Cincinnati Bengals

What's new: The cheap Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys gave receiver Chad Ochocinco some relief by signing Antonio Bryant who should take some of the defensive pressure of No. 85.

Drafting talented receiver Jordan Shipley, if he lives up to potential, gives the Bengals depth at the position. The addition of tight end Jermaine Greshman and defensive end Carlos Dunlap will help too.

What's the same: The defense was the strength last season and it returns nearly intact in 2010. The Bengals have a solid defensive secondary led by two of the best corner tandems in the league - Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. wholesale Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys

Quarterback Carson Palmer returns. Running back Cedric Benson had a breakout season in 2009. His power runs should provide a great complement to the passing game if he stays healthy. The defense has a solid pass rusher in Antwan Odom and linemen Domato Peko and Robert Geathers are solid.

Artist's mural to shine in downtown Binghamton

BINGHAMTON -- Susan Jablon hopes what she's doing this weekend will be "a gift to my children's hometown" and a colorful addition to life in downtown Binghamton.

Starting Friday, the Vestal artist whose mosaic artwork has been featured on the television programs "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" and "Hell's Kitchen" will begin creating a mosaic mural by gluing more than 30,000 pieces of colored glass to a wall, which used to be part of a fountain, by the former Lincoln First bank building.

And she's issued an open invitation to the community to be involved in the process. Children who come to the site Saturday can put their own pieces into the mosaic, she said. People also can sign up in advance on Jablon's Facebook page.

The mosaic will be a "reflection of color, imagery and light" and symbolize the rekindling of interest in downtown, said Jablon, who owns Susan Jablon Mosaics, an online glass tile company.cheap Chris Long jersey

Planning for the mosaic began two years ago when Jablon was approached by the now-defunct Southern Tier Celebrates! to create a piece of public art in Binghamton. City officials picked the site, which is located across Court Street from Boscov's and River Read Books.

Jablon is financing the effort herself, with no tax money going into the project. She will be aided this weekend by her two children, both of whom are artists, and Chris Long, a mosaic artist who is volunteering his time. They plan to have one side of the wall done by the end of Sunday and decorate the other side of the wall over the summer.

The finished work will feature 400 different styles of mosaics in various sizes and textures, Jablon said. She hopes involving the community in the project will lessen the chance of any vandalism.

"We hope when people walk by, it will give them a moment of hope," she said.

August 10 looms large for Chris Johnson

Earlier tonight, MDS posted an item regarding Chris Johnson unintended homage to Sammy Hagar. 

If the 2009 Associated Press offensive player of the year truly intends to hold out when training camp opens, he'll face daily fines in excess of $16,000.  And on the same day that the newest version of the Madden franchise becomes available for purchase, Johnson's window for reporting to camp and gaining a year of credit toward free agency will close.

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, any player under contract must report at least 30 days before the first game of the regular season (Vikings-Saints, September 9 . . . enn, BEE, cee) in order to receive a year of credit toward free agency.  If he doesn't show by then, he'll be stuck at two years -- and if five years becomes the new threshold for unrestricted free agency, Chris Johnson won't be eligible to hit the market until March 2014 at the earliest.

Our guess?  Chris Johnson show up by August 10.  Still, the Titans would be wise to find a way to slide around some of the money he's due to earn later in the contract in order to placate him now.

Rick Snider: NFL won't lose 2011 to lockout

Forget losing 2011 NFL jerseys games to a lockout -- it's not happening.

Oh, the new labor agreement surely will be a late August 2011 deal, but the recent NFL Players Association's move to go after the NFL's $4 billion lockout war chest via TV revenues shows both sides are inching towards a new deal.

The NFL jerseys PA's complaint against NFL owners -- filed Wednesday before a special master overseeing the labor dispute -- claims the league negotiated alone with TV networks for money that would essentially carry them through a lost season. The NFL counters it's merely a loan that shouldn't be split. The NFL jerseys PA says it's entitled to a hefty share as part of its revenue sharing. The NFL says ...

Well, this is what judges and rich lawyers are paid to resolve. More importantly, the claim shows both sides are readying for a showdown when owners could literally lock out players from training facilities in March 2011. Such early sparring is a very good thing.

Neither side wants to miss a season. There are billions of dollars to be lost. Both sides are fighting now rather than traditional last-minute talks to avoid losing regular-season games.

The lockout will surely begin in March when it means very little. You think Albert Haynesworth will be banging on the weight room door? The only people who will really miss March workouts, April minicamps and May OTAs are new coaches desperate to teach players their system. Everybody else is on extended vacation. Most players will work out elsewhere.

The draft still happens. They can even have rookie minicamp because incoming players haven't signed contracts and are thus not part of the union lockout.

There will be plenty of posturing the whole time, but the public won't care until late July when training camps fail to open. That's when things get serious. For one month, both sides will try to leverage public opinion into the billion-dollar labor agreement.

The good part is they're starting the dance now. That's huge. It will save weeks when talks spill into late August and threaten the actual season. Nobody cares about preseason games, but miss regular-season openers and things get bloody.

Ultimately, the NFL jerseys and players association will agree in August 2011 to sacrifice only a couple preseason games that no one wants anyway. But that's only thanks to the legal maneuvers starting now.

 

Patriots cut Amon Gordon

The New England Patriots recently signed tight end Aaron Hernandez to a complicated deal that starts with a $200,000 signing bonus and a series of roster bonuses.

His official addition to the roster has led to the subtraction of veteran defensive tackle Amon Gordon.

The team announced that Gordon was released this morning.

Gordon was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL draft out of Stanford.

Gordon has played for the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.

He has recorded 29 career tackles and one forced fumble.

Carolina Panthers: Why John Fox Won't Be Around in 2011

Going into his ninth season as head coach of the Carolina Panthers John Fox still has a lot of work to do if he wants to surpass last season's 8-8 mark. Unfortunately looking at the voids the Panthers have at quarterback and wide receiver it appears unlikely that last season's mark will be improved on.

Fox did little during the off season to bolster either position for the upcoming season. Instead he drafted, acquired and released players who could potentially get the Panthers back on track for 2011 and 2012. While he attempted to make great strides towards steering the Panthers offense into a more balanced attack, he may have made those efforts a season to late.

Ultimately Fox has gone into a rebuilding mode at a time when Carolina needs to be in a win now mode for 2010. While his efforts have not gone unnoticed, they could lead to his release after this season concludes.

After the 2009 season speculation was rampant that Fox may be replaced. Talks of former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher replacing Fox were circulating and since the rumor mill has gone full steam ahead. Fox answered by using the 2010 draft as a foundation for the future, drafting two quarterbacks, three wide receivers, two defensive ends and three defensive backs. These were the four biggest voids hindering the Panthers in 2009.

Though talented, the recent draftees probably won't develop into a championship outfit this year. Fox looks to have built a team he will not be around to see prosper.

After evaluating the schedule for the upcoming season while looking at the experience and depth the Panthers have coming in, it is my belief that they will be looking at a 7-9 finish. That being said, it is also my belief the Panthers will be without Fox for the first time in nine years at the start of the 2011 campaign.

The NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league with a very short memory. Fox is lucky in that he is well liked by the brass in Carolina and has been able to retain his position for as long as he has. Had Fox been with a more fickle organization such as the New York Jets or Oakland Raiders, he probably would have been replaced in 2007 after the Panthers finished at or below .500 for the second straight year.

There will be those who say he is a great coach that led the Panthers to the 2003 Super Bowl and the 2005 NFC Championship game. To those people I offer this,In his eight years with the Panthers Fox has only finished above .500 three times.

Have faith Fox fans, he will coach again, just somewhere else.

While the perfect fit for Carolina still looks to be Bill Cowher we will have to wait to see who takes over the team that Fox built in 2011.

Panthers restricted free agents Davis signs 1-year tender after injury scare

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers restricted free agent linebacker Thomas Davis has signed his one-year, US$3.268 million tender hours after he appeared to tweak his surgically repaired right knee.

The starting outside linebacker had been participating in optional workouts this month under an injury waiver. He fell to the turf Tuesday while backpedalling and grabbed the same knee in which he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in November.

Davis walked off the field, but didn't return to the practice. A team spokesman says Davis was undergoing tests and they could know more Wednesday.

Starting cornerback Richard Marshall also signed his one-year, $1.759 million tender on Tuesday.

The Panthers made no attempt to ink either player to a long-term deal

Bengals Rank High in New Madden Game

If you're like me then you're a massive nerd and if you're a massive nerd then chances are, you like video games. Now, I can safely assume that if you're reading this, you're a Bengals fan, which makes you a football fan, and as a football fan and a nerd, you probably play football video games. When it comes to football video games, there's one that stands head and shoulders above all the rest. Madden.

I think all football nerds are in agreement that Madden is hands down the best football game around. No matter what team is your favorite, it's always fun to log on line and get slaughtered by some 14-year-old punk who, in all likelihood, won't kiss a girl until he's in his mid-30's. Well, 14-year-old, while you're practicing, I'm chilling with your mom..... BURN..... ahem.... sorry, I kinda got off on a tangent there but it's not cool to roll your extremely slow, pocket passing QB, out to the sidelines to throw across the field every play because it's basically cheating (you know who you are.... WHOdeyFAN13).

Anyway, the whole point of this long pointless post is to say that this years Madden (Madden '11) has been fairly kind to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Saints (overall rating 92) and the Colts (91) had their ratings fall off the 2010 game, but still hold the top spot. The real question … who is No. 3? That's the Ravens. Rounding out the top ten are the Jets, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, Patriots, Bengals and Chargers.

Top 10... not too shabby. I don't really understand how the Ravens are ranked third considering that the Bengals swept them last year but I guess the Bengals will just have to prove those geeks at Electronic Arts wrong again this year.

Bills Making OTA News With Brian Brohm On The First Team, Ed Wang's Injury And Marshawn Lynch's Absence

The Buffalo Bills are suddenly leading the headlines this offseason. Well, for a weekend at least.

Shortly after taking the job in Buffalo, coach Chan Gailey said he didn't know who the quarterback would be and it'd be a true competition. He's certainly being true to his word.

On Saturday, Brian Brohm took first team reps. Brohm, a former second round pick by the Packers, wasn't expected to be a contender for the starting job but with Gailey's quarterback expertise, he can't be counted out. Brohm was followed by Trent Edwards in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work.

The Bills are unlikely to name a starting quarterback until training camp.

In other news, Bills rookie offensive lineman Ed Wang went down with an injury. Early reports indicate it's a high ankle sprain, which would likely keep him out for the rest of OTAs but available for training camp. Gailey, speaking to the media, wasn't sure what the situation was.

"He did sustain an injury this morning," said Gailey. "We're getting the reports back from the doctor this afternoon we'll know a lot more. I'm hoping we haven't lost him for the season."

And for the final Bills update we turn to Marshawn Lynch.

Lynch has been at the Bills complex the last week lifting weights with his teammates. But he hasn't met Chan Gailey.

Seriously.

Gailey was asked: Is it strange that one of your running backs is in town and you two never meet? "I would think that is strange, yes," he said.

It's widely been rumored that Lynch would like a ticket out of Buffalo. Maybe this is his way of going about it.

SB Nation's Buffalo Rumblings has been busy covering all the news coming out of Orchard Park this week.

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NFL teams will need stars to bounce back

When the Washington Redskins spent big money on Albert Haynesworth, they expected big things. Instead, Haynesworth has been a huge disappointment.

He was nowhere close to being a dominant defensive tackle last season, and the Redskins finished 4-12. Now Haynesworth has miffed management, coaches and teammates by staying away from off-season workouts and refusing to embrace the Redskins' switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defence.

``I don't think Albert understands, or cares to understand, the role he could play in the Redskins' scheme,'' former Redskins quarterback and longtime TV analyst Joe Theismann said. ``He gets a ton of money to play football. I don't know where in his contract it says, `I will only play in a 4-3 defence.' I think everybody is questioning his commitment to the football team, and rightfully so.''

With a mandatory mini-camp (June 16-18) approaching, it's unclear whether Haynesworth will buy in or try to force his way out of Washington. But as off- season workouts continue, here's a look at Haynesworth and four other players who need to play more like stars than they did in 2009:

* Antonio Cromartie, CB, Jets. In 2007 with the San Diego Chargers, Cromartie had 10 interceptions and was one of the league's top corners. But his play hasn't approached that level since, and he can't hide in New York playing opposite Jets star Darrelle Revis.

Nobody picks on Revis, so Cromartie could be busier than a Manhattan traffic cop this season. If he is still an elite corner, Cromartie will have plenty of opportunities to make plays. If he isn't, he will be picked on.

* Jay Cutler, QB, Bears. In 2008 with the Broncos, he led the AFC in passing yards. In 2009 with Chicago, Cutler led the NFL in interceptions. Much of the Bears' immediate future hinges on Cutler playing like a franchise quarterback.

``If there's one guy that I'm curious about, he's the guy,'' Theismann said. ``Of all the 32 starting quarterbacks, this is the year Jay Cutler needs to move into an elite category, a consistent level of play, not the erratic level that we've seen.''

Cutler has become the project of new Bears coordinator Mike Martz. Though I remain skeptical about the Martz-Cutler marriage, Theismann believes it will work.

``I expect him (Cutler) to have a terrific year,'' Theismann said. ``Mike Martz is very demanding, but he's also a dynamic play-caller. I think the Bears will be a team that can challenge for the division title.''

* Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redskins. No matter where Haynesworth lines up in the 3-4, the Redskins would be foolish not to give him freedom to use his rare combination of power and agility. That is another reason Haynesworth should have attended mini-camps. If he had, he may have found a comfort zone in the new defence by now.

``I think you should buy in and see how it works before you reject something, '' ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley said. ``That's why you have OTAs and off-season workouts - to get a feel for changes. I think that's why you're hearing comments from some of his teammates, wishing he was working out with them. They just want him to give it a shot.''

Haynesworth has the talent to play well in any system, but he must also have the right mindset. Re-establishing himself as a dominant defensive player is the best way for Haynesworth to silence critics questioning his desire.

* Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants. After averaging five yards per carry in '07 and '08, Jacobs fell to just 3.7 yards per carry and 835 yards in 2009. Jacobs underwent off-season knee surgery and has vowed to be a 1,000-yard back again. The Giants need him to be. After leading the league in rushing in 2008, when they won the NFC East, they fell to 17th last season and failed to make the playoffs.

Because Jacobs turns 28 in July and has absorbed and delivered a lot of punishing hits, it's fair to wonder if his best days are already past. The Giants had myriad problems on both sides of the ball in 2009, but a return to star form by Jacobs would improve their chances of returning to the playoffs.

* Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals. From 2005 through 2007, Palmer was one of the league's most prolific quarterbacks, completing at least 320 passes and throwing for at least 3,800 yards and 26 touchdowns each season.

Palmer may never reach those numbers again because the Bengals are no longer a pass-happy team. But they need Palmer to play better than he did during last season's playoff loss to the Jets, when he missed open receivers several times.

Not that Palmer was solely at fault. With Revis all but making Chad Ochocinco disappear, the Jets made it painfully clear that the Bengals needed more weapons.

``If you're going to throw the football - and you have to at this level - you need receivers,'' Theismann said. ``Have they done enough to help Carson Palmer? I don't know. When you're a quarterback who feels he has to make up for inadequacies, you force yourself to do things that create problems.''

The Bengals drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham and acquired veteran wide receiver Antonio Bryant, hoping they can take some defensive attention away from Ochocinco. We know Palmer is good. But for the Bengals to win the AFC North again and advance in the playoffs, Palmer will have to be special.

Hoping to spark season-ticket sales, Cleveland Browns plan 'open house' on June 12

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns fans are being invited to slip into a stadium seat, check out the views and buy into the hope that the losing will finally stop.

Browns Stadium becomes an open house Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for a "select-a-seat" event. Fans can choose seats for full or partial season ticket packages for the 2010 season. The best available seats will be tagged.

Admission and parking, in the North Port Authority lot, are free. Fans should enter through BrownsTown on the north side of the stadium.

Of the stadium's 72,300 seats, the number of season tickets held slipped to about 55,000 last season from 60,000 the year before. When the Browns started 1-11 before winning their last four games in 2009, the team played under the threat of having home games blacked out on local television.

Still, said Jim Ross, the Browns' new senior vice president of business development, many fans are surprised to learn that season tickets are even available. The impression has been that the stadium is sold out, because when the Browns returned in 1999, it was.

Season tickets range from $32 to $85 per seat in the general seating area, and $126 to $280 on the club seat level. Season tickets also require the one-time purchase of a permanent seat license, which ranges from $250 to $1,500 per seat, based on location.

Three-game season ticket plans -- in which fans can choose menu-style from three different groupings of opponents -- and season tickets in the Dawg Pound don't require PSLs.

The Browns didn't raise season ticket prices this season, although whether to raise ticket prices for individual games is still being weighed, Ross said.

In 2009, the average NFL ticket cost $75, according to Team Marketing Report in Chicago, which tracks fan costs. The Browns had the NFL's second-lowest average ticket price ($54.65), next to Buffalo ($51.24).

Even with Fitz in fold, Cards may take the Hightower road

No Kurt Warner, no Anquan Boldin ... no point in focussing on a passing game right?

That seems to be the logic both Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells are using when they suggest their days of being the second and third options behind the yards-through-the-air philosophy that has dominated the Cardinals mindset the past few years are over.

And even with Larry Fitz-gerald still in the fold, not to mention an underrated Steve Breaston, it makes too much sense to argue against a run-dominant Cardinals offence this year.

Neither Matt Leinart nor newcomer Derek Anderson have shown much to suggest otherwise.

A pass-heavy offence makes even less sense when you take into account the arrival of Alan Faneca, a run-blocking one-man gang who the Cardinals picked up on the cheap from the New York Jets.

The question though is going to be which of these two backs becomes the featured back.

Wells, coming into his second year, would already appear to have the edge in that department.

While the limited carries last season were mostly evenly divided between the two, Wells did get the majority by a slim margin. Hightower's eight rushing touchdowns were one more than Wells.

Wells, though, is the player the Cardinals have the most invested in having used a first-round pick in the 2009 draft to get him. Hightower was selected the year before fifth overall.

And all indications point to Wells slowly but surely taking over.

In the final four games of the regular season, (not including the final game with nothing on the line and both the Cards and Packers refusing to tip their hand with a playoff date the following week) Wells carried the ball a total of 62 times to High-tower's 24. He outgained High-tower 285 yards to 89.

In the two playoff games with Warner airing it out at will, Hightower carried the mail 13 times to Wells' 19 carries, although a 70-yard TD romp by Hightower in the divisional final gave him a 106-98 edge in yards gained.

Hightower is without question the better pass-catcher out of the backfield so there's always going to be work for him, but expect to see a whole lot of Wells this year as the Ohio State product tries to make the 30 teams that passed on him in the draft regret that decision.

Mentor with a memory

Always liked tight end Alge Crumpler. He's tough, passionate about the game of football and always seemed to come up big for the Falcons when they needed him most. Now we have another reason.

Crumpler, who spent last season with the Titans before moving on to play with Tom Brady in New England this season, is apparently still offering his Tennessee understudy Jared Cook advice.

According to the Tennessean, Crumpler recently texted Cook telling him to find game film of former Falcons undersized tight end Reggie Kelly who Crumpler believed compared in size to Cook and could provide Cook with some blocking tips.

Fourth and inches

The Baltimore Ravens are bringing in Shayne Graham, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, to compete for their place-kicking job. Graham got bounced from Cincy when he missed chip shots of 28 and 35 yards in their playoff loss to the New York Jets. This despite making

23 of 28 for the season and owning the fourth-best field goal success rate in NFL history. He'll battle Billy Cundiff for the job ... It won't have any impact on his attempt to nail down the No. 2 receiver spot in Miami behind Brandon Marshall, but Davone Bess earned some karma points on his way to practice Tuesday. Bess was in the middle of a live radio interview while he drove to OTAs when he cut the host off saying he would have to call him back because he needed to call 911. Turns out a driver in front of Bess flipped his vehicle and Bess was sure he was in need of medical aid. The driver walked away from the crash and Bess phoned the radio station back to finish the interview ... If it matters to you, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Rothlisberger took part in Steelers OTAs on Tuesday.