Bengals Early Bird Special

Good morning everyone! I hope you all had an eventful weekend.

 I'm back and kicking everyone! No I did not fall off the face of the Earth. I had surgery earlier in the week and was recovering from it. But now I'm doing much better. Then again it depends on how one defines better. Physically? Yes I am doing a lot better. Mentally? Not so much, but that's because of Mike Brown and all of the idiotic things that he has done over the past week.

He finally traded Ochocinco, but it was to the New England Patriots. And I hate the Patriots. What I despise even more is the fact that Brown traded Ochocinco for a fifth and sixth round pick. Wasn't he offered a first and third round pick two years ago by the Redskins? Why would Brown do that?!!?!? Please don't answer that. It was a rhetorical question.

Then Brown has the nerve to let our type cornerback leave via free agency? Wait, didn't the Bengals have $36 million cap space before the trade of Ochocinco, the release of Odom, and letting Palmer walk? Why did the Bengals drag their feet through the mud on that? Wasn't Joseph considered a "top priority"? Again, don't answer that, it's rhetorical.

As for Carson Palmer, really Brown? You're not going to trade him and get what you can for him? I'm sure Palmer could have yielded two high-to-mid level draft picks. I'm sad to see the Palmer era end this way. He did so much for this team during his career. Some good, some bad. But that's going to happen, unless you're Peyton Manning or Drew Brees, (Forget Brady. I can't stand that Justin Bieber wannabe.)

The only move that has made sense to me during this past week was the release of Antwan Odom. I was excited when the Bengals first signed him, but he fell well short of expectations. Thus meaning it was time to move on.

Maybe Mike Brown needs to realize that the Bengals need a general manager. It is imperative for the franchise that Brown let someone else (who actually has football knowledge) run the operations for this franchise. Otherwise we're never going to reach the Super Bowl, yet alone the playoffs until Brown is no longer the owner.

End of rant.

Alright here's a look at what you may have missed or overlooked from the weekend.

• The Bengals injury report after Sunday. Bernard Scott missed Sunday's practice due to soreness and is going to miss a couple of days due to a tight hamstring.
• According to a report from the the Cincinnati Enquirer,the Bengals are talking with free agent safety Donte Whitner. Let's hope the Bengals are able to sign him! I wouldn't mind seeing Whitner patrol the field for the Bengals.
• The Bengals could still be in the market for an outside linebacker. Let's hope they add someone. It will only add more depth to the team.
• Free agent guard Deuce Lutui failed his physical. Well, so much for that signing. His contract indicated that he was the favorite to start at left guard. One area of concern was Lutui's weight.
• Ahmad Bradshaw is scheduling a trip to Cincinnati! Imagine if the Bengals had Cedric Benson and Bradshaw in their backfield. That would be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
• Despite negotiations going slowly, the Bengals have reach an agreement with running back Cedric Benson. And truth be told, I'm glad it's for only one year. Before reaching an agreement, the Bengals were talking to other free agent running backs.
• Nate Clements has agreed to a two-year contract worth $10.5 million, $6 million guaranteed with the Bengals. Marvin Lewis calls Clements a fine player.
• Mike Zimmer stated that newly signed Thomas Howard is expected to start the season as the weak-side linebacker and to play in nickel formations as well.
• Individual teams are not forced with team minimums until 2013. I think I'm going to go smack my head against a wall until I pass out. That's how I felt when I saw that. Two more years of under-performing! (Most likely).
• Former Bengals guard Evan Mathis signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Who didn't see that one coming?
• The Bengals interest in former lineman Stacy Andrews has cooled off since early reports.
• Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden stated that Andy Dalton "ran the show" during Saturday's practice. During practice Dalton received 65-70 percent of the snaps.
• Marvin Lewis refuses to call 2011 a rebuilding year. Now Marvin, the first step in recovery is admitting that you have a problem. And the Bengals certainly have a lot of problems whether you want to admit it or not.
• Linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy ruptured his achilles tendon. Talk about a blow to the defense.
• Keith Rivers may not return until midway through the regular season due to wrist surgery. Things just keep getting better and better.....not!
• A breakdown of Bruce Gradkowski's history against the AFC North. Oh, Gardkowski. You're definitely the answer to beating the Steelers.
• The Bengals first practice was delayed due to a storm that knocked out the power at Georgetown.
• Andre Smith and Morgan Trent did not dress for Saturday's practice.
• Rey Maualuga is making the switch to middle linebacker.
• The list of the best Bengals players of all-time to wear No.91-99 was revealed.
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• Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel is reportedly on the trade block. Don't get your hopes up. You'll only end up crashing into a wall known as disappointment.
• The release of Antwan Odom was one move that made sense. Other than that, a majority of Mike Brown's moves haven't made any sense to us fans.
• The signing of safety Gibril Wilson was announced by the Bengals.
• Bobbie Williams has "never seen anything like this in my time in the NFL." Well that's rather surprising since Mike Brown is still the owner of the Bengals.
• According to John Clayton the Bengals have $49 million of cap space after trading Chad Ochocinco, releasing Antwan Odom, and letting Carson Palmer walk. And yet Mike Brown still doesn't spend much of that money. Isn't that what it's there for? To be spent on players that will improve the team?
• Rookie Dontay Moch agreed to terms with the Bengals. The Bengals also agreed to terms with seventh-round pick Jay Finely. Second-round pick Andy Dalton agreed to a four-year contract. Fourth-round selection Clint Boling agreed to a contract with the Bengals.
• Bengals have waived place kicker Clint Stitser and wide receiver Shay Hodge.
• Bengals signed four restricted free agents and five exclusive-rights free agents. I'm still waiting for the Bengals to pick up that player that will be the "Difference Maker."
• The Bengals reworked Morgan Trent's contract to "protect them from his surgically repaired knee." Trent was waived earlier for failing a physical.
• Pat Sims was placed on the physically unable to perform list. Adam Jones was also placed on the PUP list. That's a shame.
• The Bengals spoke to free agent cornerback Chris Carr. Obviously nothing has come of it at this point.
• Mike Zimmer is frustrated, like all of us in Bengals Nation are, with the loss of Johnathan Joseph.
• Carson Palmer was officially placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list. In all honesty that makes me fill up with disappointment. I enjoyed watching Palmer guide the Bengals, despite his inconsistencies that he endured.
• The Bengals have until August 19 to make a decision on Andre Smith. I think Smith and the Bengals should have a one-hour special that would air on ESPN revealing the announcement. Who's on board?
• Running back Brian Leonard inked a two-year deal to remain a Bengal. At least the Bengals did something right.
• When Mike Brown traded Chad Ochocinco to the New England Patriots for a fifth and sixth-round pick, it showed how Brown's principles damage the Bengals.