Round 6: QB/WR Reggie McNeil - merged

[WhiteDawg]

The best athlete in the draft, great value pick in the 6 round. We still have 2 more picks to fill the S and TE positions

Yeah great athlete but that doesn't help if he pulls an eric crouch...Bad pick for the Bengals...I bet he doesn't make the team. The kid completed 56% of his passes last year...haha...even I could do that. And he wants to be a QB?..

[Spain]

Tab Perry to, or Im just blind?

[ArmyBengal]

The best athlete in the draft, great value pick in the 6 round. We still have 2 more picks to fill the S and TE positions

The kid completed 56% of his passes last year...haha...even I could do that.

And what round did you get drafted in ???

WHODEY !!!

[HoosierCat]

I like the pick. I was advocating that the Bengals use a late round pick on Eric Crouch a few years back and using him the way Pitt used Slash and Randel El. Plus we need a QB to groom -- Wright, Krenzel and Johnson aren't the future. And he can sit and learn, which by all accounts in exactly what he needs to do.

[kentjett]

Yeah great athlete but that doesn't help if he pulls an eric crouch...Bad pick for the Bengals...I bet he doesn't make the team. The kid completed 56% of his passes last year...haha...even I could do that. And he wants to be a QB?..

He will make the team. This guy is ten times the athlete than Eric Crouch ever dreamed about being. If you watch this guy play, you'll be impressed. Cory Chavous had him as the #1 guy on his list at one time, just basing everything off of athletic ability. 6'2" and runs a 4.3 forty, he is definitely worth a 6 round pick.

[Kazkal]

To be honest im not a big fan of this pick. Hes not a quarterback, but hes going to fight turning WR, if lewis can convince him to play WR he could be a player for us, but i as a qb he wouldnt even make the 53 man roster.

I just heard on ESPN that McNeil had the worst quote of the week stating that QB's like Brady, Manning, and Palmer are a dying breed (meaning the drop back passer) and its all about mobility qb's. Furthermore, he did not participate in the senior bowl b/c they wanted him to play WR.

actually he diden't say carson the announcers did after they read his quote too show their not a dying breed

The best athlete in the draft, great value pick in the 6 round. We still have 2 more picks to fill the S and TE positions

The kid completed 56% of his passes last year...haha...even I could do that.

And what round did you get drafted in ???

WHODEY !!!

Craig krenzel coulden't

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Dadraftnick]

This guy is a nobody that can run fast

He thinks he is a QB- HE IS NOT -

He did not attend the Senior Bowl because they were going to play him at positions other than QB

This a joke pick

Instead of drafting DL or S or even a back up QB like Gradkowski the Bengals go for another WR

Every year its the same thing WR LB and while ignoring the DL

I would not call DE Rucker and DT Peko adressing the problem

[Kazkal]

The guy Is ok with moving too WR

e can be our Randle El'

By GEOFF HOBSON

April 30, 2006

MORE DRAFT NEWS: Bengals Draft Central 2006

Posted: 4:40 p.m.

McNeal is excited to see what he can do in Bengals stripes. (Getty Images)

Texas A&M’s Reggie McNeal, one of the most explosive college quarterbacks in the nation, is going to try and make the transition to wide receiver after the Bengals took him in the sixth round.

“He can be our Randle El,” said head coach Marvin Lewis of the former Steelers wide receiver who threw a touchdown pass in the last Super Bowl.

The 6-2, 210-pound McNeal, who ran a sub 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, worked out for only the Dolphins and Cowboys as a wideout before the draft. But the Bengals liked his attitude about the switch a few weeks ago when he came in for a visit at Paul Brown Stadium.

“I’ve seen some of those cats, like Randle El and Kordell Stewart do that,” said McNeal of the multi-threat weapons. “I’m going to try and do it better.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed this far. Whichever way I fit, that’s what I’m going to have to do. I’m going to give 110 percent at whatever position I get on.”

McNeal, who last lined up as a receiver as a high school freshman, says he’ll be willing to return kicks as well as covering them, but he’s not so sure about returning punts.

“If he makes (the team),” said offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowkski, “it will be as an athlete.”

FIFTH ROUND: At 6-1 and nearly 250 pounds, Florida State’s A.J. Nicholson is the biggest linebacker the Bengals have drafted in the Marvin Lewis era when they took him Sunday with the 157th pick.

Whether that means another block on the road to being a more multiple defense with more 3-4 looks remains to be seen.

But one thing is for sure. Nicholson was the most excited fifth-rounder linebackers coach Ricky Hunley had ever spoken to when informed he was coming to Cincinnati. Indications are Nicholson steps in to back up Odell Thurman at middle linebacker.

“I’m going to Cincinnati with a purpose and that purpose is to domimate and help my team win a Super Bowl,” Nicholson said.

That may have been pure relief as he waited for the call. He carries even more weight into Cincinnati with some serious off-field issues hanging over his head that took him off at least three team draft boards entirely less than a week after Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said character would be a point of emphasis in this draft.

Nicholson indicated that an incident before the Seminoles’ Orange Bowl appearance late last year in which a woman made allegations of sexual assault against him at Miami’s Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa has been resolved.

After he was selected Sunday, Nicholson admitted he had a “young woman in my room and I shouldn’t have,” and for that he was sent home for violating team rules. “That’s exactly what happened."

Nicholson insisted the case has been resolved and said another incident last June in which he was subdued with a Taser and placed under arrest was a case of mistaken identity. Nicholson had allegedly fled when officers at a club had attempted to eject him following an incident involving "disorderly conduct and drinking violations,' according to a Tallahassee, Fla. paper.'

Published reports also said in January of 2005 he was charged with a DUI.

“We talked to A.J., we talked to A.J.’s coaches. A lot of things happen, but the clarification never gets out. But all those questions have been clarified,” Hunley said. “Young kids take risks. I think that’s why he’s so thankful (to be drafted after) putting himself in a bad light when he was younger.”

Although Nicholson is pencilled in for the middle, he played primarily outside at Florida State and was very productive in racking up more than 300 tackles the past two seasons despite being clocked in the 4.8-second range in the 40-yard dash.

"I can play either. I need to go in, learn my playbook, learn the system, and I’m going to pick it up," he said. "It really doesn’t matter which linebacker position I play, as long as I can get on the field and help my team out. I just want to contribute and help my team win a Super Bowl. That’s the big thing — a Super Bowl. We’re in this business to win, and I’m a winner. I’m going to go out there and play my heart out.”

Nicholson's father was drafted by the Giants in 1982 and said his advice has been simple: "You go somewhere, you better have a purpose, or someone will have a purpose for you."

Even as he answered the character questions for the umpteenth time, Nicholson's mood couldn't be darkened.

“I kept faith, and when the Bengals called, I was so happy," he said. "I was upset yesterday, but today I was rejuvenated. I told myself I was going to wait until somebody called me because I know someone would want me. When Cincinnati called me, I was so excited. I’m ready to put on my helmet and shoulder pads now.”

[EdwardG]

They draft 2 defensive linemen, but they haven't addressed the defensive line. Brilliant.

[Kazkal]

They draft 2 defensive linemen, but they haven't addressed the defensive line. Brilliant.

ok?

[JPW]

Check out this kid's highlights.

Maybe he can be a punt returner among other things ?

[Kazkal]

Check out this kid's highlights.

Maybe he can be a punt returner among other things ?

what was said ST gunner etc yes,kick off returner yes but he diden't wanna do punts

[Whur CHad At?]

They draft 2 defensive linemen, but they haven't addressed the defensive line. Brilliant.

That makes no sense

[Kazkal]

3 WR's wow............

[TJJackson]

They draft 2 defensive linemen, but they haven't addressed the defensive line. Brilliant.

Stated more simply: the two lineman chosen are poor examples of their type, and will probably not make the team. Ergo, the problem is not addressed.

There were plenty of good players who they could have picked at DE and DT, players who had a much greater likelihood of contributing, but they chose these two players instead.

[UK Bengal]

looking at that video im impressed he could very well develop into a major deep threat guy

[AGrizzlyBaer]

i love that pick, we have our trick play person, and a burner and could fun to watch do reverses, i think we might steal some of those plays from pittsburg haha

[membengal]

Nice attitude on him in the .com write-up, good quotes.

I am actually pretty pumped about this selection, it will be nice to add an element of deception to the field like the Steelers have done for years...

[turningpoint]

Yeah I love this selection.

We should just do what seattle has done iwth seneca Wallace. make him the backup QB but bring him in at Wide out for a few plays, just to let him do some trick plays.

Imagine him running a reverse, but them d having to compensate for his ability to throw the ball also.

It's quite insane.

[HoosierCat]

Imagine him running a reverse, but them d having to compensate for his ability to throw the ball also.

Bingo. They absolutely love that reverse -- and 9 times out of 10 it blows up on them. Which is why I absolutely hate that reverse. But give me an option play...now we're talking.

[DontPushMe]

What I would like about this is if he could save us a roster spot by allowing us to use him as both a WR and an emergency QB. Having a guy like Krenzel or Bramlet waste a roster spot all season to do nothing gets kinda old. This year we might not be able to go with 2 qbs because of Carson's injury, but next season going in with Carson, a vet backup, and McNeil as a WR/QB would be great.

[UK Bengal]

I can picture brat right now writing down his plays - reverse pass deep 84 split right shove that up your tainted ass pissburg

[Stripes]

Good pick. He was listed as a WR on ESPN, but my assumption is that the Bengals intend to use him as a QB. He can be a long term backup if he pans out, and his speed should allow for some trick play potential.

You're kidding, right? There's no way he's a QB for us. He's Randle El.

This year's Tab Perry.

Corey Chavous on NFL Network loves him. Looks really, really fast in his highlight reel.

Nope, not kidding.

I agree that he will be used in some Randle El-ish manners, but only for deception type plays. I think they had backup QB competition more in mind with the pick than pass receiver.

[San Antonio Bengal]

Seeing that I'm here where UT country meets A&M country, I'll just say that having seen this guy, I really think he could be a legitimate Randle El like player. He has a lot of ability and potential. His numbers aren't the best, but some of that is because of his surrounding cast, but I guess that's true for anyone who's not on one of the current premier programs. It's a good very value for a 6th round pick.

[kingwilly]

What I would like about this is if he could save us a roster spot by allowing us to use him as both a WR and an emergency QB. Having a guy like Krenzel or Bramlet waste a roster spot all season to do nothing gets kinda old. This year we might not be able to go with 2 qbs because of Carson's injury, but next season going in with Carson, a vet backup, and McNeil as a WR/QB would be great.

DPM, this is your most rational input from this draft.....ground control to DPM..we have a signal...re-connect now and we may still yet have a chance to bring you back to earth......if not...all will be lost....