Playing without starting quarterback Carson Palmer, the Bengals led into the fourth quarter but allowed two quick touchdowns and fell to 0-4, losing to Cleveland 20-12 this afternoon.
If you thought Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson was upset before, what about now? Now that Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald has signed a four-year, $40 million contract. While Fitzgerald breaks the bank with $10 million per year for four years, Johnson is boxed in by a contract that went from good to bad in a hurry.
“Chad’s got to be crying,” one NFL insider told me. Why? Because he’s between a rock and a hard place … for the next four years. The $35.5 million extension Johnson signed in April 2006, which included a fat $10.75 million signing bonus, looked great at the time. But it doesn’t look so good anymore compared to Fitzgerald’s monster deal.
Johnson is due to earn $3 million in 2008, $4.5 million in 2009, $5 million in 2010 and $6 million in 2011. That’s $18.5 million. In that same span, Fitzgerald will make $40 million — $22.5 million more than Chad. Chad cannot be happy. But he has only two people to blame: himself and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Instead of waiting for Chad to reach free agency in 2009, they leaped on the Bengals’ six-year extension in 2006.
The Bengals' search for defensive depth yielded Arizona Cardinals free agent outside linebacker Darryl Blackstock, who agreed to a one-year contract Monday, March 10. Blackstock, a 6-foot-3, 244-pound fourth-year veteran, was a 2005 third-round draft pick from the University of Virginia.
Blackstock's three-year totals for Arizona included 44 tackles and four sacks in 46 games with two starts. He's expected to back up starting outside linebackers Dhani Jones and Rashad Jeanty, and strengthen the special teams coverage units.
Profootballtalk.com reported that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson punched head coach Marvin Lewis during halftime of a Jan. 2006 playoff again against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The website cited a clip posted on YouTube in which former Cincinnati defensive tackle Shaun Smith, now a Cleveland Brown, told a group of Browns Backers the story of the incident. The clip has since been removed from YouTube.
Quoting an unidentified source, Profootballtalk.com reported that in Jan. 2006: "The last few minutes of intermission were ticking away, when the players were startled by the sight and sound of a helmet slamming against the glass pane of the training room door. Inside, receiver Chad Johnson and receivers coach Hue Jackson were engaged in an altercation. At one point, Johnson was seen holding Jackson in a headlock. "Coach Marvin Lewis entered the training room to intervene, and Johnson (per the source) took a swing at him."
The team denied any such incident, and Johnson called a press conference for the sole purpose of claiming that nothing happened.
The Cincinnati Bengals lost their leading tackler Friday, March 7, when linebacker Landon Johnson agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.
Johnson visited the Panthers on Thursday and agreed to join the NFC South team today, said his agent, Andy Simms.
"He's excited to join the Carolina Panthers and further his career," Simms said. "He truly enjoyed his four years in Cincinnati."
Johnson led the Bengals in tackles three of the past four seasons.
ESPN is reporting the Bengals Defensive End Justin Smith has signed deal with the San Franciso 49ers. The deal is expected to be worth $45 million that included $20 million in guarantees.
Smith had played seven season so for the Bengals. He was the 4th pick overall in the 2007 draft out of Missouri. The Bengals had kept him last year by placing the Franchise Tag on him. Although Smith did not have an exceptional season last year, he had 43 1/2 sacks while with the Bengals. Smith has a reputation for having a big motor an being a very hard worker on and off the filed. franchise tag by the Bengals in 2007. Smith despite his number of sack, he only managed 2 sacks last season. Smith has played in 16 games every season except his rookie campaign when he made 15 appearances.
Free safety Madieu Williams became the first ex-Bengal of the 2008 NFL free agency period when he agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings on a six-year, $33 million contract on Friday, Feb. 29. That makes him one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL.
It’s leap year, and Williams leaped into the upper echelon of NFL riches for a defensive back. Even though I know it won’t happen, I envision Madieu lounging in a bath tub with a big, fat cigar and derby hat similar to Leon Spinks after Spinks’ heavyweight victory over Muhammad Ali in 1978. Williams is much too classy for that.
The signing marks a reunion between Williams and Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Frazier was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator in 2004 when Williams was drafted in the second round out of the University of Maryland.
Updated: 6:50 p.m.
The agent for running back Cedric Benson says his client's work ethic is a classic Midwestern approach and is a good fit for a Cincinnati team in desperate need of backfield depth.
"If you look at his history before the Bears,...
Posted: 6:10 a.m.
If Ryan Fitzpatrick gets another shot to start Sunday in Dallas, the Bengals only have to look at their last 19 games to see the road map for getting a victory with a backup quarterback.
In that stretch they've played eight...
Opening comments: ML: My thoughts didn't change much after watching the three phases of the game on video. Sometimes the execution of the offense was not where we needed it to be, and we played pretty well for most of the day on special...
This is THE podcast for all Cincinnati Bengals fans.Twice a week, legendary Cincinnati sportscaster, Ken Broo, is joined by the editors, writers and publisher of the popular bi-weekly publication, Bengals ReportIn this up to the minute podcast, the discussion is all Bengals featuring interviews with your favorite Bengals players.Get the inside scoop on the Bengals and their upcoming games by placing Bengals Report on your list of favorites!
In this episode, Ken Broo and Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin preview the Bengals vs Browns game coming up Sunday 92808. You'll hear comments from Carson Palmer, Chris Perry and Marvin Lewis. For the best in sports, visit Ken Broo's web site www.kenbroo.com
In this episode, Ken Broo and Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin preview the Bengals upcoming game at the New York Giants. You'll hear comments from Bengals head coach, Marvin Lewis and quarterback Carson Palmer. For the best in sports, visit Ken Broo's web site www.kenbroo.com
In this episode, Ken Broo and Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin review the Bengals loss to the Tennessee Titans in week #2 of the 2008 NFL season. You'll hear comments from head coach Marvin Lewis, running back Chris Perry and wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh. For the best in sports visit Ken's web site www.kenbroo.com.
The Team 
