been playing very poorly as of late. Nugent was 23-29 in both Field Goals and Extra Points. Though Nugent could be blamed for the Bengals loss to the Buffalo Bills and their tie against the Washington Redskins, the primary reason for his release has been his poor play lately. In his last four games, he has missed at least one extra point attempt. Outside of this year, Nugent has had a solid career. Nugent, drafted in 2005, has an 80% career Field Goal Percentage and has only missed eleven, (including the six from this season), extra points.

Meanwhile, the Bengals picked up Randy Bullock to take Nugent’s spot. Bullock, who has recently been used as a fill-in for injured or suspended kickers, has a career Field Goal Percentage of 81.3%, having made 78 of 96 Field Goals. More notably, Bullock has only missed four extra points in his four-year career. Bullock will play his first game as a member of the Bengals on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just released him earlier this week due to the return of Chris Boswell.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Music courtesy of Bensound.com
Intro: Actionable
Outro: Going Higher

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

A.J. Green returned to practice this week after suffering a torn hamstring in the loss to the Buffalo Bills. This is great news for a Bengals team that has been picking up momentum the past few weeks. The Bengals have strung together two good wins, albeit against mediocre competition. The Eagles started off the season hot, but have cooled off significantly and the Browns are, well… the Browns. With the Bengals season on the line, they need all the help they can get.

Initially, the Bengals struggled without their all pro receiver on the field. Andy Dalton and the offense looked lost and were inefficient against the Bills and Ravens. With Green hopefully coming back this week, that should change. While Green has been out, it allowed Tyler Boyd and Brandon LaFell to start building a rapport with Dalton. Look for those two to have good days on Sunday, with the Steelers focusing on Green.

The Bengals could not get Green back at a better time. This Sunday’s game against the Steelers is essentially a playoff game, with a loss all but eliminating them from the postseason. This Sunday might be when Green cracks the 1,000-yard mark for the season. This would tie Randy Moss for most consecutive 1,000 yard seasons to start a career. All Bengals fans would love to see Green achieve this milestone. If Green plays, look for him to be a big part of the Bengals passing attack.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Pittsburgh Steelers now sit atop the AFC North with many thanks owed to the New England Patriots.  With 3 games left on the season, all the Steelers need to do is win out in order to make the playoffs.  Although the Ravens seem to be their biggest remaining opponent, records go out the window when it comes to divisional rivals.  The Bengals will be looking for revenge against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season, after a series of controversial plays.  There’s a lot of bad blood between these teams and it will be interesting to see how both teams handle themselves discipline wise.  Despite the Bengal’s record, both teams possess very talented rosters.  Here’s 6 players to watch for:

Vontaze Burfict– MLB: Vontaze Burfict played a pivotal role in the Steelers win over the Bengals in the playoffs last season after concussing Antonio Brown on a hit.  Focusing solely on his playing ability, Burfict is a monster.  He is a tenacious run defender, capable in the passing game, and a big hitter.  After missing the first matchup against Pittsburgh due to his suspension, look for Burfict to be fired up on Sunday.

Geno Atkins– DT: Quite possibly the best player on the Bengal’s defense, Geno Atkins is a force to be reckoned with.  As one of the best defensive tackles in the league, Atkins has the ability to wreck offenses.  The Steeler’s interior linemen will need to work together to keep him out of the backfield and Ben Roethlisberger’s face.  Running the ball may proof to be a difficult thing to do with Atkins lined up over center.

George Iloka– S: A very underrated safety in the NFL.  George Iloka is big hitter and a ballhawk, similar to Pittsburgh’s Mike Mitchell.  Ben Roethlisberger needs to be aware of Iloka’s presence to avoid leading his receivers to their deaths over the middle and keeping the ball out of his hands.

Artie Burns-CB: The Steelers first round rookie has had an impressive string of games at the starting cornerback spot.  He has matched up against receivers in both man and zone coverages, holding his own relatively well and his tackling is miles ahead of where it was when he first started. And with 3 picks on the year, Burns has shown the ball skills of a playmaker.  However, he’s still developing.  Against the Bills last week, he displayed awful technique, getting pushed off of the line and grabbing the receiver, causing a penalty that negated a William Gay pick-6.  Should AJ Green suit up this weekend, Burns will need to bring his ‘A’ game to help shut him down.

Bud Dupree– OLB: Bud Dupree had the best game of his professional career against the Bills last week.  The Bengals have a decent offensive line with solid tackles that should provide an excellent test for Dupree.  He needs to work on upgrading from ‘hustle’ sacks to ‘victory’ ones by beating his opponent 1 v 1 rather than getting it on the backend of plays. He can do that by using his hands more and ‘bending’ around the edge of the tackles.

Alejandro Villanueva-T: Alejandro Villanueva has quietly put together a good- very good season this year.  The Bengals have an excellent defensive line  that will still see Villanueva as the weak link on this offensive line.  If he can hold off Michael Johnson without much help from the running backs and tight ends, the Steelers will benefit greatly.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Bengals, who are on a two-game winning streak, hope to continue their impressive streak against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following last year’s Wildcard classic, this is one of the fiercest rivalries in the NFL, so tensions should be high. If the Bengals are victorious, their chances of post-season contention rise. If the Bengals lose, they’ll miss the playoffs. Here are some key factors to watch for on Sunday:

Don’t Commit Stupid Penalties

Last year’s Wildcard game will torment Bengals’ fans for years. The Bengals had won the game. A.J. McCarron led an excellent fourth quarter comeback to take a 16-15 lead. Two consecutive defensive penalties from Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones pushed the Steelers into FG range, allowing them to take a 18-16 victory. If the Bengals want to continue fighting for a post-season berth, Burfict and Jones will need to keep their minds in the game and not let their tempers flair.

Give A.J. Green a Rest (if he plays)

A.J. Green, after suffering a sprained hamstring against the Buffalo Bills, could return to the field on Sunday after practicing on both Wednesday and Thursday. If Green does return, then the Bengals shouldn’t rely on him. Their offense has been efficient through the last two games, thanks to the emergence of Tyler Boyd. Andy Dalton needs to utilize those players who have stepped up, and keep some pressure off of A.J.

Shut Down Bell, Make Them Pass

Le’Veon Bell is a beast. There is no question about that. Bell had 236 yards for three TDs last week against the Bills. Those are video game numbers. If the Bengals want to win, they cannot let Bell do that to them. They need to make Ben Roethlisberger throw the ball, because we all know how inconsistent Big Ben is on the road.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, alongside the Baltimore Ravens‘ win over the Philadelphia Eagles, has eliminated the Cincinnati Bengals from the playoffs. As I digest the 24-20 loss, the more angry I get. The second half was truly an all-around bad performance. The Bengals started off strong in the first half, garnering a 20-6 lead late in the second quarter.

The story of the game is found in the 2nd half, where the Bengals completely fell apart and looked like a completely different team. I’m still upset over the performance, so I’ll keep this recap short so that I don’t get too worked up. Here are the notable performances:

Notable Performances

Special Teams – The Special Teams were probably the only consistently good aspect of the disappointing loss. Alex Erickson, for one, had an excellent game. Erickson had five kick returns for 166 yards, including one that would’ve went for six had it not been stopped by a last-ditch effort by Chris Boswell. Erickson has been impressive all season long and has been one of the few bright spots of the season. This kid has a promising future in Cincinnati. Another promising aspect of the Special Teams was Randy Bullock. The Bengals picked up Bullock as their replacement for Mike Nugent, who they released after their win against the Eagles. Bullock did exactly what the Bengals had asked of him. He hit both of his field goals and both of his extra point attempts. Hopefully, he can stay consistent and help the Bengals in the future.

Dre Kirkpatrick – Kirkpatrick hurt the Bengals more than he helped in their loss to the Steelers. The 5th-year CB had multiple defensive holding and pass interference penalties, two of which resulted in the touchdown that the Steelers took the lead with. Kirkpatrick is the leading exhibit in the argument that Lewis lets his team run undisciplined, when he went to twitter after the game to voice his complaints about the Bengals fan base.

Marvin Lewis – The 24-20 loss is the epitome of Lewis’ tenure in Cincinnati. The Bengals led at half-time 20-9, and blew it in the second half. Marvin Lewis just refuses to make 2nd half adjustments. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers fixed what they were doing wrong in the 1st half, but Marvin Lewis did not fix his strategy to combat the Steeler’s adjustments. Just like every other signature game coached by Lewis, the Bengals just couldn’t seal the deal.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Pittsburgh Steelers went to Cincinnati Bengals and were able to squeak out a win thanks in large part to Chris Boswell’s leg.  It was a rough day overall for both teams, with Pittsburgh struggling on both sides of the ball in the first half and the Bengals imploding in the second. Although not pretty, Pittsburgh’s win today extends their streak to 5 victories in a row, with their biggest match up of the year coming up on Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens.

Consistency on offense continues to plague the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger had a very average day, throwing high on several passes to Ladarius Green and Jesse James and again lucked out with 2-3 dropped interceptions. Le’Veon Bell had another solid game, rushing for 93 yards and putting up another 38 through the air. The offensive line struggled at times, but held together relatively well down the stretch against a tough defensive front.

Defensively, the Steelers laid an egg in the first half, giving up the majority of the Bengal’s total yards and all 20 of their points.  Despite an impressive 3- play stand at the goal line, the Steelers were gashed by Jeremy Hill in the run game. Andy Dalton had time to throw in the pocket and was repeatedly able to find holes in Pittsburgh’s defense. However, they did not let their poor performance in the first half deter them from coming out and dominating in the second.

The Bengals didn’t score a single point in the second half due in large part to the shutting down of the run game. Even without Stephon Tuitt, who left the game early with a knee injury, the Steelers were able to bottle up Jeremy Hill and dominate the line of scrimmage.

Ultimately, the game came down to Chris Boswell. Not only did he kick 6 field goals (tying a franchise record), he also literally made a shoe string tackle, saving a touchdown. By far the most valuable player on the field, Boswell’s performance was by far one of the best by a single player for the Steelers this year.

Far from their best game, the Steelers were able to come out with a victory in enemy territory. Their defense, despite their early performance, continues to impress. The Baltimore Ravens next week will be the team’s final test. If they win, they will have demonstrated the potential to make a very deep playoff run.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Cincinnati Bengals post season dreams have finally been put to rest. As sad as that is, in a way it’s sort of relaxing. No longer do I have to watch football, feverishly rooting for another team to win a random match up so that the Bengals could get into the playoffs. Now I can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the Bengals last two games. This brings me to my next point. Should the Bengals let A.J. Green “relax” the rest of the year or let him play out the remaining to games?

Green has already stated that he is going to play the last two games. He has talked about being a good teammate and not quitting on the team, which is admirable. This is just another in a long list of examples on why he is not only a stellar player, but a stellar person as well. He also has something else to play for. His sixth consecutive 1,000 yard season. Even though he doesn’t say it, he and the Bengals would love it if he could achieve this goal.

Obviously one could argue that sitting Green is better because of the health concerns and the fact that the season is lost. Those are valid points, but in the NFL players can’t take any game for granted. It also provides Green and the Bengals a chance to end the season on a high note.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Bengals eliminated themselves from playoff contention with a 24-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. This Saturday, they will try to steal a win from the Houston Texans. The Texans have been a thorn in the side of Cincinnati. The Bengals and Texans have played five times in the past five seasons, two of which have been in the playoffs, and the Texans have won only one of four of those games. A win on Christmas Eve would possibly bump the Texans outside of the playoffs, much to the Bengals’ delight. Here’s how the Bengals could do that:

Rush Tom Savage

The Bengals will need to get in the head of Brock Osweiler’s replacement, Tom Savage. Savage has only played in three NFL games and could be forced to make mistakes if the pressure is strong enough. The pass rush would be successful with a strong showing by Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, who have been relatively solid this season. The shaker here could be Domata Peko, who has been disappointing this season in terms of pass rush.

Don’t Rely on A.J. Green

A.J. Green announced on Thursday that he would be active on Saturday. That’s great. He’s only 36 yards away from becoming the second player ever to have 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first six years. However, the Bengals shouldn’t rely on him this weekend. Green is a very talented player, but he may not be 100% healthy. The Bengals will want to give him a light workload if they want to avoid a more serious injury.

Continued Special Teams Success

The release of Mike Nugent marked a change in the Bengals’ special teams. New kicker Randy Bullock made every one of his kicks against the Steelers, something that the Bengals have only done five times this season. On top of the successful kicking game, Alex Erickson has been a phenomenal returner. Last week, he had a huge 72-yard kick return that put the Bengals struggling offense in an excellent position. The Bengals will need to continue the effectiveness of their special teams if they want to win on Saturday.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Bengals shocked the football world last Saturday morning by announcing that Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green will sit out of their clash against the Houston Texans. This comes as a surprise because Green told multiple news outlets that he was going to play in this game. All throughout the week, the expectation was that he was going to play. The Bengals stated that reason for it was to prevent injury to Green, but the details make this story a little murky.

According to ESPN’s Bob Holtzman, Green was pulled from a team meeting this morning and told the news. Green was clearly frustrated with the news and did not go back into the meeting. When one of a team’s star players, who is normally calm and soft spoken, is angry, that is a huge issue. When a player of Green’s caliber has something to say, the team should definitely listen. Obviously one could argue that the Bengals are looking after Green’s best interest in trying to keep him healthy, but he feels like he can play. Green is one of the best athletes on the planet, so if he feels like he can play, it’s safe to trust him.

In his story, it was reported that both the players and coaches expected Green to play the whole week. It was ownership who ultimately made the call to sit Green. This upset a number of people inside the Bengals locker room. Ideally, the Bengals would like to finish the season strong since they’ve already been eliminated. It seems that wheels are coming off the Bengal’s wagon as the season mercifully comes to an end.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Cincinnati Bengals, at 5-9-1, have their worst record since the 2010 season (4-12). They will be visited by the Baltimore Ravens on New Year’s Day for the last game of the season. Lets be honest, though, this game means nothing. Both the Ravens and Bengals have been eliminated from playoff contention and are locked in at second and third place in the AFC North, respectively. So, since the match-up on Sunday is essentially only important in regards to the draft order, how can the Bengals take advantage of one last game?

The Cody Core Experiment

Last week, it was clear that the Bengals wanted to see what Cody Core was made of. Core was targeted 14 times, 7 of those in the first quarter. The experiment turned out successful, as he racked in eight of those passes. The reason why the Bengals were so adamant about getting Cody Core looks is unclear. Perhaps they are trying to show his value so they can trade him in the offseason; or perhaps they want to incorporate him into their offense if they’re not planning on resigning Brandon LaFell. Whatever the reason, they should do it again this Sunday.

Rex Burkhead and Jeremy Hill

Earlier this week, I wrote an article in which I argued that Rex Burkhead should take the starting spot from Jeremy Hill and I still stand behind that. At least for this weekend. Hill’s performance has been lackluster (8 yards on 7 rushes against the Houston Texans). If the decision were up to me, I would deactivate the already questionable RB and make him stew over his performance through the off-season.

Figure Out the Offensive Line

If you have to pick one reason as to why the Bengals were 5-9-1, it would likely be because of the abysmal play of the offensive line. The entire line hasn’t been terrible, though. In fact, the play of Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling and Kevin Zeitler have been sufficient. The weakest links are Cedric Ogbuehi and Russell Bodine. It’s clear that if Ogbuehi doesn’t work in this lineup, so they tried him out at a different position against the Texans. The Bengals should fiddle around with the lineup, throwing Jake Fisher in and moving Ogbuehi around until they find a fit that works.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Well, the season is over. The Cincinnati Bengals improved to a disappointing 6-9-1 after a 27-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The extremely battered Bengals escaped with a win over their division rivals while also securing the 9th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. However; the team that won their season finale Sunday was not the same team that played during the rest of the season. Here are the main difference makers:

Rex Burkhead

The player of the game was without a doubt Rex Burkhead, who replaced Jeremy Hill as the starter. Burkhead finished the game with 119 yards and 2 TDs, alongside 25 receiving yards. This may be an unpopular opinion, but based on his performance this season, I believe that Rex Burkhead should have a larger role than Jeremy Hill next season. Burkhead has racked up 344 yards, nearly half of Hill’s total yardage, in just 74 attempts, almost a fourth of Hill’s carries. Burkhead will surely receive a new contract over the offseason.

The Defense

One of the better aspects of this terrible season has been the solid play on defense. In fact, the Bengals defense hasn’t allowed a first-half touchdown since their Week 12 matchup against the Ravens and has only allowed four touchdowns in as many games. That impressive play continued into the season finale, as they held the Ravens to one TD and caused many problems for Joe Flacco (one interception and three sacks).

Rookies Stepped Up

With A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert and Vontaze Burfict injured, rookies Tyler Boyd, Cody Core, C.J. Uzomah and Nick Vigil stepped up. Boyd and Core combined for six catches and 121 yards. Uzomah racked in three catches for 13 yards and a TD. Vigil had six total tackles and one pass deflection. Even KeiVarae Russell got an interception on his first snap of the season.

The Bengals season is over at 6-9-1, their worst record during the Andy Dalton era. However, the future does look bright due to the impressive play of rookies and the number of draft picks that the team has. We’ll have to wait until September to find out whether this team will turn it around.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Throughout the week, there were rumors that Marvin Lewis would step down as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and retire. The rumors shocked many, with numerous reporters saying that Lewis’s job was safe, despite failing to make the playoffs. Though Lewis stated that he was indeed coming back for the 2017 season, he might hang up the headset sooner rather then later.

Just after the 2015 season ended, Marvin Lewis came to Hue Jackson with a offer. Jackson, who was about to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, is a long time friend of Marvin Lewis. Lewis pitched Jackson a succession plan. When Lewis contract ran out at the end of 2017 season, he would step down and allow Jackson to take over as head coach of the Bengals. As you know, this plan didn’t come to fruition, but it does tell us one thing. The thought of retirement was already on Lewis’s mind coming into the 2016 season.

Deciding to come back for at least one more year was a no-brainer for Marvin Lewis. He would be turning down 4.5 million dollars if he didn’t. Additionally, he knows that the next season will be better. The 2016 draft class which was plagued by injuries, should be heathy and ready to contribute. The Bengals will also be the recipients of a third place schedule, since they finished third in their division. The Bengals will also get some additional help due to the departure of receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones. They should receive high value compensation draft picks for each of them.

It is my opinion that this upcoming year will be Marvin Lewis’s last as the head coach of the Bengals. Granted, many things could change a year from now. Just from judging from press conferences and interviews this season, the man just looks worn down and defeated. Only time will tell if Marvin Lewis decides to leave the Bengals.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Long-time Cincinnati Bengal CB Adam Jones was arrested early Wednesday morning. He was charged with three counts misdemeanor for assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business and one felony count for harassment with a bodily suspect. This isn’t Jones’ first rodeo, however. This incident is his fourth arrest since he joined the Bengals squad in 2010 and his tenth arrest since being drafted in 2005. This poses a serious question for the Bengals, already known for being a thuggish organization. What should the Bengals do with Jones?

Adam Jones has been a pivotal part of the Bengals success. Since becoming a Bengal, Jones has racked up 329 combined tackles and 272 total tackles. He was also selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl and has caught 15 career interceptions. However; he’s past his prime. He’s been in the league for 12 years and is getting slower. An argument can be made that Jones is costing the Bengals organization more than he is helping, and I would be inclined to agree with that. He’s not cheap, his play is not superb, and he’s constantly battling injury.

So once we determine if the Bengals can really afford to let Adam Jones go, who do they have to replace him? The Bengals already have Dre Kirkpatrick, who has three interceptions and 10 pass deflections this season. The Bengals could also use Darqueze Dennard or perhaps use a draft pick on a cornerback. What is most likely, however, is that the Bengals would use William Jackson III. Jackson was drafted in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but missed the season because of an injury suffered in training camp.

The Bengals don’t need Adam Jones’ help in hurting their reputation, but Jones could hurt in other places as well. The organization needs to revitalize the defense, specifically the secondary, with some youth and Dennard or Jackson would be the way to do that. In short, release Jones.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

With the Cincinnati Bengals season over, it’s never too early to look towards the draft. Since the National Championship is tonight, here are a couple of prospects the Bengals should be watching very closely:

Reuben Foster

Aside from Vontaze Burfict, the Bengals need help at the linebacker position. Most of the linebackers that are currently active lack speed and athleticism. Enter Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster. With the Bengals using the nickel defense as their base formation, a duo of Burfict and Foster would be frightening to opposing offenses.

Cam Robinson

Going into the season, the Bengals assumed they were set on the offensive line for years to come. Cedric Ogbuehi was set to start at right tackle and they had Jake fisher waiting in the wings. While Jake Fisher is still an unknown at this point, Ogbuehi struggled most of the year. One has to wonder if Cam Robinson is available, and he has a strong performance tonight, would the Bengals draft him and abandon Ogbuehi.

Tim Williams

The Bengals need to get better at rushing the passer if they want to improve in 2017. As of now, their only reliable rushers are Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. In recent years the Bengals have used early picks on defensive ends and struck out (Margus Hunt and Will Clarke). Tim Williams is listed as a linebacker, but his best asset is his pass rushing ability.

There is going to be a lot of NFL talent on both sides of the ball when Clemson and Alabama play for the National Championship tonight. If this game is anything like last years, get ready for a good one.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

As the NFL dives into the divisional round of the Playoffs, there are 24 teams that are sitting at home. Those teams are preparing for Free Agency and the 2017 Draft. While they prepare, I am starting a series of articles that will take a look at each of the Bengals free agents and determine whether the team should make it a priority to keep them. Today, we will start with two defensive linemen: Domata Peko and Margus Hunt.

Domata Peko (UFA)

Previous Contract Length: 2-years
Previous Annual Salary: $4,500,000
Cap Hit: $3,725,000
Age: 32
Priority: Low

Domata Peko has been a favorite of mine over the past few years, so I would hate to see him test out free agency. However, it is likely that Peko will ask for more money than he’s worth. In fact, I would argue that the Bengals should pay him less than the $4.5 million per year that they are paying him now. Peko’s performance has gotten worse since his debut in 2006. The 32-year-old only recorded 37 tackles this season (his second lowest total in a full season) and didn’t get a single sack (only his 2nd season without a sack). I’m sure that the Bengals will be looking at DEs in the draft, but it’d still be nice to keep a veteran on the line next year. But, the team should only fight to keep him if there’s a reasonable price attached.

Margus Hunt

Previous Contract Length: 4-years
Previous Annual Salary: $917,776
Cap Hit: $1,168,077
Age: 29
Priority: Low

Four years ago, the Bengals rolled the dice by selecting Margus Hunt in the 2nd round of the draft. Their risk did not pay off. Hunt’s first contract is up, and it is very unlikely that he returns to the team. Hunt has finished his best season, but that’s not saying much. He only had 17 combined tackles, bringing his career total to an underwhelming 29. Where Hunt excelled, however, was his special teams play. He blocked three kicks this year, but that’s not enough for the Bengals to keep him on the team.

We will continue this series on Friday with a look at Cedric Peerman and Rex Burkhead. Until then, stay tuned to the Armchair All-Americans for more NFL coverage.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

With the NFL playoffs officially underway and with the Clemson-Alabama National Championship game over with, I figured it would be a good time to look at the next five picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. However, I would first like to start with an addendum to last week’s post.

5. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams) – Mike Williams, Wide Receiver Clemson

I previously mocked cornerback Quincy Wilson here, but Mike Williams impressed in the National Championship game Monday, notching 8 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, which likely shot him up a lot of teams’ draft boards.

6. New York Jets – Mitch Trubisky, Quarterback UNC

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported last month that the Jets are very interested Trubisky. The Jets have a good amount of talent on both offense and defense but are lacking a franchise quarterback going forward. They did draft Christian Hackenberg in the second round last year, but he was only active for one game this season and was very underwhelming in the preseason. Ryan Fitzpatrick bet on himself with a one-year contract and lost, turning in multiple dismal performances this past season. Geno Smith is likely going to want to start elsewhere after being benched for Fitzpatrick two years in a row. Second-year man Bryce Petty did not play well enough to warrant the starting job. Trubisky may be the answer they’ve been looking for at quarterback.

7. “Los Angeles” Chargers – Jamal Adams, Safety LSU

After a disappointing 2016 campaign marred by injuries, the Chargers will be looking to put themselves in playoff contention in the very competitive AFC West division. The Chargers do have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but they look relatively shaky at the safety position, especially since starting strong safety Jahleel Addae is going to be a free agent. Adams is a highly-touted safety prospect that will help bolster the Chargers’ defense.

8. Carolina Panthers – Leonard Fournette, Running Back LSU

The Panthers surprised everyone this year by going 6-10 just a year after making the Super Bowl. They will be looking to rebuild this offseason and hopefully restore themselves to that 2015 glory. As for the pick, I could’ve gone several ways here. Jonathan Stewart isn’t getting any younger, and Fournette is considered to be one of the best running back prospects since Adrian Peterson. However, I would not be surprised to see the Panthers drafting offensive tackle Cam Robinson to shore up their offensive line or even defensive end Derek Barnett to help their pass rush. I’m going to write down Fournette here, but there are many different ways this could go.

9. Cincinnati Bengals – Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle Alabama

Rams’ offensive tackle Greg Robinson’s younger brother is considered to be the top offensive line prospect in this year’s draft class. With Andrew Whitworth set to be a free agent and with former first-round pick Cedric Ogbuehi struggling throughout the year, the Bengals are likely looking for someone to anchor their offensive line.

10. Buffalo Bills – Pat Mahomes II, QB Texas Tech

Like with the Panthers earlier, I’m torn as to who to go with here. Rumor has it that quarterback Tyrod Taylor is on his way out, which would mean that the Bills would be looking at a quarterback here. But if Tyrod stays, then they would likely be looking at safety with Aaron Williams’ uncertain future. However, the only other safety prospect that could realistically be taken at number 10 is Jabrill Peppers, but he projects to be more of a nickel linebacker than a true safety. Number 2 receiver Robert Woods is hitting free agency soon, so if they don’t re-sign him, then they would want someone to pair with the oft-injured Sammy Watkins. I’m going to put Mahomes down here since it does look like the Bills want to move on from Tyrod, but expect them to take Malik Hooker or Jamal Adams if either of them fall to 10.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

On Wednesday, I began a series of articles that will detail each of the Bengals’ upcoming free agents and will discuss how important it is that the Bengals re-sign them. Last time, I discussed two of the three defensive linemen: Domata Peko and Margus Hunt. Today, I will finish the defensive line with Wallace Gilberry and move on to the two running backs: Rex Burkhead and Cedric Peerman.

Rex Burkhead

Previous Contract Length: 4 years (rookie contract)
Previous Annual Salary: $565,550
Cap Hit: $700,550
Age: 26
Priority: Medium

After Giovani Bernard was placed on Injured Reserve due to a torn ACL earlier in the season, Rex Burkhead stepped up in a big way. I argued earlier this season that Burkhead deserves the starting job over Jeremy Hill, and I still stand behind that argument. That is why re-signing Burkhead would be a solid decision for the Bengals – he would not only serve as a backup in the event that either Hill or Bernard suffer injuries, but would also provide a third option if one of the two underperform.

Cedric Peerman

Previous Contract Length: 2 years
Previous Annual Salary: $1,065,000
Cap Hit: $1,210,000
Age: 30
Priority: Medium

Cedric Peerman is not very valuable as a running back. If the Bengals re-sign him, which I believe they should, it would be mostly due to his special teams abilities. After all, he is the special teams’ captain. Peerman likely won’t be too expensive, so it would be nice to bring him back if only for his veteran leadership.

Wallace Gilberry

Previous Contract Length: 1 year
Previous Annual Salary: $885,000
Cap Hit: $468,529
Age: 32
Priority: Low

If the Bengals want to re-sign Gilberry, fine; just don’t overpay him. The team let Gilberry go last offseason and brought him back halfway through the season after the Lions cut him. He appeared in five games and recorded 2.5 sacks as well as 10 tackles, which are decent stats for a backup. Gilberry could continue to serve that role next season, but only if he’s willing to do so on a cheap deal so that the Bengals can afford to pay either Andrew Whitworth or Dre Kirkpatrick.

Next time, I will discuss the two cornerbacks, Dre Kirkpatrick and Chykie Brown, and the wide receiver, Brandon LaFell. Until then, stay tuned to the Armchair All-Americans for more NFL coverage.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Along with a multitude of other issues, fixing the offensive line is paramount for turning the Bengals around. The line was solid in 2015, so what happened? Many would point to first-year starter Cedric Ogbuehi. While he did struggle, there were also other factors that contributed to the group’s poor performance. Center Russell Bodine was merely average and while right guard Kevin Zeitler was solid, he was not his normally dominant self. As we look to 2017, let’s look and see what the Bengals can do to fix the offensive line.

The Draft

The Bengals have a couple of different players they could use the 9th overall pick on. If they decide to go offensive line, Alabama tackle Cam Robinson would be a great option. In theory, the Bengals would re-sign All-Pro Andrew Whitworth to man the left side while Robinson would play the right. However, they would face a problem. What do they do about Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher? The Bengals have invested high draft picks into improving their offensive line over the past two years, so I doubt that management would want to keep doing so, especially when this year’s offensive line draft class is particularly weak. In my opinion, this is not the way to fix the line. We still don’t really know how good Jake Fisher is. When he got playing time, he wasn’t anything special, but he was an improvement over Ogbuehi.

Free Agency

There are a couple of intriguing options in free agency. Tackle Cordy Glenn could be an option at right tackle. The one thing that is absolutely imperative is the resigning of Kevin Zeitler. Without Zeitler, it opens up a huge hole at right guard. However, this might be a problem. Traditionally, the Bengals do not shell out big money to their guards. Left guard Clint Boling received a 5-year $26 million deal. While this was a fair deal for the Bengals, it has been rumored Zeitler wants a 5-year $50 million deal. It will be interesting to see if the Bengals decide to pick up that hefty contract.

Do Nothing

Now I know what you’re thinking. What? That is nuts! Is it though? Cedric Ogbuehi is only entering his third year in the NFL. Prior to his torn ACL in the Liberty Bowl, Ogbuehi was viewed by many to be a Top-5 pick in the draft. Now I’m not forgetting the fact that he was one of the worse lineman in the league last year. Simply, based off what was invested, I believe it is everyone’s best interest to give Ogbuehi one more chance to prove himself. I also think that Jake Fisher should be given a fair chance to compete for the job in the offseason. This also allows the Bengals to use their draft picks and cap space to improve the team in other areas.

For quality up-to-date sports reporting, visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.