Official Episode #1 Thread

[Ickey44]

So you just publicly stated that a bengals player is contributing to the delinquency of a minor? That's nice.

Being a little unfair to agreen here I think. Sure, she can't drink because the US, imo, has ass backwards puritanical laws on drinking so in that sense - not kewl. She does, however, possess most privileges of "adult" status, having a beer or putting some money on the horses excepted. It's not like he's snorting charlie of a 15 yr old's tatas.

All agreen is suggesting that in private they might enjoy a drink or two as a couple. Maybe a glass of wine with dinner? Deliquency blah blah or just a glass of wine with dinner?

For all we know, they aren't anyway. Plus, at 19 yrs old she's most likely way ahead of him in the maturity stakes.

Spot on.. All I'm stating is that my friend is dating a Bengals player. What they do in private is on them. I'm merely suggesting that I have a 20 year old girlfriend and we go out drinking occasionally. It's not uncommon for a 19 year old girl to drink. I never said Cedric is contributing to a minor.. Cincinnati is 4.5 hours from Windsor, Canada where the drinking age is 19 Pidge.

Neither one of those is a wise statement to make, is my point. It could be taken just the way a read it and you know there are people out there gunning for the Bengals players.

No, I get it. It sucks and makes no sense but yep, give them no ammo. However, the real world in which we all live means that yes, alcohol will likely be imbibed, unless Ced has turned tee total since his boating escapade. Let's all hope they're sensible about it and keep it behind closed doors.

I have no doubt it's happening, but it shouldn't be advertised that it's happening either.

[Kazkal]

I know it's WDR But it's a about a twit from Willie

In a recent tweet by fellow ex-Bengal and great American Willie Anderson, he shed some light on the Jeremi Johnson situation this offseason:

Yeah Right! Mike Brown won't let them cut Jeremy Johnson. He made the coaches go find him in Kentucky this offseason.

This is the same Jeremi Johnson that has come to camp overweight and unprepared almost every offseason. The same one who hasn't contributed since his flurry of fake handoff touchdown receptions in 2005. The only reason Mikey keeps bringing him back is because Mikey is such a good guy! He just finds a softspot in his heart for certain worthless/troubled players, and has to enrich them with NFL salaries.

The opportunity cost of this of course is the possibility of signing a fullback with real talent, and one that would contribute in taking us to the next level. But there is no "next level" with Mike Brown. He is quite alright being "competitive", and taking care of his guys in the process.

Wow No love for JJ....Makes me wonder if he actually beating fui out or Mikey promoted him.

[gregstephens]

I know it's WDR But it's a about a twit from Willie

In a recent tweet by fellow ex-Bengal and great American Willie Anderson, he shed some light on the Jeremi Johnson situation this offseason:

Yeah Right! Mike Brown won't let them cut Jeremy Johnson. He made the coaches go find him in Kentucky this offseason.

This is the same Jeremi Johnson that has come to camp overweight and unprepared almost every offseason. The same one who hasn't contributed since his flurry of fake handoff touchdown receptions in 2005. The only reason Mikey keeps bringing him back is because Mikey is such a good guy! He just finds a softspot in his heart for certain worthless/troubled players, and has to enrich them with NFL salaries.

The opportunity cost of this of course is the possibility of signing a fullback with real talent, and one that would contribute in taking us to the next level. But there is no "next level" with Mike Brown. He is quite alright being "competitive", and taking care of his guys in the process.

Wow No love for JJ....Makes me wonder if he actually beating fui out or Mikey promoted him.

Wow is really about the only thing I can say at this point myself.

[Walrus]

I know it's WDR But it's a about a twit from Willie

In a recent tweet by fellow ex-Bengal and great American Willie Anderson, he shed some light on the Jeremi Johnson situation this offseason:

Yeah Right! Mike Brown won't let them cut Jeremy Johnson. He made the coaches go find him in Kentucky this offseason.

This is the same Jeremi Johnson that has come to camp overweight and unprepared almost every offseason. The same one who hasn't contributed since his flurry of fake handoff touchdown receptions in 2005. The only reason Mikey keeps bringing him back is because Mikey is such a good guy! He just finds a softspot in his heart for certain worthless/troubled players, and has to enrich them with NFL salaries.

The opportunity cost of this of course is the possibility of signing a fullback with real talent, and one that would contribute in taking us to the next level. But there is no "next level" with Mike Brown. He is quite alright being "competitive", and taking care of his guys in the process.

Wow No love for JJ....Makes me wonder if he actually beating fui out or Mikey promoted him.

Yeah -- I happened upon Willie's Twitter page earlier today and noticed what he wrote last night while watching Hard Knocks. To be clear, just the 3 sentences starting w/ "Yeah right" are Willie's tweet -- the rest was written by someone at WDR.

[volcom69]

Ok so after reading all of this, its seems like not much has changed since last year then. I dont get HBO so i didnt watch it, but the team dosnt seem motivated to win, is that what you guys are saying.

Wow to hear that about JJ when there was that great article about him, makes me wonder whats even going on here. Once i again i get excited about this upcoming year, but then i wonder why when hearing this it seems like nothing has changed again.

[Sea Ray]

Ok so after reading all of this, its seems like not much has changed since last year then. I dont get HBO so i didnt watch it, but the team dosnt seem motivated to win, is that what you guys are saying.

Wow to hear that about JJ when there was that great article about him, makes me wonder whats even going on here. Once i again i get excited about this upcoming year, but then i wonder why when hearing this it seems like nothing has changed again.

I wouldn't say that. A lot has changed since last year. Carson is healthy, Chad is in camp and not pouting, we've added playmakers on defense and stiffs like Ghiacuic, Fitz and Levi are gone. Don't forget really how horrible things were last year.

[volcom69]

Sure i get that and thats all fine, but there has to be an attitude change. It seems like after 2005 this team has not had a winning attitude, and that what i want to see this year. From what it seems from all of these comments on here is that the attitude is still the same.

[Kazkal]

Sure i get that and thats all fine, but there has to be an attitude change. It seems like after 2005 this team has not had a winning attitude, and that what i want to see this year. From what it seems from all of these comments on here is that the attitude is still the same.

How so? outside of JJ & Mikebrown was only real negativity I got...Seemed like plenty had the mindset that they wanna win...Like Tank Johnson stating it left a bad taste in his mouth being 4-12 and he wasn't even on the team

[membengal]

Ok so after reading all of this, its seems like not much has changed since last year then. I dont get HBO so i didnt watch it, but the team dosnt seem motivated to win, is that what you guys are saying.

Wow to hear that about JJ when there was that great article about him, makes me wonder whats even going on here. Once i again i get excited about this upcoming year, but then i wonder why when hearing this it seems like nothing has changed again.

Look, don't take it wrong. I thought the attitude on the team was pretty damn good. Guys working hard, guys laughing and giving each other s**t, guys focused. That part was good.

The eye-opener, in some ways, was the visual confirmation of what we all have suspected about Mikey B's involvement in the day-to-day operations of the team. The guy would suck the fun out of a circus of strippers. Just soul-leachingly awful. Part of that is his personality. Part of it is his continued acting like he knows what he is doing. The example others have given of him talking about a particular potential move of a DE to TE really was worth the price of admission, if only to watch Hayes stumble over trying to say, carefully, that it was a stupid f**king idea.

It was confirmation that each season the team has to overcome its front office and the opposing team. But it has to overcome its front office in a way different from what so many on here complain about. It's not the money, or the alleged cheapness even, it's simply that guy's presence. Yuck.

He should be put in a room and never talk to anyone associated with the on-field product. Ever.

But the team itself? Go ahead and feel somewhat excited. Seems like a professional groupd of guys trying to, um, "compete". With any luck, they will win some...

[Baraka]

i was pretty jazzed for the season until i logged on this morning and started reading this thread. i didn't watch but mikey making personnel decisions, players having to pay for amenities, katie playing the victim, the not so classy release of a player by some sort of weeble wobble creature, a fat man promoted to first on the depth chart possibly because the owner says so, a pre-camp speech with the fire of my freezer, coaches who are openly frustrated at being hamstrung by the front office and a first round pick that's fat and stupid . . . it kind of pisses me off. and there's one common denominator in all of it.

[membengal]

It really wasn't THAT dire, baraka.

Give it a watch, it was illuminating and reassuring all at once.

[volcom69]

I wish i could of seen it, but like i said i dont have HBO. I never expected to see the front office change, but when reading it was just hard to tell if guys attitudes were changing, but if everyone says they are then i will take your word for it. I guess its just really hard to get my hopes up after these couple of seasons, and this front office still running the place like its some kind of joke.

Anybody see the O-Line at all practing on there, do they seem to be geling or anything, P.Alexander dosnt give me much hope on this line from the way he speaks, and this is what worries me the most about the team. So any kind of hope on the o-line will be great.

[Bearcat1975]

i was pretty jazzed for the season until i logged on this morning and started reading this thread. i didn't watch but mikey making personnel decisions, players having to pay for amenities, katie playing the victim, the not so classy release of a player by some sort of weeble wobble creature, a fat man promoted to first on the depth chart possibly because the owner says so, a pre-camp speech with the fire of my freezer, coaches who are openly frustrated at being hamstrung by the front office and a first round pick that's fat and stupid . . . it kind of pisses me off. and there's one common denominator in all of it.

Mike Brown should have never agreed to let HBO do this.

If there were any soP apologists left, they are all gone now.

The Bengals as a franchise came off looking like an even bigger mess than I thought they were.

If the Cincinnati Bengals ever hope to have any semblance of success, they will need to overcome Mike Brown's self-imposed handicaps. I just had no idea his handicaps were to the extent they are.

You hear something like "Mike Brown flies his potential free agents into town with "coach" seating on the plane, and then takes them out to Rally's for lunch," and it is hard to believe. But there it was in full HD last night, the players getting nickeled and dimed right when they walked through the door.

You hear something like "the Bengals lowball the hell out of everyone, then wonder why no one wants to sign," and it is hard to believe. But then there it is in HD again, Katie whining about how clueless she is at NFL contract negotiations.

You hear something like "Mike Brown is heavily involved in many facets of day-to-day football operations, planning, structure, and strategy," and it is hard to believe he is that involved. But there it was in full HD last night, Mike Brown f**king up the day-to-day with his crappiness.

I'll say it again, Mike Brown never should have let those cameras in. I had no idea his presence was to the extent that it is. From a results standpoint it has always made sense. There is too much parity, and too much personnel changeover in 20 years for one team to have just one winning record in that timespan. But the proof was there for all to see last night.

[Kazkal]

Anyone have a link to big willies twitter account?

[TJJackson]

http://twitter.com/Willanderson79

[ArmyBengal]

So yeah, we aren't the only ones who think Chad is a complete douche. Carson getting credit for his leadership ?? What ?? So it ain't so...

Here was Yahoo's take on the episode:

The 2009 Bengals edition of "Hard Knocks" debuted last night on HBO, and it was fantastic, if you like injured tight ends, fullbacks who are about one step away from putting on a Las Vegas Locomotives jersey, and Roy Williams getting housed in an Oklahoma drill.

Chad Ochocinco(notes) also figured heavily into the second half of the show. If you happened to miss it, I'll paraphrase Chad's entire appearance here.

"'Child, please' is another way of saying 'f--- you.' Having said that ... child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, child please, LOOK AT ME!"

So basically, it was exactly like his Twitter feed. If there was any doubt that Chad wasn't being himself on Twitter, we cleared that up last night. Maybe in next week's episode, we'll get an update on his Twitter spat with With Leather editor, Monday Morning Punter (note: naughty language at that link).

I enjoyed the show, though. It's rare that HBO executes anything poorly, and they managed to lightly tug at the heartstrings a couple of times. I felt for Reggie Kelly(notes) when he got the news about his Achilles, and I felt for J.D. Runnels(notes) when that mean guy woke him up to tell him he was being put on waivers.

I'd imagine Roy Williams is a little embarrassed this morning about his showing. He lined up against Maurice Purify(notes) in the Oklahoma drill (one running back, and one blocker going one-on-one with a defender in a confined space), and things did not work out well for Roy. Purify erased him. With his propensity to get beat deep, and his inability to even put up a fight against a rookie wide receiver blocking him, I'm having trouble figuring out what it is that Roy Williams does well.

Maybe the highlight of the hour was Carson Palmer's(notes) pep talk/lecture to Ochocinco about not taking plays off and doing things right. It was only a few seconds, but if it was representative at all of Palmer's leadership ability, the Bengals are damn lucky to have him. The way they ended the show made it seem like next week would feature Palmer heavily, so I'm looking forward to that.

/>http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Hard-Knocks-One-episode-down-no-Bengals-have-b;_ylt=Ap3.dix7eoMrydUgymE0PtE5nYcB?urn=nfl,182619

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Not much to add.

The entire Bengal front office came off about as badly as all of us would have guessed....

Can somebody PM the mods, Hair's account has been hacked.

Seriously, though, completely agree. Best thing was the general "a ha" when you see exactly what processes lead to the f**ked up decisions that we usually only see the results of. And yeah, Katie's sense of the negotiations was priceless. My favorite was when she said "these things usually get done eventually". That inspires confidence.

Lippincott was fantastic. Did you hear how the mic picked him up sucking wind from a flight of stairs like he was about to keel over? This guy needs some exercise in a bad way. Also pants that weren't designed for Erkel.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Not much to add.

The entire Bengal front office came off about as badly as all of us would have guessed....

Can somebody PM the mods, Hair's account has been hacked.

I wouldn't have expected this comment from him either.

[membengal]

Not much to add.

The entire Bengal front office came off about as badly as all of us would have guessed....

Can somebody PM the mods, Hair's account has been hacked.

Seriously, though, completely agree. Best thing was the general "a ha" when you see exactly what processes lead to the f**ked up decisions that we usually only see the results of. And yeah, Katie's sense of the negotiations was priceless. My favorite was when she said "these things usually get done eventually". That inspires confidence.

Lippincott was fantastic. Did you hear how the mic picked him up sucking wind from a flight of stairs like he was about to keel over? This guy needs some exercise in a bad way. Also pants that weren't designed for Erkel.

Yup. That's it in a nutshell.

[Pidge]

Well, after Marvin's musings on Henry and the general ethos needed in the squad last yr and then his miraculous re-signing, not much of a shock. Not sure I'd actually like to see the socially awkward situations that arise from having the HC's authority wrt the team totally undermined.

[skyline]

As moronic as Katie sounded on the show, I'm not as down on that part of the organization as many of you seem to be. 1st rounders aside, I think the organization does a good job of signing guys quickly and to fair contracts.

Mike Brown, of course, was an embarassment, outmatched only by Lippincott. "The only reason we cut is ability"? There's a difference between being matter of fact and being downright inhuman...a distinction that has apparently gotten lost somewhere among the sweaty fat folds he was attempting to lug up the stairs.

[agreen_112]

As moronic as Katie sounded on the show, I'm not as down on that part of the organization as many of you seem to be. 1st rounders aside, I think the organization does a good job of signing guys quickly and to fair contracts.

Mike Brown, of course, was an embarassment, outmatched only by Lippincott. "The only reason we cut is ability"? There's a difference between being matter of fact and being downright inhuman...a distinction that has apparently gotten lost somewhere among the sweaty fat folds he was attempting to lug up the stairs.

He could've sat the guy down and told him a lie, let him down easy, and it would've had the same impact... The truth is that Rennels doesn't have the "ability" to beat out the other fullbacks. That's the bottom line. Lippincott could've said it in another way but he was straight up with the guy. Numbers and ability is the truth. Too many guys are ahead of him on the depth chart, we don't need 5 fullbacks.

[kingwilly]

As moronic as Katie sounded on the show, I'm not as down on that part of the organization as many of you seem to be. 1st rounders aside, I think the organization does a good job of signing guys quickly and to fair contracts.

Mike Brown, of course, was an embarassment, outmatched only by Lippincott. "The only reason we cut is ability"? There's a difference between being matter of fact and being downright inhuman...a distinction that has apparently gotten lost somewhere among the sweaty fat folds he was attempting to lug up the stairs.

He could've sat the guy down and told him a lie, let him down easy, and it would've had the same impact... The truth is that Rennels doesn't have the "ability" to beat out the other fullbacks. That's the bottom line. Lippincott could've said it in another way but he was straight up with the guy. Numbers and ability is the truth. Too many guys are ahead of him on the depth chart, we don't need 5 fullbacks.

agreen, i think you miss the point. Perhaps the early AM "cut" as a function of timing of a flight out which meant being ready for a 7am van ride to the airport. Possible. And Lippincot's absolute explanation that we only cut due to "ability" could be true in some cases. But it is the combination that causes me to cry foul.

1. 5:30am to wake/cut/half-insult a player is cold and borderline unprofessonal. At the minimum it is disrespectful. Might as well told him they were cutting him before dawn so no one had to look at his birth marked face.

2. Claiming to only cut players for "ability" is also bunk. Cutting Runnels and keeping JJ dispels this notion, especially in light of the way tey were both portrayed during the show.Runnels was shown making the blocks, hustling, etc. JJ is shown woefully out of shape, whining about his knee, etc. Fat, out of shape folks do not get in shape in 3-5 weeks. Sorry. Also, Pressley was not getting any touches, which to me means that coaches think less of him than Runnels, or he' have been getting in there more. So, here we keep the fat, out of shape FB with the knee of no confidence and a smallish FB who is not getting touches. Smells like SoP to me.

3. Also, they cut Willie due to $, they cut many players for economic reasons. Not that Runnels was some financial burden but what he says in in the scene is simply not true. Salary Cap leads to decisions as to who goes and who stays.

I am grateful that the Benglas agreed to be on HK. It has already exposed enough to confirm MUCH of what we all thought we knew.

[skyline]

As moronic as Katie sounded on the show, I'm not as down on that part of the organization as many of you seem to be. 1st rounders aside, I think the organization does a good job of signing guys quickly and to fair contracts.

Mike Brown, of course, was an embarassment, outmatched only by Lippincott. "The only reason we cut is ability"? There's a difference between being matter of fact and being downright inhuman...a distinction that has apparently gotten lost somewhere among the sweaty fat folds he was attempting to lug up the stairs.

He could've sat the guy down and told him a lie, let him down easy, and it would've had the same impact... The truth is that Rennels doesn't have the "ability" to beat out the other fullbacks. That's the bottom line. Lippincott could've said it in another way but he was straight up with the guy. Numbers and ability is the truth. Too many guys are ahead of him on the depth chart, we don't need 5 fullbacks.

I'm not saying they should lie to the guy, but whatever happened to a simple, "I'm sorry, but we've decided to place you on waivers. If you can bring your playbook downstairs we'll discuss your best options from here and help you make the necessary travel arrangements"?

Instead, he hit the poor guy over the head with a mallet and seemed to think that he would already have his travel arrangements made 5 seconds later.

[Kazkal]

Lipp:JD open up a minute,Hi

Lipp:were Putting you on waivers today,which means you did not make the team (at this point the guy is still trying to wake up)

Lipp:The way this works is you 24 hours for teams to claim your contract

JD:Did they say why?

Lipp:It always comes down to numbers it's a ability thing

Lipp:The only reason we cut players is ability,No other reason <Ouch>

JD:Wow (Sits down)

Lipp:Are you flying back to phoenix

(couldn't hear JD's response)

-------------------------Now Lipp shuts the door--------------------------

Lipp:Hold on guys just a second

Lipp:Their will be a van out here,that will taking you to the airport at 7:00

Lipp:we need your special teams Notebook & playbook

-------------------------Lipp walks out-----------------------------------------

Comments to crew after the matter

Lipp:once I told him what was going on he was upset,this was never easy because you see how he and others react .

Lipp:And ahh we tell some body the best way do it is be direct with em,It's best to give them to make another team,He probably doesn't realize it right now...SO WHY DON"T YOU TELL HIM THAT

It's one thing doing it at 5:30 am but it's how he went about it that was less then a 3minute span....Seemed classless compared to how other teams did it on hardknocks...