bubble boys

[FonzieDog]

Good article on bengals.com today about players on the bubble in Sulfsted, Manual, and Broussard. Makes you really want to pull for Sulfsted.

http://www.bengals.com/press/news.asp?news_id=2358#cont

[CJBestInAFC]

How many do they have to keep? If it is only one I would go with Broussard. He is the best. Manual is good on Special Teams, and I think they could fill his job with other players on the team. The lineman is a local product which is great, but this isn't college, so I don't feel bad if he gets the boot. Broussard will help the team the most. I think he can be another Dante Hall.

[kingwilly]

I think we'll see a more established player let go.

Dare I say it.....

....Peter Warrick

There, I've done it.

If he comes up lame in tonight's game, I sense that they will look at their options.

Let us not forget it was only last year that he really had a decent, productive year. He is a former 4th overall pick. There were very big expectations from him early on but with crap for QB, he never got going. Last year with Kitna he was an excellent 2nd option in the slot. BUT his muffed punt in BAL lead to their first TD and completely changed the momentum in the game, a game had we won, we'd have been in the playoffs. He did catch 11 passes there, when Chris McAllister shut down Chad but the muff was a doozie. How he fares with Palmer tonight will be very telling. I do not buy into the idea that it will somehow be acceptable for the P-Dub to have a slow-start with Palmer. Sure it may happen, with passes sailing over heads and routes getting skewed, but that doesn't mean it is OK. P-Dub and Carson need to start strong and play consistent ball.

I'd also like to mention him getting contacts. Here is a PROFESSIONAL athlete who had to be forced to get contacts. He probably needed them long before he got them and that by not having them it hurt his ability to perform (the other muffed punts, remember?).

His knee is in question, hurts all the time, even though he had surgery last Dec. and has re-habbed it since then. We do not know of his current ability to make cuts and do the things that have kept him in the league. Should his ability be down and the knee the reason, I think he could be the surprise cut given the number and apparent quality of the other WR's, the needs on the O-line and LB positions.

..but what do I know.

[membengal]

Wow, that's too hard by a million on Warrick. The reason they lost the second Ravens game had a lot more to do with Levi Jones' injury than anything else. By far.

Warrick is nails for this team. They need him healthy to have any chance of winning more than 8 games. Period. He blocks like a madman. He is an almost impossible match-up in the slot (good luck covering him with a LB or S), and is rock solid at moving the chains on third down. He showed an uncanny ability to work open in the red zone last year, and will only be more dangerous with a taller QB in Palmer who can actually see over the line and work the ball across the middle to him.

Warrick is a splendid counter-part to the size on the outside in CJ and Kelly, and is still a threat to beat you deep (hello KC game). Cutting Warrick would be insane. They need Warrick healthy. Even if not compeltely healthy, they need him. You are undervaluing Warrick beyond belief. Move beyond the whole "disappointing for where he was drafted " stuff and enjoy him for what he is---a dangerous #2 receiver out of the slot who makes this team a terrificly difficult match-up for opposing defensive coordinators.

[kingwilly]

All those things you say are true, IF.... P-Dud is healthy. I am not convinced he is.

Look... if his injuries compromise his ability to do the things, things I think we both agree are his strengths, then he is vulnerable. Tonight will tell a lot.

The BAL game was lost on many fronts, O-line, WR play, D not getting stops. P-Dub contributed with the muff. Maybe I still have sour grapes on that game.

I am considering here the fact that there will be a surprise or two when the cut-down happens (Foley was cut and was a big part of our formwer #10 ranked defense and had a big salary). I think Warrick is at risk.

Consider the abilities of the players around him, the areas where Wartrick excelled and then factor the injury or lack of recovery from it.

Can K-Dub move the chains like Warrick? Can Broussard (faster than Warrick) get timing down with Palmer to turn a 7 yard dump into a 20 yard scramble? Can TJ, or Watson field punts? O'Neal can also return.

This is just conjecture. Warrick will most likely stay but I think there is bound to be a surprise or two and Warrick seemed to be an interesting angle to discuss.

[richmond_mat]

All those things you say are true, IF.... P-Dud is healthy. I am not convinced he is.

I am considering here the fact that there will be a surprise or two when the cut-down happens (Foley was cut and was a big part of our formwer #10 ranked defense and had a big salary). I think Warrick is at risk.

I will not be surprised if Warrick is cut. He's paid wentirely too much to sit on the bench. Hopefully his insurance is paid up so he can cash in on the injury. :player:

Maybe a trade will materialize, but I have a suspicion that his knee is DONE and he wouldn't pass a physical. :player: