Is it just me

[WhoDeyForever]

Or would other people be disappointed to see Steinbach go as well if we dont resign him? I don't know about you guys but Steinbach is a great athlete and is a tremendous offensive lineman. If we don't go after anybody big in Free Agency then why not spend the money on Eric? Whitworth did well last year, but our offensive line is so good when they are 100 percent. I have met Steinbach and he is one of the nicest people ever. It would be sad to see him go.

[Whur CHad At?]

I would rather tag him then Justin. We have the best O line in the league when healthy. Steiny is a Pro Bowl caliber player, Smith is just a hard working average player. I have a feeling Whitworth is gonna struggle this year

[ShulaSteakhouse]

The Bengals' o-line is nowhere near the best in the league.

that said, I'd like to see them keep Stein.

[Stripes]

Sure, it'll be a bummer if/when Steinbach departs, but his struggles in 2006 will leave enough bad taste in my mouth for a good shrug. Whitworth looks like he's ready to roll, and in the running game he'll be a better fit than Steiny ever was. He might still be a bit of a liability against speed rushers I fear, but he'll improve with time (and that won't be as big a problem at guard as it was at tackle).

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Alright I want to know exactly what Steinbach's "struggles" were this year exactly?

He played 3 different positions and I don't think he's missed a game since he's been here - unlike the rest of the dough boys on that line.

Somehow Bobby Williams gets a free pass, Levi can't stay healthy and is overpaid, and they have no center to speak of that's worth a darn.

If I'm Carson I'm in Marvin's office every day lighting him up to address this "best o-line in the league."

Palmer was brutalized last year for a reason, and couldn't finish the two seasons before that because of this oh-so-great o-line if you recall, and their grand master Paul Alexander the overrated great.

Enough! They are NOT that good.

[Stripes]

Alright I want to know exactly what Steinbach's "struggles" were this year exactly?

The same struggles he's always had, only amplified. Big, powerful DTs overmatched him all year. That's always been a weakness of his, but this year with the lack of continuity around him... it was worse.

He played 3 different positions and I don't think he's missed a game since he's been here - unlike the rest of the dough boys on that line.

Nobody is saying Steinbach sucks. He's a solid player, and you're right. He rarely missed any playing time. The rest of the line did indeed struggle with injuries... in 2006. Prior to that, they rarely missed time either.

Somehow Bobby Williams gets a free pass, Levi can't stay healthy and is overpaid, and they have no center to speak of that's worth a darn.

Bobby Williams doesn't get a free pass, you were complaining about Levi's health before he ever missed any serious playing time (bias), and we haven't seen enough from Ghiaciuc to pass judgement yet.

If I'm Carson I'm in Marvin's office every day lighting him up to address this "best o-line in the league."

Thank God you're not Carson.

Palmer was brutalized last year for a reason, and couldn't finish the two seasons before that because of this oh-so-great o-line if you recall, and their grand master Paul Alexander the overrated great.

That was also the first season Palmer had been brutalized. The line kept Palmer very clean in 2004 and 2005 (not to mention the injuries he faced both years were the fault of Steinbach)... so what's the variable? Injuries. Quit bitching about Paul Alexander too, unless you have a real concrete reason to be doing so.

Enough! They are NOT that good.

If the Bengals listened to your constant negative interjections, the entire roster would be under renovation right now. The line is just one of your many sour spots. Get a grip.

[Kirkendall]

Alright I want to know exactly what Steinbach's "struggles" were this year exactly?

He played 3 different positions and I don't think he's missed a game since he's been here - unlike the rest of the dough boys on that line.

Somehow Bobby Williams gets a free pass, Levi can't stay healthy and is overpaid, and they have no center to speak of that's worth a darn.

If I'm Carson I'm in Marvin's office every day lighting him up to address this "best o-line in the league."

Palmer was brutalized last year for a reason, and couldn't finish the two seasons before that because of this oh-so-great o-line if you recall, and their grand master Paul Alexander the overrated great.

Enough! They are NOT that good.

Blah, blah, blah. Want a lollipop?

[derekshank]

Yeah... I'm pretty tired of the constant bitching from Shula about the O-Line. We came out of the '05 season with stats that were near the top in virtually every category.

In '06 we had injuries up and down the line, many times starting only 40% of the '05 starting line. Continuity was gone. We had 2 rookies playing most of the season. Give me an example of another O-Line that played as many green behind the ears back-ups as we did.

The fact that all those injuries magnified Steiny's inability to keep from being bull-rushed just makes it more clear that Whitworth is better suited for the job. If we stay healthy next year, Palmer's jersey goes back to being clean at the end of games. It's as simple as that.

[GregCook]

Not to pile on, but tagging Steiny would be a huge mistake. They can easily replace him but they can't replace Smith nor tag him too in 2007. The Bengals have to spend 2007 fixing their defense and losing Smith makes the job all the harder. In the NFL, DE's command a premium over guards. Always have, always will.

Alright I want to know exactly what Steinbach's "struggles" were this year exactly?

He played 3 different positions and I don't think he's missed a game since he's been here - unlike the rest of the dough boys on that line.

Somehow Bobby Williams gets a free pass, Levi can't stay healthy and is overpaid, and they have no center to speak of that's worth a darn.

If I'm Carson I'm in Marvin's office every day lighting him up to address this "best o-line in the league."

Palmer was brutalized last year for a reason, and couldn't finish the two seasons before that because of this oh-so-great o-line if you recall, and their grand master Paul Alexander the overrated great.

Enough! They are NOT that good.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Actually, the reason that tagging Steinbach wouldn't make sense is that it would give him TOP 5 LT MONEY. Think Orlando Pace and Walter Jones kind of money. Not happening.

He didn't have the best season last year (many extenuating circumstances I won't retread), but the die was pretty much cast when they signed Bobbie and Fatburger, and tagging Justin sealed it. Steinbach's gone, thankfully Whitworth has looked good.

[ThortonMelon]

The Bengals' o-line is nowhere near the best in the league.

that said, I'd like to see them keep Stein.

I think you are underestimating the Bengals' OL. It is very close to the best in the league when healthy. It was a top-3 OL in 2005, and would have been the best last year (due to Seattle's loss of Hutchinson and KC loss of Roaf) if not for the injuries.

Whitworth will be better than Steinbach. Giaciach will not be as good as Braham, but will still be solid at center.

[HoTbOy]

If it came down to keeping JSmith or ESteinbach, I would take ESteinbach...like someone else said he has been a PB caliber player, and JSmith is an average player... With that being said AWhitworth is a capable player to replace ESteinbach, but I can't think of anyone to replace JSmith, who is on the roster or FA, I guess that is why you tag JSmith and let ESteinbach walk...

[Whur CHad At?]

What if Whitworth totally plays s**tty this year? What will yall think after that? And J Smooth gets hurt or plays like s**t this year...

[Stripes]

What if Whitworth totally plays s**tty this year? What will yall think after that? And J Smooth gets hurt or plays like s**t this year...

I'd probably think "gee this sucks." I see no reason to expect either of those things to occur.

[Kazkal]

I'll be glade he's gone,Steinbach is a awesome pulling guard but he get's overpowered way to easy...

Look at who was the guy blocking both times carsons knee got taken out.... with him and guycheck in the middle it was like any DT could hit carson...I just feel safer with whitworth in there till we find a guard replace whitworth when he has move RT to replace willie.

I would rather tag him then Justin. We have the best O line in the league when healthy. Steiny is a Pro Bowl caliber player, Smith is just a hard working average player. I have a feeling Whitworth is gonna struggle this year

I'll take 8.6 million hard working justin over 9.5 kills carsons knee and played like crap the so called "contract year"

What if Whitworth totally plays s**tty this year?

I think damn soph slump hit whitworth,but I have high hopes for whitworth he played great at LT in all but 2 games...

at LG he won't have to worry about speed rushers like dwight freeney and elvis so I'd be more worried with steinbach in

when we faced the jets and kimo again.... can we bench carson that game to be safe?

[HairOnFire]

Yeah... I'm pretty tired of the constant bitching from Shula about the O-Line.

I think it's a mixed bag. On one hand we've finally got a Bengal player that Shula likes and wants to keep. That's refreshing. On the other hand it's pretty easy for anyone to determine Steinbach won't be a Bengal next season, and that likely outcome gives Shula something else to bitch and whine about.

Feed the kitty.

[bengalsfansince68]

Why is everyone blaming Carson's injury on Steinbach? He held Kimo off long enough for Carson to complete a 66 yard pass. The injury only occurred because after hitting the ground, Kima lunged at and drove his shoulder into Carson's knee.

Get a little perspective guys!

[Stripes]

Why is everyone blaming Carson's injury on Steinbach? He held Kimo off long enough for Carson to complete a 66 yard pass. The injury only occurred because after hitting the ground, Kimo lunged at and drove his shoulder into Carson's knee.

Kimo's momentum carried him into Carson. Steinbach wasn't entirely to blame, but he deserves as much of it as Kimo and Carson himself.

[bengalsfansince68]

Why is everyone blaming Carson's injury on Steinbach? He held Kimo off long enough for Carson to complete a 66 yard pass. The injury only occurred because after hitting the ground, Kimo lunged at and drove his shoulder into Carson's knee.

Kimo's momentum carried him into Carson. Steinbach wasn't entirely to blame, but he deserves as much of it as Kimo and Carson himself.

I completely disagree! When Kimo hit the ground his momentum stopped and he lunged at Carson from that point. Kimo deserves 100% of the blame for that.

And how does Carson get the blame?

Mystifying

[Stripes]

I completely disagree! When Kimo hit the ground his momentum stopped and he lunged at Carson from that point. Kimo deserves 100% of the blame for that.

And how does Carson get the blame?

Mystifying

I recall watching replays of that incident a hundred times while Bengals fans were all crying foul, and I never saw a point in which Kimo's motion stopped, and then continued again. Carson gets blamed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time... He contributed to the accident too.

[bengalsfansince68]

I too have seen that play a hundred times, in fact I have it on tape.

Kimo's momentum is towards the ground and when he hit the ground that momentum ceased.

Did you see Kimo hit the ground? That was in no way momentum that took him into Carson's knee. Kimo made a conscious effort to get to the QB after hitting the ground. If it was his intention to injure Carson is open to conjecture and debate but it clearly was his intention to hit Carson. He hit the ground and then lunged at Carson wrapping his arm around Carson's lower leg and drove his shoulder into his knee.

To me the contention that it was momentum that caused it is laughable.

But then you take it a step beyond laughable. It is Carson's fault for being in the wrong place? He was in the pocket for crissakes, where else would he be?

How did you get to be a moderator on a football board with such ridiculous opinions?

[Kirkendall]

I don't know. I labeled that play as a "freak play" if anything. Also, a little off-topic, the officials did a horrible job in the league calling those low hits on the QB. Many went unnoticed and unflagged for the Palmer rule.

[Stripes]

To me the contention that it was momentum that caused it is laughable.

You find plenty of reasonable statements laughable.

But then you take it a step beyond laughable. It is Carson's fault for being in the wrong place? He was in the pocket for crissakes, where else would he be?

You misinterpret what I'm trying to say. Carson had little means of avoiding the incident, becuase you're right... he was in the pocket, where a quarterback should be. Regardless, he was standing there, and that contributed to the problem.

How did you get to be a moderator on a football board with such ridiculous opinions?

Maybe I've earned some respect from other people here by presenting my "ridiculous opinions" in a balanced and pleasant manner.

Also, a little off-topic, the officials did a horrible job in the league calling those low hits on the QB. Many went unnoticed and unflagged for the Palmer rule.

Yeah, the officials seemed to focus much more on high hits to the quarterback, or on knockdowns. Didn't make much sense to me.

[Kirkendall]

Isn't it pretty universal that most QBs want their knees protected? Who was it that said they don't care if they get smacked in the face. Just watch the knees. Makes sense to me. But roll the QB over costing a game and 15-yards and automatic first down? Shesh. What exactly are we protecting there?

[Kazkal]

What about richard seymours hit on carson? this is steinbachs weakness powerful DT's own him.