A.J. Green: Soon to be in a Class of His Own

by Jack Cassidy on Jan 30, 2012 8:00 PM EST

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 04: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals tries to catch a second quarter pass next to Ike Taylor #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers but ends up drifting out of bounds at Heinz Field on December 4, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The NFL is known as a "copycat" league. And in that type of league, all kinds of comparisons are constantly being made. Great players are judged against other great players. Great teams are evaluated according to other great teams. How often have you heard the phrase structure "(Insert team here) is playing as well as ('72 Dolphins, '85 Bears, etc.) ever did!!", or, "(Current running back) looks like (historically great running back) out there. Seriously, I don't know if he's better than (currently great running back), but he's definitely top five"? Players, teams, coaches, uniforms, stadiums, fan bases, concession prices...you name it, it's being compared. Everyone does it, myself included - it's just a part of being a fan. Geoff Hobson, official Cincinnati Bengals writer, said that the Pro Bowl is of course no exception, but this time the comparisons weren't readily accepted.

People were comparing the 6-4 Green to Marshall, but Marshall wouldn't have it.

"He's in a league of his own," Marshall said. "He's totally different. He's really smooth. Sometimes it takes people a couple of years to get it. But it looks like he has it. I'm looking forward to following his career."

After a phenomenal rookie season, A.J. Green drawing comparisons to other NFL wide receiver greats should come as no surprise. Green led all rookie wideouts with 1,057 yards in 2011 and earned a starting spot on the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl roster. Even with all the accolades, however, Green still seems to slip under the radar slightly more than he deserves. In a conversation about rookies, Green may not receive more than a slight mention. Instead the talks will focus on the flashy Patrick Peterson, Von Miller, the sack master Aldon Smith, and of course Cam Newton. But arguably the most valuable player on a team with three other pro bowlers including fellow rookie Andy Dalton, Brandon Marshall thinks Green is the one who deserves the praise.

"I love his focus. I love his demeanor in a game," he said. "He doesn't get rattled. It doesn't matter who he's playing. He just makes plays."

Like Dalton and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals, Green has nothing but the brightest of futures ahead of him. Soon enough it'll be the rest of the league saying, "Hey, have you watched this (insert young wide receiver)? Great player. He might be the next A.J. Green."

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+1000000000000

Over and over and over again

AD to AJ = TD!!

by Toasted_Orange_Monster on Jan 30, 2012 8:38 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Marshall want to come TD passes from Dalton full time?

by TCfromDubVee on Jan 30, 2012 8:40 PM EST reply actions

Well, he's shown a lot of respect and admiration for both Green and Dalton.

Too bad he won’t be hitting FA for a long time.

Cincy Jungle: Where the Rocky Mountains are in the Pacific Ocean

by sexsalad on Jan 30, 2012 9:02 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah true.

by TCfromDubVee on Jan 30, 2012 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

We can give them Jerome Simpson.

We know the Dolphins like players that do drugs….Ricky Williams?

“Oh Ricky he’s so high he left the dolphins high and dry go ricky….go ricky”

by ddbumpus on Jan 30, 2012 9:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

we have an extra 2nd next year that could turn to a first...

miami doesnt need him they dont even have a QB

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 31, 2012 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

More double moves in '012-13!

by Im_a_fun_haver on Jan 30, 2012 8:43 PM EST reply actions

what about our #2 wideout

green ? shipley in the slot or whalen plus gresham

by QBG on Jan 30, 2012 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

Competition, plus a wily vet

I think they know they might have something in Binns and Hazelton.

Some veteran WR will come loose, and after the way that offense played someone is going to WANT to come here.

Shipley is definitely the guy in the slot.

And they’ll likely have an extra pick or two to risk on a late round receiver, someone who fell, because someone always does.

by Skyhook on Jan 30, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

is kevin walter's contract almost up ?

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 31, 2012 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

I think he's a FA this yr.

by Bigcatdaddy on Jan 31, 2012 12:47 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

I think that Whalen will be as good as Walter or Housh next year.

Whalen has the size needed to be a # 2 receiver, he caught everything thrown to him, and will be where Dalton needs him to be. Green is good enough that we don’t need a deep threat as a #2 receiver (though we will need one as a #4). I am increasingly against a FA WR, though I think we need someone in the draft.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Jan 31, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

On top of loving AJ....

I also love the picture…especially the camel toe that #24 is sporting.

by Oxailis on Jan 30, 2012 10:02 PM EST reply actions

Uhhhhhhh

Creepy.

"Shiny. Let's be bad guys."

by KentuckianaBrowncoat on Jan 30, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Nasty

but funny.

by nohops on Jan 30, 2012 11:40 PM EST up reply actions

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO POINT THAT OUT?

Cincy Jungle: Where the Rocky Mountains are in the Pacific Ocean

by sexsalad on Jan 30, 2012 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

Because

Its a steeler with a camel toe…. How could I just pass that up?

by Oxailis on Jan 31, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

good lord

on a dude, fwiw, it’s a “moose knuckle”.

Go Reds!
(and gooooo krogering)

by supergrover on Jan 31, 2012 7:43 AM EST up reply actions

lol

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 31, 2012 8:49 AM EST up reply actions

Why are you looking at that dudes balls?

by Diesel2405 on Jan 31, 2012 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

The irony of this is

Marshall was being discussed here and the Bengals went after him. Some people wanted him b/c of his extreme talent but others were worried about his attitude. In the end the Bengals went in a different direction that ultimately led to the Bengals need at WR and their drafting of AJ. Had Marshall come to the Bengals AJ may be wearing Dolphin green. He definitely wouldn’t be wearing stripes.

How about this unlikely scenario: The Dolphins are desperate for a QB. In order to either pry Matt Flynn from the Packers or get the #2 pick so they can select RG III, they need chips. This draft is fairly deep with respect to the Bengals’ needs, so why not offer the Dolphins a 1st round pick for Marshall (plus a late round pick if needed). That will give them the chips to move up, give the Bengals the best 1-2 WR combo in the league and, thanks to the Raiders, the Bengals can still get a 1st round CB. (If Simpson was not a FA I would throw him in there too, but assuming we get the backs we need in the draft we could throw in Scott to sweeten the deal.)

by WOOD98 on Jan 31, 2012 4:18 AM EST reply actions

dont even talk about AJ not being here

as a Bengals fan I am just waiting for a breaking news report saying that there was an error in the draft and AJ actually goes to the Raiders to play for Carson……HE OURS DARN IT…I dont even want to think about him in another uni

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 31, 2012 8:50 AM EST up reply actions