In celebration of the team's 40th anniversary, Bengals.com ran a poll that asked Bengals fan to pick the best player at each position in the history of the franchise. There's some here that will make you wonder. Though if you didn't vote, then do you really have a right to complain? Why not? That's what we do best.

Quarterback - Carson Palmer
I love Palmer. He's the greatest thing since sliced bread and roller derby. But should be listed above Kenny Anderson and Boomer Esiason? When it's said and done, Palmer could achieve more than our franchise's two best quarterbacks. But right now? I'm not so sure.

Running back - James Brooks
Wide Receiver - Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Fullback - Ickey Woods
Tight End - Dan Ross (by 41 points over Tony McGee)
Center - Rich Braham
Guards - Max Montoya and Dave Lapham
Tackles - Anthony Munoz and Willie Anderson

Defensive End - Justin Smith and Ross Browner
Defensive Tackle - Tim Krumrie and Mike Reid
Linebacker - Reggie Williams, Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons
Cornerback - Ken Riley and Lemar Parrish
Safety - David Fulcher and Solomon Wilcots

Good, bad? You decide. I think most are close to mine. Though I question T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He's a tremendous receiver and right now, he's probably the best on the team. Thought I think he won simply out of having the year he's having. Brian Simmons? I don't know.

There are some things that happen in life that's just a damn shame. Losing Joe Nuxhall last night is one of them. A tremendous person of character and loyalty, Nuxhall is one that the city of Cincinnati is proud to call one of their own. It's a damn shame.

Vote Nux into the Hall of Fame.

Remember Keiwan Ratliff? Of course you do. Forgive me for asking. It's not like he was that memorable on the field. The former Bengals dime-back found a new home in Tampa Bay. But I find it ironic that one of the biggest draws for Ratliff was his punt returns. Let's face facts, he could compete in any reality-based dancing competition. His rookie year, he averaged 12.2 yards on 17 punts -- only five fair catches. Upswing baby. For his career, Ratliff averaged 7.5 yards-per-return on 72 punts -- including a 6.5 average in 2006. Nothing special, right? The Bengals went out and drafted Leon Hall pushing Ratliff to #4 on the charts. Once it was determined that Skyler Green (yes, he has a website) would return punts -- for a two-yard average less than Ratliff -- then the former Florida cornerback was axed. Another, swing and a miss.

And with all that known, it's Antonio Chatman returning punts now. We're good at seeing talent and putting the right people in place, aren't we?

Remembering Bill Walsh, from a Bengals perspective, isn't terribly hard. While I was yet to be born when Walsh was in Cincinnati, his impression was never truly forgotten. For the pride that he began in Cincinnati, he brought the dread as the head coach of the team that beat the Bengals in their only two Super Bowl appearances.

For eight seasons, Bill Walsh learned under head coach Paul Brown becoming an offensive genius. Between 1968-1975, the Bengals didn't rank worst than 13th in points scored. What would become the West Coast offense, started taking shape in Cincinnati. John Clayton remembered Walsh while in Cincinnati saying after games both Kenny Anderson and Walsh would be mentally exhausted. Anderson credits most, if not all, of his development to Walsh.

Later, in a December 22, 2006 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Walsh said that Brown worked against Walsh's candidacy to succeed him and other opportunities down the road.

Bill Walsh will always be remembered for the West Coast offense and the dynasty he built in San Francisco. But there's a little bit of pride to say that Walsh was a Bengals coach before then. Ah, the possibilities if he stayed in Cincinnati and became the successor of Paul Brown.

For some of you veteran fans that were fans when Walsh was in Cincinnati, what do you remember?

Bill Walsh: 1931 - 2007 [Niners Nation]
'The Genius' dies at 75 [DDN]
Bengaldom salutes Walsh [Bengals.com]
Walsh had major impact on past Bengals' success [DDN]
Brown: Walsh was 'top coach' [Curnutte's Blog]
Anderson: I owe a lot to Walsh [Curnutte's Blog]

OK, if you were to list your top-five worst first round drafts of all-time, two players are for sure to be there; Akili Smith and David Klingler. Even so with Klingler, he was planted into an impossible situation. But Smith, I mean, what can you say about the fellow? First, he pouts after having his "rightful" role of starter downgraded to third-string apple juice fetcher. Then he was released. He worked out for the Packers and the Buccaneers, but no one bit. Heck, he was so shocked that people put so much emphasis on his disaster of an NFL career, that he wondered if racism had anything to do with it. "Um, no, Akili. You pretty much blew." Then, "Smith was out of football and selling real estate in his hometown of San Diego."

Akili finally found a home that fits his style -- you know, big big big field with big big end zones. Introducing Akili Smith, quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders.

Official Site
Globe and Mall
Well and Tribune

Kansas hires Tovar to coach linebackers [ESPN]

Oh Corey boy. How we have such fantastic memories of you threatening to flip burgers and throwing your uniform into the stands like a five-year old that didn't get his Mega-City 6000 Lego Set on Christmas morning. Oh Corey boy. How the little world around you is designed to specifically serve you. Oh Corey Dillon. We miss the times that you pulled yourself out of the game even as the head coach protested that you go back in while the team was near the goal-line.

Oh Corey boy, tell us the meaning of your words.

Dillon says: "Football is the furthest thing on my mind right now. I may wake up and feel the itch and decide I still want to shake it, but as of now, I doubt that will happen."

Dillon's agent says: "He'd love to stick around, if it's the right opportunity (money, money)," Steve Feldman told the MetroWest Daily News. "Last season proved he's still got the pop and the burst to be a primary back."

Patriots' Dillon asks for release, will probably retire [USA Today]

The Bengals have only retired one number, #54. Bob Johnson, the Bengals first pick all-time, played 12 seasons and earned a Pro-Bowl bid during his rookie season (1968). Johnson, even with his number retired, isn't a hall of famer. In fact, the only Bengals player in the hall of fame is Anthony Munoz -- who doesn't have his jersey retired.

But it's likely you'll never see his number on the field again. The Bengals have "reserved", not retired, the jerseys of Boomer Esiason (7), Ken Riley (13), Ken Anderson (14), Tim Krumrie (69) and Anthony Munoz (78).

Ken Riley ranks fifth all-time with 65 career interceptions -- he's not in the hall. Looking at the all-time career interceptions list, only five of the 14 inside the top-ten are in the hall -- Paul Krause (85), Emlen Tunnell (79), Dick "Night Train" Lane (68), Ronnie Lott (63) and Mel Blount (57). I guess career interceptions isn't an impressive number. Riley had seven seasons with five interceptions or more. He finished his career with five defensive touchdowns. (Catching Up With Ken Riley)

What about Ken Anderson? Anderson finished his career with 32,838 yards passing, 217 touchdowns (197 passing, 20 rushing), 2,654 completions with an MVP in 1981. He's absent from the top-ten in all-time touchdowns, completions and yardage leaders. He only had two touchdown seasons with 20 touchdowns or more and 160 career interceptions. Alternatively, Anderson completed 70.55 percent of his passes in 1982 (a record), 90.91% of his passes in a single game (second all-time) and three seasons leading the league with the lowest interception percentage (against passes thrown). Anderson led the NFL, four times, with the best passer rating. Only Sammy Baugh and Steve Young led the league in passing more (six times each). He's among six players that have led the league in passing in consecutive seasons (2) and Steve Young is the only quarterback with more (4). Anderson finished his career with four Pro Bowls, lead the league in completions twice (1974, 1982) and passing yards twice (1974, 1975). He also lead the league in adjusted yards per pass in three (1974, 1975 and 1981).

If you believe that Anderson should be in the hall, then why not Boomer Esiason? His 247 touchdown passes ranks 14th all-time and his 37,920 yards passing ranks 12th. Like Anderson, Norman Julius Esiason earned four Pro Bowl trips with one MVP season (1988). In Boomer's one Super Bowl appearance, he completed 11 of 25 passes for 144 yards and one interception -- he didn't throw a touchdown.

The Denver Broncos have a unique honorary entity. The Ring of Fame is, basically, the team's personal Hall of Fame -- something the Bengals, and other teams, should consider implementing to honor the best through the years.

Gladiators sign Peter Warrick [Arena Football]

Remember this?

Ex-NFL, City League player charged in brawl [Toledo Blade]
Bengal Armour has court date today [Enquirer]