Reheating Leftovers

A few thoughts left over from my time at Bengals Training Camp:

1. Dennis Roland, number 74 for the Bengals, a third year offensive tackle out of the University of Georgia is quite possibly the largest human being that I have ever been in proximity to in my life. He is 6-9, 320 pounds. He walked by Jordan Shipley (5-11, 193 pounds) during practice and it looked like Chewbacca walking past a skinny R2D2. Roland surpassed former NFL defensive tackle Daryl Gardner (6-6, 300 pounds) as the largest human being to ever walk by me. I saw Gardner at Baylor University when he was a senior. He went on to play for the Dolphins (first round draft pick, 20th overall, 1996), Redskins, and Broncos. With the weight, conditioning, foot issues of last year’s first round draft pick, Andre Smith, Roland will need to step up once again.

2. The pace of the morning practice was surprisingly slow. Yes, it was the first practice of training camp but it was not crisp by any stretch of the imagination. But given the injuries to Foxworth (Ravens), Bryant (Cowboys), Harvin (Vikings), and Jackson (Eagles) maybe discretion is the better part of valor.

3. Lastly, Jordan Shipley, rookie wide reciever out of the University of Texas, looked sharp both in his routes and his attitude. Check out Adam Schefter’s (ESPN) report from Bengal's training camp. According to Schefter, Shipley has impressed Carson Palmer as well.

Stay tuned next week for my "Seriously?" (think Really !?! with Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler) takes on the week in sports, as well as my rankings for the best uniforms in the NFL and other random things that pop into my head.

Big Fish

I have been meaning to post this for a days now. This is quite possibly the funniest and best celebration (certainly the most intricate) that I've ever seen in sports. Seriously, how long did they rehearse this thing? Did they have rehearsals after practice or after drinks at the local pub? Did they plan it under the cover of volcanic ash so that a rival club did not steal it? Enjoy.

Training Day

Took the day off work and headed south to Georgetown, KY for the Bengals first practice of training camp. I knew going in that TO was not going to be there and the buzz throughout the practice was that he missed his flight. It was the most asked question among fans and media alike. I overhead Wendi Nix of ESPN asking whether he really had missed his flight. Antonio Bryant took the field wearing his number 81. I learned while I was at training camp that Bryant would give up the number to TO and TO would help fund a little league football team in Florida. Peter King, from Sports Illustrated, was in camp and you can read his postcard from camp.

Observations from Camp:

The largest crowd reactions today were predictably for Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco. It is amazing the admiration that exists between Bengals fans and Chad. Hard to believe that just a year or so ago he was asking for a trade after a very below average year for him in 2008. He is the rock star in camp. I was surprised by the very warm reaction the crowd had for Cedric Benson, Bobbie Williams, and Rey Maualuga. It’s good to remember in the constant discussions of rookie QB contracts and diva wide receivers that the NFL is built upon workhorse backs, gritty offensive linemen, and ferocious linebackers. It’s good the fans recognize that as well.

I spent most of my time at camp watching the linebackers work. Linebackers coach, Jeff FitzGerald, is fundamentally a great teacher. He was teaching technique throughout the morning practice. Exhorting good effort and calmly coaching up mistakes that were made. He used the players’ first names, not the standard last names or numbers, making personal connections through the drills. Abdul Hodge bobbled a ball during a fumble recovery drill and coach FitzGerald calmly addressed the issue and used it for a teachable moment. You could tell that the linebackers respond to his coaching and based on last year’s performance he’s made an impact.

One linebacker that stood out to me, and there is talent among the corps of linebackers including Dhani Jones, David Rivers, Rey Maualuga, and Rashad Jeanty, was Michael Johnson. Johnson is a second year linebacker (played at DE last year and still sports number 93) out of Georgia Tech. He is a physical freak of nature. He is 6-7 240 pounds and moves with smooth fluid motion and speed. I tweeted about him today. Not sure what role he will have with the team maybe third down pass rushing specialist but there is some buzz is that he may win a starting OLB spot. That will all play out in due time but believe me he is fun to watch.

A major absence at practice today was last year’s first round pick, Andre Smith. He is struggling with his weight, conditioning, and nagging foot injury that according to some sources is nagging because he has not been fully committed to rehabbing it properly. He could end up starting the season on the PUP list meaning he would miss the first 6 games of the season.

I have to give Rey Maualuga credit for spending time with the fans after practice he was the last Bengal to leave the field. He exuded class, signed countless autographs, and posed for pictures.

Through My Head: Random Musings

What is the deal with former University of Alabama players and conditioning issues in NFL camps? Smith in Bengals camp and Terrence "Mount" Cody in Ravens camp, I’m not a Nick Saban fan at all but give the guy and his strength and conditioning staff some credit for keeping these guys in playing shape.

Is it me or did the MLS just prove last night that MLS stands for Minor League Soccer? The Man U drubbing of the MLS All Stars 5-2 unfortunately proves that the MLS is merely an “also ran” league in the world of soccer.

The fan in Cleveland that wore the LeBron James Heat jersey to a Cleveland Indians game last night and the reactionary fans at the game collectively win the Forrest Gump Mama’s award, remember, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

Reality Bites?

So it’s a reality…not a reality show…but a reality. TO is a Cincinnati Bengal. The Bengals are now apparently sponsored by VH1. This should help Mike Brown get the unsigned rookies under contract. I’ve never been a fan of TO. It all started for me in 1998 when he caught the pass in the end zone from Steve Young knocking the Packers out of the playoffs. As you will learn quickly, I am a huge Packers fan. My dislike of TO continued through the star incident, the drive way work out, popcorn and sharpies. He loves him some him, which is cool. Having said all of that, this deal with the Bengals just might work. Antonio Bryant is slowly recovering from knee injury and the rest of the receiving corps is young, inexperienced, or suffering from a checkered past (see Matt Jones). TO is not a number one receiver and he main not be a true number two anymore but he can take pressure off of Chad, open things up for Gresham the rookie tight end out of OU, and relieve some pressure off of Palmer and the running game. The secondaries in the AFC North are not particularly scary or even healthy for that matter. Also, I think that Chad and TO understand where they are in their careers and will make it work. 3-5 years ago, not so much. Palmer and Lewis will be steady influences which will help as well. But as always with TO, stay tuned and keep the popcorn handy.

I’m heading down to Bengals training camp tomorrow and will give you an update on the practice and any circus sideshows as well.

Favre Watch 2010 is in full swing. I will not be commenting except to say that I won’t be commenting. As an avid Packer fan, I have a deep appreciation for Brett, his skills, and what he brought to the Packer organization for a decade and a half. But now he does not complete me as he once did but only exhausts me. I hold no ill feelings towards him though seeing him in purple still makes me physically ill. I will welcome him back in the family when he finally calls it quits in 2017…give or take…but they’ll be no Favre watching from me.

Missed in the Matt Garza no hitter the other night, which was great mind you, hats off. Good for TB to being on the right end of a no hitter for once. What is the deal with the Rays and getting no hit? Seriously guys you are too good to get no hit this much. It’s supposed to happen to the Pirates and Royals not to a team that currently has the second best record in baseball (61-38). But I digress; did we forget that Joe Mauer had five hits and seven RBIs? Was listening to Mike and Mike the other morning and the brought up the stat, courtesy of Elias where all stats are born, that there have been 176 no hitters in baseball and only 44 times has a batter had 5 hits or more with 7 or more RBIs. Perspective, it’s a good thing.

Through My Head: Random Musings

Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, tweeted last night that he wanted to be the first to coin the phrase TOcho for Ocho Cinco and Ocho Uno (Or whatever number he will wear. Currently Antonio Bryant wears 81 and Matt Jones wears the inverse 18, what will TO do?)

Ocho said he and TO would be like Bonnie and Clyde but he (TO) would be Bonnie. That one still makes me laugh ever so slightly.

Are we going to have to queue up Queen’s, “Another One Bites the Dust” as the Lance Armstrong vs Floyd “Bitter and Busted” Landis kicks into high gear?

Cleveland quit your whining. Championships a) don’t grow on trees, b) have to be earned (what did Cleveland do to try to keep LeBron by the way? Hate how it went down but seriously how is status quo enticing?), c) Sadly your best shot at a championship now is the Browns. Better stock up on Colt McCoy jerseys for 2011 he is the leader that franchise has needed since Bernie Kosar disappeared. Literally, didn’t he just disappear? One day he was running the slowest bootleg in history then next day he’s on a 30 for 30 documentary about the ‘Canes.