If Ravens or Steelers were smart they'd swoop TO

[walzav29]

Thye both need receiver help and it would help them while hurting Cincy. I'm sure they would pay more. I think they'd be crazy to let Golden Boy get all these weapons.

[HoosierCat]

Thye both need receiver help and it would help them while hurting Cincy. I'm sure they would pay more. I think they'd be crazy to let Golden Boy get all these weapons.

Well, that, I'm sure, is what Owens and Rosenhaus are hoping for. It's Warren Sapp all over again. The Bengals, infamously, don't "negotiate with themselves," so there's plenty of opportunity now for a "white knight" to swoop in and give T.O. a big funny-money deal.

I guarantee you that every team has a faxed copy of the Bengals offer. And this is playing out just like the Sapp deal did: lots of hype on the official site, leaks that they are close, reports that T.O.'s pen is getting closer...closer...closer...closer...to that dotted line.

The Bengals are being played. In the end, they may still land Owens, but if they do it will be because no one else wanted him.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Thye both need receiver help and it would help them while hurting Cincy. I'm sure they would pay more. I think they'd be crazy to let Golden Boy get all these weapons.

The Ravens just swooped Boldin out of Arizona. I'm pretty sure they're all swooped out.

[volcom69]

Thye both need receiver help and it would help them while hurting Cincy. I'm sure they would pay more. I think they'd be crazy to let Golden Boy get all these weapons.

Now one of these teams probably will you just jinked it lol. Thats what has me worried i do want T.O. this team will be much better with him, but there is no deal done right now because they are just waiting for another team to chime in with a better offer. What sucks is T.O. will play for both of those teams so lets hope they dont make an offer.

[jjakq27]

Thye both need receiver help and it would help them while hurting Cincy. I'm sure they would pay more. I think they'd be crazy to let Golden Boy get all these weapons.

The Ravens just swooped Boldin out of Arizona. I'm pretty sure they're all swooped out.

Excessive swooping can be tiring and expensive.

[johnswahoo]

While getting T.O. might make the Bengals a much better team short term, what they lack is a player who can get those short 7 to 8 yard receptions that are needed to keep drives alive. I felt that Chris Henry was that type of player, Andre Caldwell has the potential to be that type of player but he also needs to be a better player off the line. In order to do that he needs to get 5 to 6 receptions per game that would put him in the 80ish category. Jordan Shipley is too new to even bring into this discussion.

I hate to say this but the Bengals need a player like a Hines Ward in his heyday or a Wes Welker or Greg Jennings type of player. What I think sets these guys apart is that they are double coverage type guys. They go under and get the football. Different than T.O. or Chad. These guys spead and stretch the field. It allows for guys to come under an make plays.

If we can get help from the TE position, perhaps the will offset the top need for a player who can do that. Right now I just don't see it.

[JoePong]

If the Ravens signed TO,the media would be talking about what a great move it was and picking the ravens to win the Superbowl. If the bengals sign him, they will be talking about how it's a disaster waiting to happen.

[JoePong]

While getting T.O. might make the Bengals a much better team short term, what they lack is a player who can get those short 7 to 8 yard receptions that are needed to keep drives alive. I felt that Chris Henry was that type of player, Andre Caldwell has the potential to be that type of player but he also needs to be a better player off the line. In order to do that he needs to get 5 to 6 receptions per game that would put him in the 80ish category. Jordan Shipley is too new to even bring into this discussion.

I hate to say this but the Bengals need a player like a Hines Ward in his heyday or a Wes Welker or Greg Jennings type of player. What I think sets these guys apart is that they are double coverage type guys. They go under and get the football. Different than T.O. or Chad. These guys spead and stretch the field. It allows for guys to come under an make plays.

If we can get help from the TE position, perhaps the will offset the top need for a player who can do that. Right now I just don't see it.

I disagree. TO is a great target on 3rd down to keep drives alive. Caldwell and Shipley can both do that. Bryant can do that. hell, Chad can do that. Gresham will cause all kinds of matchup problems in those situations. Coffman could be a factor. Brian Leonard and Bernard Scott can work out of the backfield...

You forget what it's like to actually have a TE as a threat.

[BengalszoneBilly]

While getting T.O. might make the Bengals a much better team short term, what they lack is a player who can get those short 7 to 8 yard receptions that are needed to keep drives alive. I felt that Chris Henry was that type of player,

The way I remember it was Chris Henry being a deep threat. If he ran a short route, it was due to running a fade route to the corner from the 10 yard line in the red zone. Maybe that's just me though.

[JoePong]

While getting T.O. might make the Bengals a much better team short term, what they lack is a player who can get those short 7 to 8 yard receptions that are needed to keep drives alive. I felt that Chris Henry was that type of player,

The way I remember it was Chris Henry being a deep threat. If he ran a short route, it was due to running a fade route to the corner from the 10 yard line in the red zone. Maybe that's just me though.

Yeah, it seemed like Henry made his catches on deep balls and across the middle on intermediate routes of 15-20 yards, and that fade route. Don't remember him making lots of those 7 or 8 yard catches. That was TJ.