If you have nothing to say, then say the most obvious thing. Pro Football Weekly made a revelation that blew this blogger away; the "Bengals' pass-rush woes may get worse after lose of DEs Geathers, Rucker". That is if you believed losing those two provided a significant drop off, all 3.5 sacks of them. Odom practiced limited Wednesday, possibly returning Sunday against the Ravens. However, we could be fully stocked at defensive end and still be on pace for a total just above the lowest recorded team sack total in league history (well, dating back to the early 80s).

You go to games, because you're a fan. Bleacher Report suggests that you, the fan, should go to Paul Brown Stadium because you're still a fan, and tickets are cheap right now. You wouldn't add to Mike Brown's pockets (all the tickets are already paid for) provided you don't buy concessions. Think of our boys, appreciating the fans for sticking behind them during a historical losing season, showing support with a packed house. Personally, I'm not going to suggest that you go, or boycott the team. Do whatever you want to do, it's your money, your time, and if you want to experience the NFL, by all means, do as you please. During growing troubles within America not related to sports, do what makes you and your family happy.

Because you haven't been extended, it means they don't want you. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is wondering, contemplating and even planning an "exit strategy" to leave Cincinnati, hoping to join a winning team, so a Carroll County Times article suggests. "Yeah, I’m open to everything because I figure I want to win," Houshmandzadeh said. "I think Cincinnati can win here, but it’s a tough situation. When you haven’t signed a contract up until that point, and it’s sad to think like this, but your own mindset tells you that you’re going to leave because you haven’t signed a deal." He's even playing with the idea of joining the Baltimore Ravens, who impressed Willie Anderson with their organization, structure, with a simple mindset of football; not the off-the-field distractions like the incompetence of a questionable front office, playing on the final year of a contract (which does weigh heavy on players, like it would any of us) or players getting into trouble.

Like Chad Johnson, I question why players don't make their own team a winner rather than demanding (or planning exit strategies). Being a reason to leading this team to victory, on this organization, wouldn't just make players great, they'd be legends for generations. But this is the Bengals, and there's too many non-football matters to worry about. In end, I know what Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson are frustrated about, because we've been frustrated with the same damn thing.

Delhomme worries about Carson Palmer. The deadline is critically and quickly closing when Palmer can have the surgery, and be fully recovered by training camp. Everyone in the world thinks that Palmer should call the season quits, take the surgery and focus on 2009. It's additionally mind-boggling that the organization doesn't take a stand to make this happen. Delhomme reached out to Palmer recently to determine if he'll need the same surgery.

An NFL Turkey is a turkey not loved by John Madden. The good folks of MVN asked me who I thought my NFL Turkey of the Year should go to. I'm sure they wanted me to go with Chad Johnson, or Mike Brown, or Marvin Lewis, and I easily could have. But my award went to NFL Chancellor, Roger Goodell.

Dumping. Marvin Lewis is asked about job security again... Shayne Graham is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for his teammates with 48 pounds of turkey... How does one apologize if they didn't learn anything... After releasing two fullbacks, the Bengals signed J.D. Runnels back to the practice squad... Nate Livings will start Sunday... Willie Anderson conference call... the Ravens were the first team in two years to score over 35 points by gaining less than 250 yards... the Bengals are a critical win for the Ravens for their playoff run... the Bengals offense is NOT vertical... this stuff makes Bengals fans cry...

Typically during injury/practice reports, I just chart out everything as an informational post. This keeps you guys in the loop, providing an idea of how our guys (and opponents) are working through the week.

However, this week, I wanted to go through some things.

• One has to wonder how serious Corey Mays' ankle injury is. Since the week against the Cowboys, Mays has been listed as either doubtful or out. He's listed this week as doubtful with a nagging ankle injury he suffered a few weeks back against the Browns. He hasn't been active since.
• If anyone thought Houshmandzadeh would take off a week because of injury, then they don't know Houshmandzadeh. Since 2005, Houshmandzadeh has missed four games -- two in 2005 with a hand injury, two in 2006 with an ankle injury.
• However, speaking of wide receivers, with Houshmandzadeh dealing with an ankle problem, they've lost Caldwell for perhaps a month. Jerome Simpson is doubtful with an ankle injury and Antonio Chatman is probable with the same injury.
• In fact, the Bengals have three receivers with bum ankles.

Status

Bengals

OUT: WR Andre Caldwell (foot), RB Reagan Maui'a (hamstring), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)
DOUBTFUL: CB Jamar Fletcher (hamstring), LB Corey Mays (ankle), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle), TE Ben Utecht (chest)
QUESTIONABLE: TE Nate Lawrie (back)
PROBABLE: WR Antonio Chatman (ankle), K Shayne Graham (right groin), S Kyries Hebert (ankle), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (ankle), CB David Jones (knee), DE Frostee Rucker (shoulder)

Texans

OUT: S Dominique Barber (hamstring), WR Andre Davis (finger)
PROBABLE: DE Mario Williams (shoulder)

Practices

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice

Shayne Graham will be ready against the Houston Texans this Sunday, if you take roster moves as an indicator. On Tuesday, the bengals waived replacement kicker, Dave Rayner. When the Bengals actually took their opportunity to score points, Rayner did a solid job converting all three points after touchdown and successfully kicking his only field goal attempt (26 yards).

Since Graham was on the 53-man roster, and the Bengals waived Rayner, that leaves them with an open spot on the 53-man.

Also, Keith Rivers was officially placed on Injured Reserve while the team signed guard Andrew Crummey from the Washington Redskins' practice squad. Crummey, a rookie, is an Ohio native (Van Wert). This Baltimore Sun piece says that Crummy was expected to become a decent lineman in the NFL, but suffered a broken left fibula his senior season. Note the part where it talks about his leadership qualities.

Check out Crummey's Maryland Terps Bio page.

as a Senior (2007): A second-team All-America choice by The Sporting News and a third-team selection by the Associated Press ... nominated for the Jim Tatum Award, which annually honors the top football playing student-athlete in the ACC ... a second-team All-ACC selection by ACSMA and the Associated Press ... a first-team all-conference pick by College Football News ... also an Academic All-ACC choice ... named to the watch lists for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy prior to the season ... ranked as the fourth-best senior offensive guard prospect by ESPN.com during the season ... started eight games at right guard, including the first six contests, before missing five games with a fractured fibula ... opened holes for running backs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, who combined for nearly 1,600 rushing yards ... a preseason first-team All-America choice by ESPN.com and a second-team selection by The Sporting News ... was ranked third nationally among guards by The Sporting News in the preseason ... the sixth-ranked guard in America by Lindy's ... a preseason first-team All-ACC choice by Athlon, Blue Ribbon Yearbook, Lindy's and The Sporting News ... (vs. OSU in the Emerald Bowl) ... started at right guard ... (vs. NCSU) ... returned from injury and was in on 34 plays ... received the second-highest grade of any o-lineman ... helped the Terps roll up 466 yards of total offense, including a season-high 249 rushing yards ... (vs. FSU) ... traveled with the team but did not see game action ... (vs. BC) ... missed fourth-consecutive game with a broken leg ... (vs. UNC) ... did not play due to injury ... (vs. Clemson) ... did not play due to injury ... (vs. UVA) ... did not play due to injury ... (vs. GT) ... started at right guard but left the game due to injury after seeing action on 15 plays ... suffered a fractured left fibula ... (vs. RU) ... started at right guard and saw action on 76 plays tied for the most among all offensive players ... (vs. WFU) ... started at right guard and played in 72 plays, joining Edwin Williams for most on the o-line ... (vs. WVU) ... started at right guard and saw action on 58 plays, second most among offensive linemen ... (vs. FIU) ... started at RG ... (vs. Villanova) ... started at right guard and saw action in 66 plays, tops on the o-line ... had five big blocks.

as a Junior (2006): A second-team All-ACC choice at right guard ... started all 12 games he played ... opened holes for running backs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, who each rushed for over 700 yards on the season ... part of an offensive line which allowed just 19 sacks, the second-lowest total in the ACC ... (vs. PU in the Champs Sports Bowl) ... saw action on 82 plays ... helped the Terps roll up 206 rushing yards ... (vs. WF) ... played and recorded eight big blocks in 59 plays ... (vs. BC) ... started and recorded the highest grade of the day, with two big blocks on 73 plays ... (vs. Miami) ... started and recorded one big block in 35 plays, allowing no sacks ... (vs. Clemson) ... started and recorded the highest grade among starters, with three big blocks on 51 plays ... (vs. FSU) ... started and recorded one big block on 50 plays ... (vs. NC St.) ... started and recorded two big blocks on 50 plays ... (vs. UVa) ... started and recorded the highest line grade among the starters, recording two big blocks on 51 total plays ... (vs. GT) ... started and was in on 56 plays, recording the team's highest offensive line grade and one big block ... (vs. FIU) ... started and was in on 70 plays, registering four big blocks ... (vs. WVU) ... started at right guard and was in on 62 plays with one big block ... (vs. MTSU) ... did not play due to injury ... (vs. W&M) ... started at right guard and was in on 40 plays, recording two big blocks.

as a Sophomore (2005): Started all 11 games at right guard ... finished the season with the second-highest cumulative grade on the team ... in on a team-high 684 total plays ... posted 15 big blocks and allowed just two sacks with no penalties ... (at UNC) ... had arguably his finest game of the season ... recorded a team-high five big blocks on 72 plays ... allowed no sacks ... (at FSU) ... was in on 52 plays ... missed no assignments and allowed no sacks while registering one big block ... (vs. VT) ... recorded one big block and missed just one assignment on 41 plays ... (at TU) ... had no missed assignments and did not allow a sack in 61 plays ... credited with one big block ... finished as team's second-highest rated lineman ... (vs. UVa) ... in on 78 plays and recorded two big blocks ... (at WFU) ... played the most downs of any offensive lineman, recording three big blocks ... (vs. WVU) ... played a team-high 59 plays and did not allow a sack ... (vs. Navy) ... had one big block and just two missed assignments on a team-high 74 plays.

Status

Bengals

OUT: C Kyle Cook (toe), CB Jamar Fletcher (hamstring), S Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring), LB Corey Mays (ankle), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)
DOUBTFUL: TE Ben Utecht (chest)
QUESTIONABLE: K Shayne Graham (right groin), WR Glenn Holt (ankle), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (ankle)
PROBABLE: LB Dhani Jones (foot), T Levi Jones (back), CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle), RB Chris Perry (shoulder), DT John Thornton (achilles)

Steelers

OUT: WR Dallas Baker (shoulder), RB Carey Davis (ankle), LB Keyaron Fox (hamstring)
DOUBTFUL: RB Willie Parker (knee), T Marvel Smith (back)
QUESTIONABLE: DT Casey Hampton (groin)

Practices

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice

As well as working out Chad Jackson, the Bengals invited Eugene Wilson to work out Tuesday (h/t Prag). This is another example of the team dumping veteran players that make more money than what the team thinks they should make, thus releasing them and going after lesser talent to replace them. And I'm not saying Wilson is a bad defensive back, but O'Neal's departure was solely monetary and it's very unlikely the money saved by releasing Willie Anderson and O'Neal will be used to further the team's foundations, or used in a plan to acquire better role players -- other than the players that they have to replace after releasing them.

Perhaps the team lacks foresight. Perhaps? You're joking right? I'm not mad, bitter, angry and or any of that. But for some reason, I just continued to be surprised.

Rudi Johnson took a pay cut of over $2 million, writes Hobson, after securing a one-year deal.

Shayne Graham says that if the Bengals and the place kicker don't come to an agreement for an extension, he may test the free agency market.

Chick Ludwig quotes a Boston Globe writer regarding Chad Jackson: "I believe Jackson had not won over the trust of Tom Brady, plain and simple. Brady couldn't rely on him to be in the right place consistently. Jackson had generated a lot of discussion … in recent months and I think it’s now fair to call that draft pick — and the investment of trading up to acquire Jackson — a poor decision."

I worry when Drew Rosenhaus gets involved with Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco in any manner -- especially as a spokesman. "You can call him Chad or you can call him Ocho Cinco. He is no longer Chad Johnson. He is Chad Ocho Cinco. That is his legal name and he would like to be referred to that now by the media and his friends and even family. He’s serious about that." Obviously. Like any of us really give a damn.

Bet you never thought we'd have a Tony Williams reference today. Hey, that's why you come here.

AROUND THE (SB) NATION

Based on the 2008 draft slot, the Bengals will pick USC defensive tackle Fili Moala in the 2009 NFL Draft, writes Matt Miller.

Not even god seems to have any clue who the veteran quarterback that the Ravens signed this week is. Though Rexx writes that it's Todd Bouman.

Since 1997, Carson Palmer is among five quarterbacks drafted in the first round that have actually not been busts, or soon to be, writes Florio.

There's another long standing right tackle that got demoted to second-team.

AROUND THE LOCAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCENE

The UC Bearcats will play Oklahoma this Saturday starting at 3:30 p.m. The game will be a regional broadcast -- in Cincinnati, it's on Channel 9 (WCPO).

Saturday will be a good test for the Sooners to check out their "retooled" secondary and linebacker group that returns only one starter.

While Oklahoma players are listening to loud music to simulate crowd noise during practice ("get a little grove" says defensive end Alan Davis), the Bearcats are simulating crowd noise with, crowd noise; LOUDLY.

Sooners head coach Bob Stoops on the Bearcats: "I can go on and on, they are a very good team that we recognize it as a major challenge this season. We are focusing on having a great week of practice and coming out ready to play on Saturday."

Bearcats head coach is looking forward to Saturday: "I like the talent that we have on defense. I'm not scared. I'm excited about putting the guys that we have on the field against Oklahoma and letting us go after it and see what happens."

The Bengals announced their team Captains on Monday: Carson Palmer, Bobbie Williams, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Dexter Jackson, and Dhani Jones. Good group of veterans. I like it.

Curnutte observes the team's first regular season practice. Mostly of note is how the team looks health-wise. Antwan Odom, Dexter Jackson, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Rashad Jeanty returned to practice fully. Pat Sims, Andre Caldwell and Dan Howell (practice squad) worked on the sidelines with strength and conditioning coaches while "Chinedum Ndukwe (leg) went inside after stretches."

This is the irony of the Bengals team this year. Everyone suggests that our offense will be the only reason we win games; our defense is so bad, we're told to believe, that it couldn't even contain the Louisville Cardinals offense.

James Walker named his all-AC North team, on offense and defense.

OFFENSE: Big Ben got the nod over Honorable Mention, Carson Palmer. Behind Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes, is Honorable Mention, T.J. Houshmandzadeh. No reference of Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco. Bobbie Williams is the only player on the Bengals offense to get the nod over everyone at their respective position; with Andrew Whitworth getting the Honorable Mention.

DEFENSE: Johnathan Joseph was the only player named to lead his respective position; Robert Geathers was named Honorable Mention. Shayne Graham got the nod as the division's best place kicker.

Apparently Pat Kirwan forgot about Keith Rivers when talking about rookies starting during kickoff weekend.

Don Banks surprisingly ranked Ryan Fitzpatrick as the league's 28th best backup quarterback while predicting the Bengals finish third in the AFC North at 6-10.

This blog named the Cincinnati backfield, the worst in the NFL. We think it's about fantasy football rankings, but we don't care. It still pisses us off, right?

On the night of January 22, 1989, the Bengals lost to the San Francisco 49ers that left me cursing at the television, throwing pillows and the like, frustrated as hell. After that display, I was reprimanded by my mother after she witnessed her 10-year old son display a foul-mouthed hissyfit. When the pain dimmed a week later, I was able to sit on my rump again and permitted to watch television when spring invited the leaves to blossom.

This January will be the 20th anniversary of the Bengals last Super Bowl appearance. Soon afterwards, we'll see men and women legally allowed to purchase adult beverages at their local pub, knowing they were yet to be born when the Bengals went to their last Super Bowl; how's that for perspective?

The sad part is that you could apply the same frustration with both professional teams in Cincinnati. The only difference is that the Reds won in 1990 and have five world championships on their resume -- the Bengals have two appearances and no world championships; though we do have two conference titles and that should mean something. Still, that was such a long time ago that it seems like it never happened. I'm not talking playoffs, I'm talking championships.

The Reds are in no better shape than the Bengals right now. They're life-less, display no effort in a town that appreciates blue-collar work. With time of unsuccessful trends, fans of professional sports in Cincinnati, justifiably so, attack ownership for not making winning a priority. It forced Carl Lindner out of Reds majority ownership, and it's sealed a nasty opinion of the Bengals owner -- and everyone, I believe, is right to assume such things -- to such a point, that even winning a Super Bowl, won't reverse opinions of him.

Maybe some day, in the future, the Reds and Bengals will fight again for supremacy of what town this is. Is it a baseball town? Is it a football town? At this point, we just want it to be something worth appreciating.

Friday night marked the start of high school football -- in my opinion, the purest form of football today and a proud tradition in the Cincinnati area. Number one St. Xavier (ranked 18th in the nation) faced off against number two Colerain. The underdog Cardinals took an intentional safety with a second left on the clock to beat the Bombers, 13-8. Colerain started out of the gate quickly, taking a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, depending on the defense to win the remaining three quarters. Mason, my old kicking ground, plays Saturday afternoon (2:45 pm). Go Comets!

Tonight being a Saturday night, I'm not expecting much participation in the way of comments and all that. But that doesn't stop dorks like me. I'll be online tonight until, roughly, half time. Though that could change depending on the site's participation, as well as how the game is progressing.

Mark Curnutte is looking for the Bengals to pound the ball tonight, and control the clock -- mostly in response to having the team's top four wide receivers out. It appears he's right. "The wideouts are down, so we have to emphasize running the ball and running the ball effectively," Levi Jones said. "And the young guys at wide receiver are going to have to catch the ball when we need them to catch the ball."

Chris Perry is happy to finally run with a style that he's used to. "Everybody remembers me as a scat back. But I went to school at Michigan, and we run downhill. I just never got the opportunity to do that while I was here." Will Perry be happy being healthy for a full 16-game season? "I mean, not really. I want to have an impact." Good answer.

Mario Urrutia on hopefully playing tonight after not playing the first two exhibition games: "I'm just waiting my turn. When I get it, I'm going to make the most of it. All I can say is the best is yet to come." Another good answer.

Five questions with Shayne Graham.

James Walker responds to the question of the Jurassic Line on his AFC North, ESPN blog. "The Bengals have been discussing it, Kris. They also used it a tiny bit in the preseason. But until I see Marvin Lewis use it consistently, it's difficult to tell if this is a viable option for the Bengals in the regular season. Andrews has experience at guard and obviously he is a great right tackle when healthy. So the key is if Bobbie Williams can make the adjustment from guard to center." Walker could have just reference Paul Alexander confirming that Eric Ghiaciuc has a "firm grip" at center.

Furthermore, in a later question in the same piece, Walker says that Henry is fortunate to play at all this season after Henry was initially suspended for the season pending his latest day in court. I so disagree with this point. Charges being dropped means he wasn't convicted of anything. So why does Henry have to be suspended? Because some guy either fabricated a story, or the guy's lawyer was unable to present a case? It's just another example that Roger Goodell hands out sentences on his own perceptions... and mood of the day.

Adam Zimmer will be across the field as the Saints defensive assistant, likely watching his dad calling the defensive plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.

I wish I could read what JungleInsider writes. But I can't. I don't have $90 to pay for a year's subscription and I tend to like free -- which is something that Cincy Jungle will ALWAYS be.

BJ at BengalsZone wonders if Palmer will "have enough" and complain -- being signed through 2014, that's a real possibility for most players. But I just don't see it from Palmer.

Mike Greenberg actually has a fan web site.

Fake Teams (a fantasy sports site under the Sports Blog Nation umbrella), is toying with the idea of picking up Chris Perry as "a sneaky-good late choice."

Last night's Texans-Cowboys game displayed a too-real result of how violent football is. On kickoff, Texans receiver Harry Williams was falling down, missing a tackle, when he collided with another teammate fracturing his C3 vertebra. From a Bengals perspective, this was reminisce watching David Pollack being carted off the field against the Browns in the second week of the 2006 season. Like Pollack, Williams was able to regain basic motor functions afterwards. But this injury puts severe doubt on anyone's NFL career that suffers it.

There's another Bengals site in town.

Glenn Holt will be on Pro Football Central tonight. I usually consider myself pretty informed and didn't realize the Holt played for the "Cincinatti" Bengals.

For those that enjoy an overwhelming amount of information, here's Johnathan Joseph's South Carolina player page.

People have really been giving it to Curnutte on his blog lately.

Shayne Graham just did "the coolest thing I've ever done".

One Sporting News writer predicts the Bengals will finish 10-6 -- ahead of the 9-7 Browns in the AFC North -- and the last wild card spot. I guess it takes a non-Bengals writer (or website) to actually have a positive outlook on the Bengals.

On Wednesday, you can see Marvin Lewis and Shayne Graham at the Savannah Center in the Union Centre area. For $20 you can sample food from more than 20 restaurants (that alone is worth the cost).

The Bengal Blitz has a very pessimistic view of Stacy Andrews.

Before taking the Red Eye flight out of California to join his camp, T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been working with Carson Palmer in southern California.

James Walker gave the Bengals an "F" for their 2005 draft. Which, today, is accurate (especially since Eric Ghiaciuc and Jonathan Fanene are the only players on the active roster). Hindsight is an over-rated tool used by those that love quoting history because the present is either too boring, or reflecting of history -- no matter how off-beat the connection is. But, the season those players were rookies, they were HUGE contributors. At the time, it was a hellva draft. In hindsight, it actually set us back a bit.

It would seem that someone is ripping me off. I have a hard time believing that someone would write the exact same notes inside projected positions that I did in this post, four days before these thieves claimed my work as their own.

“He’s the guy who’s trying to come into the league with confidence in his first year, and everybody is telling him he shouldn't be the quarterback. He just really needs to not worry about what everyone is saying and compete.”
- Carson Palmer on Aaron Rodgers with the possibly that Brett Favre may return.

If Odell Thurman ever plays in the NFL again, it won't be soon; and I'd be shocked.

When players know that their status is listed as "final chance", they say things like they're ready.

Ludwig talks with Shayne Graham.

What's up with recently departed Bengals?

Jaxon predicts that Landon Johnson will be Panther's starting WILL linebacker, enabling the Panthers more coverage sacks by covering the opposing tight end.

Justin Smith is being groomed as a defensive end / outside linebacker hybrid -- though he's getting more work at linebacker. Fooch is even wondering who the team will keep as an extra lineman.

With Darren Sharper and Madieu Williams, the Vikings could have the best duo of safeties in the NFC. Why not the NFL?

Caleb Miller and Lemar Marshall are still unemployed.