Remembering: Reggie McNeal

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 16, 2008 2:33 PM EDT in Veterans of Cincinnati

Reggie McNeal was the Bengals six-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft. The team envisioned the former Texas A&M quarterback becoming a wide receiver, along with a speed-demon Bennie Brazell (a finalist in the 2004 Olympic Games in the 400-meter hurdles) -- both of whom are not playing football in the NFL (Brazell tried out with the Jacksonville Jaguars this off-season, but not offered a contract).

McNeal spent one full season, never registering a catch (but playing seven games), with the Bengals in 2006, subsequently cut in 2007 to get the roster down to 53 men. This may have had a lot to do with an early morning incident on December 3rd, 2006. McNeal was arrested and charged with resisting arrest; McNeal tried to get into a club in Houston, Texas, while going into an obscenity-filled rant. McNeal elbowed an off-duty officer working as a bouncer, who threw McNeal down and arrested him. Later, Houston police added a charge of "possession of a dangerous drug" -- a cigarette laced with antihistamine.

Fast-forward to 2008. Last week against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, McNeal started as the Toronto Argonauts' starting wide receiver for the first time, catching six passes for 101 yards -- team highs. Toronto lost Friday Night, 32-14 to the Montreal Alouettes. McNeal was shutout.

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re: McNeal

I’m not sure what you mean by “shutout”. In the game against Montreal, McNeal caught 3 passes for 55 yards, long of 23, which means the other two averaged about 15 yards each.

It might have been too much for him to learn the WR position at the NFL level. One level down, he’s been productive in the two games in which he played. Who knows, maybe in a year or two he’ll be ready to play in the NFL

So how does this relate to the Bengals. Just that they were unable to coach him up. Keep that in mind as the team struggles to find a # 3 receiver.

by etabby on Aug 16, 2008 5:26 PM EDT reply actions

McNeal

Picking McNeal seemed a good, though semi unorthodox, pick. He was a stud on a team with a few of them. I would hope the Bengals would still take that pick today . Too bad he couldn’t have played in Europe a season to develop at wide receiver.

by carsick on Aug 16, 2008 7:10 PM EDT reply actions

a cigarette laced with antihistamine?

I thought both substances were legal- not to mention what the fuck was he trying to accomplish with that mix? Ugh.

So, who’s for offering a contract to 6’-5" Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt? 9.69 in 100m? Assuming he has any hands at all- and isn’t a practicing Rastafarian ;-), he could make us all forget Henry.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Aug 16, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

after actually seeing the rebroadcast of the 100m final,

dude could have come close to 9.5 if he’d not shut it down the final twenty meters to look for the nonfactor Powell and beat his chest. Hell, he could’ve high-stepped the last twenty like Deion. That’s like, leaving Bennie Brazell in a cloud of dust speed. That’s like making “Bullet” Bob Hayes look like he’s standing still speed. Someone get him on the phone!

by IgnatiusJReilly on Aug 16, 2008 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Bolt’s job is just running straight for 100m and the biggest event of his life, he couldn’t stay focused for more than 9.5seconds without show boating…one head case of 85’s caliber is more than enough for one team, IMO

by R.F. Mehl on Aug 17, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

McNeal

He actually started the season as the 3rd string QB, but was moved to reciever to fill the void of injuries.

by ochocinco855 on Aug 16, 2008 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah...

The Bengals drafted him intending to make him into the next Antwaan Randle El since the Steelers had burned Cincy with trick-play-WR-pass after trick-play-WR-pass. Didn’t pan out.

S’what’cha get for drafting Aggie QBs, eh? (HOOK ’EM, HORNS!)

He ran a 4.28 40 at the combine, but when you look at the Wonderlic scores for QBs entering the 2006 NFL Draft…dang…

Travis Lulay, 37
Matt Leinart, 35
Charlie Whitehurst, 33
Josh Betts, 33
Jay Cutler, 26
Kellen Clemens, 26
Brodie Croyle, 24
Bruce Eugene, 21
DJ Shockley, 19
Reggie McNeal, 19
Bruce Gradkowski, 19
Tarvaris Jackson, 19
Erik Meyer, 18
Vince Young, 16

by TheWalrus1971 on Aug 17, 2008 1:20 AM EDT reply actions

And yeah, I know...

Vince Young went to UT and scored lower than the Aggie did…yeah, I set myself up for that one. You’re still talking about one guy who is a Heisman-winning, BCS Championship-winning, starting NFL QB and another guy who finally caught on in the land of Raghib Ismail.

It’s late.

by TheWalrus1971 on Aug 17, 2008 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions