Akili says man keepin' him down

[Section 310]

Akili is running his mouth again. Says the NFL has blackballed him and he cannot get a fair shot...

I think it may have something to do with being unable to read defenses and being demoted to a third string QB in Europe.

This guy should just go away and coach high school football.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...s29chargas.html

[jjakq27]

I saw a clip on ESPN the other night and they were saying the trend at QB has gone away from the guy with the big arm to the guy that can read the complex defenses of today and make quick decisions. That applies in Akili's case.

I am sure it is a pride thing but the guy has obvious issues. He should take his millions, thank Jeff Tedford and Mike Brown and get on with his life's work. The sham is over.

[walzav29]

Poor idiot. If you can play the NFL will find you. They are blackballing Ryan Leaf too. Boy is he disillusioned. He is horrible.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

It's not fair, I'm being blackballed from the NFL too! I wanted to be a wide receiver, and just because I can't run a 5 minute 40, they keep me out of the league!

[DontTakeAkili]

You can look into Akili's eyes and see the problem. This guys has nothing but cobwebs in the ol' attic. It was painful to try to watch him go through his progressions on pass routes. When he was in Bengals camp, you could see that. He sometimes even nodded his head as he changed receivers. It was like he was crossing names off a checklist.

I wish he would just fade away. Seeing his name still reminds me of that horrible first round.

[jjakq27]

I wish he would just fade away. Seeing his name still reminds me of that horrible first round.

The only good thing about that pick is that it was part of the process. Had we taken someone else or had he been moderately successful, the management would not have changed anything around here. That pick impacted Coslet and LeBeau and helped make the 2-14 season happen. Like it or not, it was for the better.

[gobengals19]

I wish he would just fade away.  Seeing his name still reminds me of that horrible first round.

The only good thing about that pick is that it was part of the process. Had we taken someone else or had he been moderately successful, the management would not have changed anything around here. That pick impacted Coslet and LeBeau and helped make the 2-14 season happen. Like it or not, it was for the better.

Great point, as in life, sometimes things have to get worse before they are better. Mike Brown would have never changed if we would have had any ounce of performance from those teams....

[DesperateDerelict]

Like it or not, it was for the better

So, every cloud has a silver lining? Natural disasters are a blessing in disguise? Puh-LEAZZE!

Try to remember, we didn't grab one-year wonder Akili instead of Edgerin James or somebody else . . . we grabbed him instead of EVERY New Orleans pick for 16 years! (Well, at least 2 1st rounders and 2 2nd rounders and a host of others.) Going on the theory that 'even a blind squirrel will (occasionally) find an acorn, we probably would have had several more serviceable back-ups for Marvin to work with.

And that would NOT have saved Coslet or Lebeau . . . just heightened their (and the organization's) inadequacies.

[DontTakeAkili]

LOL, now THAT is looking at the glass beign half full. Might as well say that the 1990s were good for the fans, too. Without being the laughingstock of the league, we couldn't get this excited over back-to-back .500 seasons and a chance to improve this year.

But the past is the past and you're right, it's time to forget, forgive (grudgingly), and move on.

[ArmyBengal]

I wanted to be a linebacker, but someone said at 5'7 170, I would have a difficult time at that position. This is BS, I could have made it as opposed to going into the Army. Who can I sue !!!

WHODEY !!!

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I wanted to be a linebacker, but someone said at 5'7 170, I would have a difficult time at that position.  This is BS, I could have made it as opposed to going into the Army.  Who can I sue !!! 

WHODEY !!!

Lets find a few more and we can join Akilli in an class action lawsuit!

[HairOnFire]

I wish he would just fade away. Seeing his name still reminds me of that horrible first round.

Well, knowing how you feel I'd say you made an odd choice for a user name.

[jjakq27]

Like it or not, it was for the better

So, every cloud has a silver lining? Natural disasters are a blessing in disguise? Puh-LEAZZE!

Try to remember, we didn't grab one-year wonder Akili instead of Edgerin James or somebody else . . . we grabbed him instead of EVERY New Orleans pick for 16 years! (Well, at least 2 1st rounders and 2 2nd rounders and a host of others.) Going on the theory that 'even a blind squirrel will (occasionally) find an acorn, we probably would have had several more serviceable back-ups for Marvin to work with.

And that would NOT have saved Coslet or Lebeau . . . just heightened their (and the organization's) inadequacies.

The Akili vs. the 8 picks was one of the all-time blunders in sports history. If they had anyone that could comprehend the magnitude of the offer (see 1990's Dallas Cowboys) we might be celebrating a few championships here.

My point was that Akili's inadequacy, in part, doomed this team to the 2002 season which ended up changing the direction of the franchise for the better.

[kingwilly]

Akili, I have two words for you:

ARENA FOOTBALL

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Like it or not, it was for the better

So, every cloud has a silver lining? Natural disasters are a blessing in disguise? Puh-LEAZZE!

Try to remember, we didn't grab one-year wonder Akili instead of Edgerin James or somebody else . . . we grabbed him instead of EVERY New Orleans pick for 16 years! (Well, at least 2 1st rounders and 2 2nd rounders and a host of others.) Going on the theory that 'even a blind squirrel will (occasionally) find an acorn, we probably would have had several more serviceable back-ups for Marvin to work with.

And that would NOT have saved Coslet or Lebeau . . . just heightened their (and the organization's) inadequacies.

The Akili vs. the 8 picks was one of the all-time blunders in sports history. If they had anyone that could comprehend the magnitude of the offer (see 1990's Dallas Cowboys) we might be celebrating a few championships here.

My point was that Akili's inadequacy, in part, doomed this team to the 2002 season which ended up changing the direction of the franchise for the better.

You do know you have to be able to PAY all those picks, right?

[jjakq27]

You do know you have to be able to PAY all those picks, right?

No one said you have to keep them all. Having extra picks would allow you flexiblity to move up or down in the first or second round every year and also set yourself up for future years.

Look at the Patriots. A few extra picks allowed them to get Dillon from us last year without losing any of their own picks.

[Jet23]

That was the all time Bengal low point. Mike Ditka may have been an idiot for offering such a trade, but at least he was doing it for the right reason (to try to win). The ONLY reason Mike Brown did not accept the trade is because he didn't want to have to negotiate and pay the additional contracts. I was sick to my stomach! I was not buying that they loved Akili so much they couldn't accept the New Orleans offer. Heck, if I remember correctly, they could have had all of their picks and still drafted Culpepper with the Saint's pick.

[Michigan Bengal]

Akili, I have two words for you:

ARENA FOOTBALL

Akili's not good enough to be a backup in the AFL, they actually have some talented players. He should stick to one of the indoor leagues (minor league arena ball) or semi-pro if he still wants to play, but I think he'll end up selling real estate in Oregon. What a friggin' bust. Why couldn't he be drafted by the Clowns?

If Brown would have took the New Orleans trade, it could have been the Bengals with 3 championships instead of the Pats.

[jjakq27]

I was not buying that they loved Akili so much they couldn't accept the New Orleans offer. Heck, if I remember correctly, they could have had all of their picks and still drafted Culpepper with the Saint's pick.

My theory is that they could have made the trade and drafted Akili later in the first round. Or used some of the picks to trade back into the top 10 and taken him there. I doubt very much that anyone else would have taken him in the top 10. After McNown at 12, the next QB was Shaun King at 50 by TB.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/years/1999

Round 1

Sel# Team Player Pos. School

1 Cleveland Tim Couch QB Kentucky

2 Philadelphia Donovan McNabb QB Syracuse

3 Cincinnati Akili Smith QB Oregon

4 Indianapolis Edgerrin James RB Miami

5 New Orleans Ricky Williams RB Texas

6 St. Louis Torry Holt WR North Carolina State

7 Washington Champ Bailey CB Georgia

8 Arizona David Boston WR Ohio State

9 Detroit Chris Claiborne OLB Southern California

10 Baltimore Chris McAlister CB Arizona

11 Minnesota Daunte Culpepper QB Central Florida

12 Chicago Cade McNown QB UCLA

13 Pittsburgh Troy Edwards WR Louisiana Tech

14 Kansas City John Tait T Brigham Young

15 Tampa Bay Anthony McFarland DT Louisiana State

16 Tennessee Jevon Kearse DE Florida

17 New England Damien Woody G Boston College

18 Oakland Matt Stinchcomb G Georgia

19 N.Y. Giants Luke Petitgout T Notre Dame

20 Dallas Ebenezer Ekuban DE North Carolina

[AMC]

I was not buying that they loved Akili so much they couldn't accept the New Orleans offer.  Heck, if I remember correctly, they could have had all of their picks and still drafted Culpepper with the Saint's pick.

My theory is that they could have made the trade and drafted Akili later in the first round. Or used some of the picks to trade back into the top 10 and taken him there. I doubt very much that anyone else would have taken him in the top 10. After McNown at 12, the next QB was Shaun King at 50 by TB.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/years/1999

Round 1

Sel# Team Player Pos. School

1 Cleveland Tim Couch QB Kentucky

2 Philadelphia Donovan McNabb QB Syracuse

3 Cincinnati Akili Smith QB Oregon

4 Indianapolis Edgerrin James RB Miami

5 New Orleans Ricky Williams RB Texas

6 St. Louis Torry Holt WR North Carolina State

7 Washington Champ Bailey CB Georgia

8 Arizona David Boston WR Ohio State

9 Detroit Chris Claiborne OLB Southern California

10 Baltimore Chris McAlister CB Arizona

11 Minnesota Daunte Culpepper QB Central Florida

12 Chicago Cade McNown QB UCLA

13 Pittsburgh Troy Edwards WR Louisiana Tech

14 Kansas City John Tait T Brigham Young

15 Tampa Bay Anthony McFarland DT Louisiana State

16 Tennessee Jevon Kearse DE Florida

17 New England Damien Woody G Boston College

18 Oakland Matt Stinchcomb G Georgia

19 N.Y. Giants Luke Petitgout T Notre Dame

20 Dallas Ebenezer Ekuban DE North Carolina

Seeing those players under Akili turns my stomach....live and learn i guess

[CBin2k7]

It's not one man keeping Akili down, it's 31 men. The Defensive Coordinators. I can still see Akili celebrating when the Bengals beat Cleveland.

[BlainThePain]

We had the worst draft in NFL history that year. Another draft moment that turns my stomach is the second round of the 98 draft. We took Artrell Hawkins and then Patrick Surtain, Brian Kelley, and Sumari Rolle were drafted right after him in that order.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Another draft moment that turns my stomach is the second round of the 98 draft. We took Artrell Hawkins and then Patrick Surtain, Brian Kelley, and Sumari Rolle were drafted right after him in that order.

My God I almost cried when they passed up Rolle...and then when Surtain turned out to be what he is - the whole coaching staff and scouting department should've been axed immediately the next day for that friggin' stupid draft pick.

But indeed this was symptomatic and not isolated so it really wouldn't have mattered much any way, just another example of their stupidity.

[shatan]

man that was a helluva draft year. i would have been happy to end up with anyone on that list other than akili.

[jjakq27]

Another draft moment that turns my stomach is the second round of the 98 draft. We took Artrell Hawkins and then Patrick Surtain, Brian Kelley, and Sumari Rolle were drafted right after him in that order.

My God I almost cried when they passed up Rolle...and then when Surtain turned out to be what he is - the whole coaching staff and scouting department should've been axed immediately the next day for that friggin' stupid draft pick.

But indeed this was symptomatic and not isolated so it really wouldn't have mattered much any way, just another example of their stupidity.

Somewhere during the evaluation process, I think Artrell ran a sub 4.4 40 at a workout or the combine. Someone must have thought that equalled a good DB.

I had a friend that played at UC with him and he said he was surprised he was drafted that high because he didn't consider him a top tier player. Then during the draft evaluations, the Bengals were ripped for reaching at least two rounds to get Hawkins. History proved that these guys were correct.

Is AH even playing anymore? I thought he got cut by Carolina at the end of last season,