Bengals rebuild with Dalton and Green

[oldschooler]

[size="5"][b]Bengals rebuild with Dalton and Green[/b]
[/size]April, 29, 2011 By James Walker



The [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/cin/cincinnati-bengals"][color="#225db7"]Cincinnati Bengals[/color][/url] have officially ushered in a new era.

With franchise quarterback [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4459"][color="#225db7"]Carson Palmer[/color][/url] and former Pro Bowl receiver [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2584"][color="#225db7"]Chad Ochocinco[/color][/url] aging and disgruntled, the team [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/27128/bengals-get-their-qb-andy-dalton"][color="#225db7"]drafted[/color][/url] their [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/27042/bengals-get-a-j-green-ocho-likely-out"][color="#225db7"]replacements[/color][/url] in quarterback [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26122/andy-dalton"][color="#225db7"]Andy Dalton[/color][/url] and receiver [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26072/aj-green"][color="#225db7"]A.J. Green[/color][/url]. Cincinnati's urgency to replace the soon-to-be former faces of the franchise is the strongest sign yet that the Bengals are [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/19978/page/MNF/its-time-to-blow-up-the-bengals"][color="#225db7"]blowing up the core[/color][/url] and starting over.

Technically, Palmer and Ochocinco are still under contract with Cincinnati. But behind closed doors, the team knows it's likely both veterans played their final game in a Bengals uniform. Palmer demanded a trade, put his house on the market and says [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/23728/carson-palmer-is-officially-bengalized"][color="#225db7"]he's willing to retire[/color][/url], while Ochocinco has [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/26953/ochocincos-right-times-likely-up-in-cincy"][color="#225db7"]joined the offseason campaign [/color][/url]to get out of Cincinnati.

With both players well over 30 and past their prime, the Bengals appear willing to oblige.



"It seems like a lot of guys might not be around," Dalton admitted Friday when he was drafted. "But the guys that will be there will get in and have one goal in mind -- and that is to win a lot of ballgames."

At times Cincinnati can be unpredictable with personnel, but it executed a well-thought out plan to land new building blocks. Green is the draft's best receiver and Dalton was a top-five quarterback, depending on which team you survey.

If you want further proof the Bengals are moving on, head coach Marvin Lewis was already talking about Dalton's prospects of being the Week 1 starter in September.

Carson who?

Lewis called Dalton an "important, important piece" to the team.

Could the Dalton-Green combo match the Palmer-Ochocinco combo? Obviously, there are very big shoes to fill.

Palmer and Ochocinco have been one of the NFL's most prolific passing duos for the past eight years. Palmer threw for 22,649 yards and 154 touchdowns in Cincinnati. Ochocinco is the franchise's all-time leading receiver with 10,783 career yards. And according to ESPN's Stats and Information, the 46 touchdown connections for Palmer and Ochocinco ties them for 26th all time for a quarterback-receiver pairing.

Dalton and Green may not pass those statistical milestones. But that doesn't mean this pair can't win, which is something Palmer and Ochocinco struggled with in Cincinnati. The veterans combined for just two playoff appearances and zero postseason wins. Cincinnati has not won a playoff game in 21 years.

If Dalton and Green can eventually win playoff games, Bengals fans will forget the days of Palmer and Ochocinco as fast as you can say "Pepto Bismol."

The key to making this all work will be Dalton.

Every quarterback prospect this year has holes. Dalton is considered undersized and doesn't have a cannon for an arm. He's far from the sure-fire No. 1 overall pick Palmer was eight years ago. But if Dalton can get Green the football consistently, good things will happen in the Bengals' new West Coast offense.

The Bengals believed in Dalton early in this pre-draft process. He set a Mountain West Conference record with 42 career victories at TCU. He was 13-0 in his senior year and led the Horned Frogs to a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.

"I feel like I'm a leader," Dalton said. "I know how to push guys; I know what it takes to push guys. I'm excited to come in, learn the different personalities of everybody there, get on the same page with everybody, and just get to work."

In 2001, the Bengals drafted Ochocinco in the second round, and they got Palmer in the first round two years later. This year the Bengals flip-flopped, using a first-round pick on a Green and a second-round pick on Dalton.

The final step for the Bengals may be the hardest. It's time for Cincinnati to trade Ochocinco and Palmer, and get as much value for them as possible. Player transactions are on hold with labor uncertainty. But as soon as trading and free agency opens, the Bengals should put both players on the market.

The Bengals had a chance to trade Ochocinco three years ago and were scared to pull the trigger, but they seem more open to the idea now.

Cincinnati owner Mike Brown has said he will not trade Palmer. But with Dalton now in the fold and several teams probably willing to give up a sizable bounty for Palmer, it would be in Brown's best interest to let go of the quarterback.




[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/27147/bengals-rebuild-with-dalton-and-green"]http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/27147/bengals-rebuild-with-dalton-and-green[/url]

[Inigo Montoya]

[quote]
Cincinnati owner Mike Brown has said he will not trade Palmer. But with Dalton now in the fold and several teams probably willing to give up a sizable bounty for Palmer, it would be in Brown's best interest to let go of the quarterback.
[/quote]


There's where you are wrong James. First of all, no CBA means no trades. Second, we have no idea if several teams are willing to give up a "sizable bounty" for Palmer. Third, if the Bengals can't get picks until the 2012 draft, why trade him before 2012? At this point, I don't see how it is in the Bengals' best interest to deal Palmer any time soon. Nobody can say for sure what the team would get in return and it makes zero sense to give another team Palmer's services this year while we don't get any benefit until next year. There's no incentive to do Carson any favors. We own his rights and there's nothing he can do to prevent us from squatting on them.

[Jason]

[quote name='Inigo Montoya' timestamp='1304170441' post='989017']
There's where you are wrong James. First of all, no CBA means no trades. Second, we have no idea if several teams are willing to give up a "sizable bounty" for Palmer. Third, if the Bengals can't get picks until the 2012 draft, why trade him before 2012? At this point, I don't see how it is in the Bengals' best interest to deal Palmer any time soon. Nobody can say for sure what the team would get in return and it makes zero sense to give another team Palmer's services this year while we don't get any benefit until next year. There's no incentive to do Carson any favors. We own his rights and there's nothing he can do to prevent us from squatting on them.
[/quote]
Very well put.

[bwh]

[quote name='Inigo Montoya' timestamp='1304170441' post='989017']
There's where you are wrong James. First of all, no CBA means no trades. Second, we have no idea if several teams are willing to give up a "sizable bounty" for Palmer. Third, if the Bengals can't get picks until the 2012 draft, why trade him before 2012? At this point, I don't see how it is in the Bengals' best interest to deal Palmer any time soon. Nobody can say for sure what the team would get in return and it makes zero sense to give another team Palmer's services this year while we don't get any benefit until next year. There's no incentive to do Carson any favors. We own his rights and there's nothing he can do to prevent us from squatting on them.
[/quote]



If the Bengals don't trade Palmer until 2012,they will get less for him.He would be one year older and would have been inactive for an enire season. That will not help the Bengals get the most that they can for him. My guess is that any trade involving Palmer would include condiditional draft picks. I like what someone said on the ESPN article about Green and Dalton. Trade Palmer to SF for Taylor Mays and a draft pick.Probably won't happen now that the 49ers drafted a QB so high. But its time to trade Palmer and Chad .Get the best that they can and move on.

[Bengals1181]

according to Bob Holtzmann, AJ Green has a playbook, but Dalton does not.

[oldschooler]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1304203564' post='989620']
according to Bob Holtzmann, AJ Green has a playbook, but Dalton does not.
[/quote]


That is so frickin dumb. Seriously makes zero sense.


Hopefully the NFL has their stay revoked Monday and we get the Rookies
in for a mini-camp and all that.

[Oldcat]

[quote name='bwh' timestamp='1304173793' post='989057']
If the Bengals don't trade Palmer until 2012,they will get less for him.He would be one year older and would have been inactive for an enire season. That will not help the Bengals get the most that they can for him. My guess is that any trade involving Palmer would include condiditional draft picks. I like what someone said on the ESPN article about Green and Dalton. Trade Palmer to SF for Taylor Mays and a draft pick.Probably won't happen now that the 49ers drafted a QB so high. But its time to trade Palmer and Chad .Get the best that they can and move on.
[/quote]

There's not a lot of market a QB who played like Carson did last year. There's no reason to let some sense of desperation force to get even less.

[oldschooler]

[url="http://www.bengals.com/media-lounge/videos/NFL-Network-Bengals-Rebuild-Offense-5311/b2614be9-85a4-4112-81a0-87b845e4fb1c#?id=b2614be9-85a4-4112-81a0-87b845e4fb1c&channelName=Recent"]NFL Network: Bengals Rebuild Offense (5/3/11)[/url]


(4:04) Posted 05/03/11

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1304508231' post='990729']
[url="http://www.bengals.com/media-lounge/videos/NFL-Network-Bengals-Rebuild-Offense-5311/b2614be9-85a4-4112-81a0-87b845e4fb1c#?id=b2614be9-85a4-4112-81a0-87b845e4fb1c&channelName=Recent"]NFL Network: Bengals Rebuild Offense (5/3/11)[/url]


(4:04) Posted 05/03/11
[/quote]



sounds like Gruden plans to go out and chat with Carson whenever the lockout is lifted.

[whodey1971]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1304203564' post='989620']
according to Bob Holtzmann, AJ Green has a playbook, but Dalton does not.
[/quote]


Hey AJ...It's time to invite Andy over to your house to play for a while. You live near a Kinkos...right?

[oldschooler]

[b]Dalton: "I'm Excited to Have This Opportunity"[/b]
[font="Helvetica"][size="2"][color="#555555"]NBCDFW.com



Former TCU Quarterback Andy Dalton talks about being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and the possibility that Carson Palmer isn't coming back.



[url="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/Dalton___I_m_Excited_to_Have_This_Opportunity__Dallas-Fort_Worth-121178609.html"]http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/Dalton___I_m_Excited_to_Have_This_Opportunity__Dallas-Fort_Worth-121178609.html[/url][/color][/size][/font]

[oldschooler]

[size="5"][b]Dalton: 'I'm going to prepare myself like I'm going to be the starter'[/b]
[/size]
[b]Football[/b]
By Ryan Osborne

Staff Writer

[b]Published: [/b]Tuesday, May 3, 2011

[b]Updated: [/b]Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton knows earning the starting job as the Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback is far from guaranteed.

But in the meantime, he's preparing like it's all his.

The Katy, Texas native said Monday his new team's starting quarterback job is there for the taking and he won't be caught off guard if he earns it by the Bengals' season opener in September.

"It's open competition," Dalton said. "If I get the opportunity to start week one then I get that opportunity. But if not I'm going to keep preparing and put myself in a position to be ready if the time comes."

Dalton, who was taken by the Bengals in the second round with the 35th overall pick of NFL Draft Friday night, enters a Bengals organization coming off a 4-12 season. Cincinnati has recently been mired in an array of off-the-field issues ranging from wide receiver Chad Ochocinco's open displeasure with head coach Marvin Lewis to quarterback Carson Palmer's threats to retire if not traded.

The recent controversy won't interfere with his day-to-day mindset and routine, though, Dalton said.

"Everyone knows Carson is saying he's not coming back," Dalton said. "I think they're preparing to move on so obviously the position is open… I'm going to go prepare myself like I'm going to be the starter."

Because of the lockout, though, Dalton's recent trip to Cincinnati to be introduced by Lewis was limited to the media side of the job only. He won't be able to talk football with any coaches, or look at a playbook, until the NFL labor issues are resolved.

He did, though, get the phone numbers of the Bengals' quarterbacks and receivers, including the team's first round pick receiver, A.J. Green from Georgia.

"I'm going to be seeing what they're doing and seeing what's going on and try to figure out what's best to do," Dalton said.

Dalton has already called Green and second-year receiver Jordan Shipley and he said the three of them are geared up and ready to reverse the recent fortunes of the team.

"We're ready to get going," Dalton said. "What we're going to be doing offensively we're really going to turn things around a little bit."

Green and himself, Dalton said, are just two of the changes the organization is making to better the product on the field.

"We got a new offensive coordinator and a couple new coaches and we're kind of getting these players in that are going to help this team out," Dalton said. "We're excited."







[url="http://www.tcudailyskiff.com/mobile/sports/football/dalton-i-m-going-to-prepare-myself-like-i-m-going-to-be-the-starter-1.2558003"]http://www.tcudailyskiff.com/mobile/sports/football/dalton-i-m-going-to-prepare-myself-like-i-m-going-to-be-the-starter-1.2558003[/url]