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Some older players might not be back This was supposed to start the homestretch for the Bengals. Ten games have been played, and Cincinnati fully expected to be in the thick of the playoff race. But at 3-7 entering a game today in Paul Brown Stadium against the Tennessee Titans, the Bengals might be the NFL's biggest disappointment. Even if they win their last six games -- does anyone expect that? -- they still would need the chips to fall right to make the playoffs. When a team struggles like the Bengals have, fans clamor for sweeping changes. In the NFL, that's difficult to achieve during the season. The Bengals wouldn't have a hint of a quarterback controversy unless Carson Palmer repeats last week's four-interception performance for the next month. So whether he likes it or not, coach Marvin Lewis' hands are mostly tied. He has little choice but to stay the course for now. "That's all we're going to keep doing," he said. "We'll see how it turns out and go from there. We'll evaluate things, shake things up at some point, and we'll go again." Any shake-up probably won't come until next season. But it's probably not too soon to realize that a dramatic change could be in store. Fourteen players on their roster, including most of the team's stars, will be at least 30 years old by the start of next season. Not all of the 14 will or should be jettisoned, but few teams outside the New England Patriots flourish with such a large group of aging veterans. The defensive line likely will undergo a major overhaul. Bryan Robinson, 33, is the oldest Bengal and knows he's nearing the end of his career. John Thornton has been a good leader, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he leaves. Justin Smith is making $8.7 million as the team's designated franchise player. He hasn't come close to living up to that, and it would be shocking if the Bengals make a major commitment to keep him. Linebacker Landon Johnson, the team's leading tackler, becomes an unrestricted free agent, as does safety Madieu Williams. Safety Dexter Jackson, who'll be 31, has become a liability in pass coverage. On offense, three linemen will be 30 or older -- right tackle Willie Anderson, right guard Bobbie Williams and left tackle Levi Jones. All are likely to return, though Anderson's accumulated injuries have taken a toll. His health issues could cause the Bengals to make a concerted effort to re-sign Stacy Andrews as insurance. Chad Johnson will join fellow receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the 30-year-old club in January. Both are under contract and are crucial to the offense. Houshmandzadeh is a lock to return, and Johnson probably will as well, though his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is capable of shenanigans that could try the Bengals' patience. Reggie Kelly remains an effective blocker, but the Bengals need more of a receiving threat at tight end than he gives them. No position might be more in flux than at running back. The dwindling production from Rudi Johnson is impossible to ignore. Kenny Irons will be returning from a knee ligament tear. Kenny Watson will be 30. Chris Perry hasn't been able to get healthy, let alone stay healthy. The Bengals' issues are complicated by the fact the team's drafts under Lewis haven't provided the nucleus expected. Only 19 of the draft picks from the time Lewis took over in 2003 remain on the roster. In contrast, Tennessee has 28 draftees on its 53-man roster. Some of the unproductive picks have been because of injury (Perry, Irons, linebacker David Pollack). Some, most notably linebacker Odell Thurman, have been washouts because of character issues the Bengals chose to overlook. All of it adds up to an offseason that could be more interesting than this underachieving team has been on the field. Columbus Dispatch http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/11/25/bengals1125.ART_ART_11-25-07_C10_7G8IP24.html?sid=101 |
