More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

3 months ago: Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall heads to the practice field to take part in drills at the NFL football team's training camp Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

While the Bengals stumble through a 1-2 preseason with one game remaining on tap against the Colts, Cincinnati's regular season opening opponent, the Denver Broncos, could be without starting wide receiving Brandon Marshall. On Friday, the Denver Broncos suspended disgruntled wide receiver for conduct detrimental to the team. MHR says the suspension is only for the remainder of the preseason and this ESPN piece says the team will "reassess the situation when the preseason ends Sept. 6." However, Adam Schefter confirms MHR's report that "Marshall's suspension is scheduled to run through Sept. 6, meaning the wide receiver is eligible to return to work on Monday Sept. 7."

If you're unaware of the issue, PFT wrote on Thursday that Marshall is "acting like a spoiled brat, knocking the ball down during individual wideout drills, punting the ball instead of handing it to the ball boys, and generally lollygagging." Denver's Channel 7 has the video. Marshall's action are suspected to be orchestrated because the receiver has wanted a trade all offseason.

And you thought Chad Ochocinco was bad in 2008?

All 32 teams under the Sports Blog Nation banner will be conducting a mock draft, which of course means that CincyJungle.com will represent the Bengals selection (isn't that like the most obvious statement of 2009?).

The mock draft will be held at Mocking the Draft, and begin on Monday, March 23. We'll be conducting a two-round draft, with three picks held per day -- no trades included. Our first-round selection will take place on March 24, and our second-round selection on April 4.

Last year, if you were with us, we ran a community oriented selection. I didn't make the pick on my own, we all did. Personally, I'm not sure how we'll do it; just debating it in the comments or if we'll run a poll. We'll figure that out when we get there, but on those two days, I'll need you guys to hang around once the draft selections are made for other teams, we can go back and forth on which remaining players we should examine and select. Our selection will be based on the consensus of the community, rather than my opinion alone -- unless y'all pick wide receiver or running back, then I'm going offensive line. Kidding.

And just so you know, last year, I selected Keith Rivers and Pat Sims in my first two rounds, while almost drafting DeSean Jackson.

The boys and I within the NFL arm (24 inch pythons, brotha) of Sports Blog Nation made our selections for player of the year awards, called Studs and Duds. Our MVP was a tie between Peyton Manning and Chad Pennington (what?!), while Best Player on Offense went to Dree Brees and Best Player on Defense went to James Harrison. No Cincinnati Bengals player, or person, even made the nomination list; mostly considering we sucked much of the year, but suckage was relieved slightly with (what some people call) unimpressive wins against terrible teams to close the season.

My selections were as follows:

NFL MVP: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Best Player on Offense: DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
Best Player on Defense: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers (yes, it's true, I did vote for him)
Best Rookie: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Best Coach: Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons

Comeback Player of the Year: Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins

Worst Player of the Year: Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns
Worst Rookie of the Year: Vernon Gholston, NY Jets
Worst Coach of the Year: Rod Marinelli, (formerly) Detroit Lions

(Site Note: the links and notes section is listed at the end of this posting... make sure you run through them)

They killed my brother! I will have vengence.

For as long I can remember, this is the first time I didn't follow up my Thanksgiving dinner with a nap or "cleansing"; instead playing cards with family and chatting about America's economic problems and all that jazz. My immediate family doesn't care for football. Though my stepdad observes it, he can't have a conversion about the Bengals other than slogans like "damn Bengals" or "that jerk Mike Brown" or "they lost, as usual." At one point, he turned off the Lions/Titans game for the Brady Bunch Movie -- and had several LOL moments. Not that I have a problem with that, but talking football is boring. What I absolutely didn't do was watch the football games with any attention. While he was watching the Brady Bunch Movie, I read a coffee table book "Ripley's Believe It Or Not", that spews so many odd-ball facts that it's impossible to put down; unless the dinner bell rings, then it's a stampede.

Unquestionably, my first love is the game of football (high school, college, NFL, whatever). Don't get me wrong, I love the Bengals. Football is football though, and the pure enjoyment of watching it, no matter the opponents, is very fulfilling for me. Like an addiction. If it's on television, I'm watching it. I don't watch it for gambling and I believe that fantasy football bastardizes some people's perceptions of how it should be enjoyed. That's just me.

Still, Thursday's games were some of the worst I've seen back-to-back in a long time. Obvious mismatches of teams going in different directions, fulfilling the tune we heard all week that the Titans would dominate the Lions. The game was embarrassing, though expected. Some believe that the Lions tradition on Thanksgiving should come to an end, while opponents wreck the debate in conservation of tradition mode. Personally, I don't mind if they're playing; just make the game's competitive and we'll be fine. Rams and Lions? Why not. While dominations suck, two really bad teams would make a much more competitive, and enjoyable game. I also believe that inaction simply because of tradition can be damaging, depending on the debate of course. There is a point to be made, however, suggesting that the NFL keep it's better games on Sunday, to avoid wondering eyes watching TNT's version of the Bourne Supremacy.

The trend continued into the afternoon game, and through the night game. The Cowboys had it easy, while the Seahawks hardcore fans should look into the future; our brothers. McNabb was pulled again, after leading his team to an eventual 48-20 win, throwing four touchdowns and recording a 121.7 passer rating. A story of redemption. With a San Francisco loss, the Arizona Cardinals clinch the NFC West for the first time in 33 years. Yet, nervousness and caution outweighs optimism.

The combined scoring difference between winning teams and losing teams on Thursday, was 90 points. 90 points!

Of all the Thanksgivings that I feel asleep, unaware of the world on television, this is the year that I'm not feeling the effects of sleepiness. Then again, if I laid on the couch after dinner to watch the games, perhaps that would have done me in.

Wrecking two of the past three teams; not expecting another this week. I've been riding the horse, waving my Valyrian Steel, proclaiming the Cincinnati Bengals will wreck your team like a King's Knight defending the Court's honor. We helped the Jaguars understand their role in the playoffs this year. We absolutely destroyed the confidence Eagles fans had in Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. Then the Steelers came in and beat the hell out of their little divisional brother, thus, no wrecking accomplished. Wrecking can continue against the Ravens, who needs this win more than any to keep pace for the AFC North.

However, based on our week one performance WITH Carson Palmer having one of his worst career games, most of our starters healthy, and the certainty that the Ravens are far better than we expected in week one, I don't see us wrecking anything Sunday. Without a vertical game, the Ravens defense will stack the box, neutralizing underneath routes and stuffing our laughable rushing offense. Furthermore, we have no healthy natural defensive ends, forced to place defensive tackle John Thornton at end, especially if Antwan Odom can't go. With our secondary hurt, and the possibly of Geoffrey Pope or Simeon Castille starting, I honestly see no shot. Even if the Ravens play down to us, we're still too horribly injured to compete. There's always Cleveland.

When ligaments and tendons have their own Blackberry device. December 7 is the date doctors expected Palmer's ligaments and tendon will reattach (like some Blackberry chime that a scheduled meeting has arrived); they were originally detached from the bone. We can't stress enough the Bengals unwillingness to just sideline him for the year is plainly dumb and weak. If the injury was soreness and a weakened arm, however structurally sound, then yea, come on back when you feel it. Tendons and ligaments detached from the bone? Give me a break. The Bengals should sit him for the year, and Palmer should lesson the burden that he places on himself thinking that he'd let the team down.

More, more, more. So much freaking more (formerly known as lines and notes).

• The Palmer brothers enjoyed Thanksgiving by inviting their family from California to Cincinnati. Carson is learning, and loving, to hunt.
• Remembering the Bengals opening 2007 season win, by forcing three Steve McNair fumbles.
• James Walker is surprised by the calmness on our one-win team. We've talked about that before. The team hasn't imploded, nor gone off to the media or any of that. They've remained united, saying the right things, steadfast behind Marvin "Father" Lewis, clearly frustrated their season couldn't be better than this.
• Someone doesn't like Walker.
• Scouts Inc. analyzes T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- very accurate.
• Good piece on the relationship between Chad Johnson and Marvin Lewis; guy that hates Walker doesn't like it.
• Chris Crocker is doing a great job proving himself.
• Tickets are still available for Syracuse/UC Saturday.
• Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is a former University of Cincinnati assistant football coach. Harbaugh is proud of the Bearcats. "Congratulations to them and the coaches," he said. "For whatever it's worth, we're proud of them."
• Emotional homecoming for CincyJungle favorite, Willie Anderson.
• Homer outing... to the zoo.
• Wal-mart worker dies after early-morning post-Friday stampede.

What you may not have known today, is that seven former Bengals players played in one NFC game now dubbed the Former Bengals Bowl; the San Francisco 49ers beat the Detroit Lions, 31-13.

Rudi Johnson rushed for 83 yards, on 14 carries, including a 27-yard rush. The last time he had a rush attempt longer than 27 yards, was December 18th, 2005 against the -- I freaking love irony -- the Detroit Lions with a 33-yard run.

That wasn't all. Jon Kitna hit Rudi Johnson on a 34-yard touchdown pass. Rudi Johnson recorded 131 total yards; three receptions and a team-leading 48 yards receiving.

Then there's Justin Smith, recording a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. Smith forced Kitna to fumble on a sack, on the Lions second drive of the game; the Lions recovered and another former Bengals player, Nick Harris, punted the ball 57 yards. Smith tackled Rudi Johnson and Jon Kitna each. Late in the game, Kitna attempted a pass to Rudi Johnson that was picked off by Smith.

Takeo Spikes recorded a forced fumble and two tackles. Mark Roman recorded two tackles and Langston Moore added another.

Former Bengals players in this game.

For the Lions
Jon Kitna
Rudi Johnson
Nick Harris
Langston Moore

For the 49ers
Justin Smith
Takeo Spikes
Mark Roman

In case I missed one, let us know.

The following is a ranking of all NFL teams by most of the NFL blogs within Sports Blog Nation.

About five minutes from my place, the ladies of the WTA are playing their first tournament since Wimbledon. Unfortunately, the brackets this week noticeably misses the more popular players in the sport. The good news is that we're the proud location of having only the second player "defaulted" in its 34-year tour history. My only question is, how do you equate ejection/disqualification with "defaulted"? If you're "defaulted", does that mean you return to pre-tournament status -- i.e., not playing? When experts of tennis speak, I'm like a first-year Spanish student begging the teacher to slow down.

THINK VICK IS IN TROUBLE?
Never been a fan of Vick's play on the field. He's a running back that has a rocket, yet suspect accurate, arm. Personally, I think he's over-hyped. But in his defense, that's just my opinion because I enjoy the more traditional models of football. I like a powerful running game that depends less on passing. I know, it's not the same pipe-dream era, so move on.

From what we're reading, Vick isn't just associated with the act of dog fighting, but he's one of the main culprits. The indictment says that Vick and another man "decided to start a venture aimed at sponsoring American Pit Bull Terriers in dog fighting competitions".

It continues:

There's more, very descriptive dates and events that have Vick in serious trouble.

I would also advise caution when ripping on the guy. We've seen from fabricated Odell Thurman accusations, over-zealous prosecutors with Chris Henry and the Duke Lacrosse scandal, that sometimes over-reacting is the worst reaction. However, this seems to carry much more weight with the grounds of the grand jury. It'll be interesting to see what the Falcons and the NFL does.

Vick Indicted
Vick To Face Suspension Soon?

SAD FALL OF CULPEPPER
Dante Culpepper's fall has everything to do with injury and one fun boat day after firing like an eight cylinder engine during his rookie season. Now he's a man without a team and will likely provide a role at backup for a player that can't come close to Culpepper's best season in 2004 -- 39 TDs, 11 INTs and 4,717 yards passing.

Former Bengals roster fodder linebacker, Jason Berryman, got himself into a little trouble, again after being "cited for driving with a suspended license and failing to obey a stop sign". Berryman is the example that most college student athletes should concern themselves with education rather than a career in athletics. The good news is that he's not with the team anyway.

Bob Dzvonick was a defensive end in 2005 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cologne Centurions (NFLe). The Bengals signed him as a rookie free agent on April 23, 2002. Now he's a marine.

AROUND THE AFC NORTH

It seems the Browns aren't confident in signing left tackle, Joe Thomas and having the rookie ready for the season. Also of note, LeCharles Bentley will make an attempt to play in 2007.

Baltimore Beat Down thinks that the Ravens will sweep the Bengals in '07. See you week 1, Black Raven.

Will Heath Miller have a breakout season? Peter draws first blood.