A Buckeye related Public Service Announcement from JJ

****Disclaimer****
The views expressed in this post by JJ do not necessarily reflect the views and position of this blog and it's creator. However, in the interest of fairness, and in the spirit of creating dialog, I'm posting JJ's anti-Buckeye post. (Who's blog is this anyway? JJ's been more inspired to write than I have been lately. I do feel a short retort coming on.) So without further delay, let the bashing begin.

How Ohio State Fans Made Me Dislike Ohio State Football

First let me apologize for lumping all Ohio State fans into the same category. I do realize that this is a very general accusation of all their fans but for the sake of my argument it is necessary, and mostly accurate. Mostly.

Blasphemy! Yep, what I’m about to write below is going to be blasphemy for those of you who believe in the God that is Ohio State football. I was born in Ohio, grew up in Ohio, and now I even live just outside of Columbus (even lived IN Columbus for 3 years after college). I grew up in the Cincinnati area going to UC football games. I went to Wright State University which has no football team, keeping my love of UC football alive. In fact, I’ve always lived in Ohio my whole life and I’m about to admit something that may get me run out of the state and forced to live in Nashville with the other OSU refugees; I don’t like OSU football.

Now I didn’t always feel this way. In fact, I used to really be into OSU football and get excited for their games so this is a new feeling. I have many friends that are either fans or went to the school. I’ve tailgated at OSU games and gone to games in person and had a great time. But I woke up recently with a change of heart. Pretty much like when you’re dating someone and you wake up one day, look at them, and think “why the hell am I committed to you? You don’t love me back, you’re getting uglier as you age, your family is insane and think you can walk on water, your dad is not an honest man, and your grandpa looks like the sickly love child of Orville Redenbacher and Eleanor Roosevelt and acts like Mr. Belding fawning all over Zack Morris.”

Blasphemy! Heretic! Devil!

Let me explain how I’ve come to this feeling about OSU football. It is all about you, the OSU fans. You’re the reason I don’t like OSU football anymore. You’re the reason that I take pleasure in an OSU loss or a new scandal. Frankly, I love to see the anguish on your faces, the stammering and scrambling for excuses, the Reverend Camping like end of the world predictions with each unnecessary loss, the contemplation of suicide when anything negative is said in the media (although not the Columbus media with their 365 day a week lovefest. Do I need a front sports page OSU football related story every day of every year? NO.)

The Tat Five scandal is the straw that broke the proverbial OSU Camel’s back for me. Not the fact that college football players didn’t care enough about their awards for winning football game and sold their stuff for money for tats, cars, whatever. I don’t really care about that. Players do that same thing, or worse, probably every day anyway (doesn’t make it right though). It wasn’t even Jim Tressell failing (forgetting?) to turn in all his emails about the selling of memorabilia to his bosses or the compliance office. Or even the ludicrous press conference where G. Gordon Screech Gee joked (hopefully) that he “hoped that he (Tressell aka Zack Morris) wouldn’t fire me”. Was that embarrassing for a leader to act that way? Sure. But did it bring out my dislike of OSU football? Close, but were still not there yet. Actually, I do want to take back something. I want to take back my comparison of Jim Tressell and Gordon Gee’s relationship to that of Mr. Belding and Zack Morris. That’s really unfair. It is more along the lines of the relationship of the football coach and the Dean in “Revenge of the Nerds”.

So if it is not the conduct of OSU’s players, coaches, and administrators on or off the field what is the problem? Why do I dislike OSU football now? How are the fans involved? Here it is; your unrealistic view of anything having to do with the OSU football team.

You constantly defend the program even when there are concrete facts showing the players, coaches, administrators have done wrong. You use ridiculous excuses like “everyone does it”, “players do worse”, “What about Auburn”, “What about USC”, “The media is treating us unfair”, and “there is an agenda against OSU”. You also have unrealistic expectations of winning a National Championship every year. You are NOT going to win or challenge for a national championship every year. That is just real life, which I understand you have trouble understanding. Not even when super scandals where players are being given things by agents (Miami, USC) did those schools win a NC every year. They were good for a period of time but I don’t seem to remember back to back to back to back to back to back to back National Championships for those teams.

This latest scandal has undisputable evidence of players breaking NCAA rules, the coach knowing about it, hiding it, lying to the NCAA and OSU about knowing about the rule breaking. There is no defense for this for a rational person. Your beloved players and coaches made mistakes. It is time to accept that fact there will be penalties from the NCAA and long term tarnishing of the image of OSU and Jim Tressell. In the court of public opinion OSU and JT are going to be guilty at every whisper of wrong doing in the immediate future. This may be slightly unfair but this is the reality of the situation OSU has brought upon itself. The media didn’t do this. The blood is on the hands of OSU players and coaches who broke the rules. If an SEC school did this the OSU fans would be leading the charge to have all rule breakers publicly drawn and quartered. Look deep inside your heart; you know this to be true.

Is it too much to say “we screwed up and we deserve what’s coming to us” instead of “ESPN has an agenda to ruin us” you know, because OSU is a super power in football that garners big ratings so a company that lives by ratings would want to completely destroy a program so they don’t have to cover them anymore and lose ratings? Does that make sense to you? Quit playing with that darn buckeye necklace and pay attention to what I’m writing here! If OSU wasn’t such a successful program with a coach dedicated to truth, justice, and the American way this wouldn’t be as big of a story. If you’re a success in life when you do wrong it is going to be a bigger story with the public. Take a look at OJ Simpson; people get murdered all the time but because OJ was a successful athlete and actor it was a national story up to, through, and after the trial. If you don’t like the media and public scrutiny you can do two things:

1. Do don’t anything wrong
2. Start losing games because no one cares about losers (right Michigan?)

There is great documentary on HBO right now called “Too Big to Fail”. You OSU fans may want to check it out.

You know, it is okay to have a rebuilding year every now and again and take 2-3 losses. No, you shouldn’t react and want to fire your coach who has had a winning season every year he has coached there, 1 NC, 2 Runner Ups, and has beaten Michigan approximately 99 times (fact check) in a row. I don’t care that most of the Big Ten would be lucky to make a dent in the MAC, you’re still not going to go undefeated every stinkin’ year. These are kids/young men playing a game. They will make mistakes. Highly recruited players will be busts. People will get hurt. It happens in real life (I know you guys hate the thought of reality but lets try to grasp that concept). Go into a season for once hoping for the best but understanding that you may have a whole new offense or defense starting and that you probably won’t be in the NC game. Just because you have 5 star recruits or guys that were backups and got to practice against the starters the previous season doesn’t mean they will step right in and become All Americans. Most kids, like a pot of chili, need time to season before becoming good.

My last point about how OSU fans made me dislike OSU football deals with your supposed allegiance to “real” OSU players. You know, the real Buckeyes like Terrell Pryor and the tat five. Not the fake Buckeyes like Kirk Herbstreit, Ray Small, Maurice Clarett, or anyone else that has publicly accused OSU of rule breaking activities or has unjustly criticized the saintly head coach or players. I definitely feel that Terrell Pryor is a real Buckeye and a great ambassador for the team. He is the greatest dual threat QB since Tecmo Super Bowl’s QB Eagles (aka Randal Cunningham). He exhibits great leadership by displaying support for money launderer and dog executioner/federal felon Michael Vick both on his eye black and post game interviews with the national TV media. Or the way that he breaks NCAA rules by selling memorabilia that he has earned for victories with his teammates where they have spent countless hours practicing, watching film, and battling on Saturdays to achieve. Yep, that is a real Buckeye deserving of praise other than that fake Buckeye Kirk Herbstreit.

What’s that Herbstreit guy ever done anyway? He never beat an SEC school in a BCS bowl game. How many times did he beat Michigan during his 4 years at OSU? Never forget that he grew up in Ohio and publicly supports all Ohio amateur and pro teams. He has the audacity to speak negatively about OSU’s actual wrong doings during his job in media as a TV commentator on ESPN (you know the massive media outlet that’s mission statement is the destruction of OSU’s football team). How dare he think his school should act better by not breaking the rules and not having the coach report it when they find out? HOW DARE YOU SIR! As soon as he was hired at ESPN it was evident that he severed his ties to OSU and started immediately talking bad about them. He has no respect for his alma mater. If only he would show up on camera with his entire family decked out in OSU gear at some point in his career. Maybe that would help his image with OSU fans. Nope, well then, let’s constantly harass him and his family to the point they need to move from Columbus to Nashville. That’ll show that fake Buckeye. Didn’t real Buckeye Chris Spielman say negative things recently about this scandal? Where does he live these days? Well, I guess it is okay for him since he has only said the bad thing once and doesn’t work for ESPN full time. Who the hell runs their ex-players and public supporters of the team out of town? Oh yeah, OSU “fans”.

The bottom line with my attitude change is that the fans make enjoying OSU football impossible. From ridiculous performance expectations, to unfair treatment of “fake” Buckeyes, to the defense of breaking rules it has turned me away from being a fan. I wish the team the best but I will always take great pleasure now in the pain of the fans of Buckeye nation. Your whining, crying, and thoughts of suicide for all the injustices done to OSU provides greater entertainment to me now more than any football win. With each allegation, loss, or negativity uttered toward OSU I look forward to reading each comment or hearing each defense from my friends so I can laugh like a madman looking at his own reflection. Listen OSU fans, I get that your love for your school and football team. Nothing wrong with that. Your inability to live in reality and accept that your team can screw up or not win a National Championship or even that there is no media conspiracy to ruin your team are the problems. Also the Bataan Death March from the stadium, bars, or TV screens after a loss is a bit on the dramatic side. Get over it, were not talking life or death here. Join the real world and things won’t seem so bad.

So thank you Buckeye fans, you’ve now turned someone away from liking your team. I’m probably not the only one. So consider me a fake Buckeye fan from now on. Now, I’ve gotta go pack my bags. I’m moving to Nashville.

***Editor's Note***
Yes, Buckeye fans can be obnoxious. Fans in general tend to be, especially for larger fan bases of highly successful teams. That goes for any sport, college or pro. Fans typically lack any reasonable sense of objectivity, especially when your team is "under attack".

That said, much of what JJ says is fair criticism. The whole idea of "fake" or "real" Buckeyes is nuts. The idea that somehow a multi-million dollar business, where the key employees are unpaid, and is supported by an entire community (the good and the bad), is somehow not going to have shady dealings going on around it is naive. We all know it's going on. That doesn't excuse it.

I've already done one post on TatGate, and I'm not going to rehash my position on that. What I will say is that this can't be the only shady thing that's gone down under JT's regime. We (Buckeye fans) all know that the Clarrett situation could've blown up and resulted in sanctions, but didn't. We all know that the "squeaky clean" image of JT rings a bit hollow. The "Aw Shucks" act is a little tired. Gordon Gee and the AD should be ashamed of the way they've handled themselves. But all of this, and probably more, is self-inflicted. We should acknowledge that.

The criticism of ESPN is actually kind funny to me. They were late to the party. It was Yahoo that broke the story. ESPN only jumped on when it benefited them to do so. As JJ said, tearing OSU down would kill game ratings. Why would they want that, until it became the big story?

That said, I don't care for or about Herbie. The problem with that situation is that you can't have it both ways. You can't be a homer, and not be labeled a homer. I think he did the best job he could, but there were many times that it seemed his criticisms were leveled more to appease the national public opinion than anything. He couldn't be seen to be defending the program, so I think that made the criticism harder to take for Buckeye nation. That does not in any way justify the personal attacks on he or his family. That kind of crap ass behavior is never acceptable. It's sports at the end of the day, and there's no reason to run a solid citizen out of town (although there were some other rumors about taxes and a house burning down not to mention he'd run out of tail to chase...to be fair, none of us know the whole story).

The one part of this that I take a little issue with is the expectations on the field. I think I know where JJ was going with this, and I'll acknowledge that there's a difference between having a National Championship as the goal every season and actually thinking you're going to WIN a National Championship every season. I see nothing, and I mean nothing, wrong with having a NC as the goal every season. It's what the Pittsburgh Steelers do in the NFL. They may not get to the Super Bowl every year, but they think they CAN, and prepare with that goal in mind.

The reality is that OSU is the biggest and most successful program in the North. It's the only one that perennially competes with the South, Texas and the West Coast. Yes, the Big Ten* isn't the deepest conference, and without a championship game, the string of Big Ten* Championships* is like holding the Intercontinental Belt in the old WWF. Still, they've been to 3 NC games since 2002, and are always going to be one of the top 3 choices of the BCS selection committee because of the way the fan base travels and the television ratings they draw. Hating on that is like me hating on the Steelers. It's just jealousy.

Now I acknowledge that there are those amongst us that may actually irrationally think we're going to win it every year. There may be those amongst us that don't think JT did it, or did anything wrong by doing it. There may be those that actually believe Herbie is the anti-Christ and deserves to have his house burned down. I can't and won't defend any of them.

But I will also say that there have been plenty in Buckeye nation to criticize TP and JT for their work on the field, who've done a 180 regarding the off-field issues. Like Herbie, you can't have it both ways.......

RIP Randy Macho Man Savage

It sucks when the guys you watched growing up get older and start dying off. It makes you nostalgic for a time long gone, and it reminds you just how long ago that was. And that we are not as bulletproof as we thought we were, back when we were jumping off our couch's armrest, pretending it was the top rope.

As I've done a few times in past, I turn over the reigns to a guest. In this case, this crummy little blog has a visit from a blogging celebrity. A man who's been one of only a handful Paul "Doc" Daugherty's guest fill-in's on his cincinnati.com blog and member of the critically acclaimed band, The Rebel Set. The one and only Jason Johantges. We are not worthy.....take it away JJ:

Let’s have a moment of silence for, and then a 21 Slim Jim snap salute, for
Randy “Macho Man” Savage. He died today in a car wreck caused by a heart attack.

Spending much of my formative years in the 80’s the WWF (I will not accept WWE as
the name, way to bend over for a bunch of tree huggers) was a big part of my Saturdays.
From the morning Hulk Hogan Rock n Wrestling Express to the late morning wrestling
show, to the occasional Saturday night late night special events, I watched a bunch
of wrestling on my Saturdays. Please God, if the rapture doesn’t come this weekend,
make Rebecca Black create a sequel to her “hit” Friday and sing a song about Saturday
dedicated to the WWF of the golden ages. I don’t ask for much.

I was lucky to enjoy the golden age of pro wrestling with super stars like Hulk Hogan,
Andre the Giant, George “The Animal” Steele, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, the
Ultimate Warrior, and of course Macho Man. How much fun was it to practice those
signature moves of the stars on your siblings and friends? Good times! I also remember
the line of toys that were made out of the hardest, stiffest rubber known to man.
Which also weighed about 25 pounds per figure so when you inevitably threw one at
your sister’s head you did significant cranial damage. More reasons to love the 80’s;
dangerous and somewhat toxic toys!

I did turn away from the WWF as I got into Jr. High and High school as sports, video
games, hair metal, and girls came calling. Because lets face it, wrestling kind of got
creepy as you realized you’re too old to roll around on the floor with other boys
mimicking the holds of the WWF but the idea of doing it with girls caused a strange
tingling in your nether regions. Still, the Macho Man was an icon of my youth and a
strong reminder of the many Saturdays I spent jumping off furniture as if it was the top
turnbuckle of a ring. While he wasn’t my favorite wrestler he sure played a part in about
every memorable feud in their heyday.

He also introduced fans to the idea of female managers with his long time partner Miss
Elizabeth. Sadly, she died years ago under the suspicion of drug use. Which was another
sad byproduct of the WWF; rampant illegal drug use. The WWE has chewed up and
spit out many people. People who have destroyed their body and mind through steroids,
cocaine, and painkillers. From the stories I’ve heard about the WWF in the mid 80’s
their locker rooms would have made put the ’86 Mets to shame. It is no surprise that like
many football greats of the 70’s and 80’s the WWF stars of the same timeframe are dying
much too early because of the common practice of drug use.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a happy reminder of an icon of my youth. As mentioned
above I attribute many good times spent on Saturdays enjoying wrestling related
entertainment. For that, I will always have a spot in my heart for the WWF stars of
the ‘80’s. Macho Man, I hope you find peace and plenty of Slim Jim’s in the afterlife
Macho Man. Although after this weekend we may be able to meet in person you know,
pending the rapture and end of days of course.

OH YEAH!

The one that got away......

Jim Bowden sucks. In his decade long run as General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds, Bowden's teams managed only 2 division titles (one in strike shortened 1994), had a slew of trades that generally did not work in the Reds favor (Ken Griffey Jr's injuries aside), and instituted a scorched earth policy in the minor league system. So it's no surprise that he and his scouting department would've missed on one of the most underrated players in all of Major League baseball who was born, raised, and became a terrific high school and collegiate ballplayer in his own backyard.

Kevin Youkilis is one of my favorite big league players, and one of the least appreciated in all of baseball. Since 2006, his first full-time, Youkilis is easily one of the top 20 players in all of baseball by any measure you want to look at. Tabbed by Oakland GM Billy Beane as "the Greek God of Walks" as a minor leaguer, Youk is one of the toughest outs in all of baseball and perennially is amongst league leaders in pitches seen per at bat. The impact that has on opposing pitchers is one that elevates the play of everyone on his team. Whether that's during a single game, or over the course of a series, Youkilis is the heart and soul of one of the best offenses in the game and contributes whether he's swinging well or not.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Youkilis put up huge numbers at Sycamore High School and again at the University of Cincinnati. He was a two time 2nd team All-American at UC, and still holds multiple offensive records. He even went to the Cape Cod League between his Junior and Senior years at UC, where they use wood bats, and finished amongst league leaders in offense as well. Still, he was not well regarded by the big league scouting community. Why? Well, he didn't look the part. Pudgy, unathletic-looking, unorthadox; he just didn't look like a pro. And at that time, 2000-2001, most scouting staffs and organizations were too caught up appearances and weren't focused on production. Youk would be drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 8th round in 2001, but would've almost certainly been a 1st or 2nd round pick today.

All Youkilis has done since is be one of the best in all of baseball. He's played above average defense at both 3B and 1B, moving wherever the team needed him most. He's added 25+ home run power to his +.400 On Base ability. He's an underrated base runner despite below average speed. And his leadership and desire to win would make his boyhood hero Pete Rose proud. Want proof? How about the well publicized dugout fight between Youkilis and Manny Ramirez in 2008? When asked about the fight the following year, after Manny was traded away to L.A., Youkilis said: "We have two different approaches to the game. Winning and losing isn’t life and death to Manny." Given the choice, I'd rather have Youkilis too. He stepped right into Manny's cleanup role and didn't skip a beat. He's even played through injuries the last two years, and only shut it down in 2010 because he didn't have a choice. He's a gamer.

And he's produced for relatively little cost, only adding to his value. From 2006-2008, his first 3 full seasons, Youk cost a combined $4M. For '09 and '10 he made a combined $15M, and 2011 will be his first making more than $10M annually. He signed a 4yr $41M contract in 2009, that includes a $13M club option for 2013. For a guy who's Wins Above Replacement value (thanks fangraphs.com) has averaged nearly 4.5, and considering each WAR is worth roughly $4.5M each on the open market, he should be getting nearly $19M per year! That's very good value for GM Theo Epstein and the BoSox.

Needless to say, I'd love to have seen Kevin Youkilis in a Reds uniform, at 3B, instead of an aging and overpaid Scott Rolen. The Reds desperately need a legitimate right handed bat behind MVP 1B Joey Votto, and a lineup featuring 2B Brandon Phillips, Votto, and Youkilis hitting 2,3,4 would be something to behold. But alas, it's a pipe dream. The BoSox would never trade Youk and the window to have drafted him is a decade in the rear view mirror. Still, it's fun to imagine. If only the Reds had had a progressive GM in 2001 instead of a guy who wore leather pants and thought the best way to build a team was through trades instead of the draft.

Hopefully the injuries don't derail what looks to be a very promising career for Youkilis, the bedrock for one of the few clubs that perennially has a shot at a World Series title. And hopefully the Reds commitment to drafting and developing quality prospects since dumping Bowden will assure that they won't miss another diamond in the rough in their own community.....

Bengals Draft Impressions

The Bengals did very well in the 2011 draft. They replaced their QB, and they replaced a Hall of Fame caliber Wide Receiver with another. They added a speed rushing Line Backer, and upgraded the interior Offensive Line with a player that should have gone a round higher. They added one of the biggest Safeties in this draft, and added to their depth at Receiver, Corner and Running Back to finish off. They had a very good draft as I said, but this is not the most impressive part.

Maybe people can change, in some respects anyway. Giving Mike Brown even a scrap of credit is a major Bengal fan faux pas, but I have to give it when due. Not one guy taken in this draft has a character issue in their background. No Odell Thurman's, or Chris Henry's, or Jason Shirley's, or anyone else. In fact, these guys all seem like really quality young men. GOOD CHARACTER GUYS! Who would've thought?

And the other thing that really, really jumped out at me about this draft is that Marvin Lewis already has a ton of trust in Jay Gruden and James Urban, new Offensive Coordinator and Receivers Coach respectively. Jay loves AJ Green and Andy Dalton, and had them #1 respectively by their positions (AJ was #1 overall). But it's one thing to let your new coordinator evaluate, and it's quite another to act on those evaluations. Especially considering the turmoil this franchise and coaching staff have faced the last year or two. I'm blown away by what I just saw.

Marvin trusts Gruden so much that AJ Green and Andy Dalton will be the starters week 1. Pretty incredible considering he's only had Gruden on staff a matter of months. Again, you have to give Marvin some credit here.

I really like this draft, and it's continues a string of very good drafts since the 2005 debacle. If Dontay Moch and Robert Sands can contribute next year, I love this draft. And I am very, very impressed by what Jay Gruden and Urban bring to this team. There is a new energy. It is clear that the organization is turning the page not only on Carson and Chad, but on the whole Bratkowski era.

Much has stayed the same, but much is different. It looks like for the better.

So your team needs a QB?

I've really warmed up to Mallet. I'd forgotten how well he played in the bowl game vs. Ohio State. If Joe Adams could catch, they probably beat the Buckeyes. He has the biggest arm in the draft, and can make all the throws with accuracy, but that's not the best part. He comes from a pro-style offense and has the most experience of any draftable QB's with pre-snap responsibilities. Audibles, hots, and even protections were all his to call at the line. Plus, Arkansas ran a ton of play action. I thought he was easily rattled by pressure, but am not sure that's entirely fair. There were a lot of plays where he evaded the initial rush and made fantastic throws downfield. On one play, he evaded an unblocked blitzer, made half a step up the field and threw it 50 yards in the air to a receiver in stride. No one else in this draft can do that. Hell, 90% of the QB's in the NFL can't do that. He's not perfect. I question his conditioning, and I wonder what he's going to be like with a multi-million dollar contract in the bank off the field, but you can tell the kid loves the game and can absolutely play it. He'd be the #1 QB on my draft board. #2 is Christian Ponder. He may not have the ceiling of Newton or Gabbert, and there are significant medical issues in his past, but he's more NFL ready than either of the other guys. He comes from a pro-style offense, is comfortable with play-action, and is still a good enough athlete to do all the boots and rollouts required in a true West Coast system. He seems to be smart, mature, and well-rounded off the field, much cleaner than Mallet. That said, he doesn't have near the arm talent, nowhere near. Still, he has a better arm than Dalton and has better accuracy than Locker. He may never be a Pro-Bowler, but he'll be around the league a long time if he wants to be. If he's in the right system, with enough around him, I think this is a franchise QB. If you know your team isn't going to be good anytime soon, you have a new coach, and you can be patient, then you can feel better about taking Newton or Gabbert. But both come from schemes very different from the NFL, and neither really faced pressure consistently like they will face in league. Mallet and Ponder have, and I think the transition will be much, much smoother. There's always risk, but my money's on those two guys to be franchise QB's.

Dusty Baker=Over Rated (bump,bump, bump bump bump)

Crusty's best seasons have an almost direct correlation to
the MVP award.

18yrs as a manager, record slightly over .500, 1 pennant (2002-Bonds
MVP, SF was the Wild Card), 4 division titles (1997-Bonds 5th,
2000-Jeff Kent MVP Bonds 2nd, 2003-Sosa 8th, 2010-Votto MVP).

He was in SF from 1993-2002 (Barry Bonds came to SF in 1993) and his
record was .540

He was in CHI from 2003-2006 (in fairness, he missed Sosa's prime by a
couple of years, but had Prior and Wood before their injuries), his
record was .497

He's been in Cincy since 2008 and his record is .504

Marginal performance buoyed by 4 MVP's, including the most dominant
player in the history of the game in Bonds, with whom he managed 1
division title and 1 pennant. They melted down in that WS and his
Cubs did again against the Marlins in the famous Steve Bartman series.

The prosecution rests.

Bengals mocked draft

Every Tom, Dick and Harry has a mock draft, and I will at least partially join the crowd. With the Carson mess, the labor mess, and the lack of anything (outside the draft) that you could classify as a normal offseason activity, this should make for an interesting weekend at the end of this month. One thing is certain for the Cincinnati Bengals: they have an opportunity to get some good players sitting #4 in this year's draft.

There are two things I'm near certain about going into the draft: Cam Newton will go to Carolina #1, and Marcel Dareus will probably not get out of the top 3 picks. The rest is a crapshoot. There are some very, very talented football players that are absolute top 10 material. It's all about team need/preference. Dareus would be my absolute first choice for the Bengals, as they've tried repeatedly to find an interior presence in Marvin's defense to no real avail. (John Thornton, Bryan Robinson, Sam Adams, Warren Sapp who chose Al Davis over Mike freaking Brown, Darryl Gardner, and Shawn Rodgers to name a few). I love Geno Atkins but I don't know if he's an every down 3 technique.

I suppose the best way to attack this is with the "if/when" game. OK, Newton goes one, Dareus goes two. Buffalo has the choice of Patrick Peterson, AJ Green, Julio Jones, Von Miller, Robert Quinn, Nick Fairley, etc. or the QB Blaine Gabbert. Chan Gailey is an offensive guy, but his run defense was horrid last year and they have an incumbent QB (yeah, I know it's Ryan Fitzpatrick, but look at his numbers last year). I think they'd really like to see Dareus drop, but I don't think Denver is going to let that happen.

So...... Let's say they take Peterson. This is a bad situation for the Bengals because they have to choose to take Gabbert to replace Carson or address positions they need help with now. I'd go for help now, and take Robert Quinn or one of the receivers. Personally, I'm going on defense. My #1 receiver would be Jermaine Gresham (a la SD with Gates), and I loved what I saw from Simpson/Caldwell/Shipley. Add a dynamic pass rusher to Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, and you've got something that rivals the Steelers in terms of pressure on the QB. They'd eat Flacco and Roethlisberger for lunch with as many sacks as those guys take. Easy pick for me. Make due with the DT rotation you've got, or add to it later. Get to third down and it's lights out.

Let's say the go Gabbert. Peterson would be my guy. He's not the outside corner that Amukamara is, but god what that guy could do from the slot. Big enough to stop the run, big enough to cover tight ends, fast enough to blitz and cover backs and slot guys. This guy could be what Charles Woodson is for the Packers (okay, maybe not quite THAT good, but good). He's the most versatile defender in the draft. Plus the guy is a dynamic returner and a guy, like a couple other big time secondary defenders in the division I could name, that wants to take it to the house when he gets the ball in his hands. Add him to JJoe (who I believe will be back), Hall, Adam Jones, Reggie Nelson and Chris Crocker and that's one hell of a secondary. Call him a corner, call him a safety, I call him a dynamic playmaker.

Outside those two, I see no need for the receivers, Nick Fairley is boom or bust, Von Miller is a 3-4 guy, Amukamara isn't a top 5 guy, and I don't see a huge difference between the #1 QB and the #5 guy. Dareus, Peterson, Quinn, in that order for my team.

Worst case, Gabbert goes before Newton and he's available at 4. I believe the Bengals would take him. I will slit my wrists, not because I don't think he can be good in the league, but because this team will not be good again for a long time with him at QB. That would be a cursed, cursed pick. One I hope will be rendered moot by Carolina's need to find a better leader than Jimmy Claussen.

The second round (or late first with a trade) is where Carson really hurts this team. Without a QB, you have to look at spending this pick on either Mallett, Locker, Ponder, or Dalton. I'm not sure what kind of West Coast system this really is going to be under new OC Jay Gruden, but the old-school philosophy placed a high priority on accurate QB's with agility and mobility over the measureables. To me, that throws out Mallett. Yes, he's the best passer in the draft, but he's got Charlie Sheen baggage....no thank you. Really, his paltry mobility kills him in the West Coast. In Bob Bratkowski's offense, yes. This one, I hope not.

Locker's got real accuracy questions. So I think it's really down to Ponder, Dalton, or they wait on a guy like Stanzi. Mavin and Co. saw all three at the Senior Bowl (before Gruden), and may have a feel for one above another. I personally like Ponder as a guy that comes from a pro-style offense and is comfortable in play-action and with the required drops. He has durability issues, and he's a rookie, so it isn't without risk. The best case would be to get a veteran QB for this year and give either this year's pick, or Dan LeFevour if they still like him, an opportunity to gradually come in. But I really wish this pick could upgrade the other areas.

Guys like DT Marvin Austin, S Rahim Moore, or a tackle or guard prospect for the right side of the Oline would be great here. Really, projecting the draft beyond the first couple of picks is pretty pointless beyond addressing general needs. So here goes:

Offensively, QB, and the right side of the line are priorities. Hopefully Fat Andre Smith can give you a full season to finally settle the "bust" debate, but Bobbie Williams isn't getting younger and the jury's still out on Kyle Cook and the Mathis/Livings platoon. The only stud is Whitworth who continues to get overlooked for the Pro Bowl.

Defensively, I'd love to see the 3-techinque DT addressed though Geno Atkins might be able to develop into that guy (he was the steal of the draft last year). You can never have enough pass rushers and good secondary players. Safety is what everyone points to, but I like Reggie Nelson and Crocker if he's healthy. I think a real impact front 7 guy is what this team needs, with secondary the fall-back. LB will be interesting if they really are moving Rey Maualuga to the Mike. Right now, they almost have to unless Muckleroy is the guy.

You win this division with your defense and with your Oline, not with flashy WR's. Maybe one year, like 2005, but not year in and year out. So there it is, and the Bengals won't do any of it. Watch and laugh as they pick Julio Jones and Ryan Mallett 1-2 and my journey to the Dark Side will be complete as Mike Brown will have given me no choice but to find another team to root for. Postscript-Brian Weaver reserves the right to change this post, after the draft, to make myself look more smarter, or to add such generalities as to have covered any/all possible outcomes.