Bengals at the Crossroads

Where does Cincinnati go from here?
By "Who Dey"

Off-Season 2185 (Cincinnati) - The Cincinnati Bengals have been a hard team to figure in recent years. Building for the future, they made it to the Sundby Cup in 2183. Then in 2184, with expectations high, they slipped back to 5-9. Go figure.

There’s a lot to like about this club. There are also some concerns. But the same things were said back in 2183 and that turned out well.

So what can Bengals fans expect this year?

“We have a great nucleus here,” Bengals GM “Trader” Lee Remley said. “Not to say we’re satisfied, because we’re never satisfied if we can improve the club. But we think we are building something good.”

One of those attempted moves backfired as the Vikings matched the Bengals free agent offer to one of their backup, but talented, linebackers from last season, Tracy Campbell. Most observers were puzzled by that move by Minnesota, but in Cincinnati they took it with a grain of salt.

“That’s the process,” Remley said. “Not to mention, we know their GM is a wily veteran mastermind in this league.”

Speaking of puzzling moves, most figured with the sixth pick in the draft, the Bengals would end up with one of the better defensive linemen in the draft, or maybe the top quarterback, or the best offensive linemen.

All of which were gone at number six. So the Bengals picked who they considered the best linebacker in the draft instead in Morris Stacy.

Blessed with incredible speed and agility, Stacy went to school up the road at The Ohio State University. He has his doubters, of course, but the Bengals seem glad to have him.

The pick that has most experts drooling, however, along with the ghost of Mel Kiper, Jr., is halfback Keith Hodge, who the Bengals got in the second round, despite being in Kiper’s top ten. Hodge fits the Bengals mould of big, quick backs with good hands.

Another player that gets attention in the second round is defensive lineman Peter McAlister, especially on a team that has not had much luck drafting defensive linemen in recent years. Many teams said they would have taken him themselves had the Bengals passed on him. But they didn’t.

In the third round, Cincinnati picked up a couple of defensive backs in Keith Howard and Kirk Sullivan, to add young depth to a position of need. Then, to prove the adage that he never met a linebacker he didn’t like, the Bengals GM picked Donald Duffy, who was also high on their board.

With four linebackers drafted in the last two drafts, along with their veteran starters, the Bengals are in good shape at that position now.

In the final round, the Bengals picked up a wide receiver, Cris Porter, and another defensive back, Jim Belgby, to fill out their eight player draft.

The Bengals have also made some trade inquiries in order to shake things up, but they are prepared to go to war with what they have, and there will still be changes internally.

Jay Williams looks ready to take over at halfback, with James Bain joining the fullback corps for extra blocking. Defensive end Chris Wheeler may now be ready for prime time as a starter. The defensive backfield looks to be shuffled around as well after the poor pass defense of last season.

But most importantly, last year’s first round pick Steve Callahan is pushing long time starter Scott Lewis at quarterback.

Lewis has started at quarterback for the Bengals since his sophomore season. He has not exactly been a slacker in his time behind center for the men of Cincinnati. Callahan was thought of a best player available pick, or a quarterback of the future pick. But that future may be soon approaching.

Remley refused to comment. “There will be no quarterback controversy here,” he stated. “However, the best man will play, whoever he is.”

Lewis refused to be baited by the media. “I’m still the starter, until they tell me I’m not,” he said.

Whatever happens, this appears to be an exciting year in Cincinnati. If nothing else, at least to see how things shake out with this team.

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