The NFL is popular. No, seriously. Like, really popular. In 2008, 225 million Americans watched NFL games in 2008 (nearly 100 million more people that voted for the presidential elections), the NFL said in a press release. Of the top 15 most-watched shows this year, the NFL claimed 13; including 14 of the 15 most watched shows on cable. Ratings in the NFL far exceeded other sports' playoffs (must less their regular seasons), and 89% more people watched NFL games during prime time than any other program. You can enjoy all that stuff right here.

No Bengals player made the first, or second, All-Pro Team. If you're shocked then, well, ummm, yea.

Do people really think that Utah should be National Champions just because they went undefeated? Maybe there's something to it, though one has to remember Florida's one loss came after Ole Miss' Kentrell Lockett blocked Florida's PAT in the fourth quarter. Then again, we won't know who the best team in the country is with this current format, will we? Final USA Today poll, final AP,

Sometimes, there's just nothing else to talk about.

There's a deal on the table that could keep UC's football coach Brian Kelly through 2013. The Bearcats finished the season 17 in the coach's poll and the AP poll.

On UC recruits.

I'll be throwing these links up shortly.
Advanced NFL Stats
Smart Football

There's something called the Internet Archive -- or the Wayback Machine -- that archives websites dating back to 1996, caching them, and displaying them to the primitive designs. So I did a search on CincyJungle.com, before it's massive redesign, to show some of you noobies how far this site's design has come.

CincyJungle - 2006

Nostalgic, what did the old Bengals.com sites look like?

2000

2005

Others of interest.

NFL.com in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004.
ESPN.com in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006

There's some speak about the fact that Chad Johnson's jersey -- both the "C.Johnson" and the "Ocho Cinco" varieties -- are being given away with purchases over $50 (and additional jerseys with higher benchmarks). It's strange, if not prophetic. We also wouldn't rule out that the #85 jersey was simply over-stocked, after the past off-season, pissing off Bengals fans with his media blitz of being disgruntled. It could also be, strangely enough, the economy; hoping that free jersey's will entice buyers to the Pro Shop. The Wall Street Journal writes:

For all the talk of slumping ticket sales and sponsorships, the most troubling scenario for the sports industry is the growing trend of team owners beset by financial problems in their principal businesses.

Based on assumed recent history, the Bengals have to be a high-risk investment, with a losing trend that will likely threaten games to go unsold in 2009. Offering free jerseys, as an incentive to purchasing merchandise, might generate some buyers. Would advertisers be hesitant to pour money into the Bengals, if the economy is recessing as badly as President-elect Barack Obama forecasts? We're not smart about such things. The economy is complex, and the Bengals aren't likely to open their books for dopes like us to analyze, justify, criticize or condemn.

All we're pointing out is that Johnson's jersey being given away with $50 or more purchases, could simply mean they're overstocked. How many people purchased "C.Johnson" jerseys when his name was Chad Ocho Cinco? How many people bought Ocho Cinco jerseys when his jersey on the field was "C.Johnson". In the end, we made the observation that the name change was a one-year gimmick simply to make some money on the side with a percentage of the jersey sales. In the end, if overstocking is the culprit for the give-away, it simply backfired.

But I'm only assuming. In the end, I agree with all parties: this is strange.

You know, when you read an opinion that's firmly planted with a certain belief regarding a particular topic, sometimes it becomes nauseous. That's what Clark Judge did, when supporting the current NFL overtime system. Not only did he bluff you into thinking that the current system, which suggests accepting a little game by Harvey Dent, is good, but he simply blows away alternatives that could be suggested; even using college football's overtime to increase the validity of his point.

Judge writes that, "There have been 432 regular-season games that have gone to overtimes since the rule was adopted in 1974, with the team that received the kickoff winning 30 percent of the time after one series. That means 70 percent of the time each club had at least one possession."

Three out of every ten overtimes creates this monster. Change it to the college system, muses (and quickly deflects) Judge.

For one, the scores can be ridiculous, and the games can turn into marathons, with never-ending overtimes exhausting defenses that eventually run out of gas. Second, in going to the NCAA plan you eliminate special-teams performers like Johnnie Lee Higgins and Kassim Osgood and punters like Mike Scifres, Shane Lechler and Brian Moorman.

But isn't the point to win the game? Equal opportunity. Competition. That dreadful word that the NFL carries around when it best suits them: parity. Who cares how long it takes? Why are we so restricted on what's good for everyone else but the game that's being played. A playoff game no less.

Once Team A has possession (whether they score or not), Team B gets a shot. If the score is tied afterwards, then it's sudden death. It's not a hard concept to employ. And there's no argument that Judge could make that convinces us it wouldn't work; it would appease everyone. In fact, if such an argument would be made, then we fear the power of the coin is too great to persuade otherwise.

Moving on.

If you like surveys, then the Enquirer is conducting a State of the Bengals.

Dale Livingston was the Bengals sixth draft pick, ever. The former punter and place kicker died at a Green Bay hospital this week.

Dan Rooney responded to WDR's seventh task (mailing letters to all owners and Roger Goodell). They didn't like his response.

ESPN's Outside the Lines learned of a 2007 shooting involving Pacman Jones. The Cowboys released Jones. Jones is planning to sue ESPN.

There's a new head coach in the AFC North. Eric Mangini will be announced as the Browns newest head coach. The Browns already hired former Raiders defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan, according to Chris.

Head coach Marvin Lewis says of the offense for next season: "It's going to be a way different offense." What does that even mean? Is it the schemes? The personnel? Expected successes after closing the season with a strong running game? We still don't expect anything will change in terms of the team's offensive coordinator; position coaches, maybe. So that isn't it; though we're hardly confirmation on such matters.

Test. When did Marvin Lewis say this?

Oh, we haven't handled anything very good. We're not good enough. We haven't coached anything very good. We've turned the football over too many times. We've allowed explosive plays early on defense. We haven't played good enough on third down on either side of the football. We've had receivers drop passes. We haven't run the football effectively enough. We haven't handled anything very well.

It was after the 2007 season.

Along with having his jaw all jacked up, Keith Rivers had "arthroscopic surgery to clean out an ankle" and should be ready by late March for "offseason conditioning".

Every year, Cadillac gives away a free car to the Super Bowl MVP; like Dexter Jackson in 2003, nearly everyone picked the Escalade.

The Bengals Pro Shop is giving away free #85 jerseys with a $50 purchase. The Team's Pro Shop says it's giving away both "C.Johnson" and "Ocho Cinco" variations of the "85" jersey. We've always thought that the Chad Ocho Cinco name change was a one-year gimmick. Something for a little cash, from sales to publicity. That everything would return to normalcy after the season. The "C.Johnson" might just be over stocked (because of so many "Ocho Cinco" shirts); most popular player on the team, having a terrible off-season and regular season and no one wants to buy because no one is sure where he'll be in 2009.

Isn't there ever a point in time that one should leave a story alone? I don't care if Matt Millen is on television. It doesn't affect me, one way or another. I'm not even thinking to myself, "boy, his teams didn't do so well while he was a general manager." Sometimes people whom have been controversial in their own right, should sometimes just let things go. That's not to say I don't appreciate what PFT does; they bring up interesting stories that are otherwise buried. Sometimes they stir rumors, but you have to look past that. Differentiate the two; which is easy because they usually point those out early. On this one, no. I'm not on board.

Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinski is likely getting fired for interviewing with the New York Jets. It's being reported that Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo was informed of Jagodzinski's interview by a reporter; not the head coach himself.

Walter Sparrow is haunted by "The Number 23".

It's often easy to lose things in stats. For instance, you know that Ryan Fitzpatrick had eight touchdowns this season. But can you tell me which team his fifth touchdown was against? Considering how low that number is, you just might. Bad example. We love Crazy Legs. It wasn't as if he single-handedly lost us football games. No. That was Corey Webster. We don't forget.

Stats as a whole can picture the performance of a single player. Not the team. The team is the accumulation of stats with all players. It's the team stats that matter; the third down conversions, the yards-per-rush with all running backs, time of possession, etc. And, um, the score. Don't forget that; kind of important. There's another stat, specifically marked "To Cincinnati", with the only coherent response being "holy crap, how many?"

Throughout the season the Bengals lost 23 players to IR; several of whom left with an injury settlement. Carson Palmer went down early in the season, didn't play again. Stacy Andrews went down late in the season. Neither are included as the "23". Fingerling freaks. Andrew Whitworth, Scott Kooistra and Dan Santucci are three linemen that project on next year's roster (because they have signed contracts through next year). Marvin White, Johnathan Joseph, Keith Rivers, Robert Geathers and Dexter Jackson weren't just defensive players that went down, they were starters (yes, Jackson started three games). Along with several others, these players will be back next season.

If that's too detailed, the generic crack-the-stat version looks like this: starting left guard, primary backup at tackle and guard, backup center, starting defensive end, two starting safeties, a starting cornerback, and a starting linebacker.

It's granted, understood and accepted that injuries happen with all teams. Better teams have better talent lower in their depth charts creating a scenario where a backup player becomes a starter because he performed better while playing for the injured starter. We're also not telling you that you should expect an undefeated season, or even a playoff berth. However, when you have that many people go down, most of whom are returning in 2009, the team has to get better. Right?

So it's easy to say 23 players on injured reserve. After all, 23 is just a number, high enough that the context within the number begins to fade. The best part about the off-season and training camp, is that that number should default back to zero. Of course, like seasons before, we'll start watching a new crop of injured players suffer hamstring injuries during training camp that could miss the start of the season. But that's later.

What's the best thing that could be learned for Bengals fans? No, not Mike Brown stepping down. No, not Bob Bratkowski getting replaced. No, not winning a playoff game. While those would be nice (boy, they would be really nice), neither of those are going to happen relatively soon -- though the optimistic Kool-aid Bengals fan in me screams that the Bengals will be far better next season than 2008.

C Trent writes that Carson Palmer will NOT need surgery on his throwing elbow during the off-season. C Trent writes that "Palmer had an MRI the last week of the season and, according to Brennan, it revealed the healing process had worked on its own and Palmer should be ready for the team's entire 2009 offseason work."

That means voluntary camps, mandatory camps, training camps, pre-season, etc. That means the God of Golden Arms will become the golden messiah for redemption, invasion and occupation in the AFC North. It means that the poor will be rich, the starving with bullies full. And it means that the apocalypse of 2012 is simply scary promotion from the conspiracy-minded.

Did I lay that on a little thick?

The conventional wisdom with Bengals fans and the local media is that we desperately need to address the offensive line this off-season, while keeping both eyes on improving the defensive front. So what does Scout.com mock for the Bengals? Michael Crabtree. It's not that we think he's lacks potential, but, yikes. After picking up two wide receivers with the team's first four picks last draft, three total, along with four receivers still under contract, we actually see no reason to draft a receiver. None, whatsoever.

Talk about a let down. The Bengals finished the season 4-11-1. The Bearcats won the Big East, but lost the Orange Bowl. The two-loss Ohio State Buckeyes lost the Fiesta Bowl in the closing seconds. Having two Ohio teams in the BCS was nice and all, but shesh, can Ohio catch a break?

Even so, the Longhorns are unlikely to finish number one in the AP, with their best shot replacing the loser in the polls after the BCS National Championship game.

"It's not their fault."
"They deserve #1 as much as anyone."

Granted, it's unfair for Utah to go undefeated and have nothing but a perfect record to show for it. Still, the BCS IS about major schools, not cinderella stories. The BCS forbids it. That's their designs. If college football wanted cinderella, then there would a playoff system. There would be a way for non-BCS conferences to make the championship game; perfect records aren't enough. Utah going undefeated is a great story, but too many people question their conference before allowing them an overbearing reception that they should be considered the #1 team in the country. Ask yourself this, could they beat Oklahoma? Florida? Texas? Maybe. Maybe not. We'll never know. If Utah isn't the primary argument for a playoff system, then there's really no point in the argument itself. Then again, there's really no point anyway. Discussions about the playoffs are routinely blown off by the big dogs of the conferences, and there's not a thing to be done.

Alex Marvez says the two biggest draft needs for the Bengals are offensive tackle, and defensive end.

For all the reasons they listed, the Bengals should address the line, not whether or not they can pick up Chris "Beanie" Wells -- who I'm hesitant of picking up simply because of durability. I see little reason to believe he'll survive a 16-game season.

Dave composes his list of "Bengals on the Bubble", which includes Chris Perry.

Jeff Chadiha lists Houshmandzadeh among his ten scenarios where veteran players will be on the move.

WDR lobbies for an indoor practice facility (as part of their manifesto) like the one the Jets recently opened which convinced Brett Favre to join.

Coaches will be on notice that their seat is warming, with possible free agent coaches Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher possibly waiting for new gigs... which could, but unlikely, include Tony Dungy and Bill Parcells.

Vikings defensive coordinator is a candidate for the head coaching vacancy in Denver.

Even though he plays for the Steelers, I think James Harrison is a solid pick for Defensive Player of the Year.

The economy will affect the poker industry in 2009? Who knew?

Ten reasons the Gators will beat the Sooners Thursday.

Star Wars is perhaps the best trilogy of all time, and I have no problems saying that, fully aware that hot chicks think dork isn't yet... yet. So what happens when you take James Earl Jones' dialogue in Coming to America, and implant it in his scenes in Star Wars? Aha!

For those of you banking on the Bengals dumping Bob Bratkowski this off-season, turn away. Watch Jimmy Johnson chat during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl pre-game show; it'll be easier on you, even with his pink shirt and tie. The Bengals coaching staff was invited to fill the ranks for the North at the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on January 24, 2008 2009 at 8 P.M.

Several things to note here.

If the Bengals were going to make a coaching change, it would have happened by now. It's one thing to replace a position coach, but an offensive coordinator is typically a highly complicated system that requires months, upon months of development and integration. Coordinators need to understand their players, so that roles can be established, and the system worked around the talent of the players. Based on that alone, it should be clear that the Bengals are sticking with Bratkowski.

Secondly, you're not going to take your anyone from the coaching staff if you don't plan a change. What's the point of taking the coaches to the Senior Bowl, to scout the seniors in the game, if they're just going to be fired anyway? That, in itself, makes it additionally clear. Even Geoff Hobson points out the obvious that this "announcement confirms the Bengals plan little change to their coaching staff."

C Trent, who also has the press release, points out several players in the 2004 Senior Bowl, the last time the Bengals coaching staff was in the game, ended up being drafted by the team: Keiwan Ratliff, Madieu Williams, Greg Brooks, and Kyle Larson. Larson remains. Yea. Me too, fellas.

The game will be on NFL Network; which means barely anyone will get to watch it.

We want to make this abundantly clear, for any site, coach or player we rip into: we're not addressing the person, just services (barely) rendered, the actual opinion given, etc... We're not blindly going around marching to the drum of firing someone simply because we're the displeased mob with torches during Access Hollywood (two points if you know the reference). We believe that the system is flawed, that being unable to plug players into the system, using the "talent" excuse, is a severe disadvantage. It means that if God of the Golden Arms isn't playing, that the Bengals can shelve whatever hope remains. No offensive system should be based on a single player.

We know that our argument is very weak. There's nothing to back it up. We complain generally about the plays, but specifics aren't readily published. So it should be up to the Consortium of Bengals bloggers to document it all; to throw a pile of papers on the demons desk to say, "this is why."

As Mark Curnutte steps aside, Joe Reedy comes in. He's the newest primary for the Bengals blog on Cincinnati.com and the Bengals beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer. This works well for us, we figure. You know, you always screw up 2-3 checks dating "2009" when you slap yourself in the head ("I could have had a V8") because of the new year. So, just to make sure you knuckleheads don't hammer me for misplacing Mark Curnutte's name with Joe Reedy, I'm preempting your attack with the acknowledgment that not only might I screw up, but I will screw up. That said, we wish Joe Reedy good luck, thick skin and an unhealthy desire to feed us information like Audrey II's appetite (think Little Shop of Horrors... then take a bath).

So, our first link of the day comes from Mark Curnutte Joe Reedy, who caught Bill Cowher's prediction on NFL Today: The Bengals will make the playoffs in '09. If Cowher said it, it must be true, right? Then again, Cowher has always been a dick to Bengals fans, hasn't he?

Eugene Monroe?

Curious as to who picked Keith Rivers for Rookie Defensive Player of the Year? Jay Paris of the North County Times. Paris writes to Fan House: "I wish I had a good insightful reason for it. But it was just a mistake that I didn't realize until after the vote came out. When it came time to turn in the votes Monday, I was working on a Chargers playoff piece on Philip Rivers at the same time. I switched back to my early DROY watch list, which included Mayo and Rivers, and was going back and forth from the two screens."

Matt quotes a source from Pro Football Weekly that Chris Perry won't be back in 2009. I'm seriously wondering if that would make as happy as the Bengals replacing their offensive coordinator.

Good luck to Andrew Whitworth getting married this spring in California with KTVE's Melissa Clark.