When someone says something about this team, without an official known source, I simply take it for a grain of salt. Lately, I haven't been able to resist. Someone is saying something about them. That someone is the guy that broke the story about the locker-room explosion during the Bengals 2005 Wild Card Game.

Makes me feel like eating my words about Marvin Lewis earlier this morning. It's not that I'm taking this rumormill as 100% accurate of the team's lockerroom. Sadly, the rumormill has promoted more truths than not. However, even if this were true, I'd advise against casting blame. At this point, someone, anyone, needs to figure out what to do with this damned team.

Adam Schefter, in his latest NFL.com/NFL Network piece, confirmed what Paul Daugherty said in yesterday's op/ed.

Nice job, Deltha. Here's the funny part. O'Neal is missing camp, for the justified assumption that he wants a reworked deal. Not only has he quickly worn out his Cincinnati welcome, but it doesn't appear anyone wants to work out to deal to trade for him either. If the Bengals cut ties, I doubt O'Neal would get a deal similar to the expected $2,400,000 he'll earn in 2007 (he's scheduled to make $1,600,000 in 2008, the final season on the existing contract).

See, Deltha fell into a trap without pulling guards. He figured after his Pro Bowl season, he had the upper hand to demand more. Then he stank in 2006 while being attached as one of nine bad apples. Next time, actually have an advantage, Deltha.

Considering the Bengals are worried about character, taking a look at Michael Myers is a bit of a shock. Myers' resume is pretty extensive. At six years old, Myers murdered his older sister and was admitted to a mental hospital. Fifteen years later, he escaped the hospital to find his younger, Laurie Strode. His doctor, Dr. Sam Loomis, eventually took him down, but the body was never found. He later showed up at the hospital that Laurie was transported to and continued his desperate search for his loving sister. That was when Loomis found Myers inside a room full of oxygen tanks and ignited a lighter taking both out.

Even that proved to be difficult as Myers returned ten years later looking for Jamie, Laurie's daughter. Again, Loomis knocked ol' Myers down and a year after that, Myers was finally imprisoned.

Myers has incredible durability; a sowing needle through the neck, six-shots and a one-story fall from a balcony, an explosion that takes out an entire hospital wing, an assault from 10 cops all with shotguns, a dozen shots to a board in the face, decapitation, enough lethal drugs to kill a 2 ton elephant were never enough to take Myers off the field.

The biggest red flag here, is character issues... obviously.

From the Denver Post

Mark Curnutte's blog says (via NY Post)that Anthony Wright, on Wednesday, was in New York to meet with the Giants.

The job search for Tory James isn't as desperate as we thought it would be. And let's be honest; for a small time, James was a fine cornerback earning Pro-Bowl honors in 2004. He fell one interception short of tying Ed Reed for most picks that season. However, with time, James' was less of a factor through the past two seasons. We spoke briefly about New England inquiring about James on Tuesday. Now Green Bay is interested.

Like most of you, there's this unconstrained passion that's brewing. A mob with pitchforks and torches is one pen-to-paper signature away from causing riots. I really believe if Tory James comes back to Cincinnati, the dark side will be too powerful for even Carson Palmer.

Two things of note in Mark Curnutte's blog.

First, the relevant.

Mark reports (well, not reports because blogs are NOT reports, they are observations... "web journal/log"), that Stacy Andrews arrived in New York Monday night to visit the Jets. Here's the important thing of note: If the Jets offer a deal and Andrews signs, then the Bengals get a second-round pick. If the Jets offer a deal, and the Bengals match, how much would that cost and could the cap starving Bengals pony up a deal? In other words, how important is our best backup lineman?

Second, the irrelevant.

James is "close" to signing with New England.

Adam Schefter, during NFL Total Access (now on NFL.com), says the Bengals are shopping Deltha O'Neal and the Atlanta Falcons are very interested. Now, if this is true, and a trade gets worked out, then this all but seals the Bengals going after a cornerback in the first round.

Now the question is, what do the Bengals want in return? Some suggest nothing lower than a second-round pick. Personally, if we get the '06 O'Neal, I'd even take a third rounder. If the '05 O'Neal returns, then I wouldn't trade him at all. Lots of what-ifs in this case.

The prospect of Takeo Spikes coming to Cincinnati, via trade, certainly gained attention. This defense has tons of unknowns at linebacker. So the suggestion certainly got some play. Now, realistically, what's the point of bringing in an aging linebacker that suffered a serious injury after releasing Brian Simmons and only $1.23 available under the cap? Mike Brown agrees.