Coming at you live from Over-the-Rhine, Ohio and Washington, DC - welcome to the WhoDeyRevolution Live Blog. Jason Buck and Andrew Simon will be reporting throughout today's NFL Draft.
Jason's comments will be in italics. Andrew's will be bolded.
7:58: The more I think about this pick, the more angry I get. This guy likely would have been around in the 3rd round - where the Bengals have 2 picks! Do the Bengals really think we have the DTs to compete? Sims and Laws were still available - and were taken soon after the Bengals botched their pick. John Thorton has never been dominant and Peko was a non-factor all year. The Bengals got outmaneuvered in Round 1 with the Saints trading up to take Ellis and the Jags trading up to get Harvey - and then in Round 2 with the opportunity to get a guy who could help improve the defense - we blow it.
I can only imagine how they will botch tomrorrow. My guess for the 3rd round pick: Tom Zbikowski.
7:55: I am still in absolute shock. Jerome Simpson. Coastal Carolina. The Bengals did not improve their pass rush and did not get a run stuffing DT that can draw double teams. They passed up Limas Sweed and Early Doucet to take a guy who has racked up stats against subpar competition. I guess you could argue that Jerry Rice did the same - but do you really have more confidence in the Bengals scouting department to see something special in this kid more than other teams?
7:47: As bad as I thought it could be, I did not expect it would be this bad. Wow. Viva la Revolution.
7:45: Who is this guy???????????????
7:44: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!
7:40: Prediction - Quentin Groves.
7:39: Bengals on the clock....
7:32: Chicago should take a QB (Rex Grossman is our QB) and the Detroit could take a DT in front of the Bengals to make up for losing Shaun Rogers.
7:29: Tyrell Johnson taken. Calais Campbell and Quentin Groves still available. If anyone is sitting near Mike Brown, please pass along this information.
7:28: 2 picks to go - please Mike Brown, take defense. Please.
7:27: Eddie Royal taken in the 2nd round! I talked about him on Mo's show on Monday. I am a budding Mel Kiper.
7:16: Jerry Jones interviewed on NFL Network - makes it as clear as possible (since he isn't allowed to talk about trading for players under contract with another team) that he is interested in trading for Chad. What do they offer though?
7:14: I think Avril is off the board for the Bengals until the 3rd round at least.
7:12: Picks I would be happy with: Sims, Tyrell Johnson, Campbell, Groves.
7:06: If I'm Malcom Kelly...I'm calling Mike Brown to say "You know I loved your work when you beat the IRS in tax court...think you can give me some pointers?"
7:03: Still on the board for the Bengals with 7 picks to go: DeSean Jackson (WR), Limas Sweed (WR), Marion Manningham (WR), Early Doucet (WR), James Hardy (WR), Malcom Kelly (WR), Calais Campbell (DE), Quentin Groves (DE), Cliff Avril (DE), Pat Sims (DT), Trevor Laws (DT), Tyrell Johnson (S).
6:57: I guess we now have to hope for bad WRs to get taken before the Bengals - Thanks Green Bay (Jordy Nelson).
6:51: Chiefs are having a fantastic draft. Has anyone EVER said that about the Bengals?
6:46: Buck, why would the Bengals ever trade up? They will just take the best available (WR) in Round 2.
6:35: TRADE UP AND GET MERLING!! Or sit back and take Trevor Laws. But with all the WR's falling...you know what that means.
6:24: Kentwan Balmer taken - is the 3-4 dead for the Bengals?
6:22: Mayne pipes into say "The Bengals are fucking lame. Simon, write that down."
5:54: How many RBs do the Titans have now? Also, more worryingly, no WRs have been taken. Gonna be hard to pass up a WR in the 2nd round for the Bengals now.
5:50: Every good team in the NFL employs a 2-back system (except the Chargers who have LT).
5:43: Steelers take Mendenhall?
5:42: Why has Mendenhall dropped so far? You could argue he's a better all around back than McFadden.
5:36: The Bengals have so many linebackers...we really could have used a DT or DE. Too bad Mike Brown couldn't have been bothered to make a trade.
5:24: Bengals trade up to get Kentwan Balmer? Maybe it makes too much sense.
5:21: One more pick for the Bengals to offload Chad...will it happen?
5:09: Nick Simon: New Chad interview on NFL.com
5:01: That's an insult to (FEMA) Mike Brown.
5:00: I still say the Bengals have to go defensive line in the second round...Trevor Laws, Pat Sims. Or maybe Calaias Campbell out of the U...6'7" plus.
4:52: 5 more picks for the Bengals to trade Chad to the Skins. The football knowledge between Mike Brown and Dan Snyder would rival the other Mike Brown's understanding of federal response to hurricanes.
4:50: The Chiefs have significantly improved today.
4:49: Dorsey and Albert? The Chiefs are having a hell of a draft.
4:46: No WRs taken yet in the draft. Is there any way Mike Brown can pass up adding offense in Round 2?
4:43: I think they need help at corner...Mike Jenkins out of South Florida if he's there.
4:43: Will, I just tuned into ESPN for the first time. Keyshawn's suit is bad a. I will not tolerate any more bashing of said suit. Kirk H.'s suit is way worse. He looks like a vacuum salesman.
4:38: AFC North discussion: Will, who do you think the Ravens take at #26? Quentin Groves?
4:37: I remember going to an Indians game at Jacobs Field back in 1995. Browns head coach Bill Belichick came on the big screen to announce something for a charity. I've still never heard boos that loud in my life. People forget that they ran his ass out of town. Moral of the story? Cleveland sucks
4:33: It has been decided that the Dad in the awkward KFC commercial is the bassist in "Walk the Line."
4:32: Working in PR, you have to applaud Geoff Hobson's immediate spin on the Bengals pick. "The Bengals didn't get the USC defensive player they had on their mind Saturday, but when they couldn't get defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis they opted for teammate Keith Rivers with the ninth pick in the NFL."
When they "didn't get?" You mean when we let the Saints trade up and take him right under our noses?
4:23: I like Pat Sims in the 2nd...
4:22: Trevor Laws in the second round? The Bengals still need a lot of help on the defensive line.
4:21: Commence hammering back multiple Miller Lites until the Bengals pick in Round 2.
4:14: How soon before Keith Rivers demands a trade?
4:11 - You gotta look at it this way...Rivers now has an excellent opportunity to learn how to miss tackles.
4:10: I think I heard a "Who Dey" among the smattering of applause when Goodell announced Rivers. I would have preferred a "Who Dey Revolution."
4:08: It's official - it's Keith Rivers.
4:07: Scary scary moment...the Bengals are on the clock.
4:06: Other teams say publicly they applaud the Bengals, but then again if you are able to beat the crap out of the same team every single year, wouldn't you want them not to change their philosophy?
4:05: Things are crazier right now than D-Wade dating Star Jones.
4:04: Jags take Derrick Harvey. I guess the Bengals take Keith Rivers?
4:02: The Saints traded their 3rd round and 10th overall for the Pats 7th overall. The Pats will still get Clady or Albert at 10. How good are the Pats and how bad are the Bengals?
3:59: Bye Bye Derrick Harvey - Jacksonville now trades up with the Ravens and will likely take Harvey. The Bengals are so predictable. I wonder what other teams think of the Bengals front office braintrust.
3:55: EVERYONE KNEW THE SAINTS WANTED TO TRADE UP TO TAKE ELLIS - WHY DIDN'T MIKE BROWN DO ANYTHING???? We are such a joke.
3:53: There goes Sedrick Ellis - New England trades pick to Saints. Hello Derrick Harvey.
3:51: Andrew, I'm playing Powerball tonight...any advice?
3:47: Don't look now, but my predictions through 6 picks are accurate.
3:43: With all the Levi Jones trade talk today...it very well could be OT Ryan Clady if Ellis is gone.
3:41: Please God, let me hear the names Ryan Clady or Brandon Albert before the Bengals pick.
3:39: Nick Simon: The makers of the movie "Blood Diamond" are not pleased with Glenn Dorsey's watch
3:37: Dorsey is being taken with the #5 - will it be to the Chiefs or Saints?
3:36: Adam Schefter reports that the Saints are offering their 1st round this year, 1st round next year and 2nd round from this year to the Chiefs for the #5.
3:35: Nick Simon on a roll, points out: Jaws just said JaMarcus Russel was in the "Embryonic Development State" of QBs....that does NOT sound good.
3:34: The liberating feeling of watching NFL Network instead of ESPN is something you really can't coach.
3:34: Nick Simon, back from shopping with a girl he is not married to, says: Darren McFadden plus Oakland.....we may have some serious problems with the NFL Player Conduct Policy in the next couple of years.
3:30: The first piece of the puzzle that has Ellis being available for the Bengals has fallen into place with the Raiders taking McFadden. Mike Brown - get on the phone NOW and make a trade up!
3:29: Thats the nursing home calling for Al Davis's brother
3:28: What do you think Mike Brown is doing RIGHT NOW? I bet he just submitted a pre-ranked list of his top players and is playing 18 at Kenwood Country Club right now.
3:27: HOW OLD IS AL DAVIS' BROTHER? He looks like the ghost of Christmas Past.
3:20: Attention Matt Ryan - study film on how to best take sacks to minimize injuries.
3:14: Does anyone else think that Chris Long will be the next Justin Smith? High motor, lots of expectations...and oh yeah, white.
3:12: Remember, if the Rams make a trade here, the clock gets reset and the new team at #2 gets a full 10 minutes.
3:07: The DC HQ of WDR will be tuned into NFL Network. Deion vs. Keyshawn? Push. Eisen vs Berman? HUGE advantage for Eisen.
3:04: And we're off! Jets fans are practicing their booing on Jake Long for next year.
2:58: Do you think Howie Long is most known for his Circuit City commercials with Terri Hatcher? Not by football fans, but by the general public. I bet if you polled 50 people most would only know him from his those playful adverts.
2:55 - When I saw Bob Huggins against UC this year in that yellow suit, I said no one could look worse. After seeing Me-Shawn today on ESPN...I stand corrected.
2:52: Is anyone else having trouble with PFT?
2:50: With the recent news, here are is my prediction for the first 9 picks. Like all NFL analyst, my bold predictions will not be accurate and I will not be held accountable for my errors.
1. Dolphins: Jake Long
2. Rams: Chris Long
3. Falcons: Matt Ryan
4. Raiders: Darren McFadden
5. Chiefs: Glenn Dorsey
6. Jets: Vernon Gholston
7. New England: Ryan Clady
8. New Orleans (trade with Ravens): Sedrick Ellis
9. Bengals: Derrick Harvey
2:45: Let the Hobson spin Machine commence!
2:33: Geoff Hobson at Bengals.com is reporting that Levi Jones is not DEMANDING that he is traded - just that he would prefer it. GREAT! Levi will reportedly sit out of the voluntary workouts but will not sit out the season if not traded.
2:29: ProFootballTalk had earlier reported that Rams were planning on taking DE Chris Long at #2, the Falcons were taking QB Matt Ryan and the Raiders were taking RB Darren McFadden, essentially putting the Chiefs on the clock at the #5 pick when the draft begins at 3. Now Florio is reporting that the Ravens are working on a trade with the Rams to get the #2 pick so they can take Ryan before Atlanta - who are now reportedly also in negotiations with the Rams so they can ensure they get Ryan. The Falcons deal seems to be a better offer - they can still take Chris Long but save some $ with the lower pick.
2:21: While Will and I are cuddling up with Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Chris Berman and the Drug Store List today, I wanted to update everyone on how some other WDR comrades are spending their draft days: playing soccer, shopping for party supplies with their girlfriend, tanning on the beach and networking with guys named Winthorpe at a certain school in Connecticut.
2:15: Winn Parry reporting live from The Original Montgomery Inn at the 1530 Homer Sports Animal draft party. The house is packed with Bengals fans gathering around to enjoy some pig ribs and Ted's Pale Ale. WDR just got to meet Cincinnati legends, Alan Cutler and Mo Egger, and we got some good draft talk in with Mo. Discussion centered around the possibility that Glenn Dorsey will fall to #9 given the recent doctor reports that his leg will be a problem in 3-5 years. Comrade Simon and I believe that if he can help us reach a Superbowl in 3-5 years, we don't really care if he is in a wheelchair at the age of 35. However Mo and I came to the conclusion that the Bengals wont trade out of #9, and they will take Keith Rivers. I guess we will all have to wait and see...
2:13: The biggest news out of Bengals camp are the reports that Levi Jones is also demanding a trade due to disagreements with the Bengals coaching staff. My immediate reaction? Much like Chad demanding a trade, this situation speaks to a larger problem. Players do not want to play for Cincinnati (including free agents) because they know that the Bengals are not committed to winning. This will also likely cause Mike Brown to be even more stubborn towards trading Chad instead of addressing the larger issues.
What kind of trade value do you think Levi would garner? What would you speculate both Ocho Sucko and Levi packaged together could get the Bengals in a trade?
Posted by: TellMeHowMyAssTastes | April 26, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Now that's some good timing for PFT to go down.
Posted by: TellMeHowMyAssTastes | April 26, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Darren McFadden may father 20-25 children in the next 3 years. He will push Shawn Kemp for the modern sports record.
Posted by: Nick | April 26, 2008 at 03:30 PM
What a freakin burden. McFadden is the 10th of 12 children in his family, and it sounds like he will be supporting them all.
Posted by: TellMeHowMyAssTastes | April 26, 2008 at 03:39 PM
I wonder if the Bengals scouted anyone other than Sedrick Ellis?
Posted by: Nick | April 26, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Any thoughts on a group of local successful businesspersons who could buy the Bengals from Mike Brown? I know they are out there...
Let's face it. Until this team is sold to a person(s) interested in WINNING a Super Bowl, the Bengals will be at best, a trendy playoff contender. This year, we stood by silently while New Orleans traded up to draft a player (Sedrick Ellis) we needed terribly , although NO's draft intentions were widely anticipated and the Bengals had additional draft choices (3rd, 4th rounds) to execute a well-advised move to take a player who would fortify a position we clearly need help at (remember that our front office botched a trade for Shaun Rogers earlier this year, highlighting the lack of expertise in our front office).
In the second round, we took an OBVIOUS flyer on a (more or less) D-II WR that at best will turn out to be a solid player in the NFL (don't get me wrong, the highlight films look great, but if I played against guys from schools no one has ever heard of (like Coastal Carolina) every week, I would make awesome, athletic catches too). There were good, irrefutable defensive linemen available to cancel out our OK Rivers LB pick in the 1st round, yet we took a guy (Jerome Simpson), who would have been- almost definitely - still on the board when we picked in the 3rd round- with our 2nd round, 46th overall pick; ignoring solid, maybe not great but reliable and proven against NFL-comparable competition at the college level, low-risk WRs like Limas Sweed and Early Doucet, both of whom were expected to be taken in the first or early second rounds. Sure enough, they WERE taken soon after we took a major risk on a marginal player who DOESN'T EVEN OFFER SPECIAL TEAMS RETURN ABILITIES (DeSean Jackson, as short as he may be, at least brings this to the table - an asset the Bengals explicitly stated as a need prior to the draft).
Mr. Brown,
While I respect the contributions you and your family have made to the NFL and the Cincinnati Bengals, the time has come for you to admirably pass the team on to someone willing to make the moves necessary to win a Super Bowl. If you wish, I am sure there could be an arrangement made to keep you on as a minority owner; you could remain involved in the franchise your family has fostered while simultaneously allowing it to thrive in the NFL. The lack of aggression and discretion the Bengals displayed during the first day of the 2008 NFL Draft clearly show the NEED for a more success-motivated person(s) to control the team.
Respectfully,
A Bengals Fan
Posted by: Joel | April 27, 2008 at 05:47 AM
No updates today? What did you guys think about day 2?
Posted by: TellMeHowMyAssTastes | April 27, 2008 at 07:48 PM