Sunday, April 6, 1997 

Boomer feels at home
Brown won over Esiason with sincerity
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer


Bengals fans remember Boomer Esiason as the most confident guy on the team, the swashbuckling blond bomber. The team that went to the Super Bowl was his team.

But pro football has been tough at times to Esaison since he left Cincinnati in 1993. Last year in Phoenix, it was downright cruel.

So when looking for a new employer, he needed to hear certain things before he signed.

Bengals General Manager Mike Brown said them all in a half-hour meeting Friday.

''I left the meeting saying, 'This guy really likes me,''' Esiason said.

That more than anything led to Esiason's decision to sign a two-year deal Saturday worth $1.5 million to be Jeff Blake's backup. Esiason, who played here from 1984 to 1992, returns for his 14th season in the NFL.

Esiason fairly owned the town when he was here. He had - and has - the full package: Charisma, good looks, ability. He's a down-to-earth superstar. And he's a winner. The Bengals have not had a winning season since he was traded to the New York Jets.

But it took the talk with Brown to make him sure he wanted to return.

''Mike was just extremely respectful and honest,'' Esiason said. ''I always had a good relationship with Mike when I was here. After what happened last year in Arizona, I needed a dose of reality and respect. That's hard to come by in this league.''

Brown downplayed the chat.

''Boomer is saying nice things when he doesn't have to,'' Brown said. ''He knows us. We know him. We understand one another without saying much at all. We can just look at each other and understand.''

Brown making Esiason feeling wanted cinched the decision that was stacked in Cincinnati's favor anyway. The other factors:


Proximity to the Gunnar Esiason Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Center at Children's Hospital. Gunnar, Boomer's son, turns 6 today. He suffers from CF. Esiason spends more time raising money to fight the disease than he does on football.
Esiason's friendship with Bengals head coach Bruce Coslet.
Esiason still owns a home and a business here.
''Things happen for a reason,'' he said. ''We've been trying to sell our house here for a long time. But it didn't sell, so now we have a place to live.''
Esiason, who turns 36 on April 17, knows he returns to a different situation.

''When I was here, it was my team,'' he said. ''It's no longer my team. It's Jeff Blake's team. Jeff and I have gone through a role reversal. He supported me while I was playing, and I'll support him while he's playing.''

Blake was the No. 3 quarterback for the New York Jets while Esiason was the starter.

Coslet is sure to hear calls to play Esiason the first time Blake throws an interception. But he said Saturday, that barring injury, Blake is his man - no matter how much he struggles.

''Two or three years ago, I would have (pulled him),'' Coslet said. ''But guys on this team - Blake, Carl Pickens - deserve a chance to play through things. I've never been a quick hook. I learned that in high school basketball. You pull a guy for missing a free throw, and he never makes another one.

''Boomer gives us insurance.''

An expensive insurance policy, but one that Brown felt more of a necessity than in the past.

''We're at the point with this team where we should be in the playoffs,'' Brown said. ''We can't afford to lose one game because Jeff's out.''

Blake has been an extremely durable quarterback. His backup, Erik Wilhelm, has thrown 19 passes in the last four seasons.

''We've been rolling the dice with Jeff for a long time,'' Coslet said. ''The last couple of years, he's started more games than anyone in the AFC.''

Esiason was released by Phoenix on March 17 at his request.

''By that time, the other 29 teams had their starting quarterback,'' Esiason said.

''Arizona was probably my best shot to start. But I couldn't go back there. Unfortunately there are organizations where the bottom line is everything. I had people in the organization come up to me on the field during the last game and apologize to me.''

After the Cardinals released him, he didn't actively look for a club, and the only teams that called were Green Bay and the Bengals.

The Packers were offering less money, and Green Bay had never been home.

The most intriguing alternative was broadcasting. Esiason has worked for the USA Network in the offseason, and worked for ABC during last season's playoffs. He could earn considerably more in the booth.

''But the timing wasn't right,'' he said. ''The NFL contracts (with the networks) are up this year. I didn't want to sign with someone who might not have football next year.

''And I still have the desire to play. I love that feeling you get on Sundays. I'm not ready to give that up.''

http://bengals.enquirer.com/040697_beng.html

The New York Giants were already missing a starting CB (Prince Aukamara) and their starting safeties were a rookie second round pick and Jeremy Miles (yes, that same Jeremy Miles). The rookie starter (Landon Collins) was injured in the first quarter, and 3 other DBS did not finish the game due to injury (Mykkele Thompson, Trumaine McBride, Jayron Hosly).

The Giants O-line was not good at all last year and they had already lost starting LT Will Beaty to injury. So there starting OTs were a rookie (Ereck Flowers) and Marshall Newhouse (yes, that same Marshall Newhouse). So don't get too e

And, of course, there defense had also lost arguably its best player from last year (Jason Pierre Paul).

So despite all of the hype from the media, the fact is that we played a 6-10 team that has gotten much worse during the offseason. They have some big name stars on offense, but overall they are a pretty weak team.

And finally let me remind everyone that at this time last year many people were calling for a guy to be our #2 QB just because he threw up on the field and made a couple of plays against guys who wouldn't make a final roster. And now we can't even remember his name.

So don't get too excited about Denarius Moore, Greg Little, or any other receiver who had some success against the dregs of a DB unit that was not very strong to begin with. And don't get carried away with what DeShawn Williams, Marcus Hardison, or any other D-lineman who had soem success against the bottom of a weak OL corps.

Obviously it is better for a player to look good in a pre-season game instead of bad. So it is good news that these Bengals did well. I am not turning into a grumpy hater. I am just saying that we need to keep this performance in perspective.

Hob's JN article on Rex Burkhead is a good read. Wouldn't be something if he turns out to be our Wes Welker type player?

Last year's injuries really sucked, but it may have presented the Bengals (and Rex) the opportunity to see something they otherwise may have never known - that this guy has all the tools to play that role.

I know Rex Burkhead likes to be known as a running back but this could be the thing that extends his NFL career.

I see people just having him as the #2 QB....I guarantee you the coaches don't. He has never played in one snap of a preseason or regular season game since drafted in 2014. If he doesn't get healthy and play in preseason game 2, he has again missed too much time. There will be little time for the back-ups in preseason game 3. If McCarron can't go against Tampa, you really have to go with Johnson who has at least been in preseason games the last 2 years. .......I hope McCarron can play and do good, but it's kind of a time is running out on him again in 2015 situation.

Yes, it's early, but it's still fun.

Here are my thoughts at each position, ranked in order of most likely to make it

QB: Dalton, McCarron 
RB: Hill, Bernard, Burkhead, Peerman (Wilder & Watson to PS?)
WR: Green, Sanu, Jones, Tate, Alford, Little (I don't see Moore making it)
TE: Eifert, Hewitt, Kroft, Uzomah
OT: Whitworth, Smith, Winston, Fisher (Ogbuehi on PUP)
OG: Boling, Zeitler, Hopkins
C: Bodine, Johnson

DE: Johnson, Dunlap, Gilberry, Clarke
DT: Atkins, Peko, Thompson, Hardison, Sims (Williams has a shot here, think Still and Hunt are done)
LB: (Burfict on PUP), Maualuga, Lamur, Dawson, Hawk, Rey, Flowers (Nico just misses out. Carter is too small to play rush end and doesn't offer much at LB)
CB: Kirkpatrick, Jones, Dennard, Hall, Shaw, Hill
S: Nelson, Illoka, Williams, Smith (Keo looked poor)

ST: Huber, Nugent, Harris


Who do you have in your 53?

Ok, so I'll admit that I missed the game last night (saw about 3-4 different sets of highlights though), thus I can't really comment on things, but you can bet I won't miss another snap for the rest of the year!

Top 5 on O:

1. Little with a +3.1. That's my man; we all saw that wonderful catch and it indeed coincides with the camp reports. Still, it came against 2nd/3rd stringers so we must see this against the starters for it to count.

2. Eifert with a +1.5. As well, everyone was raving about him too; if he plays like he has yesterday, we're in for a great season from him.

3. O'Donnell with a +1.4. Only one hurry in 30 pass blocking snaps; he's as advertised every year; dominant against the scrubs. No room for him now though, sadly.

4. Terrell Watson with a +1.2. Good for Mr. Azusa Pacific. He's not making he team.

5. Kroft with +1.0. Not for his pass game work, his blocking rated highly +1.3. If he can be a solid blocker for us, we're set.

Top 3 on Giants:

1. Dallas Reynolds +1.8
2. Stanzi +1.6
3. Newhouse (ugh) +1.5

Bottom 5 on O:

Mark Weisman -1.0 (Hewitt's our man. All negative in run blocking)

Boling -1.2 (did he really do that poorly? Gave up the one hurry in 7 pass blocks. Not worried)

Keith Wenning -1.7 (that was a terrible decision to throw and it wasn't even close)

Bodine -2.6 (yup, no improvement thus far? Superb... :snark: )

Hawkinson -4.9 (Ugh, those numbers AND a horrid grade at LG? Definitely gone after camp)

Top 5 on D:

1. Troy Hill with +3.3. Everyone gave him kudos and the grade proves it. Can he make the team? Let's see throughout the preseason!

2. Josh Shaw with a +1.9. Everyone also gave him kudos. Now, he's basically guaranteed a spot, but could Hill take it from him?

3. CLH with a +1.8. And what about him? I think he's the odd-man out but the team likes experience.

4. PJ with a +1.4 Good to see the rook grading highly. Personally think he could have a chance to start by the end of the year.

5. Geno with a +1.2. 'Nuff said.

Top 3 for Giants:

1. Jay Bromley +3.4
2. Trevin Wade +3.1
3. Jonathan Hankins 2.4

Bottom 5 on D:

Dennard -1.3 (rest up, we need you)

Clarke -1.4 (not worried)

Shawn Williams -1.7 (not worried)

Yams -3.1 (not worried)

Still -3.1 (very worried)

On teams, Obarski  ll on K/Os but that miss... Shaw rated highly, along with Harris, Nico, Troy Hill.

So i've been reading over some threads today and one thing I keep seeing is people crapping on Marcus Hardison. I found this funny because all things considered I saw a ton of potential in the game. Now lets keep things in perspective that he's stepping in at right end because Michael Johnson was out and he was gassed because of nerves almost the entire game; this was specifically something he talked about after the game. That said both sacks were a direct result of his play. Even the williams sack was because of his drawing a double team. His sack looked great and the spin move was slick.

Having a high football IQ being a former quarterback plus his natural size is something that could develop into a real special talent. My hope is they kick him inside to backup peko and eventually replace him. What did you guys think of his first game and do you have high hopes or concerns?

Who dey!

Does he have a chance making the team?  I think there is something about him I really like..  I think he is a solid kicker...  Any Chance? 

I came away last night very impressed by Nico dropping back in the passing lanes. And also i liked his pop when he did hit someone. He needs to get off those blocks a little better but for a guy that gets injured a lot and now finally playing i kept saying who is this guy thoughts?

Thought from the NYG game:

Starters on both sides looked incredible

Center is an issue

The big white WR is not making the team

Phat Sims looks good. Personal favs aren’t going to push him

Still is still bad and Hardison didn’t look good at all

Shaw is a gamer

Hill (DB) is going to fight for a spot

Nobody looked good at PR/KR

Nugent is safe

Of course these are fluid. Post yours.