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hawaiiansteel
07-29-2011, 07:17 PM
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Living With Regret: What Mike Brown was once offered for Chad Ochocinco

By Doug Farrar
Fri Jul 29

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_image/02/02558a8c3a654ba0ebb2565e781fadbe/living_with_regret_what_mike_brown_was_once_offere d_for_chad_ochocinco.jpg

The price for the New England Patriots to get former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco in the trade that went down on Thursday afternoon seems like yet another veteran free-agent bargain for Bill Belichick's bunch: a fifth-round pick in 2012 and a sixth-round pick in 2013. And the way Belichick likes to trade down for extra picks, you could easily say that the Pats basically got His Chadness for free — all they have to do is work him into their roster financially, which they've already done with a new three-year deal.

Now, Ocho isn't what he used to be, but he's still a great route-runner who can be fairly dynamic downfield. If it seems as if the Bengals low-balled themselves a bit … well, it gets worse. All you have to do is to go back a few years.

In the spring of 2008, former Washington Redskins general manager (and current football analyst, for some unknown reason) Vinny Cerrato was trying to hold on to a job that he would soon lose to the Mike Shanahan/Bruce Allen regime. In the name of making a big splash on offense, Cerrato offered Washington's first-round picks in 2008 and 2009 to Bengals owner/goofball Mike Brown in exchange for Senor Ochocinco

…and Brown refused. Yes he did.

Take it away, Vinny, in a recent recollection:

"Do you think that Mike Brown will eventually trade Carson Palmer?" Cerrato asked Cincinnati Enquirer beat writer Joe Reedy. "I mean, I was part of trying to trade for Chad Ochocinco, and when they said no, they meant no. And Marvin [Lewis] would have done it. Two No. 1s, that's exactly what it was. And I talked to Katie Blackburn's husband all the time, and he just said listen. I talked to him at the owners' meetings, and I called him. He said no is no, quit calling, we're not trading him....

"Drew [Rosenhaus] was pushing it hard, Chad was pushing it hard, and you know what, I think it worked out best for the Redskins that it didn't happen at the time. I think we ended up with Orapko [sic] and somebody else, so I think that worked out well, and Chad has declined quickly."

As usual, we don't even know where to begin with Vinny. Maybe we should start with the fact that he was BRAGGING about trying to trade two first-round picks for a receiver — any receiver. Second, he can't even recall whether he drafted end Brian Orakpo in 2008. In fact, the Redskins selected Orakpo in the first round of the 2009 draft — they didn't even have a first-rounder in 2008, having given it away for more picks in the second round. And in that 2008 draft, Cerrato claimed two receivers — Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly — who were absolute busts. Each in the second round.

That said, the real kicker here is that Brown turned down those draft picks in the first place. Especially now that he's given up the best receiver he's ever had for so much less. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise, though — who's better at buying high and selling low than the Bengals?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdo ... nfl-wp4141 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Living-With-Regret-What-Mike-Brown-was-once-off?urn=nfl-wp4141)

hawaiiansteel
07-29-2011, 08:30 PM
Mike Brown, owner of the Cincy Bungles, is one of my favorite people.

He makes it so easy to beat up on a team in the same division as the Steelers – both on and off the field. The move to trade Ocho to the Patriots was surprising, especially since it was for only a 5th and 6th round pick (which I’m sure the Pats will trade off as they usually do when the draft comes around). But as I thought about it more, it’s just Mikey being Mikey. He just took his only ‘global’ player and traded him off for peanuts. I know that Ocho’s numbers have been falling off lately, but he has pretty much made that offense completely anemic without Ocho and Palmer.

Maybe he wanted to get rid of all the ‘mouths’ on the team. Maybe he is methodically working to get the Bungles to the 1st pick of the draft for next year. Whatever his motivation, he only continues to frustrate the hell out of his team’s fan base and fills the Black & Gold’s cup with joy.

Keep it up Mike Brown – you are either completely insane or so brilliant we just can’t see it.

http://nicepickcowher.com/2011/07/29/th ... ike-brown/ (http://nicepickcowher.com/2011/07/29/the-morning-cup-pittsburgh-steelers-ink-colon-scott-and-why-i-love-mike-brown/)

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Chavezz
07-29-2011, 09:56 PM
After the Bengals got even by winning at Heinz Field in December, 38-31, and putting the Steelers' playoff hopes in danger, Johnson said, "It's time for a change. It's like going from black and white TV to a color TV. It was Pittsburgh; it's Cincinnati now, and it probably will be that way for a while."

BAHAHAHHHAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

hawaiiansteel
07-30-2011, 12:01 AM
Mike Zimmer is too good of a DC to be wasting his time working under Mike Brown...



Mike Zimmer isn’t happy that Johnathan Joseph got away

Posted by Mike Florio on July 29, 2011

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/mike-zimmer.jpg?w=210


As it turns out, the folks who assign the rooms at Bengals camp aren’t the only ones who thought that cornerback Johnathan Joseph would be returning to the team. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer thought so, too.

“I was under the assumption in the conversations I’ve had since before the lockout that we were going to get him back. I was pretty much told we were going to get him back,” Zimmer said Friday, via the team’s official website.

As a result, Zimmer isn’t happy about the fact that Joseph is a Texan. “I’m upset, disappointed, frustrated,” Zimmer said. “It’s disappointing. You get good guys off the field, they work hard in the weight room and on the practice field and you kind of mold them what you want them to look like and they get out of here.”

So what’s the plan for replacing Joseph? Um, we’re not sure there is one.

“It will be interesting to see what the next guy is,” Zimmer said. “Whether he’s here, or at training camp, or on the street somewhere, or if he’s on another team, or Canada. Who knows? You have to find somebody out there and play and if we can’t find a guy exactly what we’re looking for, we’ll have to alter some of the things we’re looking to do.”

It’s unknown what the Bengals did to try to keep Joseph. Though no exclusive negotiating window existed, they had the ability to sit down with Joseph or bring him to town from Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. ET through Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Instead, all that’s left is a piece of paper with Joseph’s name on it.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -got-away/ (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/29/mike-zimmer-isnt-happy-that-johnathan-joseph-got-away/)

hawaiiansteel
07-30-2011, 08:12 PM
Bengals starting a new era with big problems

By Associated Press
Saturday, July 30, 2011


GEORGETOWN, Ky. — The Bengals started a new era in their history on Friday, opening training camp without Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco for the first time in nine years.

Not a good start.

The Bengals went 4-12 last year, then had one of the worst offseasons in franchise history, which is saying a lot. Palmer decided he'd rather retire than play another day in Cincinnati, players got arrested and many fan wrote off the franchise as hopeless.

The hits keep coming.

The Bengals lost cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who signed with Houston as a free agent, on the eve of camp. The cornerback who was first in line to replace him — Adam "Pacman" Jones — can't fully practice for a few weeks because he's still recovering from neck surgery.

Linebacker Keith Rivers also is sidelined following wrist surgery, leaving the defense with a lot of big holes. Coordinator Mike Zimmer was visibly glum as he wheeled his luggage up to his dorm room at Georgetown College, where the Bengals will have their first workout on Saturday.

"I've been in the tank since 6 o'clock last night," Zimmer said, referring to the time he heard Joseph was leaving. "But I'm going to get out of it quick."

Joseph teamed with Leon Hall to form one of the league's steadiest cornerback tandems. The Bengals allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent, but seemed confident they would be able to keep him. Zimmer was told to expect him back when the NFL's lockout ended. The Bengals even assigned him a dorm room for camp and put his name on the green front door.

So much for that.

"The contingency right now is to figure out who the next guy is, whether he's here in training camp or he's on the street somewhere or he's on another team or he's in Canada," Zimmer said. "Who knows? We've got to find somebody who can play."

Losing Joseph was a huge setback.

"Of course it's a shock," Jones said. "J-Jo's been here for five years and he's one of the best players on the team. When you hear it, it's very shocking."

The Bengals didn't assign a dorm room for Palmer — no shock there.

Palmer stunned the organization by asking for a trade following a 4-12 season. He said he would rather retire than play another year for one of the NFL's most forlorn franchises, with only two winning records in the last 20 years.

Owner Mike Brown insisted this week that he wouldn't trade Palmer, who was placed on a reserve list for players who didn't report to camp on Friday.

Palmer's decision to stay away surprised his teammates initially, but they've come to accept it.

"People just realized he was frustrated," offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said. "But there's a lot of teams around the league that have frustrating years, and it doesn't mean you quit and walk away."

Although they say they won't trade Palmer because it would amount to rewarding someone who wants out, they sent Ochocinco to New England for draft picks on Thursday night. The self-promoting receiver had tried to get traded three years ago, but the Bengals refused.

"Chad was a great teammate and a lot of fun," Whitworth said. "I enjoyed him every day. But he's moved on, too. It's definitely going to be different. Now it's a chance for the younger guys on the team to step up and make this their football team and leave their legacy."

The Bengals added to their legacy of off-field problems this month, when Jones and free-agent running back Cedric Benson were arrested. Both could be disciplined by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Jones hurt his neck last season and needed surgery. He had another procedure over the summer to help it heal. Jones said on Friday that he probably won't be allowed to participate in any drills that involve contact for two or three weeks.

Jones knows that fans are expecting another dreary season in Cincinnati because of all the change.

"All I've got to say is: There's going to be bright days on the other end," Jones said. "I promise you we won't be 4-12 this year."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1Td4uqDnY (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_749157.html#ixzz1Td4uqDnY)