stuckincincy

Bloody well right.

True - but the mind says grab the ball if you can...hard to get around that. Also - can't say for sure - there is a monetary angle, in that pro contracts seem to generally include incentive clauses - this many ints = this much extra money. When a team doesn't start a player for things like being late for a meeting - that's a tool in their belt. I've read here or there that contracts can include language about $ based on starts. We've all seen a player not start, and come in the next play or so.

I hope it happens. It would spice up the off-season doldrums, and would engender many topics about draft needs.

Not sure - if he played a quarter or two and did well, he might be elevated to Steve Johnson status and be dubbed as the next "sure thing, who only needs more playing time." That would be fun...

Indeed he is. There will always be controversy about Kimo von Oelhoffen's hit on the 1st play of the '05 Pit -Cin playoff game. To my mind, he rose up and went for Palmer's knee. I've reviewed the internet videos time and time again. It was noticed - the next season, the NFL put in what was then known as the Palmer rule, since supplanted by the Brady Rule.

IMO, his injuries have taken a toll. And he's an ultimate "timing" QB, who misses TJ Houze. Ocho is another story - but that's who he looks to now. He in the last five or so games, stares at one receiver. And hangs on to the ball far too long. His early season scoots kept drives alive - good for him there. The game against MIN - six dump screens, etc. The network talking heads still yak about him as an offensive big noise - well, that's indicative of their usual lack of preparedness. Anybody that would care to look at his performances overall would see that he's no deep threat. I've watched his whole career. I can tell you exactly how to play him and beat him. Hints: his audibles are generally a run left. His late-game pass when behind is along the right sideline. And easy jump for a db. Other things, too. Before season start, I posted that they should be in the market for a QB. Somebody replied, calling me a fool. Palmer's a great guy, and a witty if not deep man who is a very kind, charitable individual. A pillar of the community, etc. CIN's brain trust ( ) will ride him to the end of his contract, I suppose. Given the cost/hit, I don't think they could do otherwise. Anyway - losses by them gives BUF a sniff yet.

Not the AFC crown - that's gone. CIN has key defensive injuries, and as I've noted for years - Palmer is very iffy. The '05 leg thing, the '08 elbow thing, the '09 left wrist thing. He's degraded for several games - against MIN - 6 screen passes, was 1-5 on passes over 10 yards, his biggest completion was for 15 yards against MIN. His last 300 yard game was in '07. Their official line is that other clubs are guarding the pass, so that's why they run. And bemoan the loss of Chris Henry for not being able to stretch the field,and complain that the opposition is taking pains to shut down their pass game. - They put in J.T. Sullivan to mop up. Palmer garnered 94 yards, 15 of 25. He's been nothing since his early season spurt, getting squeak victories with improbable runs. I think Palmer has had it - but they will start him the next 3 games. Lewis and his OC Bratkowski are so predictable, MIN's Pat Williams made post game comments about that: “To y’all they’re super Bengals. That’s the same old Bengals to me,” Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams said. “I watched tape all week. They didn’t impress me none.” And he's right. Game planning against the B'gals offensive scheme is like game planning against Elmo. For years. Ownership in action there - nobody regardless of performance gets canned until their contract runs out, unless the owner needs a scapegoat. Leslie Frazier (MIN DC), is a notable one. Bottom line: You can see the current AFC North team's W-L loss records. I can see either CIN, PGH, and CIN backing in at 9-7 for the crown. and BUF alive. I don't know what tiebreakers BUF faces. It's possible...

Lesson: Never, ever give a QB an option on 4th and 1. Demand a quick count, and a sneak. Always, always.

You missed my point - as usual. Would you like me to revise my post to suit you? Just ask.

I don't know if Fewell is fighting for his possibility of being named HC - but with the win at KC - they are still alive, and if he's worth his salt, he's going to put his best team out there. They are reeling, staggering, but they are still in the ring and so can show up for the next round. We wait and see - you never know. I don't know if Ellis is a go, health-wise. If he is, I make him a game day active, and sit Maybin.

Did the little b*tch recommend you make self-serving posts that make viewers scroll and scroll - for a man your age?

I think Lynch is an ok NFL back. Fair hands IMO. Blocking - I dunno. He'd get a roster spot on all other teams. A thousand yards isn't much over 16 games, I know. His legal troubles - small peanuts IMO - he's young and that young people are goofy - especially with big jingle in the pocket - is well-known. That's part of being young. I do believe that he was drafted to gin up fan support, though. It's an old formula - a spiff RB excites, and sells tix. I would not trade him.

Parents almost never consider traveling to a child's home. Be it local, or be it far-flung. People can get mad if their kids can't afford to make the journey, and say regrettable things, lay some guilt on, that can never be taken back. Like the ringing of a bell - it can't be retracted. Done and over.

He's no different from numerous NFL head coaches. Not taking a relatively sure 3 points in the 1st, as you imply, was dumb. It isn't as if he had a proven offensive powerhouse this season - take the points. That's why they had to go in the 4th - had he taken the chip shot in the 1st, he could have gone for 3 in the 4th and probably got the game into OT.

He's hit his average - 1 tackle, 1 assist.

Go Bills!

Geeze - a small school finally gets a day in the sun, and you have to sh*t all over 'em. The Grapes of Wrath are sour...indeed.

I read the articles in the Pgh. Post-Gazette's site this morning. They weren't crying into their terrible towelettes - they were ripping the Stillers a new one.

Happy Chanukah to all!!!!

Here's a little fuel for the fire, from TMQ: ..."Equally absurd, the NFL -- the league organization, not the individual teams -- is a nonprofit! The National Football League is a money-crazed organization with revenues of about $8 billion annually; its owners and top officials buzz around in private jets; commissioner Roger Goodell has a salary of $11.2 million per year; yet officially the NFL is a nonprofit under New York State law. This transparent fiction enables the league to avoid paying its fair share of tax, all the while demanding stadium subsidies to increase its revenue. Not-for-profit status also allows the NFL to sell tax-exempt bonds to back stadium construction, a hidden subsidy for football's wealthy owners. "... http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...mp;sportCat=nfl

Nothing new these days. It's the "All About Me" era. D'Antonio bolted to MSU a few years back, Rodrgiuz whatever stiffed WVU, Petrino lifted a leg on ATL, Saban dogsh*tted the Fins, etc. If you look for ethical behavior, football is a bad place to find it these days. Sad - but that's what it is.

I wonder if Gill gets a phone call tonight...

They may be on tv, but they are in competition for numerous other games. I'll glance at the odd MAC game, what with Miami (OH) being up the road. When they show up they show up on odd channels that thought they might make a buck off local advertisers. Usually, a MAC game shows up on ESPNU, and I have to look at a piece of paper to see what numbers I have to push to tune in. The Big East has had a nice run - U Cinnn, Rutgers, UConn, Pitt, WVA - and I get bombarded with PSU and OSU. ND always, and the non-stop SEC stuff - I am so tired of that conference cluttering up my tv. I get it - move on.

Looks bleak for the KC folks...I woulda went the dollar hot dog, discount beer route...

Reading what he said on the TBD page, the BN article - he's comfortable with his weight. Don't know if it was that article, but IIRC he pocked 14M - guaranteed. To me he's looking more and more like a guy cashing in thanks to a dumb FO biting with a high pick on a fellow that had 10 starts with PSU. And watching PSU football is like watching the movie Weekend at Bernie's - everybody knows the guy is dead, but everybody pretends...the local tv powers here served up at least 7 of their games for my viewing pleasure.