Lil Red Machine

On the positive side, the Bengals have found a sufficient replacement for TJ Houshmandzadeh.

However, the bigger question is, who will block for them?

In a move that basically wipes away at their salary cap, Cincinnati signed 10-year vet Laveranues Coles to a 4-year, $28 million dollar contract Thursday.  In a photo posted in the Cincinnati Enquirer website, neither the former Jet, nor Marvin Lewis looked to be too thrilled as Coles held up his number 11 jersey at his press conference.  The Bengals have had a long, dramatic fall since their brief run of success in 2005.  Coles is a smart veteran, who not only can act as a posession receiver, but is also capable of catching the deep ball as well.  It’s a move in the right direction to turn the collective organizational frown upside down, as Coles had a respectable 70 catches for 850 yards last season.

Carson Palmer should be healthy and ready to go next season, with his offensive supporting cast now place.  However, there is still much work that needs to be done, and a strengthening of the offensive line that needs to occur.

Since 2001, the Bengals have had one of the most productive wide receiver tandems in the NFL.  All good things eventually come to an end though.  Monday evening, veteran wideout TJ Houshmandzadeh signed a 5 year-$41 million dollar deal, $15 million of that which is guaranteed.  The most the Bengals were willing to offer was 5 years-$35 million, and $11 million guaranteed.

I don’t blame TJ for leaving.  Obviously, he needs to do what is best for him and his family.  I can’t criticize an athlete, especially a football player, going for the most cash.  Their careers are generally shorter, and large portions of contracts aren’t guaranteed.  Another reason I can’t blame him is that the Bengals continue to remain a dysfunctional mess.  He’s going to a Seattle team coming off a bad year, but has been one of the most consistent NFC teams this decade.  Apparently, Marvin Lewis has the head coaching job as long as he wants it, it seems.  Lewis is a good man, but lost that team long ago.  Mike Brown pretty much let everyone know who runs that show when he brought back Chris Henry last season, despite the fact that Lewis didn’t want him around.  In summary, they beg for Henry to come back, don’t trade the ego maniacal Chad Johnson when the Washington Redskins were willing to offer multiple draft picks, yet they are more than willing to let a solid citizen and consistent football player go.  Typical move by the Bengals.  Character in Cincinnati doesn’t count.

As it stands, the Bengals are talking to Jets wideout Laverneaus Coles.  He would be a decent replacement, but he should be replacing a Chad Johnson, and NOT a TJ Housmandadeh.