It's draft day in the NFL, so good luck to the Bengals.  They've been pretty successful the last few years in the draft, which suggests more skill than luck, not only drafting good to great players, but avoiding real dogs like the new QB on the Calgary Stampeders.  Whoever the guys (or gals) are with the good eyes for college players with NFL talent, they're likely still on the team; but best wishes on the luck component.

And boo on Paul Dougherty of the Enquirer, who heaps undeserved scorn on the Bengals for, what?  Poor drafting?  According to Dougherty, there are too many Browns, too few "real scouts", too much penny-pinching; and thus, no diamonds in the rough.  What nonsense.  As the DC Examiner recently reported, over the period 2000 to 2006, the Bengals lead the league in draft picks remaining on the original drafting team.  The Bengals!  And the Bengals are among the league leaders is drafting NFL-quality players (which includes players drafted by the Bengals that now play for other teams).   As for diamonds in the rough, does he mean former college track and field stars like Stacy Andrews and Benny Brazell?; or undrafted Ben Wilkerson? or how about T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the seventh round?; or Ahmad Brooks in the Supplemental Draft for their 2007 third round pick?

Unfortunately, until the Bengals win a Super Bowl, guys like Dougherty will keep bashing the front office.  The Bengals don't lack for talent.  What they need are (a) a leader on the defense, and (b) the toughness to win at Indianapolis and at Foxboro when those games matter, the grit to win in December and beyond.