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.”