Sorry if this question has already been asked, but do we want Pittsburgh or Denver to win this week?

You might need to bear with me on this question :) !

I obviously know about the storied career and the Pro Bowl / All Pro selections etc. and he's always in the greatest ever type conversations so this may appear a strange thing to ask...but how ridiculously good was he and what was it about him that truly elevates him above the other recent greats I know more about (Walter Jones, Jon Ogden)?

The reason I am asking is that I've been looking at some of the videos posted online of old Bengals games and whilst there dominating blocks and athleticism on display (saw a great game he played .vs. Chicago in '89 who had Dent, Hampton and Singletary at the time) there have actually been more a bit more pressures/sacks given up then I was maybe expecting to see. Seen some old videos of games .vs. Bill, Jets, Seahawks and others mainly from 88 Super Bowl season and there are players like Kevin Fagan, Rufus Porter, Alex Gordon as well as all timers like Bruce Smith having some joy.

I'm absolutely not hating on an all time legend but would just love to hear some perspective from you folks who may have been able to appreciate him at the time or know a lot about OL play to be able to describe what made him the best.

I also recognise that some of this is probably having gone looking for someone called the best ever I'm maybe expecting perfection when reality is the other guys get paid too!

Been reading different threads and literally laughing out loud at the auto correct situation for McCarron, that being "macaroni".

So it's AJ macaroni from here on out right? Yeah, it's gotta be. Has a nice ring to it. AJ macaroni.

http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2015/12/15/10131622/cincinnati-bengals-adam-pac-man-jones-calls-out-pittsburgh-steelers-to-stfu

From Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com

It was after Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict told seven-year-old Braylen Snider to pick out anything he wanted and put it in the shopping cart and after they couldn’t find an iPad for six-year-old Brice at Toys-R-Us in Florence, Ky., when Bryan Snider realized just how special the night had been.

“I’ve seen the guys do stuff like this before, but they always had cameras with them,” Snider recalled on Tuesday. “Vontaze privately messaged my girlfriend. He could have put it on Twitter so that everyone knew. But it was just our family and his family. It was awesome.”

Twitter can be a cruel place. But not a few weeks ago, when Snider’s girlfriend tagged Bryan’s favorite Bengal in a tweet wanting to know how she could get her family involved in the Bengals’ various holiday shopping sprees for children.

It was going to be a tight Christmas. Snider works for the city of Covington, Ky., as a landscaper and his girlfriend can’t work because Brice has a brain disorder that put him in a wheelchair unable to walk or talk, or sit, or crawl while racked by 15 to 20 seizures a day.  In order to get Braylen’s big gift, a PlayStation 4, Bryan sold the hunting rife his own father gave him.

“You want to give your kids what they want,” is how Bryan explained every parent’s dream.

Burfict sent the private message back about a week later, saying he didn’t know how to hook the family up but that he would take them shopping himself. He got the Sniders’ info and soon Burfict’s girlfriend got in touch with Snider’s girlfriend and the date was set for Monday night.

“I was nervous. This is a pro football player that I watch on TV,” Snider said.

Burfict is more that to him. He’s his favorite.

“Because of his football knowledge, he’s so smart,” Snider said. “He’s everywhere around the ball. He’s not too over aggressive. He lets the play unfold. He just has that knowledge.”

When he showed up Burfict put everyone at ease with a few “What’s up? What’s up?” and the shop commenced with Braylen, a bit uncertain, trailed along by Brice and 18-month-old Brantlee.

“He just told him if you want it, put it in the cart,” Snider said.

Brice knew something was up with his dad pushing him and the big 6-2 guy smiling up ahead smiling and putting stuffed animals in the cart.

“He likes Daniel Tiger,” Dad said.

“What do you think Brice would like?” Burfict asked and this is kind of funny because it’s the second time they’ve met.

A few years ago at training camp, when Bryan was at work, Brice was in his wheelchair with his mom at practice and Burfict appeared, took off his gloves, signed them, and put them on Brice’s lap.

But on Monday night, Bryan mentioned an iPad. It’s the one way that Brice can communicate with his family with APPs that help him respond to yes and no questions. The one the Sniders had was so old that the screen was miniscule and the speakers were just about shot.

“We couldn’t find one,” Bryan Snider said. “So Vontaze gave me money to buy him an iPad. I couldn’t believe it.”

At the end of the night, there were three carts full and Bryan Snider’s favorite Bengal had come up with another big assist in the open field.

“He didn’t just help our Christmas,” he said, “he made our Christmas.”

per Dehner

Paul Dehner Jr. ‏@pauldehnerjr 39m39 minutes ago
Breaking: #Bengals expected to promote practice squad QB Keith Wenning to 53-man roster as backup to AJ McCarron.

This article gives six reasons as to why you can't count us out, even with Dalton's injury:

1. McCarron will likely improve.

This writer has done research that shows that backup quarterbacks perform better when they go into a game as a starter, rather than being thrust into action, which makes sense given that they'll have had time to prepare and will also be more mentally focused.

McCarron actually didn't play that bad, and did have a few costly mistakes, like the pick 6, but you have to believe that he'll improve.

The defenses he'll face are also a blessing, as the Ravens and 49ers are ranked in the 7 worst pass defenses, but Denver will be the big one that would be a big win and set us up for the bye.

2. McCarron has arguably the best offensive line in football

Self-explanatory, and although AJ got sacked and pressured, he should improve as he gets more comfortable in the pocket and with making calls.

3. McCarron should have a full complement of weapons.

AJ and Marvin lead one of the deepest and best receiving groups in football, and McCarron didn't have Eifert, who will provide another weapon, as well as a red zone threat (we only scored 10 points on three red zone possessions with AJ).

4. The Bengals should be able to move toward a more run-heavy approach.

We dominated with Hill in the run game last year but got away from it after Hill's fumbles early in the year.  Time to let the big dog eat again.

5. Cincinnati's defense can be good enough to win games on its own.


Pittsburgh scored 33 points, but 7 were on a pick 6 and 7 came from a drive starting at our 16 yard line, not to mention that our secondary was crippled with injuries.  That's not bad considering that the Steelers are 5th in offensive scoring this season.

6. Dalton may not be all that he appeared to be.


I don't agree with this one, but it says that Dalton's possibly a product of his weapons and that McCarron can do just as well.  Macaroni can succeed, I agree, but Dalton was having an MVP year because he was playing damn good and had improved by leaps and bounds.

Gives me hope that all is not lost and that we could still get the #2 seed!  Take us there, AJ!

87 touchdowns, only 10 interceptions.

Or maybe Dan Raudabaugh? Just 8 yards shy of 5000 yards last year. 119 touchdowns 12 interceptions. Both have a ~66% completion rate. Sure it is the Arena League, but don't forget that is where Kurt Warner came from.

Or go to the Canadian league, where Warren Moon once got his start. Bo Mitchell is 25, from Katy, Texas (I'm guessing he and Andy might even know each other?), threw for 4551 yards in 17 games, with 26 TDs and 13 INTs and a 65% completion rate this year.

Yeah, I know it is unlikely to happen or even result in some huge success story, but the idea that there are no intriguing possibilities for backup QB seems wrongheaded to me.

Roster addition to come.

While we don't have any update, his injury history (with stingers) is a cause for concern. With Dalton out and us playing with house money from here on out, should we hold him out until the playoffs?