Walker: Andre Smith is on the rookie hot seat

by Josh Kirkendall on May 14, 2009 8:27 PM EDT in Analysis

My new best friend featured a piece on rookies on the hot seat -- no, I've never heard of that term either, but since James Walker is my new best friend, I'm fine with that. Walker's point is that through last year's Sugar Bowl suspension, to the disastrous NFL Combine and now the odd Agent vs. Agent battle that's being waged, Smith will have a lot to prove -- most of which will be resolved on the football field. I think Walker is right on this one. Trippin'.

We've been staunch supporters of Smith and believe that while he's a good kid, he's also impressionable and needs a little guidance. How he performs out of the gate won't just ease the impression people have on him, but it could go a long way as to how well the Bengals perform. He's projected as the starting right tackle, even though most of his rookie minicamp snaps came at left tackle. Clearly the most important issue this year will be how well the Bengals protect Carson Palmer. Smith is a big part of that equation.

Cincinnati lifted their middle finger to all of those that questioned the Bengals for selecting players that we're not sons of preachers. And smiled while doing it. The Bengals don't care what others think about the history of the players that they acquire. Will drafting Smith reward them? If he, and he alone, doesn't add to what he's already dealt with, this will clearly be a non-issue.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think Walker is right on this one. Trippin'.

Gasp. First time for everything, I guess. If Smith holds out, that’ll suck.

by jsl413 on May 14, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

Andre Smith is the highest drafted player in the AFC North. That puts him on the hot seat by default.

by math_geek on May 14, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

which 1st round rookies isn’t on the hot seat?

by Monkeyfeng on May 15, 2009 2:17 AM EDT reply actions

RE:

Well, I disagree that any first round pick is automatically on the hot seat. Someone on the hot seat is rarely a “by default” thing when entering the league. Rookies generally aren’t, nor should be, on the hot seat. Everyone understands there’s a growing period. If after the rookie plays in the league in 2-3 years, and doesn’t produce as expected where he’s drafted, then he’s running the risk of being a bust — therefore, he’s on the hot seat.

If the Bengals selected any one else, like Eugene Monroe or Michael Oher, then that respective player wouldn’t have been on the hot seat. Walker’s point isn’t where he was drafted, as so much as the “baggage” that he’s brought with him and the importance of his role with this team. Hence the hot seat.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on May 15, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

I an so freaking tired of listening to questions about Andre’s character- whether from outsider douchebags like Walker or amongst ourselves. There are zero questions about his ability to play the game and that’s good enough for me. All the so-called “character” issue BS is just that; bullshit, Oh, he’s fat! Of course he’s fat, moron, he’s a 340 pound human being. They don’t really make them in all muscle. Oh, he has manboobs and he floppity-flops when he runs shirtless! Again, he’s a 340 pound man running as fast as he can, not Terrell Owens. His suspension for the Sugar Bowl? I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say the agent contacted him- and not the other way around, which doesn’t absolve Smith but could happen to anyone. He handled the Combine and his exit from it poorly, no question, but Keels bears a lion’s share of the blame here as well. Leave Andre alone or Chris Crocker(not ours) will make another video!

Andre Smith is on the hotseat because- and only because, he was drafted by a team with a Smith-sized hole in it’s offensive line and a QB they want to keep healthy for sixteen NFL games. Stafford is on the hotseat, Tyson Jackson is simply for the perceived reach, Sanchez is on the hotseat….

by IgnatiusJReilly on May 15, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions