pollack and thurman

[bengalsLB]

i just checked the depth chart at bengals.com and saw that marcus wilkins was pollacks number 1 back up . god forbid but if pollack and odell both held-out wilkins, landon and simmons would be our starters. what do u guys think of wilkins

he impressed me on ST last year and if pollack held-out i'd rather have him start then caleb miller

[CTBengalsFan]

If Pollack doesn't start at OLB i'd assume it'd be Landon, not Wilkins

[bengalsLB]

ya but the its a hypothetical qeustion if pollack and thurman holdout of camp

and don't get enough practice to start the opener

[Kazkal]

I'd be fine with wilk or caleb

[Bengals4Me]

If Pollack & Thurman want to play football this year, great; but if not, we have to remember that they are rookies and one is learning a new position so I think we'd be just as likely to get off to a fast start this year with more experienced players in those positions anyway!

I'm not going to worry about a couple of rookies, even high draft choices. The potential success of this team relies on the veterans. Landon Johnson showed he can do the job - let him do it at MLB. Miller or one of the other LBs with experience at LOLB is going to be less likely to give up big plays because of missed assignments, especially early in the season, than a rookie playing in a new position.

Pollack will sign eventually, and eventually they can work him in situationally just as a pass rusher to let him gain experience more slowly.

Maybe these two holding out for a while will be a blessing in disguise.

The playoff march begins today!

[walzav29]

I just don't get the idea, that they are penciled in as starters. By not showing up they will fall behind and hurt their chances to start, which will cost them money if it comes to performane clauses. It just seems like a bad idea to GIVE away your starting spot. I'll bet it evens out. The money they are trying to get compared with the money they would get as starters. It just doesn't seem smart. Oh well. Time to move on. LETS GO WILKINS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[HairOnFire]

Pollack will sign eventually, and eventually they can work him in situationally just as a pass rusher to let him gain experience more slowly.

That reminds me of Marty Shottenhiemers remarks concerning Shawn Merriman. Marty mentioned this week how contract holdouts were out of his control, and all he can do is try to gain the most impact from the player whenever he arrives. In Merriman's example Marty seems prepared for a very long holdout and said that whenever the player arrived he could still have a tremendous impact even if used only as a designated pass rusher. Ideally you get him in camp earlier and he has the opportunity to learn more things and get more reps. But he understood that a team can't abandon it's long-term salary cap strategy at the first mention of a rookie holdout.

In Pollacks example there's plenty of work to be done, and I wish he had reported yesterday, but based upon the coaches own remarks Pollack was always pegged for the Joker role. So a short holdout shouldn't put him behind the 8-ball for long.

[schweinhart]

Try let's go Larry Stevens when Pollack is out.

Wilkins is a liability in any kind of pass coverage. Great at full speed ahead like a wedge breaker should be but he's even less agile than Adrian Ross.

Neither Landon or Miller can cut the hand-to-hand combat vs. bigger blockers that they'll get at the strongside. They'll get washed out or knocked down too much.

Stevens came along well spelling Hardy some last year. The Bengals got him listed as 3rd string MLB but I suspect he's the real backup SSLB.

[kybengalsfan]

Does Pollack or Thurman either one have the gonads to tell their agent to "just get it done?" :player:

[momof2]

Does anyone else get the feeling that somewhere Pollack is feverishly pacing a room, bags packed and in the car, chomping at the bit to get to Georgetown?

[jjakq27]

Miller is still hurt and was unable to practice today. He may be on the way out if he doesn't heal soon.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Miller's always hurt, wonder if he's bulked up any? I really don't hold out much hope for that guy other than a situational back-up type if that.

I would start worrying about Pollack and Thurman if by the end of next week they aren't in camp yet...for now they'll be ok as they were in all the mini-camp workouts and have some understanding of their positions in this defense and it won't take long for them to catch up.

I am suprised that the Bengals' can't even get their freakin' 4th rounder in camp yet, which leads me to believe they aren't concentrating on him as much, but I sure would like to see Braham have some competition this year.

[kingwilly]

Here is a simple question..

Why is it that a guy can attend all the mini-camps, workouts, etc. with no contract but then when actual training camp rolls around, they don't attend because they have no contract?

Part of me thinks the injury factor might scare them off, but these guys/agents have insurance (Lloyd's of London) for athletes. Hell, Matt Leinart (USC) pays $25k/mo for his policy.

Botom line is get to work. Don't let your agents ruin your rookie season.

For everytime I hear someone say it is the "business" I get pissed. F-that.

Work hard, get paid, Win, get paid. Do your job, get paid. Just like us normal folk.

...ok, rant is over.

[Jet23]

Does anyone else think it was a mistake for ML to name the Rooks as starters before they signed a contract? Doesn't that make Pete & Katie's job a tad bit harder? I understand that their contract is almost entirely based on draft position, but knowing that the Bengals are relying on them to start, may cause them to think that the Bengals will cave.

[Kazkal]

Does anyone else think it was a mistake for ML to name the Rooks as starters before they signed a contract? Doesn't that make Pete & Katie's job a tad bit harder? I understand that their contract is almost entirely based on draft position, but knowing that the Bengals are relying on them to start, may cause them to think that the Bengals will cave.

not really i think only thing going on is the slots

[schweinhart]

If Miller is going PUP or IR, the Bengals really ought to look for a versatile LB who can go weakside in a pinch. Too many scenarios could happen that would leave them shorthanded at LB positions.