What the bengals should do this off-season

[Clackwoods]

Let me start by saying WhoDey. I love the bengals. I am currently deployed in Iraq and it was heart wrenching seeing them lose. I honestly believe had CP not gone down the city of Cincinatti would be having a parade, not the Steelers. I was the only one over here rooting for them, I was sporting my Bengals jacket and watch cap. Anyways, back to the topic. As everyone is saying we need a backup qb, a dt, a safety, and a younger corner. Also we need some depth at offensive line because Bram has one foot in retirement. I think our top prioirty should be getting Nate Clemens. The guy is a top 5 corner, and CJ even said he was the best corner in the league. The guy shut Chad and Steve Smith down, two of the best recievers in the league.

Also, We need to get Archueleta. The guy is a beast and with Nate, Arch, MW, and Deltha we would have one of the top three defensive backfields in the league. Hovan is a scrub and the only reason he had a decent year is because he was lined up next to Mcfarland and Rice. If we can pick up Clemens and Arch we should definatly go with a DT in the first round. We need to get that lineman from the Seahawks Hutchinson to replace that scrub williams. I know our line was awesome this year but I think it would be even better with him. It is better to rotate one lineman in this year rather than rotating two or three in the following year when they are all free agents. As far as the rest of the draft goes, I don't know who we should take, it all depends on who we get in FA.

NOW, the topic I really want to talk about is backup QB. First off, let me start by saying Brett Farve will never be a bengal. We have a better chance of getting Boomer or Jim Kelly than we do Farve. Why would he leave the Packers to backup anyone when he can start on half the teams in the league. Second the Bengals need to get Tim Couch. The guy got shafted by that scrubby coach from Miami Butch Davis. He has an average passer rating of almost an 80 when he was playing with an expansion team. He had a better passer rating than David Carr and half the other QB's in the league have. I mean come on, he took the Browns to the playoffs, that is impressive. His arm is healed and he will be a starter again and we need to grab him while he is available at a cheap price. Everyone wins if we sign him, he gets a new start with a great offense, and we get a proven qb with some serious skills. He just needs a chance to play on a good team. The only concern we are all having is his arm strength but we dont have to worry now that they signed that bum DJ. If Tim can't play Marvin will get rid of him but if he is healed I think he could be a damn good option to take over for Kitna. Kitna let me down in the second half of that game. He had a very nice first half but then he fell apart. Tell me what you think, or am I just some crazy Marine talking crazy talk.

[BigBenBlows]

Thank you for defending our freedom first and for most, and welcome to the boards. I dont believe that we have enough payola to go out and get all the players that you have listed. We could use some help on the D side of the ball. We could also use a little help on the O side too. We don't really need that much but we could use some more depth at certain positions. I dont think that Ohelethe done much good filling in after M Williams got hurt early in the season, could defianatly use another SS or FS. Just my opinon. Maybe get a couple young guys into the system because like you said Brahm and Big Willie won't be around much longer.

[DesperateDerelict]

Welcome to the Board, and thanks for all you do. BTW, What's a "Clackwood"?

[El Tigere]

Hey thats pretty good! These are the moves i would do.

1.- Add Nate Clemens to replace Tory James at CB.

2. Add Kyle Vandenvosh DE to replace Duane Clemmons.

3. Add QB Tim Couch to compete in camp. It does not hurt to try him out.

4. Try to sign Jon Kitna for a 1year deal. It gives Palmer enough time to come back and gives us the best chance to win. By doing this it would give Tim Couch a whole year to learn the system and would be a great back up the following year.\

5. Add SS Adam Archuletta.

Draft.

1. DT - Either Big Gabe Watson from -Michigan or Rodrique Wright from - Texas

2. TE - Either Mercedes Lewis- Ucla, Leonard Pope - Georgia, Anthony Fasano- Norter Dame

3. DT - Jesse Mahelona- Tennessee or Babatunde Oshinowo, DT- Stanford

3. SS- Greg BLue- Georgia - THis pick is compensation for losing Kelley Washington

4. WR,TE,DE,CB,G,LB in no specific order take best available player

Extend the contracts of - Levi Jones and Eric Steinbach are a must and if you can Big Willie.

What do you guys think about this plan! Remember we do have 16 mil to play with and with a couple of the guys we may cut to bring in we should still be fine for the future.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

1. Tory James does not need replaced. He had a bad year because he had no help from the safeties to go with his ball skills. He was a pro bowl cornerback last year. Deltha went this year. Next year, both go.

2. I like Vanden Bosch, however, he's going to be hard to sign since he's one of the top DEs in free agency. He won't be cheap.

3. TIM COUCH SUCKS BIG FAT DONKEY BALLS! We sign him, I might have to start rooting for the Browns! Ok, maybe not that bad, but seriously, he sucks. We might as well sign Akilli's myth

4. Of course we should try to sign Kitna, but frankly, I'd like to find a better alternative. I love Jon, don't get me wrong. He's a great leader, and I've stood up for him week after week after week. However, the fact is, we need someone with a bigger arm to step in while Palmer is out. Kitna didn't get it done.

5. Archuletta is totally over rated. He'll cost more than he's worth, and if I'm being totally honest here, I could find a singer just like him on any cruise ship. (Sorry too much American Idol) What I meant to say is, the draft is FULL of good safeties, and we should be taking two of them.

6. I'd much rather get one of the top safeties in the draft in round one, or another good DE than use the pick on one of the two questionable DTs in the draft.

7. Tight end is not an issue. We do not use them for catching, we use them for blocking. Using a pick on the first day isn't going to happen. If it does, it will be round 3, no way round 1 or 2.

8. I think Babatunde will move up to a 2nd round pick at the combine, but I'd still love to have him.

9. We aren't going to lose Washington, yet alone get a compensation pick for him. Besides, Blue will go in round 2. Why you ask? Because it rhymes and he's just too skilled to slip to round 3.

10. Levi and Eric do indeed need to be extended. But there's no freaking way that happens if we sign Clemens and Vanden Bosch.

[Stripes]

Welcome to the board, Clacky. Nice first post.

In regards to both your plan, and that of El Tigere, I'd say that these would be dream scenarios. We just don't have the moolah or the free agency draw the get all of those high profile players. I expect we could end up grabbing one or two of them this offseason, my favorites being Archuleta (though I'd rather use the draft for the position) and "Kemo" from Baltimore.

More than likely, we'll go for the smaller name guys. Names to consider could be Marlon McCree from Carolina (credit to derekshank for my even having knowlege of that player's existence), Chris Hope from Pittsburgh, and Darren Howard from New Orleans.

As for a backup quarterback, I hope we can find a way to stick with Kitna that doesn't hurt the checkbook too badly. If not, I'd be in favor of giving Tim Couch a try, and I liked the Doug Johnson pickup. One guy I would love, that would likely come at too high a price or prefer to play elsewhere is Josh McCown of Arizona. He has a gun and is poised in the pocket, a-la Mini-Carson.

[El Tigere]

1. Tory James does not need replaced. He had a bad year because he had no help from the safeties to go with his ball skills. He was a pro bowl cornerback last year. Deltha went this year. Next year, both go.

2. I like Vanden Bosch, however, he's going to be hard to sign since he's one of the top DEs in free agency. He won't be cheap.

3. TIM COUCH SUCKS BIG FAT DONKEY BALLS! We sign him, I might have to start rooting for the Browns! Ok, maybe not that bad, but seriously, he sucks. We might as well sign Akilli's myth

4. Of course we should try to sign Kitna, but frankly, I'd like to find a better alternative. I love Jon, don't get me wrong. He's a great leader, and I've stood up for him week after week after week. However, the fact is, we need someone with a bigger arm to step in while Palmer is out. Kitna didn't get it done.

5. Archuletta is totally over rated. He'll cost more than he's worth, and if I'm being totally honest here, I could find a singer just like him on any cruise ship. (Sorry too much American Idol) What I meant to say is, the draft is FULL of good safeties, and we should be taking two of them.

6. I'd much rather get one of the top safeties in the draft in round one, or another good DE than use the pick on one of the two questionable DTs in the draft.

7. Tight end is not an issue. We do not use them for catching, we use them for blocking. Using a pick on the first day isn't going to happen. If it does, it will be round 3, no way round 1 or 2.

8. I think Babatunde will move up to a 2nd round pick at the combine, but I'd still love to have him.

9. We aren't going to lose Washington, yet alone get a compensation pick for him. Besides, Blue will go in round 2. Why you ask? Because it rhymes and he's just too skilled to slip to round 3.

10. Levi and Eric do indeed need to be extended. But there's no freaking way that happens if we sign Clemens and Vanden Bosch.

Well wether you like it or not you have to realize that Tory James has lost a step. Dont get me wrong i like Tory but if you are going to tell me you rather keep him instead of bringing in a stud like Clemons. At least we are in the same boat with some things. Go Bengals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can agree with you about Archuletta. It was one of the last moves i would make in free agency. If you can see i listed him as the last move. I would also like to go with a safety in the first, but if we would to sign archuletta at a good price then maybe that would allow us to draft 2 tackles early that we badly need. I also dont agree with you on not needing to draft a tight end. Remember we only have one TE signed Reggie Kelley.

[Clackwoods]

First off, Clackwoods means exactly what it says. My last name is Woods and my nickname is Clack. By friend that died back in 2000 gave it to me so I still go by it. To respond to some of the posts. I realize now that we do not have enough cash to bring all of those free agents. I think we should as you all said forget about Arch and go after a Safety in the draft. I like the boy from Georgia, especially considering we took Odell and Pollack last year and they are familiar with each other. I think we should still make Nate our number one priority and it isn't because I don't like Tory, but we need to face facts. How many true shutdown corners are their in the league? Especially ones that are under 28. Yes, we could keep James around for another year but what happens next year? We will end up getting a rook or a second or third tier corner to replace his old self and we will be hurting. if we can afford Hutch we should bring him in but if not then we drafted a couple young guys last year and we can bring in a cheaper free agent to add depth, especially at center.

To respond to this: 3. TIM COUCH SUCKS BIG FAT DONKEY BALLS! We sign him, I might have to start rooting for the Browns! Ok, maybe not that bad, but seriously, he sucks. We might as well sign Akilli's myth

I went to the same school as him, I played with his 1st cousin and he is my 3rd cousin, his dad and mine grew up together. I know his family and where he comes from and he is a good guy, he has it in him and for u to put him in the same cat as akili is an insult. Akili is a scrub. U have to remember that Tim Couch is the same qb the packers were bringing in to take over for Farve before he got injured. Plus he is married to a playmate which is great....lol I think Tim would be an excellent pick up for the Bengals and I am sure he would be our second stringer. But, as for him staying more than a year that isnt happening because he wants to start.

We need a DT worse than we need an end. But we could use them both

[Spain]

Watch your ass.

[turningpoint]

WHY THE f**k DO PEOPLE THINK WERE GOING TO GET NATE CLEMENTS?

you think we have $9million a season to pay him? GTFOOH with such stupid comments everyone.

If we sign Nate, then good bye every other Fa and looks for us to cut a few players, and GL with us extending anything on our O line.

Anyways I do like the idea of Going after Carr if he is cut....maybe sign him to a 1 year deal as our backup, and let him just relax in the shadows for a year and laern how carson handles himself off the field probably do him a ton of good. Just a thought probably just as liekly as us signing nate clements.

BTW tim Couch >>>>>>Akili SMith.

BTW Next Big thing whose to say we don;t throw to our TE's? could it be ours have just sucked so bad they aren;t worth throwing to? If we had tony gonzo here or Gates, we'd be throwing to theTE as much as we'd be throwing it to CJ.

Tim Couch would be a decent backup.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Tory hasn't lost a step, he lost his backup. It's like a cop trying to arrest an armed felon without backup. He's going to end up looking bad.

Tim Couch is no different than Akilli's myth. Both are horrible busts.

You know, I'm actually hoping all my negativity towards drafting a tight end will end up with us drafting a good one. That's the only way we get rid of the scrubs we have that are FA. However, even if we had Gonzalez, Gates, Heap, Crumpler, or Shockey here, they wouldn't get many balls. Our WRs get them. Our RBs get them. There are not that many left for a TE. If we are throwing over the middle to our TE, then TJ isn't getting those catches either, so it isn't an improvement. A roster without Matt Butterfingers Schoebel, however, is an improvement, even if a collie replaces him.

[7/11]

Tory hasn't lost a step, he lost his backup. It's like a cop trying to arrest an armed felon without backup. He's going to end up looking bad.

Tim Couch is no different than Akilli's myth. Both are horrible busts.

You know, I'm actually hoping all my negativity towards drafting a tight end will end up with us drafting a good one. That's the only way we get rid of the scrubs we have that are FA. However, even if we had Gonzalez, Gates, Heap, Crumpler, or Shockey here, they wouldn't get many balls. Our WRs get them. Our RBs get them. There are not that many left for a TE. If we are throwing over the middle to our TE, then TJ isn't getting those catches either, so it isn't an improvement. A roster without Matt Butterfingers Schoebel, however, is an improvement, even if a collie replaces him.

no, tory lost a step even last season, when he went to the pro bowl. he had a lot of picks last season, but was still burned occasionally. this season, he looked like a safety trying to fill in at corner. i think by next season, he'll be a border-line starter.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Tory hasn't lost a step, he lost his backup. It's like a cop trying to arrest an armed felon without backup. He's going to end up looking bad.

Tim Couch is no different than Akilli's myth. Both are horrible busts.

You know, I'm actually hoping all my negativity towards drafting a tight end will end up with us drafting a good one. That's the only way we get rid of the scrubs we have that are FA. However, even if we had Gonzalez, Gates, Heap, Crumpler, or Shockey here, they wouldn't get many balls. Our WRs get them. Our RBs get them. There are not that many left for a TE. If we are throwing over the middle to our TE, then TJ isn't getting those catches either, so it isn't an improvement. A roster without Matt Butterfingers Schoebel, however, is an improvement, even if a collie replaces him.

no, tory lost a step even last season, when he went to the pro bowl. he had a lot of picks last season, but was still burned occasionally. this season, he looked like a safety trying to fill in at corner. i think by next season, he'll be a border-line starter.

Why yes, indeed, Tory did get burned occasionally. SO DID CHAMP BAILEY. SO DID EVERY LAST CB IN THE LEAGUE. At times last season and this season, he looked like a corner with no safety covering over the top because for the last two seasons *GASP* HE HAS BEEN. Don't forget, this isn't the first season we've had significant injuries at the safety position.

[Clackwoods]

In order to win a title we need to spend a little money and Nate would help get us there. Tory is TO OLD. I really don't understand how tim couch and akili smith are alike. That is like comparing Jamal Lewis and KiJanaCarter and we all know about KiJana. Explain this comparison. Tim couch is a damn good qb, not a top tier, but a good qb

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Tim couch is a damn good QB? Pardon me? Back that crap up dude.

Couch NEVER had a QB rating over 80. Couch only had more than 20 TDs in a year ONCE. He averaged less than 10 yards per attempt, and had at least one interception per game. 6 years, 67 INTS, 64 TDs. We want a QB who throws the ball to his guys more than the opponent.

Just like Couch, Akilli's myth never had a QB rating over 80. Of course Akilli never had a season where he started every game either.

Couch is a freaking joke. The dude was a top pick in the draft, and he busted out.

[kingwilly]

Gotta agree on the "Couch is a bust". SO FAR, he has been a very real bust of the highest magnitude. There are many reasons: his team/coaching was bad, injured, attitude....whatever, but the facts are there. Given the QB situation around the league last year (injuries or bad play in NYJ, Minny, AZ, OAK, Chicago, Philly, Baltimore, etc.) he did not get more than a sniff. That tells me that the people who are paid to know and paid to win do not think much of him.

Now, the question should be is he the best candidate to come here with his shoulder all fixed and play 2-6 games and run this offense? I say no.

Not with McCown and Brooks out there.

The points about Tory are both correct. He had NO safety help of any consistency which exposed him as having LOST A STEP.

If we get Madieu back and have someone step up (Body, Ratliff, drafted guy, FA guy) and excel at SS, then we can probaly prolong Tory's career a couple of seasons. BUT he has lost a step and is not as physical as he was when he arrived, hard to argue that.

[7/11]

it ain't THAT easy to say tim couch was a joke. he played on terrible teams, man. he had skills. in NO SEASON did he have an offensive line to protect him, which we all know is essential to a quarterback's success. look at kurt warner. when he was with st. louis, and had that o-line to buy him time, he hit his recievers all day. in arizona, he was always on the run, and it took him out of the game. but when warner did have time to drop back and check down, he was good. same with couch.

as for tory james, i see what you're sayin about the safety help. but the bottom line is, safety or no safety, tory has LOST A STEP. he was never quick to begin with. he's always been a good corner because of his hands. he's still got the hands, but he can't get himself into position as quickly anymore.

[Clackwoods]

it ain't THAT easy to say tim couch was a joke. he played on terrible teams, man. he had skills. in NO SEASON did he have an offensive line to protect him, which we all know is essential to a quarterback's success. look at kurt warner. when he was with st. louis, and had that o-line to buy him time, he hit his recievers all day. in arizona, he was always on the run, and it took him out of the game. but when warner did have time to drop back and check down, he was good. same with couch.

as for tory james, i see what you're sayin about the safety help. but the bottom line is, safety or no safety, tory has LOST A STEP. he was never quick to begin with. he's always been a good corner because of his hands. he's still got the hands, but he can't get himself into position as quickly anymore.

Thank you. That is exactly my point. He had two scrubby ass coaches while he was in Cleveland, no offensive line, his best reciever is now a four stringer for the LIONS. He had no defense, nothing yet he took that disgusting team to the playoffs some how. That is all im saying, give him a decent team and he would show what he could do. We all saw how crucial an offense line is this year with Farve. Farve is an all world qb, u dont decline that much in one year, I mean the guy had a huge year in 04 but he lost his line and he looks like a scrub. The reason Tim wasnt sought after this year when teams needed a qb is because he was recovering from shoulder surgery. This year, if he comes to the bengals you will all come here and appologize. He still has it and he always has, if he can get a chance with a decent team he will prove that.

On the nate situation, I dont even know why we are arguing about James. If we can bring in one of the top 5 corners in the league who happens to only be 26 we have to do it. If we cant then James will work for one more year. We need to get some youth and ratliff isnt it. What does everyone think about that?

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Uh Clack, having no defense INCREASES a QBs numbers, not decreases it.

Favre didn't decline in one year, he's been declining for YEARS. Last year was an aberation.

Regarding Clements, I'd love to see him in stripes, but it ain't gonna happen. He demands too much money, and would tear apart our Oline. Ratliff isn't it? How do we know? He's done pretty well as a nickleback behind James and Oneal, two recent pro bowl selections. If Clements would come here for James' money, that would be nice, but he won't. He's going to want top 5 CB money. We aren't going to spend that. He'll end up a Redskin.

[Clackwoods]

Uh Clack, having no defense INCREASES a QBs numbers, not decreases it.

Favre didn't decline in one year, he's been declining for YEARS. Last year was an aberation.

Regarding Clements, I'd love to see him in stripes, but it ain't gonna happen. He demands too much money, and would tear apart our Oline. Ratliff isn't it? How do we know? He's done pretty well as a nickleback behind James and Oneal, two recent pro bowl selections. If Clements would come here for James' money, that would be nice, but he won't. He's going to want top 5 CB money. We aren't going to spend that. He'll end up a Redskin.

That doesnt make sense to me man. Having the ball more with a scrubby offense does give you more oppurtunities to get more yardage but at the same time it forces you to throw which we all know the more you throw the more ur gonna get picks. There is only so much you can do with a crappy offense.

I agree that Farve has been on a decline but at the same time he has been winning and he has been playing at a pro bowl level still. He has declined from being one of the top 3 qb's in the league to being in the top 8-10. His team being devestated with injuries didn't help but hey, that just made him understand what tim was going through all those years with the browns. The packers this year resembled the browns of old. No rb, no recievers, a s**tty line, and a shaky defense. And u seen what happened. Farve as good as he still is couldnt get anything going.

I agree with Nate, we probably won't get him because of money issues but we need to try because he would be a damn good pickup and plus we would get even with the damn bills for taking takeo from us.

[turningpoint]

I put couch on the level of Peter Warrick bust wise.

He;s no akili smith/ryan leaf type qb.

IMO if given the right oppurtunity, i think he could blossom into a decent backup qb.

I'd rather have him then Doug Johnson.

[Stripes]

I put couch on the level of Peter Warrick bust wise.

He;s no akili smith/ryan leaf type qb.

IMO if given the right oppurtunity, i think he could blossom into a decent backup qb.

I'd rather have him then Doug Johnson.

What he said.

[Clackwoods]

I put couch on the level of Peter Warrick bust wise.

He;s no akili smith/ryan leaf type qb.

IMO if given the right oppurtunity, i think he could blossom into a decent backup qb.

I'd rather have him then Doug Johnson.

What he said.

I agree with that to a point. Warrick is far from done and so is tim. They just both had some bad breaks and some injuries which derailed their careers. If they come back it won't be the first time someone did that

[AMC]

Tim Couch...Leslie County High School....Coal mining country---Hyden, Hazard, Danial Boone Parkway....

Sorry, I have alot of coal miners from there in my family....

I would like to see Tim Couch back in the league....he got a raw deal with Butch Davis...whether it's with the Bengals, I don't knowwwww........

[sheriffdan316]

I think the Bengals need to put almost all of their off season investment in defense. In the draft, I think if this guy is available, I think it would be a good idea to go after DT Gabe Watson from Michigan. He is a hell of a run blocker and the bengals could use him.

The next step I think is signing a SS. They might have to go to the FA to find one.

Another good addition would be a CB.

Finally, in the offense, a TE could be a lethal weapon for the bengals.

With these additions, and assuming Palmer can make it back in time, the begals will show the Steelers and everyone else in the NFL that Cincinnati is back and we are for real.