Is pre-season game #4 Rudi's last chance?

by Kirkendall on Aug 27, 2008 1:31 PM EDT Comment 2 comments

Another issue we raised earlier in the week was how Rudi Johnson would react hearing his name apart of a trade-rumor. The issue isn't truly how he feels, rather his role in any locker room distractions or divisions. "They've been trying to get me out of here for years. Since I first got here. That's why nothing surprises me and I'm not worried. Every year. It night not happen. Every year."

Marvin Lewis points out that Rudi Johnson's chance to prove he's still the team's feature back is this Thursday. "He's still working, fighting for a job just like everybody else is, right? That's the way it is. This is his first chance this year. I haven't seen (him), so that's the big thing."

One has to wonder if Rudi doesn't play, or records a poor performance, he could be gone either by trade or simply releasing him. Personally, I would think that it wouldn't be a good idea. We need the position filled with the fear of injury to, at least, two backs have suffered injury -- not including Johnson. And I'm not of the opinion that James Johnson is much of an improvement over Rudi. Next year, who knows? But I believe the Bengals will dip into the draft pool for at least one power-back. But that's next year.

Either way, he knows that this is a business and this happens.

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Dear Berudi,

No one’s trying to get you out of here. Well, at least not until recently.

You had the misfortune to follow a whole decade’s worth of the one bright spot, the one claim to fame on this team in Corey Dillon. Maybe we were a bit standoffish at first. I mean, ask Aaron Rodgers how life is, being not-Brett Favre.

You probably didn’t get the credit you deserved for those three yeoman-like seasons of power running but you’re just not flashy, not spectacular, you don’t make folks miss, you aren’t a threat to take it to the house at any moment, you’re not likely to end up on Sportscenter, and you share an offense with Carson the Franchise and Ocho Woodywoodpecker-O.

You also happened to peak right as we came under the national spotlight as Mike Brown’s Home for Wayward Draftees.

You’re a throwback, Rudi, who, if life was fair, would have been a prize recruit for Woody Hayes’ Three Yards and A Cloud of Dust Buckeye offenses back in the late ’60’s and ’70’s. It’s not your fault, honest. You are who you are. It is what it is.

Today’s NFL backfields are composed of single backs who can both run through traffic in the middle and beat the defense to the edge- like L.T. or Stephen Jackson- or they’re 21st century versions of Army’s old Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside running back by committee- see Barber/Jones et al.

Last year, while you were out nursing the same type of injury that has plagues you this preseason, Kenny Watson proved that he could be, if not an every down back, a reasonable facsimile, Dede Dorsey brought some speed and enthusiasm to the position, and, now, Chris Perry is- touch wood- healthy and explosive. It looks like you’ve just become the odd man out, especially when you factor rookie James Johnson- who also fills our “Johnson” quota- into the mix.

Yes, Rudi, you probably deserve better than this but, with Mike the Inept and Marvin the Gelded running things, better ain’t what’s coming your way. To borrow an acronym from the Rome show; “B.O.H.I.C.A.”. Bend over, here it comes again.

Yours,

Ignatius J. Reilly

by IgnatiusJReilly on Aug 27, 2008 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs