Potential Final roster

[Kazkal]

I'd take him over mitchell,herring or Ohalete bitch...KK isen't great but i'm fine with him when hes giving another player a breather or even have to start a game or 2 but i'm not fine with Ohalete

in there even if its 1 play so madieu can grab a drink.

Starting ?? Never want to relive that nightmare again, unless one of our starters are late getting to the stadium due to traffic, but will be there to get in on the 2nd play !!! I agree with the designated breath giver...

WHODEY !!!

For 1 or 2 games I could live with him starting if our 2 starting SB's and other starting safety were still in...

it's like wright I wouldent want wright for a full season but if he has to man ship for alittle bit I could live with it.

somany fanene haters he'll make the team just wait and see,He'll beat out fatty shaun 10 snap smith.

[Bungle in the Jungle]

A non-homer point of view...

QB: Palmer, Wright, McNeal

I agree but I think that there are rules that wouldn't let McNeal on the field (WR) as the third string QB.

Johnson is useless. Meyer seems to have potential though.

RB: Rudi, Perry, JJ, Watson

Solid group

WR: CJ, TJ, Henry, Chatman, Tab, Brazell

Probably the best unit in the league.

TE: Kelly, Stewart, Ghent

I'd add Davy Jones to this group and groom him as the long snapper.

OL: 5 starters, Whitworth, Koo, Andrews, Wilkerson, Guy-check

The starters are excellent but the backups (with the exception of Whitworth) are questionable. I'd kill the Andrews project.

DL: Justin, BRob, Peko, Sam Adams, Geathers, Shaun Smith, Thornton, Rucker

Still needs work but Peko should help out as he matures.

LB: Simmons, Pollack, Landon, Brooks, Thurman, Wilkins, Jeanty, Caleb Miller

Very impressive group, I like Jeanty.

DB: Deltha, Tory, Joseph, Ratliff, Bauman, KK, Madieu, Dexter

Nice backfield.

K/P/LS: Graham, Larson, Davy Jones

Even though St. Louis is one of the better long snappers in the league, Jones could probably contribute more in other areas.

[HairOnFire]

I'm gaming the DE position like this:

Locks: Justin Smith. Get that contract year out of him, then off he goes.

Pick 2: B-Rob, Rucker, Fanene. Marvin likes that "swing" ability, DEs that can move inside. B-Rob and Fanene have both done that and in camp they have beern rotating Rucker inside as well.

Battle for the last spot: Geathers and Henderson. If Henderson can get to the QB like he did in the mock game and hold up against the run (unlike Jumpy Jr.) he may get the nod.

Fanene has always looked like the most likely cut to me. Wth B-Rob moving outside the need for a plus sized DE who can stuff the run is lessened, and Rucker is solid enough to provide better backup duty than Fanene can. As for pure pass rushers, Geathers has dumped weight in the hope that he can regain his rookie form and despite his struggles last season I doubt they're ready to give up on him. As for Henderson, if he's healthy he potentially adds a dimension to the Bengals pass rush that no other player on the D-Line offers. That alone makes him more valuable to me than Fanene, who does everything okay, but nothing that can't be done just as well or better by others.

Frankly, I've dinged Henderson more than he deserves, but I've always felt the roster battle would come down to him and Fanene, and I'll be surprised if Fanene can hold him off.

[Kazkal]

I agree but I think that there are rules that wouldn't let McNeal on the field (WR) as the third string QB.

I don't think its a problem aslong as he checks in and lets the refs know? but his number makes it so he can line up either I know Olinemen can line up as a TE if they check in as one.

1million zone dollars fanene makes the team

Frankly, I've dinged Henderson more than he deserves, but I've always felt the roster battle would come down to him and Fanene, and I'll be surprised if Fanene can hold him off.

if it did come down to them I'd say it would depend on the future of our Defense 3-4 fanene would easilly win 4-3 henderson would have the advantage.I'd perfer to keep both and jet one of the pure crap DT's

[Kazkal]

So with Thurman starting the season on the suspended list, that would seem to leave five locks in Pollack, Simmons, Brooks, Miller and Landon Johnson. And what about Marcus Wilkins, arguably the team's best special teams player over the past two seasons?

Seems hobson thinks miller is preatty much a lock,I think last 2 spots though will come down between jeanty,wilkins & AJ

[CJBestInAFC]

My guess:

QB - Palmer, Wright. I think Palmer will be good to go week 1 so Johnson gets cut, Meyer to PS, and McNeal as defacto 3rd QB while continuing to work as WR.

RB - Rudi, Perry, Wilson, JJ

WR - CJ, TJ, Cheech, Chatman, Perry, Brazell. If Cheech is suspended before season starts, Squirrel makes roster, otherwise he or maybe Chatman are traded for low draft pick.

TE - Kelly, Stewart, Sanders

OL - Jones, Steinbach, Braham, Williams, Anderson, Whitworth, Kooistra, Ghiaciuc, Wilkerson, and Andrews. Unless Steinbach or Anderson are extended before season starts, I expect team to keep an extra O-lineman to prepare for possible loss of 3 starters after 06 season.

DL - Robinson, Adams, Thornton, J Smith, Fanene, S Smith, Peko, Henderson

LB - Pollack, Simmons, Johnson, Jeanty, Brooks, Nicholson, Wilkins. When Thurman returns, Wilkins goes.

DB - O'Neal, James, Jackson, Williams, Ratliff, Joseph, Kaesviharn, Kilmer, Body

ST - Graham, Larson, St. Louis

Bubble guys are Chatman if he doesn't win PR job, McNeal if Palmer is questionable, Sanders vs Ghent, Kooistra, Geathers or Rucker could make team.

I want Bua instead of KK. This guy will help the ST more than KK, which is what he will be playing as a backup.

So with Thurman starting the season on the suspended list, that would seem to leave five locks in Pollack, Simmons, Brooks, Miller and Landon Johnson. And what about Marcus Wilkins, arguably the team's best special teams player over the past two seasons?

Seems hobson thinks miller is preatty much a lock,I think last 2 spots though will come down between jeanty,wilkins & AJ

I like Wilkins too. I think the Bengals should try to package Caleb Miller and Kelly Washington in a trade for a second or third round pick.

[Kazkal]

Is McNeal even getting snaps at QB in training camp? If Palmer is getting 40% of the snaps, and Wright and Johnson are splitting the rest of the time, that doesn't leave much time to try to coach up a rookie that is making the switch to WR.

My guess is that if they really thought McNeal could be our 3rd QB, that he'd be practicing as a QB. When you could very well start the season with the starter on the shelf, that 3rd QB becomes pretty important.

Johnson isen't getting snaps anymore carson is 70-80 wright gets the rest.

I like Wilkins too. I think the Bengals should try to package Caleb Miller and Kelly Washington in a trade for a second or third round pick.

Meh wilkins is solid on special teams but so is miller who lead the team in ST tackles once he returned,I'll take miller over wilkins naives and mybe AJ depending how hes working out.

[KiLBurn]

For what it's worth!

QB: Palmer, Wright, McNeal <- Agree, Johnson is cut and Meyer goes to PS where he gets nabbed.

RB: Rudi, Perry, JJ, Watson <- Agree, but would not be overly surprised if Watson (or Perry, to a lesser extent) gets bumped by Wilson or Whitehead.

WR: CJ, TJ, Henry, Chatman, Tab, Brazell <-Agree, PK Sam and Kelley Washington get cut. Brazell would get nabbed off PS.

TE: Kelly, Stewart, Ghent <- Sanders could sneak in here. Potential to keep only 2 on the roster. Would we drop Ghent to hold onto Kieft or Nicholson

OL: 5 starters, Whitworth, Koo, Andrews, Wilkerson, Guy-check <-Agree, but would not be surprised if the team decides its time to get younger at Center. One less piece to replace next year. Between Guy-check, Wilkerson, Boone and Steinbach someone should be able to do the job.

DL: Justin, BRob, Peko, Sam Adams, Geathers, Shaun Smith, Thornton, Rucker <- Some tough calls here. Henderson, Fanene or Askew will probably take one or more of these spots. My hope is Askew can take Thorntons spot . I would hate to see Shaun Smith get cut before John Thornton. Henderson over Geathers is another possibilty.

LB: Simmons, Pollack, Landon, Brooks, Thurman, Wilkins, Jeanty, Caleb Miller <-Another tough one to call, I think Nicholson finds a way to make this team, whether it be by going light at TE or displacing Wilkins, Jeanty or Miller. With the wealth of talent here I wouldn't be overly surprised to see Simmons cut.

DB: Deltha, Tory, Joseph, Ratliff, Bauman, KK, Madieu, Dexter <-Baumann and KK are ripe for replacement

K/P/LS: Graham, Larson, St. Louis <- If only we could find a center to long snap we could free up another roster spot.

For the most part I agree with you. Due to some of the talent we are going to need to dump, I think the timing is right to potentially dump some of the larger salaries (read veterans) to help retain the younger players who will form the core of this team for many more years.

[derekshank]

Is McNeal even getting snaps at QB in training camp? If Palmer is getting 40% of the snaps, and Wright and Johnson are splitting the rest of the time, that doesn't leave much time to try to coach up a rookie that is making the switch to WR.

My guess is that if they really thought McNeal could be our 3rd QB, that he'd be practicing as a QB. When you could very well start the season with the starter on the shelf, that 3rd QB becomes pretty important.

Johnson isen't getting snaps anymore carson is 70-80 wright gets the rest.

I understand that, but the fact is that Johnson would still be better prepared to QB this team than McNeal would. And if Palmer doesn't start those first couple games, we will really need a QB that has played the position before and practiced with the team at least a few times. Until I see McNeal out there competing for the 3rd string QB role, I dismiss the idea. Maybe he'll get a few snaps in a pre-season game... but I doubt it.

Erik Meyer is a far more likely candidate for 3rd string QB than Reggie McNeal.

[Kazkal]

I hope someone can unseat watson I dont get why everyone is so high on him.

If Johnson ends up playing were gonna be the jets of last year,atleast with mcneal might have some intertainement as we lose...I really hope we move on without tony stewart =/ guy just is a waste of a roster spot below average blocker below average receiver

[KiLBurn]

I hope someone can unseat watson I dont get why everyone is so high on him.

His value is as a very good special teams player. Not too shabby running the ball when given the chance.

[aaronburr]

I hate to say it, but it looks like Reggie McNeal is going to get an unofficial red shirt this year.

He doesn't make the squad as a straight-up WR (unless they keep 7 AND get rid of KWash) and if he's the 3rd string QB, he's only active for emergency situations.

And if something horrible happened to Carson or Wright (Doug Johnson is history), then they'd probably elevate Meyer from the practice squad, since he would have had more reps.

Unless something drastic happens in pre-season, I don't see any other way to keep him.

[Kazkal]

Things continue to go Calebs way with more 1st team snaps "With Simmons and Pollack shelved, rookie Ahmad Brooks got plenty of snaps in the middle with Landon Johnson playing Pollack's spot at strong and Caleb Miller playing Johnson's spot at weak"

think theres a chance of us keeping 8 with more 3-4 looks / mybe switch in the future.

[ChadJohnson-85]

QB: Palmer, Wright, Johnson

RB: RJ, Perry, JJ, Watson

WR: CJ, TJ, Chatman, Henry, Perry, Brazell, McNeal

TE: Kelly, Stewart, DJ

OL: Jones, Rich, BW, Whitworth, Wilkerson, Steinbach/Anderson, Andrews

DL: Smith, Adams, Thornton, Geathers, Henderson, Peko, Robinson, Rucker, Shaun

LB: Pollack, Thurman, Brooks, Simmons, A.J., Miller, LJ, Wilkins

DB: O'Neal, James, Joseph, Jackson, Williams, Ratliff, Kilmer, Mitchell, Kaesviharn, Body

K/P/LS: Graham, Larson, St. Louis

[sparky151]

CJ85, the roster limit is 53 so there's a couple extra defenders on your list. I doubt the team keeps both Doug Johnson and McNeal. If Palmer can't go week 1 then it's probably Reggie to the PS. If Carson is starting, then bye bye Dougie. The team will carry at least 9 O linemen so Ghiaciuc should be on there.

[schweinhart]

I hope someone can unseat watson I dont get why everyone is so high on him.

His value is as a very good special teams player. Not too shabby running the ball when given the chance.

The people who like Watson are the ones who've watched him play. He might not have needed to be IRed last year but the Bengals apparenty needed to keep Askew inactive.

Watson isn't a lock but he should be. If it weren't for the front office needing to justify a 1st round pick on Chris "Twinkie Ankles" Perry, I'd say Watson would be the 3rd down back and Rudi's backup. The only thing SUPERSTAR has shown he's better at doing than Watson is running vertical routes, which does become more important this year since the Bengals do not have a TE that can run routes or run after the catch. Even then, if Perry goes down for the count, no big loss really...as long as they have Watson because he can ran some routes and run well after the catch. Plus Watson is solid at sawing off blitzing LBs in pass protection.

As for WR, I'm still not buying the whole Bennie Brazell PR routine until he actually shows something in preseason. I'd like to see them keep just 5 wides -- Chad, Housh, Chat, Tab and K-Dub -- until Dopey is cleared. And keep Reggie as the 3rd QB, inactive every game unless catastrophe strike in a game at WR. I'd be for McNeal returning punts but I'd rather see Chris Perry do it. Of course Perry probably doesn't want to add to his ever-growing laundry list of injuries.

And the last time B-Rob decided to go down to 290, he was cut by the Bears. That last D-line spot should come down to Fanene or B-Rob and if Fanene continues to show what he did, I'm guessing B-Rob is still on the bubble regardless of his current 1st team status at DE.

[El Tigere]

This is my 53 man Roster

QB- Carson Palmer,Anthony Wright, Reggie McNeal - Erik Meyer ? Either 3rd or save him for the Practice Squad.

Rb- Rudy,Perry, Watson

FB- Jeremy Johnson

TE- Reggie Kelly, Tony Stewart

WR- Chad, T.J., Henry,Perry,Brazell,Chatman

OFF LINE- Willie, Levy, Steinbach, Williams, Brahm, Ghiaciuc, Kooistra, Whitworth, Andrews, Wilkerson

Shelve Adam Kieft for the hole year he is not ready for this year. You get to keep him since Willie, Brahm and Steinbach might not be back next year.

Def ln - Sam Adams,Justin Smith,Domata Peko,Robert Geathers,Frostee Rucker,Jonathen Fenene,Mathias Askew,Eric Henderson, Shaun Smith - I rather keep youth and cut the old now. We might lose Justin next year.

LB- David Pollack, Brian Simmons, Landon Johnson,Caleb Miller,AJ Nickolson,Odell Thurman,Ahmad Brooks,Rashad Jeanty

S- Madieu Williams,Dexter Jackson, 2 more spots open here.Weak back ups here you either go with kk, Anthony Mitchell,Ethan Kilmer or Tony Bua.

CB- Deltha Oneal, Tory James, Jonathan Josheph, Keiwan Ratliff

P- Kyle Larson

k-Shayne Grahm

LS-Brad St.Louis or you can groom David jones and use him as your 3rd TE for deph.

[ChadJohnson-85]

CJ85, the roster limit is 53 so there's a couple extra defenders on your list. I doubt the team keeps both Doug Johnson and McNeal. If Palmer can't go week 1 then it's probably Reggie to the PS. If Carson is starting, then bye bye Dougie. The team will carry at least 9 O linemen so Ghiaciuc should be on there.

My bad. Here's the 53 man roster then.

QB: Palmer, Wright, Johnson

RB: RJ, Perry, JJ, Watson

WR: CJ, TJ, Chatman, Henry, Perry, Brazell, McNeal

TE: Kelly, Stewart, DJ

OL: Jones, Rich, BW, Whitworth, Wilkerson, Steinbach/Anderson, Andrews

DL: Smith, Adams, Thornton, Geathers, Henderson, Peko, Robinson, Rucker

LB: Pollack, Thurman, Brooks, Simmons, A.J., Miller, LJ, Wilkins

DB: O'Neal, James, Joseph, Jackson, Williams, Ratliff, Kilmer, Mitchell, Kaesviharn

K/P/LS: Graham, Larson, St. Louis

[chrishcovga]

I'll play along :

Here's my 53.

QB: Carson Palmer, Anthony Wright, Doug Johnson( I would prefer to have Reggie McNeal here-but I'm a realist).

RB: Rudi Johnson, Chris Perry, Kenny Watson

FB: Jeremi Johnson

WR: Chad Johnson, T.J.Houshmanzadeh,Chris Henry,Kelley Washington,Tab Perry,Antonio Chatman. ( Don't be surprised if Bennie Brazell beats out Chatman. Chatman's a veteran on the rise despite his injury status and could be traded faster than Washington.

TE: Reggie Kelly, Tony Stewart, Darnell Sanders ( Sanders has had a good camp so far, and considering our history of injuries at this position, you gotta keep 3.

OT: Willie Anderson, Levi Jones, Stacey Andrews, Andrew Whitworth,Scott Kooistra

OG: Eric Steinbach, Bobbie Williams, Ben Wilkerson

OC: Rich Braham, Eric Ghiuciuc ( I'm on the Wilkerson Bandwagon too, but he's had more reps at guard than anywhere so far in camp. ( I'm with El Tigere. Put Adam Kieft on the Injured Reserve another year or at least the Pup List).

DE: Justin Smith, Robert Geathers, Johnathan Fanene, Frostee Rucker

DT: Sam Adams, Bryan Robinson, Domato Peko, Shaun Smith (Askew hasn't shown sh*t and probably never will. Robinson will still be playing some DT, and Eric Henderson probably goes to the practice squad.

CB: Deltha O'Neal, Tory James, Keiwan Ratliff, Jonathan Joseph, Greg Brooks

SS: Dexter Jackson, Anthony Mitchell ( Can't see him losing his roster spot to Bua.)

FS: Madieu Williams, Kevin Kaesviharn (Can't stand KK, but there really is no depth here)

OLB: Brian Simmons, David Pollack, Landon Johnson, Ahmad Brooks

ILB: O'Dell Thurman, A.J. Nicholson, Caleb Miller

K: Shayne Graham

P: Kyle Larson

LS: Brad St.Louis

Practice Squad guys

WR. Bennie Brazell

QB. Erik Meyer, Reggie McNeal

FB. NauFahu Tahi

DE. Eric Henderson

LB. Rashad Jeanty

CB/S. Patrick Body

That's my Mr. Ed-Ucated guess.

[HairOnFire]

Practice Squad guys

WR. Bennie Brazell

QB. Erik Meyer, Reggie McNeal

FB. NauFahu Tahi

DE. Eric Henderson

LB. Rashad Jeanty

CB/S. Patrick Body

I'm not saying you're wrong, but if things play out this way I can easily envision other teams claiming two or three players from this list. Meyer and Henderson were two of the most coveted undrafted free agents, and everyone else is a freak fast prospect with plenty of upside.

[chrishcovga]

Hair On Fire:

I'm not saying you're wrong, but if things play out this way I can easily envision other teams claiming two or three players from this list. Meyer and Henderson were two of the most coveted undrafted free agents, and everyone else is a freak fast prospect with plenty of upside.

* * I know I'm wrong, but how great is it to have a roster so deep at so many positions. The 2 weakest spots of our roster remain Safety and Tight End, a spot we have avoided drafting top tier talent at.

Hard to see Rashad Bauman not making the roster.

Things I want to see during PreSeason???

1. Reggie McNeal play some Quarterback.

2. Patrick Body play Free or Strong Safety.

3. Ben Wilkerson play Center for at least a half!

4. 3-4. With Domato Peko at Nose, Johnathan Fanene at DE, Erik Henderson at the other DE. With Wilkins,Johnson,Brooks,and Jeanty at the Linebacker spots.

5. Bennie Brazell returning Kicks and Punts.

6. Antonio Chatman playing at some point and time this year.

7. Palmer and the 1st team go down the field on their first drive together and score a touchdown.

[schweinhart]

Gotta say it's good to see some Guru action back on the board

Also, no Thornton does seem like a possibility given his salary and his overall mediocrity. B-Rob did play some RDT last year but struggled with hitting gaps right and taking angles collapsing in against the run. He's got decent quickness for a player his size, though, and would be probably be an upgrade over Thornton there just like he was at LDT.

I'm ready for the Bengals to roll Sunday night.

And I wouldn't mind it if somehow Peko was able to pee on Sean Taylor.

[Kazkal]

They should rest Richie besides when carsons in then give ben and fuzzy bucket the rest of the snaps durring preseason to try find our center of the future

[KiLBurn]

Thought I would bump this thread, once, to see if there are any other takers out there that want to add there $.02 since it is fast approaching final cut time.

[Tasher]

Well, okay, here's my take...

Keep 3:

QB - Johnson, Doug

Palmer, Carson

Wright, Anthony

Keep 4 (w/FB)

RB - Johnson, Jeremi

Johnson, Rudi

Perry, Chris - PUP

Watson, Kenny

Wilson, Quincy / Dorsey, DeDe (probably Wilson with his tenure, but maybe not...) gone after Chris returns anyway...

Keep 9

OL - Braham, Rich

Ghiaciuc, Eric

Wilkerson, Ben (mark my words, center of the future, Rimington Award winner in 2004)

Steinbach, Eric

Whitworth, Andrew

Williams, Bobbie

Andrews, Stacy

Anderson, Willie

Jones, Levi

Kooistra, Scott - odd man out and out-talented

Keep 6

WR - Brazell, Bennie (will NOT make waivers to get to PS with his speed)

Chatman, Antonio (interesting situation here, has not played much...)

Henry, Chris

Houshmandzadeh, T.J.

Johnson, Chad

Perry, Tab

McNeal, Reggie (to PS IF he makes waivers)

Washington, Kelley (traded or takes Henry's slot during suspension/jail time)

keep 3?? (what I hope they do is keep 2)

TE - Kelly, Reggie

Stewart, Tony

Ghent, Ronnie / Jones, David / Sanders, Darnell (Ghent probably has the advantage here, but I can't tell)

Keep 8, could keep 9 if other positions are shorted...

DL - Geathers, Robert

Robinson, Bryan

Rucker, Frostee

Smith, Justin

Adams, Sam

Peko, Domata

Smith, Shaun

Thornton, John

Fanene, Jonathan / Henderson, Eric

I think they are going to keep 8 (remember 3-4 is coming soon, to a Jungle near you!)

LB - Brooks, Ahmad

Jeanty, Rashad

Johnson, Landon

Nicholson, A.J.

Pollack, David

Simmons, Brian

Thurman, Odell - susp

Wilkins, Marcus / Miller, Caleb

Keep 5 or 6? Do we play any DIME coverages?

CB - Body, Patrick

Brooks, Greg

James, Tory

Joseph, Johnathan

O´Neal, Deltha

Ratliff, Keiwan

Keep 4

S - Jackson, Dexter

Williams, Madieu

Kaesviharn, Kevin

Jones, Herana-Daze

Kilmer, Ethan - PS

Busing, John - PS

Keep 3

ST - Graham, Shayne

St. Louis, Brad

Larson, Kyle