AGrizzlyBaer Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 Braham to retireBy GEOFF HOBSONDecember 26, 2006Updated: 12-27-06, 12:50 p.m.BrahamOne of the longest and toughest careers in Bengals history ends Sunday when center Rich Braham retires with a ceremony at Sunday’s regular-season finale at Paul Brown Stadium as the seventh player to play at least 13 seasons in Cincinnati. .Braham’s agent had said Tuesday his client had yet to make up his mind about returning for a 14th season after missing most of this one with a bone bruise in his knee. Vern Sharbaugh also said the Bengals haven’t approached him yet to discuss a possible extension of a contract that ends this year.“There’s nothing definite. I think it’s something that Richie wants to look at after the season,” Sharbaugh said. “I think he wants to see how his knee feels.”But head coach Marvin Lewis confirmed the move at his Wednesday news conference.Braham, 36, recognized as the glue of an offensive line that paved the way for last season’s division title and record-setting offense, hasn’t played since the second game of this season with what has been described as a bone bruise.After a rough start that included switching left guard Eric Steinbach to center, second-year man Eric Ghiaciuc has started the last 10 games and looks to have solidified his position as a long-term center.The Bengals originally thought he could come back in late November, but he hasn’t been able to put together a string of practices and Lewis said he won't play Sunday.But tclearly it wasn't an easy decision for a guy who has returned whenever his career in Cincinnati looked to be over, as it did before the 1997, 2003 and 2004 seasons while cobbling together 142 starts and 146 games at left guard and center.After the Bengals matched the Patriots offer sheet in restricted free agency in 1997, Braham ran his streak to 44 straight games at left guard the next season despite a broken toe.He then switched to center for the 1999 season, where he has made his last 98 starts. He played every game in 2001 after being diagnosed with a herniated neck disk after the third game, played every game in 2002 even though he had arthroscopic elbow surgery during the bye week, and played in 10 games in 2004 after a preseason knee scope.Braham and right tackle Willie Anderson are the only Bengals to have played with both Boomer Esiason and Carson Palmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who Dey Time Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 Damn, that sucks!Best of luck to Richie. He's a class guy who always had the team's best interest in mind. We'll miss him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 You could see this one coming from several miles away. Braham never threatened to return from his injury, implying that it was far more serious than first thought, and would have faced a tough offseason rehab. Knowing he wouldn't break the bank in free agency...or even get close enough to set off the alarm...I had little hope that a now injured Braham would return next season. Instead, the soft and comfy chair awaits him. As always, props...and thanks for the fish. We move on. The Bengals have prepared for this day and the roster carries at least two players who have been tagged as the "centers of the future". Sadly, the future arrived during the 2nd week of this season, and to say that Richie the Buckethead be missed is an understatement. However, the once stellar performance level of the Bengals offensive line should be able to recover quickly enough now that they have an entire offseason to prep Eric Ghiacuic and a now healthy Ben Wilkerson as replacements. Due to Braham's injury both players were bloodied this season and both should be better for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJJackson Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 Good luck, Buckethead. You were (and are) one of the great ones, though few will ever know it.Thank you.If all 53 players on the team had your mindset, intelligence, and toughness we might well be undefeated this year.I hope the Bengals offer you a assistant coaching position Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 One of the most underrated players in the NFL |It's really a shame even if he wasen't started and we let him miss all of training camp I would just liked to see him on side of field next year when we win the superbowl mybe mikey can give him a ring anyways when it happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacD BengalFan Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 I hope the Bengals offer you a assistant coaching positionI think the Bengals would be foolish not to find a spot on the coaching staff. He would be great asset for the offensive line as a coach. I hope he stays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYBengalfan Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Kudos to Richie! Great Career, thanks for everything. We sure will miss him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 One of the greats !!! I for one will hate to see him go. He has been a mainstay for a great period of time. Smart and tough, two things I wish more players on this roster possessed !!!Good luck in all you do Richie !!!As for the future at Center, I'm not sure how it will pan out, but as stated, they have the offseason to look forward to getting ready !!!WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreen_112 Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 One of the most underrated players in the NFL |It's really a shame even if he wasen't started and we let him miss all of training camp I would just liked to see him on side of field next year when we win the superbowl mybe mikey can give him a ring anyways when it happens There you go, already talking about the SB next year. People here in Cinci need to just chill with that and wait for our time. Your setting yourself up for a huge letdown if we don't get there. Do I believe that we can win the SB.... Yes, but you have to take it one game at a time. This season isn't even over yet man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBenBlows Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 I hope the Bengals offer you a assistant coaching positionI think the Bengals would be foolish not to find a spot on the coaching staff. He would be great asset for the offensive line as a coach. I hope he stays.He does know the system and I like to see teams keep their players as coaches. That would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Daughtery's column confirms that Braham had a broken leg -- this is the first time I've seen it confirmed.Braham called the last injury of his NFL career a "tibial plateau fracture." He explained it this way (hide the women and children):His tibia "broke and slid down into my leg and scarred down. The tough thing about it was, it was crushed. When it crushed, it bled, and it bruised."That was at Cleveland, the second week of the season. Back then, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis referred to the injury as a "deep bruise." It was a diagnosis Braham went with, even though by any given midseason his whole body is a deep bruise, a banana dropped from a 10th-floor window. Given his constitution,Braham kind of liked Lewis' take."Technically, Coach Lewis was right by saying it was bruised," Braham offered Wednesday. "He just didn't put the broken bone part in there."http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...280340/-1/CINCI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Top five offensive lineman in Bengals history? I think the longevity and consistency put him up there with the best. It's a shame to see him go, but he has certainly done his share in a Bengals uniform. I'm glad Ghiaciuc got so much playing time this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet23 Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Daughtery's column confirms that Braham had a broken leg -- this is the first time I've seen it confirmed.Braham called the last injury of his NFL career a "tibial plateau fracture." He explained it this way (hide the women and children):His tibia "broke and slid down into my leg and scarred down. The tough thing about it was, it was crushed. When it crushed, it bled, and it bruised."That was at Cleveland, the second week of the season. Back then, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis referred to the injury as a "deep bruise." It was a diagnosis Braham went with, even though by any given midseason his whole body is a deep bruise, a banana dropped from a 10th-floor window. Given his constitution,Braham kind of liked Lewis' take."Technically, Coach Lewis was right by saying it was bruised," Braham offered Wednesday. "He just didn't put the broken bone part in there."http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...280340/-1/CINCIYup, the crack medical staff was all over it once again. I wonder if Doc Nick and the boyz ever get tired of saving the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Top five offensive lineman in Bengals history? I think the longevity and consistency put him up there with the best. It's a shame to see him go, but he has certainly done his share in a Bengals uniform. I'm glad Ghiaciuc got so much playing time this season.You could make an argument for Richie to be in the Top 5 of All-Time for the Bengals....Munoz and Montoya are above and beyond the rest of the list though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Top five offensive lineman in Bengals history? I think the longevity and consistency put him up there with the best. It's a shame to see him go, but he has certainly done his share in a Bengals uniform. I'm glad Ghiaciuc got so much playing time this season.You could make an argument for Richie to be in the Top 5 of All-Time for the Bengals....Munoz and Montoya are above and beyond the rest of the list though.... No argument here, though I think Willie could be a close # 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jditty47 Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 top 5 bengal of all time? nah not even close. top 5 lineman? probably at this point if you only count retired. i liked braham, smart smart player with great strength. He was key vs the huge nosetackles weve had to face over the years. We'll definately miss him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spor_tees Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 #1 Munoz#2 Montoya#3 Big Willie#4 Koz#5 RimingtonDave Lapham just misses the top 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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