Marvin Lewis Shows His Respect for Steven Jackson and Talks About the 2004 Draft

by Jason Garrison on Dec 15, 2011 11:30 AM EST

Go out and talk to long-time Bengals fans and ask them what the biggest Bengals draft mistakes are. You'll get a wide variety of responses, including names like Akili Smith, Ki-Jana Carter and David Klingler. Another name that might pop up is Chris Perry, the Bengals first-round pick in 2004, a running back out of Michigan.

The Bengals had the No. 24 pick in the 2004 draft, a pick they acquired from the Denver Broncos (they originally had the No. 17 pick, but traded it to Denver, who picked up D.J. Williams, and moved back). They decided to drop back again, this time trading their pick to the St. Louis Rams. The Rams selected Oregon State running back Steven Jackson with the No. 24 pick and the Bengals, who dropped back to No. 26, took Perry.

Perry is now out of the NFL and Jackson has racked up the fourth most rushing yards in the NFL among active players.

Hind site is 20/20, right?

Perry never led the Bengals in rushing. After the Bengals decided to not go after Jackson, Rudi Johnson was the Bengals leading rusher, then Kenny Watson and then, when the reins were finally turned over to Perry in 2008, he fumbled five times in six starts before the Bengals brought Cedric Benson to Cincinnati. He's been the team's leading rusher ever since and Perry was drummed out of the league.

The Bengals will face the running back that they decided to let slip through their fingers in 2004 as they travel to St. Louis to play the Rams on Sunday. Head coach Marvin Lewis recently spoke about Jackson and the team's decision to move back in the draft on Bengals.com.

"Steven Jackson was a guy that we sat there and looked at in the draft and allowed the Rams to choose him," Lewis said. "We chose the other one because we were able to add a pick at that point. So, we did a lot of work with him and have a great deal of respect for him and knew he would be a player in the NFL. I don’t think he disappointed anybody. Runs strong, runs tough and so we’ve got a great deal of respect for him."

One of the main keys to the Bengals beating the Rams and keeping their playoff hopes alive will obviously be to stop Jackson, who has 895 yards and five touchdowns this season. Also, a key to their future success, especially with two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, will be not to pass up players that have the potential to carry a team the way Jackson has carried the Rams.

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Comments

awwwkward

This is one of the draft mishaps that will go down in Bengals history……I will give the benefit of hindsight….There are a ton of missed picks that every team has….for some reason….this one always stands out to me though……..

by ticalcaldwell on Dec 15, 2011 11:37 AM EST reply actions

This is the worst missed pick of all time

Jackson was a beast at Oregon State, and was head over heels better then Chris Perry. It’s unforgivable

by Diesel2405 on Dec 15, 2011 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

What could've been

If Rudi could run for 1400, I couldn’t imagine what Jackson could’ve done on those teams. Hind sight isn’t 20/20, it should be a kick in the junk.

by Bigcatdaddy on Dec 15, 2011 11:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I remember watching that draft

I was thrilled when Jackson was still there at 24. I thought it was a lock that they would select him.

"Pawtucket Patriot Beer. If you drink it, hot women will have sex in your backyard."

by Evil Monkey on Dec 15, 2011 12:33 PM EST reply actions

I certainly knew it was a sh!tty pick back then

I was and still am an Oregon State football season ticket holder, and Steven Jackson was a top 10 talent coming out of college. I think EVERYBODY was surprised that he slipped all the way to 24.

At the time, I recall stupid @ss Jim Anderson claim they liked Perry better because he had put up better stats than Jackson vs USC that year, and was a better receiver.

Of course, he was wrong. Jackson was 22 for 62 yds and a TD rushing, and 5 for 39 receiving vs USC. Perry was 23 for 85 yds and a TD rushing, and 2 for 1 yd receiving vs USC. Anyone who watched college football that year knew Michigan had a better offensive line than Oregon State.

Both players had 40+ receptions for 400+ yards in 2003. Jackson went on to have one of the all-time best receiving years by an RB with 90 catches, while Perry was nursing a groin issue.

Jim Anderson is stupid.

by PeteRoseJr on Dec 15, 2011 2:13 PM EST reply actions

+1

by Diesel2405 on Dec 15, 2011 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

It wasn’t a terrible move by the Bengals (all things considered)

The rumor has always been that Mike Brown wanted C Perry over S Jackson. This way, they got the RB they probably would have (unfortunately) taken anyway, and also got a guard (Stacey Andrews) who started for them for several years with the extra pick from St Louis.

When I see the Bengals passing up on the Saints entire draft in order to take Akili Smith 3rd overall….I don’t see the Bengals taking Chris Perry at #26 overall as their worst draft mistake.

by ephram on Dec 15, 2011 2:20 PM EST reply actions

I,being a tOSU grad have never been a big fan of Perry but

he was a very good back until he got an early injury. Perry had all of the hallmarks of a fine RB. We will never know how good he could have been. The comparison with Jackson is a bit unfair.

People who make these kinds claims obviously have the benefit of talking about it after the fact. If Jackson had had the devestating injury that Perry did and Perry stayed healthy we could be having this conversation in reverse. Yea, we have made some bad draft picks – but so doesn’t everyone else.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Dec 15, 2011 2:30 PM EST reply actions

this^

+1000

by bengalsfanforlife on Dec 15, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

I remember it well.....

I was all excited when Jackson kept falling. Finally it’s our pick at #24 and the Bengals trade the select.ion……………………. Jackson gets drafted at #24 and ……. with the 26th pick in the NFL draft, the Bengals select………….Chris Perry. I couldn’t believe it. How could they pass on Jackson? One of many stupid draft decisions that have doomed this team to mediocrity.

by JADefense on Dec 15, 2011 3:15 PM EST reply actions

I actually went to a draft party at PBS that year and when the Bengals

traded the pick and took Perry instead of Jackson the room was stunned and not that happy. Marvin’s quotes are typical, say little of substance and avoid the real issue.

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Dec 15, 2011 4:31 PM EST reply actions