Pat kirwan on NFL.com chat right now

[walzav29]

http://chat.nfl.com/front/index/243?refresh=30

Suggests the bengals sign E. James

[TJJackson]

As an assistant running backs coach?

or as the guy who has to answer all the calls to the "Jerk Line"?

[Wraith]

He also suggests we need to pick another DT in Free Agency.....

[walzav29]

Couldn't hurt.

[ArmyBengal]

Edge in Cincinnati = Stupid unless he's getting the coach some coffee and he better get minimum wage for that position !!!

[gregstephens]

As an assistant running backs coach?

or as the guy who has to answer all the class to the "Jerk Line"?

I'd be ok with Edge cutting his teeth here in Cincy as an assistant backs coach. Good experience. Could probably teach the newbies a thing or two.

[walzav29]

I'm not a big James fan, but we do need another back. Any suggestions?

[gregstephens]

I'm not a big James fan, but we do need another back. Any suggestions?

If we were talking about bringing in James, why not go bring back Rudi? He knows the offense, he's a great locker room guy. He's had a year to rest up. Probably work cheap.

Any takers?

[Wraith]

Just say NO to Running Backs over 30!

[James_Brooks21]

He also suggests we need to pick another DT in Free Agency.....

You guys have to kidding about not wanting Edge. Edge may not be the beast that he was when he was with the Colts but damn sure he still can grind out

the tough yards. Third and less then five I'm putting him in before I put Benson in, or if we are talking about pass blocking for Carson I'm damn sure

putting him in before I put in Benson or anybody else on the current roster. You have to be kidding about Rudi coming back, Edge has more left then

Rudi has left. Edge still runs hard I know I'm not the only one who witnessed him running the ball in the playoffs, no he's not the bell cow anymore but

yes he can still be very productive if we play him right. Bring Rudi back that still has me laughing that would put a damper to everything that we did this offseason by bringing him back.

[derekshank]

My first gut instinct here is to say, I have heard no rumors about the Bengals being even slightly interested in James. This means it is purely Kirwan's opinion. A stupid opinion, but one protected by the Bill of Rights. So for those of you worried about the Bengals bringing James, I would just say... don't. I have seen no indication that they are considering this.

But just to dissect a move like this a little bit... While James is still a top tier pass blocking RB, his role with the Bengals would be even less than what it was in Arizona. A role he openly complained about to the media. Do we really want another one of those guys in Cincy?

Add the fact the roster question... Who gets cut? Perry got cut the moment they drafted Bernard Scott. They traded for Leonard, but we haven't seen any other casualties yet. Who will it be?

The Bengals are only going to carry 4 RB's on the roster... Benson, Leonard, Scott, and one other. Why would they want that guy to be at the end of his career rather than a flier on a young guy? And if it is going to be an old guy, what's wrong with Kenny Watson? He's performed adequately when they've needed him to... and with Leonard and Scott, they won't need much from another back. I guess I'd like to see James Johnson stick around, truth be told.

Kirwan's desire to see James in Cincy makes a whole lot of no sense to me.

[James_Brooks21]

My first gut instinct here is to say, I have heard no rumors about the Bengals being even slightly interested in James. This means it is purely Kirwan's opinion. A stupid opinion, but one protected by the Bill of Rights. So for those of you worried about the Bengals bringing James, I would just say... don't. I have seen no indication that they are considering this.

But just to dissect a move like this a little bit... While James is still a top tier pass blocking RB, his role with the Bengals would be even less than what it was in Arizona. A role he openly complained about to the media. Do we really want another one of those guys in Cincy?

Add the fact the roster question... Who gets cut? Perry got cut the moment they drafted Bernard Scott. They traded for Leonard, but we haven't seen any other casualties yet. Who will it be?

The Bengals are only going to carry 4 RB's on the roster... Benson, Leonard, Scott, and one other. Why would they want that guy to be at the end of his career rather than a flier on a young guy? And if it is going to be an old guy, what's wrong with Kenny Watson? He's performed adequately when they've needed him to... and with Leonard and Scott, they won't need much from another back. I guess I'd like to see James Johnson stick around, truth be told.

Kirwan's desire to see James in Cincy makes a whole lot of no sense to me.

I'm hoping that we are not content with what we have at running back, if we go into the season with what we have now IMHO we are going to be in the top five worst rushing teams in the league. People are saying that Edge is washed up but then they talk about Watson who's older then Edge and only made cameo appearances last year. Watson is decent but damn sure he is not the caliber that Edge is as a running back, we are comparing a running back that's older then James that had a breakout year with 700 something yards two years ago, against a running back that has had seven 1000 yard seasons. I think for the first time in my life I am praying that Mike Brown does not agree with you guys and actually goes out and gets us something other then Brian Leonard. You sign James and let him and Watson and Leonard battle it out in training camp and preseason and then you cut the weak link when it becomes apparent on who can help us now and who can't.

[gregstephens]

My first gut instinct here is to say, I have heard no rumors about the Bengals being even slightly interested in James. This means it is purely Kirwan's opinion. A stupid opinion, but one protected by the Bill of Rights. So for those of you worried about the Bengals bringing James, I would just say... don't. I have seen no indication that they are considering this.

But just to dissect a move like this a little bit... While James is still a top tier pass blocking RB, his role with the Bengals would be even less than what it was in Arizona. A role he openly complained about to the media. Do we really want another one of those guys in Cincy?

Add the fact the roster question... Who gets cut? Perry got cut the moment they drafted Bernard Scott. They traded for Leonard, but we haven't seen any other casualties yet. Who will it be?

The Bengals are only going to carry 4 RB's on the roster... Benson, Leonard, Scott, and one other. Why would they want that guy to be at the end of his career rather than a flier on a young guy? And if it is going to be an old guy, what's wrong with Kenny Watson? He's performed adequately when they've needed him to... and with Leonard and Scott, they won't need much from another back. I guess I'd like to see James Johnson stick around, truth be told.

Kirwan's desire to see James in Cincy makes a whole lot of no sense to me.

I'm hoping that we are not content with what we have at running back, if we go into the season with what we have now IMHO we are going to be in the top five worst rushing teams in the league. People are saying that Edge is washed up but then they talk about Watson who's older then Edge and only made cameo appearances last year. Watson is decent but damn sure he is not the caliber that Edge is as a running back, we are comparing a running back that's older then James that had a breakout year with 700 something yards two years ago, against a running back that has had seven 1000 yard seasons. I think for the first time in my life I am praying that Mike Brown does not agree with you guys and actually goes out and gets us something other then Brian Leonard. You sign James and let him and Watson and Leonard battle it out in training camp and preseason and then you cut the weak link when it becomes apparent on who can help us now and who can't.

All I'm saying is that we don't need another prima donna on this team that isn't a good as his ego thinks he is. That would completely undo everything we've done this offseason (which I think is substantial).

Let Edge go complain about playing time and money somewhere else. All he sells is crazy and we're all stocked up here (see Fredo's thread).

[volcom69]

Pat keeps sayin on his sirus show that we should be signing Hollis Thomas now for a fourth DT, hes been sayin that since he has been cut. I wouldnt mind another big body in here but we just got rid of one does Marvin really think they need another.

[derekshank]

He also suggests we need to pick another DT in Free Agency.....

You guys have to kidding about not wanting Edge. Edge may not be the beast that he was when he was with the Colts but damn sure he still can grind out the tough yards.

Ok... but you know you're talking about a guy who lost his starting job on the worst rushing team in the NFL.

Third and less then five I'm putting him in before I put Benson in...

Really?

...or if we are talking about pass blocking for Carson I'm damn sure putting him in before I put in Benson or anybody else on the current roster.

I'll say this. You're right that Edge is probably a better pass blocking RB than anyone on the Bengals roster... but I think Benson is very underrated in this role, and I also think that Leonard, having played FB for a couple of seasons in St. Louis probably knows how to block as well.

Add to this the fact that James is almost certainly not willing to come to Cincy as a glorified O-Lineman on passing downs.

Benson is the starter... right? They just brought in Leonard - his role yet to be determined, and drafted what many claim is the crown jewel of day 2 of the draft in Bernard Scott. How many rushes does James get? Certainly not enough to keep him happy - and even if you could convince me that it was an upgrade, I would only concede that it is of the slightest margins... and any role he'd be given would most likely do nothing but stunt the growth of what might be the future of this team at the position (Leonard and Scott).

[James_Brooks21]

Pat keeps sayin on his sirus show that we should be signing Hollis Thomas now for a fourth DT, hes been sayin that since he has been cut. I wouldnt mind another big body in here but we just got rid of one does Marvin really think they need another.

I think the Bengals think highly of Shirley, I don't think Kirwan is taking that into account. Let Shirley get some playing time so we can see what the Bengals are high about, not looking for Thomas to come here.

[derekshank]

I'm hoping that we are not content with what we have at running back, if we go into the season with what we have now IMHO we are going to be in the top five worst rushing teams in the league.

If that's true, it won't be because of the RB position. It will be the O-Line. And Edge doesn't address that issue. As I mentioned earlier, James lost his starting job last year, and was on a team that ranked 32nd in rushing.

If the Bengals are doomed to be in the lower 5 in rushing yards this season, James can't change that in Cincy any more than he did in Arizona.

[derekshank]

I think the Bengals think highly of Shirley, I don't think Kirwan is taking that into account. Let Shirley get some playing time so we can see what the Bengals are high about, not looking for Thomas to come here.

Interesting that you're willing to trust the Bengals coaching staff on the assumed opinion of Shirley (given the trade of Orien Harris)... but unwilling to trust them on the assumed opinion of Scott (given the cutting of Chris Perry).

[derekshank]

Watson is decent but damn sure he is not the caliber that Edge is as a running back, we are comparing a running back that's older then James that had a breakout year with 700 something yards two years ago, against a running back that has had seven 1000 yard seasons.

You misunderstand. Firstly, I never compared the two on a basis of their entire careers. That would be stupid. And frankly, their age is of little concern in my mind compared to the number of carries throughout their NFL careers. (James has 2982 carries, Watson has 358... which one do you think has fresher legs?)

Secondly, you completely miss my point on Watson. I don't believe they don't need James because of Kenny Watson. I believe they don't need James for the same reason that Watson might not even make the team. The Bengals are in the middle of a youth movement, and Benson, Leonard, and Scott are probably more than capable of handling all the RB duties for this team - and they can keep either Watson or James Johnson on the roster as the 4th RB.

Sorry, but I don't see how the Edge brings any meaningful contribution to this team that can't be accommodated by the young RB's already on the roster.

[Bearcat1975]

Hmm I would put Chris Perry above Edge at this point, and the Bengals just cut Perry. So I would pass on Edge too.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I'm passing on Edge and Hollis Thomas. In particular, Hollis is a 3-tech DT, and we already have Tank and Sims in that role. Hell, I'd rather see Thornton back, if Kirwan thinks we need more depth there.

As far as Edge goes, he was pissed about splitting carries with Hightower last year to the point that he demanded to be traded or released. Do you think he'll be happy getting 5-7 touches a game on a rebuilding Bengals team? IF Leonard is the backup RB, the 3rd RB needs to be a key Special Teams performer, and Edge is clearly not that.

Neither one of those moves would make much sense, IMO.

[blueridge]

Kirwan is probably puffing these guys because he likes them and they are looking for work. I think its odd that the day after trading a DT for a RB, he would suggest we sign a DT and a RB. Enough with RBs-we must have 8 or 9 on the roster now. Better to sign a veteran CB first. At any rate, I think the Bengals are doing fine so far this offseason.

[Spor_tees]

Give me Warrick Dunn before James. Not only is he more of a complementary back to Benson, but he is also a class act in the community. Dunn would be the PERFECT mentor for the guy they just drafted. On and off the field.

[volcom69]

After trading for Lenord do you really see them going after another FA running back, i just dont see it. I think they are looking at a 3rd CB, and thats probably it for now.

[James_Brooks21]

Give me Warrick Dunn before James. Not only is he more of a complementary back to Benson, but he is also a class act in the community. Dunn would be the PERFECT mentor for the guy they just drafted. On and off the field.

I said Warrick Dunn about a month ago, either one of them (Edge,Dunn) is a major upgrade then Leonard. Leonard as our number two running backs, you guys have put a smile on my face with that joke. I agree they do need a third cornerback, but IMHO it doesn't matter how many running backs they have if none of the backups is worth anything.