Breaking down the Bengals wide receivers
First and foremost, I wanted to do a "Flashback" story in mid-December 2007 that referenced a post by PFT.
A league source tells us that there is growing animosity in the Bengals locker room toward receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Per the source, both are yelling "all the time" at quarterback Carson Palmer, but coach Marvin Lewis doesn't say or do anything about it. Players are also upset that the two receivers are trying to "run the team."
The situation reminds us of the latter days of the Denny Green era in Minnesota, where receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss were berating quarterback Daunte Culpepper and operating under a separate set of rules.
Now, truth be told, nothing came of it. And one has to consider that PFT is partially rumor, partially truth, all based on sources that either written in newspapers or unnamed in PFT's circle. Still, when it happened, you had to admit that there's a possibility of truth; not easily tossed aside for blind denials. Both receivers are extremely emotional, and if the team, or one of the players, isn't doing what they believe should be done to win, then you had to consider this partially true. My reason for saying partially true is because it wasn't followed up, nor confirmed.
I wrote before the 2008 NFL Draft that "A scenario does exist that the Bengals could lose their their three best wide receivers that combined for 69 receiving touchdowns since 2005 -- 80% of Palmer's 86 passing touchdowns." This was when Henry was dealing with his last (or latest) legal issue, Chad Johnson during his campaign to get traded and T.J. Houshmandzadeh the final season of his contract.
Fast forward to now. We can adjust the presumption to commit that Henry will be with the Bengals in 2009, and there's a strong argument for Johnson returning, save for Drew Rosenhaus' manipulating letter-writing skills.
All things being known, we can preview the position to look like this before free agency in two weeks.
- Chad Johnson
- Chris Henry
- Andre Caldwell
- Jerome Simpson
- Antonio Chatman
- Mario Urrutia
- Maurice Purify
Glenn Holt is a restricted free agent, and until he's signed, you have to consider that the Bengals may not offer him a deal.
It's not the most experienced list, and there's noise that's both legit and very loud about Jerome Simpson's potential based on anti-Mike Brown arguments. Henry has the physical attributes to be a hellva receiver, but not the mental fortitude to even be the team's number two. Andre Caldwell seems likely to be the team's best option in the slot and Antonio Chatman, when (lack of) durability isn't sucking his playing time dry, has shown to be effective enough to warrant playing time. Urrutia and Purify were on the team's practice squad in 2008 and it has to be assumed, without including the unexpected, that they won't break into the 53-man roster.
In truth, it's a weaker roster without Houshmandzadeh -- that much is way too obvious. However, there's also unknowns with several guys that could surprise us in 2009. The truth of the matter is, this is the wide receiver group heading into next season.
Considering the Bengals could go after a wide receiver in the draft (not the first two rounds for sure based on deeper needs), or after free agents with a list that includes:
| Bryant | Antonio | Buccaneers | UFA |
| Clayton | Michael | Buccaneers | UFA |
| Colbert | Keary | Lions | UFA |
| Copper | Terrance | Ravens | UFA |
| Engram | Bobby | Seahawks | UFA |
| Gaffney | Jabar | Patriots | UFA |
| Hall | Dante | Rams | UFA |
| Hankton | Cortez | Buccaneers | UFA |
| Henderson | Devery | Saints | UFA |
| Houshmandzadeh | T.J. | Bengals | UFA |
| Jackson | Darrell | Broncos | UFA |
| Jenkins | Justin | Bills | UFA |
| Johnson | Bryant | 49ers | UFA |
| Jones | Brandon | Titans | UFA |
| Lloyd | Brandon | Bears | UFA |
| Looker | Dane | Rams | UFA |
| McCareins | Justin | Titans | UFA |
| McDonald | Shaun | Lions | UFA |
| Morant | Johnnie | Raiders | UFA |
| Robinson | Koren | Seahawks | UFA |
| Roby | Courtney | Saints | UFA |
| Shepherd | Edell | Broncos | UFA |
| Toomer | Amani | Giants | UFA |
| Washington | Nate | Steelers | UFA |
| Williams | Reggie | Jaguars | UFA |
| Anderson | David | Texans | RFA |
| Austin | Miles | Cowboys | RFA |
| Baskett | Hank | Eagles | RFA |
| Bodiford | Shaun | Packers | RFA |
| Floyd | Malcom | Chargers | RFA |
| Holt | Glenn | Bengals | RFA |
| Hurd | Sam | Cowboys | RFA |
| Moore | Lance | Saints | RFA |
| Webb | Jeff | Chiefs | RFA |
| Wright | Wallace | Jets | RFA |
Are you comfortable with our roster of wide receivers as it is with a few gaps to fill? Should the Bengals address the position in the draft or free agency or both?
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8 comments
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Comments
Out of those available, there are four I’d consider; the Cowboys’ Austin and Hurd, the Saints’ Devery Henderson, and the Chargers’ Malcolm Floyd. Floyd is the most intriguing. At 6-5", 225lbs., he’s also got explosive speed. The last several Chargers’ games I sat through, Floyd made key catches and used that size to outreach the defenders.
by IgnatiusJReilly on Feb 14, 2009 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It will be interesting to see how Chad behaves if TJ is gone. Is TJ keeping him semi-connected to reality or is he facilitating his me first attitude as the PFT article suggests?
I think a Palmer led offensive is better with a good running game, and the constant threat of the big play to Chad, than a precision passing game needing multiple excellent receivers, but no running game.
i.e. Lets spend money improving the O-line and RBs, and hope the young talent can come through at WR
by R.F. Mehl on Feb 14, 2009 2:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I totally agree with you on the o-line and running. You don’t build a team around wide receivers, you b]do it around a QB and both lines. We need to run the ball first, pass second. Tackle in round 1 and center in round 2 will go a long way to improving our team. Give Palmer some time and a decent running game and he will make our receivers look very good. Also, Henry is a much better player than this site gives him credit for. If he has a whole off season and training camp with the team he will make a lot of noise next year, plus Palmer loves throwing to the guy.
by Detroit Bengal on Feb 14, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ditto.
Protect Palmer, shore up the running game, let the young talent at WR show us what they can do with a Pro Bowl QB throwing ‘em the rock, let’s see what Zimmer’s D 2.0 brings to the table, and I say the Bengals have a shot at a decent season.
by TheWalrus1971 on Feb 15, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I am totally comfortable with our receiver group. We have been spoiled with three great receivers in a couple of years now, but the truth is that we have an elite #1 receiver and plenty of talent behind him. Think about it, only one of Caldwell, Henyr or Simpson need to step up their game to start in order for us to have two very good receivers starting. And we even now our fifth guy, Chatman, can be effective. Most teams would kill to have that kind of depth at receiver.
by el-insaciable on Feb 15, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeremy Maclin
some speculate that Maclin could run a sub-4.3 forty at the combine, that along with his size, sure hands and ability to return punts and kicks, sure is tempting. but i agree with all of you who say we have depth at wr even without tj. and keeping palmer up right and healthy should be objective uno. sign jason brown!
by Baraka on Feb 15, 2009 9:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think signing Jason Brown would be a great start.
Collins/Whitworth/Brown/Williams/1st Pick
Collins/2ndRd/Brown/Williams/Whitworth
or
1stRd/Whitworth/Brown/Williams/Collins
all look a hell of a lot better than last year. Whit-Brown-Bobbie is a solid interior, something we haven’t had in a long time.
That being said, I will be shocked if we go get a top flight o-lineman in FA.
I have this sinking feeling that we will let TJ go and remain +20M under the cap, with Brownie blaming the economy on the lack of ticket sales, not the gross ineptitude of last season.
by R.F. Mehl on Feb 15, 2009 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ugh! your probably right, but until i am proved to be wrong i will remain optimistic. this being a bengals fan is a sickness
by Baraka on Feb 15, 2009 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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