Chad costing Bengals victories
Posted by cludwig June 11th, 2010, 2:51 pm

Selfish, a team player or a combination of both?

More concerned about playing football in the NFL or furthering his Hollywood career?

Is he a headache, a heartthrob or a pain in the you-know-what?


Chad Ochocinco

I have these — and other questions — about that playful dancing narcissist Chad Ochocinco, the annoying, engaging, sometimes-outgoing, sometimes-introspective, trash-talking, end zone-celebrating wide receiver diva of the Cincinnati Bengals.

For everyone with heads buried in the sand, Chad is MIA from OTAs. He’s finally due to arrive in The Nati this weekend — just in time for the Bengals’ mandatory, full-squad minicamp Tuesday through Thursday, June 15-17, at Paul Brown Stadium.

Quarterback Carson Palmer said he wishes Chad were here earlier so the two could work on their chemistry, which — as we all know — is critical to the passing game’s success.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100...rks-Palmer

I say Chad’s absence is costing the team victories in 2010.


Carson Palmer

What do you — the fans — say?

Even the immortal Boomer Esiason believes the Bengals and Chad should part like the Red Sea.

http://www.cincyjungle.com/2010/2/4/1293...hould-part

For your information, the Sporting News 2010 Pro Football Yearbook is on newsstands from sea to shining sea, and the Bengals are picked to finish third in the AFC North Division with an 8-8 record behind the Baltimore Ravens (11-5) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6). The Cleveland Browns are picked fourth at 2-14.

THE FOLLOWING IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS EVER WRITTEN AND SUNG BY ONE OF THE GREATEST DUOS IN MUSIC HISTORY. AS YOU SING ALONG, FEEL FREE TO USE THE WORD “OCHOCINCO” INSTEAD OF “AMERICA.”

Taking a strong stand
Posted by cludwig June 12th, 2010, 10:10 pm

I have chosen to take a stand.

I shall defend myself with a bulletproof vest, another layer of armor, plenty of thick skin, knowledge of the team’s past and present, my rusty typewriter and my trusty MacBook Pro laptop computer.

And I stand by my words.

Chad Ochocinco’s absence from OTA (Organized Team Activity) practices is costing the Cincinnati Bengals victories in 2010.

Quarterback Carson Palmer is here, busting his tail, working with 10 wide receivers — five of whom are newcomers (Antonio Bryant, Matt Jones, Chris Davis, Jordan Shipley and Dezmon Briscoe). Chad is somewhere, out there, chasing Cheryl Burke.

Chad needed to be in Cincinnati, too, working not only with his QB, but the other wideouts. The offense has a ton of potential with all the weapons that have been added. But what good are a bunch of guns when the cannon is missing?

Chad and Carson have worked a long time together. They’ll work out the kinks and rust in their on-field relationship. But this is a team game, a sport in which 11 guys have to be in sync.

It’s going to take a while to recapture that magic — like all of training camp and the preseason. It doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes time, a long time, and this 26th-ranked passing game (180.6 stinking yards per stinking game in 2009) has a long way to go as it attempts to climb out of the morass of mediocrity into that lofty realm of relevance.

Chad ain’t helping the Bengals. He’s hurting the Bengals. The team needs him celebrating touchdowns, not dancing with the stars.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/ludwig/2010/...ong-stand/

STRUGGLE FOR THIRD WR TOPS LIST OF PRIORITIES

Position battles are breaking out all over the Cincinnati Bengals’ roster.

Among them: Tight end (Reggie Kelly vs. Jermaine Gresham), left guard (Nate Livings vs. Evan Mathis), weakside linebacker (Keith Rivers vs. Brandon Johnson) and kicker (Dave Rayner vs. Mike Nugent).

But the No. 1 battle — in all its glory, intensity, awesomeness and magnificence — is being waged at wide receiver.


Andre Caldwell

It’s not for the lead receiver. He’s Chad Ochocinco.

It’s not for the other starter opposite The Ocho. He’s Antonio Bryant.

The biggest and best battle?

“Finding our starting ‘Z’ receiver,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “There are a lot of guys in the mix, and that’s a good problem to have. We just have to find out who’s the best guy for us.”

The “Z” receiver is the flanker. He’s the wide receiver on the tight end side in the standard set.

That guy is either third-year veteran Andre Caldwell or rookie Jordan Shipley.


Jordan Shipley

I’ve spoken with the coaches, and the consensus is Caldwell and Shipley are the leading candidates to win the job.

It’s a critical position because he’s asked to do a lot of things … like fill the shoes of the late Chris Henry.

“It’s a big-play position,” Palmer said. “He gets a lot of deep balls and he has to be a really good blocker. He really has to be an all-around guy. We have him. We just have to find out who it is.”

In the immortal words of former Xavier University basketball coach Pete Gillen: “It’s a war!”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/ludwig/2010/...on-battle/

Palmer would like to see 85 here
Posted by jreedy June 10th, 2010, 1:58 pm

With five days until minicamp opens, Carson Palmer wishes that Chad Ochocinco was here during the on-field coaching sessions building a rapport with the other receivers while also learning the facets of an overhauled passing game.

Said Palmer on Thursday: “It would be great to have our number one receiver here and working with him and building it around him. We’ve tried moving guys around. Maybe they’re trying to find a new number one receiver (out of the group here) because it’s hard to work your offense in without that guy around. We’ve moved Antonio (Bryant) around, he’s been playing some spots. It’s hard to tell and say because we’re looking for a number two and three receiver without a number one.”

Last year Ochocinco was here for at least four of the OTA sessions. This year due to his myriad of television appearances, he will not arrive in town until this weekend and have possibly one practice (Monday) before minicamp starts on Tuesday. This marks the third straight season that Ochocinco has missed either all or most of the OTAs.

Ochocinco is entering his 10th season with the Bengals, but next season is an option year on his contract. The biggest reason why the Bryant signing made sense was that he has been a number one receiver with other teams so that in the event that the Bengals and Ochocinco parted aways in ‘11 or ‘12, Bryant could step into that role.

Bryant, Jerome Simpson and Jordan Shipley have been playing in different spots so far. It’s almost the same situation for Palmer as last year when he had an entirely new receiving cast to work with. This year, the only player that he has out there with familiarity is Andre Caldwell and Reggie Kelly.

“I mean we’ve drafted guys high and they haven’t played enough. There are fresh guys with a lot to prove and some new guys in a new system and offense that have a long way to go. We’ll get there,” Palmer said. “Last year we were in the same boat. Chad wasn’t here. Last year was a mess. This year is a not quite as much of a mess.”

When asked what Ochocinco needs to pick up when he arrives in Cincinnati this weekend, Palmer did say that there is quite a bit in terms of plays, concepts and verbiage. Palmer, who is entering his eighth year, did say this is the biggest overhaul of the passing game since he’s been here.

As far as how he is doing with it, Palmer said: “I’m still learning and progressing with it. You can always get better at the newer things. We’ve got plenty of time to keep working on it and once he (Ochocinco) gets back in shape and the flow of things we’ll still have enough time to be ready for the season opener (Sept. 12 at New England).”

During the minicamp, the Bengals will have two practices each on Tuesday and Wednesday and a single session on Thursday.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...ge-for-85/

So, what's cost the Bengals victories over the past three or so decades?

(06-13-2010 05:55 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  So, what's cost the Bengals victories over the past three or so decades?

Mike Brown

All this talk about Chad hurting the time makes me laugh

The QB needs to look in the mirror...he wasn't exactly All Pro last year or most years, except one.

Chad will be fine...I'm more worried about Carson, the OL, and Bryant showing up in games

The schedule is too tough this year. I read somewhere they face 9 of the QB's who finished in the top 10 of QB rating last year. Gonna be tough.

Carson does need to improve but it doesn't help him that Chad is working on everything but football.

I am done with Chad. He has never, ever shown up on a big game. He can talk all he wants when he puts up big numbers against Cleveland, or some other whipping boy. Come talk to me when you make a difference in a crucial game.

Carson has a lot of proving to do this year too. He's extraordinarily immobile and needs to become Marino-esque in his quick release and decision making if the Bengals are going to compete.

Ochocinco practices with Bengals

By James Walker
ESPN.com

CINCINNATI -- Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco practiced with his teammates for the first time this offseason during Tuesday's opening of the team's mandatory minicamp.

He arrived in Cincinnati on Monday for a team event after spending months filming two television shows.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer recently called out Ochocinco for not being present for any of the team's voluntary workouts. Ochocinco was filming ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" and a VH1 reality dating show during the time of the workouts.

"It would be great to have our No. 1 receiver here and working him and building it around him," Palmer said last week. "We've tried moving guys around. Maybe they're trying to find a new No. 1 receiver because it's hard to work your offense in without that guy around. We've moved Antonio [Bryant] around, he's been playing some spots.

"It's hard to tell and say because we're looking for a No. 2 and [No.] 3 receiver without a No. 1," he said.

Ochocinco is coming off a solid 2009 season where he recorded 72 receptions for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns. He qualified for his sixth Pro Bowl and helped the Bengals to a 10-6 record and an AFC North division title.

James Walker covers the AFC North for ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5287817

Chad has not missed any mandatory stuff. He missed some early voluntary stuff, but he is hardly "Brett Favreing" it. It's very fashionable to hate on Chad, but the guy gets it done for the Bengals. I disagree on Chad not showing up in big games... I think he's made big plays throughout his career with us. Now his numbers are not going to be as good against better teams...hardly anyones are, but Chad has been on of the positives with Bengals football over the years. He'll come to work in shape and ready to go and he'll have another big year. They key will be how the other wide receivers do.

Chad’s back
Posted by jreedy June 15th, 2010, 3:56 pm

What’s the easiest way to tell when Chad Ochocinco is back? With quotes like the following …

“Nothing’s changed. I just need everybody to trust in me like birth control. You know, because I’m always going to be there for you 99.9 percent of the time. And that 1 percent was the Jets game, that’s it.”

After a star-studded offseason, which included appearances on Dancing With The Stars and his own dating reality show on VH1, Ochocinco finally returned to the football field on Tuesday as the Bengals began their three-day mandatory minicamp.

On the field Ochocinco was back to his usual self. There were some early timing issues on routes with Carson Palmer, but for the most part the 10th-year receiver had a solid first day. He also tried to put to bed any perceptions that there might be a rift between him and Palmer.

“I didn’t have to talk to Carson because what Carson said was nothing negative. He just wanted me here, that’s all,” Ochocinco said. “Carson and I are always on a great page and the numbers show year after year when I’m with him.”

Ochocinco caught a couple long passes from Palmer during individual drills and then nearly made the catch of the day when caught a high Palmer pass between Chris Crocker and Johnathan Joseph, but he came down out of bounds.

While Palmer knows that he has a productive history with Ochocinco, he also realizes that like the other great passing combinations it all comes down to reps and timing.
“It doesn’t matter how many years or how many receptions or completions you have, it takes some time to get that rhythm back and that timing back and that feel for body language from a quarterback’s perspective,” Palmer said. “He’s come in in good shape and looked good for his first day. There’s some rust on him, but that will wear off and he’ll get better each day.”

Ochocinco did look a little winded at the end of drills. He said he has his dancing wind but it looks as if it might take a couple more practices to get his football wind back.

When it comes to the rest of the receiving corps, Ochocinco was impressed with Antonio Bryant, Jordan Shipley, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell. Whether or not they can help turn around a passing attack that has floundered the last two years will be one of the keys if the Bengals are able to repeat as AFC North champs.

“The receiving corps. I want us to get back to where we’re the strength of the team, not just offense,” Ochocinco said. “I want us to carry the whole load, and I think that’s where we’re going to be. From what I saw today and me getting back in that groove with nine, we’re going to be good.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...hads-back/

6/15: Morning practice highlights
Posted by jreedy June 15th, 2010, 1:14 pm

Coach Marvin Lewis said he was pleased with the first of the five practices, saying that things picked up especially on offense. Quarterback Carson Palmer said everyone had the right focus and mind.

And how do you know that Chad is back? With quotes like this … “I’m dependable like birth control, 99.9 percent of the time.”

Hall of Famer Rod Woodson is here for minicamp and the first couple weeks of training camp as a coaching intern.

Among the highlights:

* Ochocinco caught a couple 45-yard passes from Palmer.
* J.T. O’Sullivan was intercepted twice. On the first one, which was intended for Freddie Brown, David Jones juggled it before gathering it in. On the second one, Leon Hall jumped in front of a pass intended for Jerome Simpson.
* Johnathan Joseph had a near pick on a Carson Palmer pass.
* Adam Jones is back out there and working with the second team. He missed the last two weeks due to a hamstring injury.
* Offensive guard Evan Mathis is out for minicamp but should be ready for training camp.
* Catch of the day: Matt Jones with a one-handed grab against Morgan Trent.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...ighlights/

10 minicamp questions
Posted by jreedy June 15th, 2010, 12:44 am

When minicamp starts today, here are 10 questions we’ll be tracking over the five practices the next three days:

1. How much rust does Chad Ochocinco have and how long will it take for him to become acclimated to the offense?
2. Now that Chad is back, who lines up at third and fourth receiver with the first unit? Jordan Shipley and Jerome Simpson have been getting reps so far.
3. Who gets the biggest percentage of snaps at the returner positions?
4. How many reps at linebacker does Michael Johnson get with the first unit? It might be a little more than planned now that Rey Maualuga (leg) will miss minicamp
5. Who gets the most time at third corner? That figures to be a four-way battle between Adam Jones, David Jones, Morgan Trent and Brandon Ghee.
6. Can the receivers be more consistent? It’s been choppy so far and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said last week that the unit needs to pick it up.
7. What is the rotation at safety with Chris Crocker, Roy Williams, Chinedum Ndukwe and Gibril Wilson?
8. Who is this the last we see of? Before training camp the Bengals will have to release nine from the current roster of 89.
9. Who has the upper hand in the battle at left guard between Nate Livings and Evan Mathis?
10. Who emerges as the early favorite in the kicking competition between Mike Nugent and Dave Rayner?

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...questions/