I say Warrick Over TJ.

[walzav29]

If Warrick has a clean bill of health, then I say you let TJ walk. I feel Housh benefitted from Palmer being in there. As Palmer got better that's when TJ started blowing up. I have little doubt that Warrick would break a 1000 with the Golden Boy in there. I like TJ, but I think Warrick is a little quicker with more big play potential.

[skyline]

Why not both?

[walzav29]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Scottishbengal]

Depending on that what TJ is asking for is reasonable I can see him signing.

Whether or not PDub is prepared to battle it out for the 2nd/3rd receiver spot then becomes the question.

Hopefully the Bengals will keep them all and have 3 x 1000yard+ receivers next season. To go along with 2 x 1000yard+ running backs and a QB who throws for 100 TD's. The Bengals win it all - The Superbowl, World Peace, The Oscar's, The Kentucky Derby, the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, ...............................

...............................................time for my medication now.

[TubThumper]

Why not both?

I agree. You need more than two receivers that can get it done. Having Johnson, Warrick and Houshmandzadeh in house and healthy shouldn't be looked at as a luxury. I think the goal should be to have all three, even if you can't sign Rudi. I think it's easier to re-staff the running back function than it is to put together a real top-notch receiving corps.

[HoosierCat]

Before we go tossing TJ over the side because of "$$$$$$$$$" (which is, I agree, always a consideration), let's not forget that Peter Warrick is an unrestricted free agent after next season.

Here's a very possible scenario: we let TJ walk because he's too expensive. Warrick comes back from injury at or near 100% (probably the biggest assumption I'm making in this scenario) and gets that 1,000-yard season walzav believes him capable of. In that case, ask yourself this:

How much is resigning Warrick going to cost?

If you don't think he'll want to test the market, you're bonkers. And if $5 million to tag Rudi is seen as hefty, who here is eager to tag Warrick? The WR transition tag is $6.4 million this year; the franchise tag is $7.2 million.

Now, Warrick may not get an offer that size in FA -- but if TJ could draw $3 million/year out there come March, I have to think Warrick could parlay a solid 2005 season into a $4-5 million deal at least. And probably more if the Bengals, as we hope, reach the playoffs.

Right now, resigning TJ looks like the smart move to me. Warrick may be the better receiver, but he's going to command yet another big-bucks contract on offense after 2005. And if the Bengals are serious about improving the defense, they have to stop passing those out.

[TippCityRick]

Rudi - Pdub - TJ

One of the three won't be with the Bengals in 2005.

If Rudi asks for too much money, he's out.

If Pdub's leg is cooked, he's out.

If Rudi is reasonable or we transition him and Pdub's leg is fine, TJ's out.

Yes, TJ had a nice year. But, man, imagine last year with Pdub in the slot. And let's not forget, TJ was in Marvin's doghouse until Pdub's injury and Kdub's inability to get open and catch the ball gave TJ playing time. TJ isn't nearly as effective blocking as Pdub is, and Marvin sees this a a BIG part of the slot position.

Just my observations.

[BengalNation1281]

TJ...Chad...K-Wash

I like Warrick, and I would like to see him stay in Cincy, but if it came down to TJ or Peter...well, TJ has said that he would like to stay, and Peter doesn't want to be a #3, which is a position that K-Wash already does a good job in.

In a perfect world I would keep all of them, but at this point I say keep TJ and let Warrick go. If he had a great year he would be gone in 2006, as someone already stated.

BN1281

[BengalByTheBay]

I'm beginning to think this has more to do with Chad than with any of the other receivers. It looks to me like lining up across from CJ helped Pdub have his best year last year and TJ have a breakout year this year. I like both of those guys, but think it's gotta be one or the other. TJ is the bird in the hand right now because of Warrick's injury -- who knows how or if he will come back. If you let TJ go, I'd take a close look at Warrick in camp and (unless you're going to draft a WR) I'd take a swing at locking him up before the season starts with a LT contract.

[jditty47]

anyone that is willing to go through the middle with chad opposite him is gonna have a very good year. so if peter is here next year, we dont really need tj but he can be useful. i wouldnt like tj, pdub, and cj as our top 3 though. we need a deep threat as our 3rd...either kwash whos hasnt done much to impress or a new guy in FA or the draft.

[bengalsfan33]

I think we need to send K-Wash packing to be honest. Bring back Housh, but let Warrick walk. I feel that we should draft the kid out of South Carolina(WR Williamson) if he falls to the second round. I said that he reminds of CJ a little in another thread, so he's be a great addition if we could get him. Warrick is just too injury prone for us, so I think we need to draft a WR this year and than let him develop, so that he will be ready for the 2006 season as our 3rd receiver. I highly doubt Warrick will be coming back for 2006, so we must get someone else developed...

[TubThumper]

You've got a golden-boy quarterback. You need people for him to throw to, and you need those people to have some grit. You've got three guys that you know will go after the ball.

You've got a couple of backs already that are likely to take up some of the pressure if defenses try to shut them down. So, if you have to, you can continue to use the tight ends primarily as blockers, slipping in Schobel when you want more receiving production, or you might luck up and find an upgrade here without breaking the bank. You've got a cheap running back in-house that looks promising, and you can get other guys at a reasonable price to sort through along with him to find the final piece of the tailback-by-committee that you'd end up with with Rudi gone.

That leaves the deep route specialist. He's number 4 technically. His main thing is that he's got to be fast enough that you know he's going to get behind everybody a few times. He's got to run routes just well enough to be able to sell the idea that he just might pull up all day if you keep cheating deep, and he's got to be just sure-handed enough that they have to take him seriously. Basically, if the guy is really that fast and he's a real football player at all, you've got your man. Cliff Branch couldn't catch worth a damn when he first came up, but look at what he became. And the Raiders were scaring people with him right away.

I say, spend the money to keep Chad, TJ and Warrick together as health permits, let Rudi go, scrape up guys that can run and won't break as soon as they get hit and audition a believable decoy, and the top three will get it done. The decoy should get as many balls as Washington if defenses really try to shut down the top three, and they won't really be able to afford that if he's REALLY fast. You can't waste the golden-boy on handing the ball off all day, and he needs guys with heart that will go get the ball. You've already got them.

[smizzy]

Im hoping to get Tj in a Jets Uniform this year,let him walk!

[chrishcovga]

I think if it's financially possible for us to keep all four Wr's intact for the '05 season then I say let's do it. After that I could seriously see us letting K-Wash,T.J.,or P-dub go after that.

1. P-dub is going to cost too much for him to stay a # 2.

2. T.J. was a career bumn before last seasons' meteoric rise to Cincy' fame.

3. K-Wash has been really slow to develop plain and simple. - The hype on him coming out of Tennessee was that he was a " Randy Moss " type of player. He's 6'3 about 225 and ran mid 4.4's coming out of college, but he hasn't played up to his physical talents. As a matter of fact, I think he plays like he wishes he was better at baseball !- And a lot of times he just doesn't turn around for the ball or attempt to adjust to it! I hope in year 3 we see him develop into our future # 2, or he's outta here. :player:

[TubThumper]

I think if it's financially possible for us to keep all four Wr's intact for the '05 season then I say let's do it. After that I could seriously see us letting K-Wash,T.J.,or P-dub go after that.

1. P-dub is going to cost too much for him to stay a # 2.

2. T.J. was a career bumn before last seasons' meteoric rise to Cincy' fame.

3. K-Wash has been really slow to develop plain and simple. - The hype on him coming out of Tennessee was that he was a " Randy Moss " type of player. He's 6'3 about 225 and ran mid 4.4's coming out of college, but he hasn't played up to his physical talents. As a matter of fact, I think he plays like he wishes he was better at baseball !- And a lot of times he just doesn't turn around for the ball or attempt to adjust to it! I hope in year 3 we see him develop into our future # 2, or he's outta here. :player:

TJ in a Jets uniform. That would be a hell of a thing to see. I hope it doesn't happen and he's still on the Bengals, but man, that's intriguing.

[HoosierCat]

I say, spend the money to keep Chad, TJ and Warrick together as health permits, let Rudi go, scrape up guys that can run and won't break as soon as they get hit and audition a believable decoy, and the top three will get it done. The decoy should get as many balls as Washington if defenses really try to shut down the top three, and they won't really be able to afford that if he's REALLY fast. You can't waste the golden-boy on handing the ball off all day, and he needs guys with heart that will go get the ball. You've already got them.

I think that something of the sort was the original plan when the Bengals drafted Perry. With him on board, you could let Rudi go and have a feature back who cost you a million and change a year, versus $5 million and change, and that gives Marvin four bills to shift to the underfunded defensive side of the ball. Meanwhile you resign TJ and PW as their demands and the market permit, with Kwash and perhaps another 1-2 round draft pick WR to pick up the slack if they leave. In theory, that maintains a potent offense while achiving Marvin's stated aim of spending more on D.

But Perry was hurt and never got on the field, PW was hurt and opened a door for TJ, and TJ went through that door at high speed. Kwash, meanwhile, is rapidly playing his way onto the waiver wire, as chrish pointed out.

Basically, it comes down to how much faith they have in PW's knee and Perry's gut. If they think they'll be able to do the job next season, they'll let Rudi and probably TJ as well walk and spend the money on the defensive line. If they've lost confidence in PW and Perry, they retain Rudi and TJ (Rudi preferably being a 1-year deal) and either cut Warrick before next season (to free up cap space) or prepare to let him walk after '05.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

If I'm the Bengals I want to sign TJ to a one year deal and absorb that cap money right away (as they always like to do) and then bring Warrick back next year who will probably put up #'s similar to what TJ did last year and Warrick the year before in the #2 spot in this offense (if he stays healthy).

This would make TJ much less expensive and they'd be able to keep both of them around (provided no major injuries take place and Palmer continues to improve and produce).

I doubt TJ and his agent are that stupid though - and why I am afraid that someone may out-bid the Bengals for his services this year with a longer term deal he surely wants.

At the same time the Bengals may just match an offer and eat it and have to let Warrick go as a result.

Let's not forget what Warrick means to this offense and special teams - how he can change a game or make defenses account for him and open up Chad more....he's THAT GOOD.

TJ is an ideal possession WR like a Stokely for the Colts - there for you when you need him and has a good repetoire with Palmer.

I want to keep all 3 and if it means cutting some fat on defense, at TE or losing Washington then so be it.

[walshfan]

If I'm the Bengals I want to sign TJ to a one year deal and absorb that cap money right away (as they always like to do) and then bring Warrick back next year who will probably put up #'s similar to what TJ did last year and Warrick the year before in the #2 spot in this offense (if he stays healthy).

This would make TJ much less expensive and they'd be able to keep both of them around (provided no major injuries take place and Palmer continues to improve and produce).

I doubt TJ and his agent are that stupid though - and why I am afraid that someone may out-bid the Bengals for his services this year with a longer term deal he surely wants.

At the same time the Bengals may just match an offer and eat it and have to let Warrick go as a result.

Let's not forget what Warrick means to this offense and special teams - how he can change a game or make defenses account for him and open up Chad more....he's THAT GOOD.

TJ is an ideal possession WR like a Stokely for the Colts - there for you when you need him and has a good repetoire with Palmer.

I want to keep all 3 and if it means cutting some fat on defense, at TE or losing Washington then so be it.

He's that good huh?? How many times has Warrick been an all-pro??? how many times has he been ranked in the top 10 in catches or yards... what's his career yards per catch average?? He's not that good! Never lived up to all the damn hype coming out of collage as this big playmaker that could take it to the house at any time... he dropped allot of passes and when he did catch them wouldnt get the big yardage anyway.. hell he averaged less than 10 yards a catch one year and thats just plain pitiful for a wide receiver... Hes a good blocker Ill give him that but he's no big time playmaker and TJ is better right now than Warrick ever was...

[oldschooler]

If I'm the Bengals I want to sign TJ to a one year deal and absorb that cap money right away (as they always like to do) and then bring Warrick back next year who will probably put up #'s similar to what TJ did last year and Warrick the year before in the #2 spot in this offense (if he stays healthy).

This would make TJ much less expensive and they'd be able to keep both of them around (provided no major injuries take place and Palmer continues to improve and produce).

I doubt TJ and his agent are that stupid though - and why I am afraid that someone may out-bid the Bengals for his services this year with a longer term deal he surely wants.

At the same time the Bengals may just match an offer and eat it and have to let Warrick go as a result.

Let's not forget what Warrick means to this offense and special teams - how he can change a game or make defenses account for him and open up Chad more....he's THAT GOOD.

TJ is an ideal possession WR like a Stokely for the Colts - there for you when you need him and has a good repetoire with Palmer.

I want to keep all 3 and if it means cutting some fat on defense, at TE or losing Washington then so be it.

He's that good huh?? How many times has Warrick been an all-pro??? how many times has he been ranked in the top 10 in catches or yards... what's his career yards per catch average?? He's not that good! Never lived up to all the damn hype coming out of collage as this big playmaker that could take it to the house at any time... he dropped allot of passes and when he did catch them wouldnt get the big yardage anyway.. hell he averaged less than 10 yards a catch one year and thats just plain pitiful for a wide receiver... Hes a good blocker Ill give him that but he's no big time playmaker and TJ is better right now than Warrick ever was...

Warrick never played on an Offense with a QB

as good as Palmer either like TJ has.

Warrick`s 1st TWO seasons he had 5 different starting QB`s.

His 1st three seasons the Bengals weren`t stable at QB at all.

His Rookie seaon he had Scott Mitchell and Akili Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2000.pdf

His 2nd season he had Kitna, Mitchell and Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2001.pdf

His 3rd season he had Kitna Frerotte and Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2002.pdf

The fact is Warrick is a play maker... TJ isn`t.

Warrick had 1 season (2001) that he caught 1 TD pass.

But the Bengals as a TEAM only had 6 TD receptions.

His rookie season he had 4 TD`s (the same amount TJ had this year)

and Warrick lead the Bengals in yards and TD`s that year.

The other 2 seasons Warrick had MORE TD`s in a season than

TJ has had in his CAREER. 6 TD`s in 2002 and 7 TD`s in 2003.

TJ has 5 TD`s in 4 seasons. Warrick has 18 in 5 seasons.

[walshfan]

If I'm the Bengals I want to sign TJ to a one year deal and absorb that cap money right away (as they always like to do) and then bring Warrick back next year who will probably put up #'s similar to what TJ did last year and Warrick the year before in the #2 spot in this offense (if he stays healthy).

This would make TJ much less expensive and they'd be able to keep both of them around (provided no major injuries take place and Palmer continues to improve and produce).

I doubt TJ and his agent are that stupid though - and why I am afraid that someone may out-bid the Bengals for his services this year with a longer term deal he surely wants.

At the same time the Bengals may just match an offer and eat it and have to let Warrick go as a result.

Let's not forget what Warrick means to this offense and special teams - how he can change a game or make defenses account for him and open up Chad more....he's THAT GOOD.

TJ is an ideal possession WR like a Stokely for the Colts - there for you when you need him and has a good repetoire with Palmer.

I want to keep all 3 and if it means cutting some fat on defense, at TE or losing Washington then so be it.

He's that good huh?? How many times has Warrick been an all-pro??? how many times has he been ranked in the top 10 in catches or yards... what's his career yards per catch average?? He's not that good! Never lived up to all the damn hype coming out of collage as this big playmaker that could take it to the house at any time... he dropped allot of passes and when he did catch them wouldnt get the big yardage anyway.. hell he averaged less than 10 yards a catch one year and thats just plain pitiful for a wide receiver... Hes a good blocker Ill give him that but he's no big time playmaker and TJ is better right now than Warrick ever was...

Warrick never played on an Offense with a QB

as good as Palmer either like TJ has.

Warrick`s 1st TWO seasons he had 5 different starting QB`s.

His 1st three seasons the Bengals weren`t stable at QB at all.

His Rookie seaon he had Scott Mitchell and Akili Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2000.pdf

His 2nd season he had Kitna, Mitchell and Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2001.pdf

His 3rd season he had Kitna Frerotte and Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2002.pdf

The fact is Warrick is a play maker... TJ isn`t.

Warrick had 1 season (2001) that he caught 1 TD pass.

But the Bengals as a TEAM only had 6 TD receptions.

His rookie season he had 4 TD`s (the same amount TJ had this year)

and Warrick lead the Bengals in yards and TD`s that year.

The other 2 seasons Warrick had MORE TD`s in a season than

TJ has had in his CAREER. 6 TD`s in 2002 and 7 TD`s in 2003.

TJ has 5 TD`s in 4 seasons. Warrick has 18 in 5 seasons.

Allot of wide receivers havent had the best of QB's throw to them but they averaged more than Warrick did.. The fact is he doesnt have great hands and all that jukin and jivin still nets him only 10 yards a catch.. If you can comprehaend something without looking at a damn stat you'd see that he didnt do much after catching the damn ball.. Please try to come up with something besides a damn stat that can be manipulated to suit your opinion once in awhile...and by the way 18 TD's in 5 seasons really isnt all that much to get your blood pressure up is it?

[oldschooler]

Allot of wide receivers havent had the best of QB's throw to them but they averaged more than Warrick did.. The fact is he doesnt have great hands and all that jukin and jivin still nets him only 10 yards a catch.. If you can comprehaend something without looking at a damn stat you'd see that he didnt do much after catching the damn ball.. Please try to come up with something besides a damn stat that can be manipulated to suit your opinion once in awhile...and by the way 18 TD's in 5 seasons really isnt all that much to get your blood pressure up is it?

Wow a bit touchy aren`t we ?

I was just stating FACTS with stats.

We weren`t talking about "alot of WR`s".

We were talking about TJ. Fact is Warrick IS better

and hasn`t had a QB throw to him in his career, like TJ had this year.

TJ with those QB`s had 1 TD in 2 years ...he has 5 TD`s in 3 seasons.

(4 seasons if you count last year)

Even for a #3 that is pathetic.

Does that get your blood pressure up ?

[TubThumper]

If I'm the Bengals I want to sign TJ to a one year deal and absorb that cap money right away (as they always like to do) and then bring Warrick back next year who will probably put up #'s similar to what TJ did last year and Warrick the year before in the #2 spot in this offense (if he stays healthy).

This would make TJ much less expensive and they'd be able to keep both of them around (provided no major injuries take place and Palmer continues to improve and produce).

I doubt TJ and his agent are that stupid though - and why I am afraid that someone may out-bid the Bengals for his services this year with a longer term deal he surely wants.

At the same time the Bengals may just match an offer and eat it and have to let Warrick go as a result.

Let's not forget what Warrick means to this offense and special teams - how he can change a game or make defenses account for him and open up Chad more....he's THAT GOOD.

TJ is an ideal possession WR like a Stokely for the Colts - there for you when you need him and has a good repetoire with Palmer.

I want to keep all 3 and if it means cutting some fat on defense, at TE or losing Washington then so be it.

He's that good huh?? How many times has Warrick been an all-pro??? how many times has he been ranked in the top 10 in catches or yards... what's his career yards per catch average?? He's not that good! Never lived up to all the damn hype coming out of collage as this big playmaker that could take it to the house at any time... he dropped allot of passes and when he did catch them wouldnt get the big yardage anyway.. hell he averaged less than 10 yards a catch one year and thats just plain pitiful for a wide receiver... Hes a good blocker Ill give him that but he's no big time playmaker and TJ is better right now than Warrick ever was...

Warrick never played on an Offense with a QB

as good as Palmer either like TJ has.

Warrick`s 1st TWO seasons he had 5 different starting QB`s.

His 1st three seasons the Bengals weren`t stable at QB at all.

His Rookie seaon he had Scott Mitchell and Akili Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2000.pdf

His 2nd season he had Kitna, Mitchell and Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2001.pdf

His 3rd season he had Kitna Frerotte and Smith.

http://www.bengals.com/team/pdfs/2002.pdf

The fact is Warrick is a play maker... TJ isn`t.

Warrick had 1 season (2001) that he caught 1 TD pass.

But the Bengals as a TEAM only had 6 TD receptions.

His rookie season he had 4 TD`s (the same amount TJ had this year)

and Warrick lead the Bengals in yards and TD`s that year.

The other 2 seasons Warrick had MORE TD`s in a season than

TJ has had in his CAREER. 6 TD`s in 2002 and 7 TD`s in 2003.

TJ has 5 TD`s in 4 seasons. Warrick has 18 in 5 seasons.

Allot of wide receivers havent had the best of QB's throw to them but they averaged more than Warrick did.. The fact is he doesnt have great hands and all that jukin and jivin still nets him only 10 yards a catch.. If you can comprehaend something without looking at a damn stat you'd see that he didnt do much after catching the damn ball.. Please try to come up with something besides a damn stat that can be manipulated to suit your opinion once in awhile...and by the way 18 TD's in 5 seasons really isnt all that much to get your blood pressure up is it?

walsh, you're hitting it on the head about Warrick. Warrick just started to emerge as a reasonably reliable possession receiver last year. He also started running up field a little more on punts and it showed. He may be a valuable blocker and until TJ emerged he may have been the only off-set to Chad Johnson the Bengals had in the pass patterns, but he's been very pedestrian up to now. After all that, he's more dangerous as a receiver catching short routes to keep drives alive or springing a big run than he is running by people for the long gain.

And the guy who says that TJ isn't a playmaker must have been watching some other team. This guy not only made plays, but made them when they were most needed. And he made them after and while getting the snot knocked out of him. What in the hell do you call the 4th down catch against the Giants? TJ's a tough, heady guy with good hands (early season drops notwithstanding), and a whole lot of heart, and he can run well enough to get down field a bit too. Plus, he's a bird in the hand. Keep him there. Warrick is the question mark, not him.

[oldschooler]

walsh, you're hitting it on the head about Warrick.  Warrick just started to emerge as a reasonably reliable possession receiver last year.  He also started running up field a little more on punts and it showed.  He may be a valuable blocker and until TJ emerged he may have been the only off-set to Chad Johnson the Bengals had in the pass patterns, but he's been very pedestrian up to now.  After all that, he's more dangerous as a receiver catching short routes to keep drives alive or springing a big run than he is running by people for the long gain.

And the guy who says that TJ isn't a playmaker must have been watching some other team.  This guy not only made plays, but made them when they were most needed.  And he made them after and while getting the snot knocked out of him.  What in the hell do you call the 4th down catch against the Giants?  TJ's a tough, heady guy with good hands (early season drops notwithstanding), and a whole lot of heart, and he can run well enough to get down field a bit too.  Plus, he's a bird in the hand.  Keep him there.  Warrick is the question mark, not him.

TJ is a good POSSESION RECEIVER.

Yeah he caught some good passes and kept drives alive.

But isn`t that professional WR`s do ?

He has caught 5 TD passes in 4 seasons.

Fact is he caught 4 TD passes all season.

And 2 of those were in the 58-48 Browns game.

Hell Matt Schobel caught 4 TD passes this season with

42 LESS catches.

[walshfan]

walsh, you're hitting it on the head about Warrick.  Warrick just started to emerge as a reasonably reliable possession receiver last year.  He also started running up field a little more on punts and it showed.  He may be a valuable blocker and until TJ emerged he may have been the only off-set to Chad Johnson the Bengals had in the pass patterns, but he's been very pedestrian up to now.  After all that, he's more dangerous as a receiver catching short routes to keep drives alive or springing a big run than he is running by people for the long gain.

And the guy who says that TJ isn't a playmaker must have been watching some other team.  This guy not only made plays, but made them when they were most needed.  And he made them after and while getting the snot knocked out of him.  What in the hell do you call the 4th down catch against the Giants?  TJ's a tough, heady guy with good hands (early season drops notwithstanding), and a whole lot of heart, and he can run well enough to get down field a bit too.  Plus, he's a bird in the hand.  Keep him there.  Warrick is the question mark, not him.

TJ is a good POSSESION RECEIVER.

Yeah he caught some good passes and kept drives alive.

But isn`t that professional WR`s do ?

He has caught 5 TD passes in 4 seasons.

Fact is he caught 4 TD passes all season.

And 2 of those were in the 58-48 Browns game.

Hell Matt Schobel caught 4 TD passes this season with

42 LESS catches.

Well maybe they just look to someone else when they decide to throw in the endzone ( Chad Johnson?) There are more ways to help a team than just scoring a few more touchdowns than he had last year.. At least he gets upfield after catching the ball...

[HoosierCat]

Warrick and TJ have both had one good year, TJ's being 2004 and Warrick's being 2003. Each has missed all or virtually all of a season (reverse the two previously mentioned years. Prior to 2004, TJ was known mostly for muffing punts on an all too regular basis. Prior to 2003 Warrick was considered yet another first-round Bengals bust whose habit of running backwards after the catch lost yardage, and who was so dedicated to the game he couldn't be bothered to remember to bring his contact lenses to wear so he could see the ball.

That's not to diss the guys, they both appear to be finally developing into impact players (and that's a bit more remarkable for TJ, who was a 7th rounder, than for Warrick). But neither one is a slam-dunk over the other. Personally, I lean toward TJ at this point, since he'll likely be the cheaper of the two to retain.