Big trade between Bengals and Buccaneers shocks league
By "Who Dey"

Off-Season 2196 (Cincinnati) - It was the biggest trade in Bengals franchise history, even going back to their days in Carolina. Maybe it even ranks as one of the biggest trades in USAFL history. At any rate, the Bengals GM lived up to his nickname with this deal.

In the transactions section of the USAFL web site, the trade looked like this:

CIN Sends:
2199 CIN Round 1
2199 CIN Round 3
2197 GB Round 3
2197 GB Round 4
2197 TB Round 3
2197 TB Round 4
HB Robert Lynch, 1, $4.00
C Arthur Powell, 2, $2.00
DT Cornell Kinser, 9, $17.50
DE Maurice Graham, 8, $1.00

TB Sends:
WR Don Ramsey, 7, $0.50
WR Simon Wright, 7, $0.50
HB Bradley Robinson, 6, $3.00
DE Moe Ramsey, 7, $1.00
DE FP Tommie Nichols, 13, $8.00
CB Clifford Burnett, 6, $0.50
CB Carlos Long, 10, $4.00

In a shocking move that rocked the USAFL, the Cincinnati Bengals went from also rans to all in for the 2196 season and beyond. They gave up six draft picks, two veterans, and a couple of great young players they have drafted, but they gained six starters and a nickel back who will play a lot.

Bengals GM 'Trader' Lee Remley was pretty frank about the 11 player, 6 draft pick, deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

'We're back,' Remley said as the assembled media questioned him on the deal. 'With this move, we have move team speed on defense, and Callahan has new weapons to work with on offense. These guys all know what it's like to play for a Sundby Cup and win. This shows our fans we are serious about giving them an entertaining team on the field this season.'

HB Bradley Robinson fits the typical Bengal mode of halfbacks that run hard and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Wide receivers Don Ramsey and Simon Wright add new weapons to the Bengals receiving corps. Nichols and Moe Ramsey add speed on defense.

Most of all, it gives the youngsters the Bengals have drafted the last three years time to grow into their roles.

'We like the mix we have now,' Remley said. 'We'll have to cut some good players, but that's a nice problem to have. Better than looking to add players to get better.'

Bengals fans are excited too, as evidenced by the huge applause as the new players were introduced in a press conference last night.

Will the move play off for Cincinnati? Only the season will tell.