+ Chick Ludwig thinks that Bengals take Everette Brown (DE, FSU) in the first round. We love the Chickster, but this makes no sense to us. First of all, Brown isn't often "mocked" by the Bengals anymore, and it's generally assumed that the Bengals are going after an offensive tackle with their first round pick. When it wasn't an offensive tackle, it was defensive tackle B.J. Raji. Furthermore, it makes even less sense that the Bengals pick a defensive end in the first round. Period.

In mid-January, we made the argument why we don't think the Bengals will draft a defensive end.

After Robert Geathers' 10.5-sack season in 2006, the team awarded him a six-year deal, worth $33.75 million -- $12.5 million guaranteed and $1.25 million in incentives linked to sacks and Pro Bowl berths. Last off-season, the Bengals added Antwan Odom, signing him to a five-year deal worth $29.5 million and $11.5 million in guarantees. That's $63.25 million tied to two players at defensive end; $24 million of it guaranteed.

The Bengals had a $109,727,880 million payroll during the 2008 season; Odom had the fourth highest hit against the cap ($5.7 million) while Geathers had the seventh largest value ($4,233,333). We're not sure the 2009 values, but if they don't go up, at best they'll sink minutely -- provided the bonuses and guaranteed money that highly impacts the cap value isn't front loaded. Geathers' base salary will go from $2.2 million in 2008, to $2.4 million in 2009. Then it goes up to $3.25 million, $3.95 million ending in 2012 at $4.2 million. Odom will make $3.4 million over 2009 and 2010 respectively, cashing in 2011 with $4.5 million and $5.3 million in 2012.

I also added that "last year's sixth pick, Vernon Gholston, signed a five-year deal worth $40 million, with over $20 million guaranteed. LaRon Landry, the 2007 sixth-pick, signed a five-year deal with the Redskins worth $41.5 million, $17.5 million guaranteed." Consider that the cost would likely go up this year with the sixth round pick, combined with the contracts being earned by two defensive ends already on roster, that's a lot of money.

Yes, my primary argument was cost. My primary argument is still cost. Whether or not they should draft a defensive end in the first round is really irrelevant. The point is that we don't think that the Bengals will draft one.

+ The Football Expert does a seven-round mock draft with eleven picks for the Bengals. The tally is two offensive linemen, two running backs (one of which is a FB), two linebackers, a defensive end, quarterback, cornerback, tight end and wide receiver. Their selections are:

1. Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
2. Max Unger, C, Oregon
3. Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty
4. Kyle Moore, DE, USC
5. Scott McKillop, ILB, Pittsburgh
6. Tony Fiammetta, FB, Syracuse
7. Dan Gronkowski, TE, Maryland
8. Joe Burnett, CB, Central Florida
9. Moise Fokou, OLB, Maryland
10. Hunter Cantwell, QB, Louisville
11. Brian Hartline, WR, tOSU

To be honest, the positions in which they drafted we've spoken about before; even quarterback, thinking that the Bengals could restart their groom-a-young-quarterback project (the one where Jeff Rowe failed) so we can have one backup quarterback for more than 1-2 seasons. Of that list, tight end is our only exception. With Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht under contract through 2009, the Bengals are probably more inclined to reintroduce their third tight end, Matt Sherry.

Drafted as a speed pass-catching tight end, while struggling to be an "in-line blocking" end, Sherry was considered a tight end that the Bengals passing offense could use; maybe even flanking him out in motion. However, he suffered injury before the season started and didn't have his opportunities realized. Most likely, the Bengals will offer him another chance rather than drafting a fourth tight end in which would require them to release one of the three on roster.

+ Drafting wide receivers out of the University of Florida are always a gamble, writes Cold Hard Football Facts. Of the 16 drafted since 1991, Ike Hillard and Darrell Jackson have been the most successful. Still, being the homer that I am, I think (well, hope really) that Andre Caldwell will have something to say about all that before his career concludes.

Player	Year	Round	Rec.	Yards	TD
Andre Caldwell	2008	3	11	78	0
Dallas Baker	2007	7	1	6	0
Chad Jackson	2006	2	14	171	3
Taylor Jacobs	2003	2	37	384	2
Jabar Gaffney	2002	2	256	3068	15
Reche Caldwell	2002	2	152	1851	11
Travis Taylor	2000	1 (10)	312	4017	22
Darrell Jackson	2000	3	499	7132	51
Travis McGriff	1999	3	5	88	1
Jacquez Green	1998	2	162	2331	7
Ike Hilliard	1997	1 (7)	546	6397	35
Reidel Anthony	1997	1 (16)	144	1846	16
Chris Doering	1996	6	42	476	3
Jack Jackson	1995	4	4	39	0
Willie Jackson	1994	4	284	3641	24
Ernie Mills	1991	3	196	2934	20

+ Paul Daugherty writes an article that responds to Leon Hall's DUI. My only critique is that we shouldn't be addressing this specifically to NFL players. We should address with society as a whole -- because that's the issue, isn't it? Not that a professional football player got busted; rather drinking and driving is, and always has been, a societal issue. Granted, Daugherty is a sports columnist and not some human events editorialist, so maybe I'm off-base in my critique.

+ Found this Todd McShay 2009 Mock Draft that he wrote/released right after the 2008 NFL draft. It's an insider column, so I'll list his top-ten picks.

Three defensive tackles within the first five picks and a junior quarterback that stayed in Florida are the two noticeable differences. However, only Stafford, Smith and Oher are often considered likely top-ten picks with Moreno and Maualuga close behind.

More links and notes...

Keith Rivers on the transition from college to the NFL.

It was what every guy says, it’s more of a job. For me, on Thursdays, it was kind of like the movie Office Space, they had a case of the Mondays and I had a case of the Thursdays. (Laughs). I had to be up at 6:15 and be to workouts by 6:45 and not be done by 7 at night, so a little bit of a 12-hour day there. That’s the main thing, but as far as balling and everything, when you play at a high level with a great coach like coach (Pete) Carroll and coach (Ken) Norton you are kind of accustomed to it and you’re able to mix in fairly seamlessly. But it's just different, it's work.

When asked where he got his first name at, Tank Johnson simply responds, "You'll see." Guys shouldn't get giddy because men don't get giddy. I just got giddy.