Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > May > 06
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Young WRs put pressure on the vets
2008 FINAL SEASON FOR T.J.?
The Cincinnati Bengals are not going to be caught short of wide receivers this spring, summer and fall.
The addition of Travis Brown on Tuesday, May 6, pushes the number of wideouts on the Bengals roster to 11.
They are veterans Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Antonio Chatman, Glenn Holt, Doug Gabriel and Marcus Maxwell; rookie draft picks Jerome Simpson (second round), Andre Caldwell (third round) and Mario Urrutia (seventh round); and non-drafted rookies Clyde Logan and Brown.
Logan (6-3, 202; Idaho State) was signed on Sunday after participating in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
Brown (6-3, 202; New Mexico) was acquired off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.
Brown was a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection as a junior and a senior. His 182 career receptions rank third in New Mexico school history, and his 2,196 receiving yards rank fifth.
He was signed by Seattle on April 29 and was waived on Monday, May 5.
With Johnson demanding a trade and promising to sit out the season if he isn’t moved to another club, and with Houshmandzadeh entering the final year of his contract, the Bengals have sent a message that it’s time to reload the wide receiver position.
Bengals fans should see the proverbial “handwriting on the wall.” It reads: The 2008 season will likely be Houshmandzadeh’s last in a Bengals uniform.
Houshmandzadeh, an eighth-year veteran who turns 31 on Sept. 26, is going to be seeking a monster contract extension. The club will no doubt make him a series of offers, but they’re not going to overpay for a “Thirtysomething” No. 2 receiver.
That’s why they’ve brought in so many young studs with fresh legs and promising futures.
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Can Bengals capture Queen City from Reds fans?
BENGALS OR REDS?
LET DEBATE BEGIN!
LUDWIG AT LARGE has two questions for loyal readers.
The first: With the Cincinnati Reds struggling mightily in the NL Central Division, can the Cincinnati Bengals recapture the city like they they did in 2005 when they finished 11-5 and scored their first playoff berth since the 1990 season?
The Bengals had a golden opportunity to win over Ohio during the Cleveland Browns’ three-year hiatus (1996-98), but the Bengals blew it with records of 8-8, 7-9 and 3-13.
Now that the Browns are back, the Bengals can forget about winning the state. But the door is definitely open to winning over the Queen City.
The second: If you had to make a choice with $59 in your pocket, would you spend it on ONE Bengals ticket (59 bucks is the cheapest seat at Paul Brown Stadium in the north end zone club level and corner canopy level) OR would you spend it on THREE Reds tickets ($19 each in the terrace outfield) at Great American Ball Park.
Remember: There are 81 Reds home games, and only 10 Bengals home games (2 preseason, 8 regular season).
READERS WANT TO KNOW
The Cincinnati Bengals’ record under team president Mike Brown.
Answer:
Since club patriarch Paul Brown’s death on Aug. 5, 1991, at the age of 82, the Bengals are 94-162 (.367) on Mike Brown’s watch.
The following is a list of year-by-year records:
1992: 5-11
1993: 3-13
1994: 3-13
1995: 7-9
1996: 8-8
1997: 7-9
1998: 3-13
1999: 4-12
2000: 4-12
2001: 6-10
2002: 2-14
2003: 8-8
2004: 8-8
2005: 11-5
2006: 8-8
2007: 7-9
UNTIL NEXT TIME, this is “The Chickster” saying: “Make Love, Not War; Give Peace a Chance; and Strawberry Fields Forever.”
Contact Chick Ludwig at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
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