I mentioned Brian Simmons in the Duffner thread and got to thinking about how underrated the guy is. Not only was he a very versatile defender (he played inside and out in both the 3-4 and 4-3 for us), he was a very quiet, AJ Green-like leader. Compare his Bengals career to Burficts:

Simmons: 121 games - 714 tackles - 23.0 sacks - 11 int's - 13 forced fumbles - 3 TD's - 39 passes defensed
Burfict: 75 games - 610 tackles - 8.5 sacks - 5 int's - 4 forced fumbles - 1 TD - 28 passes defensed

Burfict is more of a tackle machine, but Simmons was always a playmaker. He never got the Pro Bowl recognition, but our own fans seem to have forgotten the guy, or forgotten how good he was. For awhile, people considered him and Spikes as 1A and 1B as the best players on our defense.

The lack of appreciation for Simmons wasn't just isolated to fans though. The Bengals unceremoniously cut Simmons in 2007, just to save $2 million in cap space.

So who do you think is a guy who doesn't get the recognition he deserves? Be it from the fanbase or the team itself?

Apparently it was Andrew Whitworth, or he'd still be here right?

(03-04-2019, 09:15 PM)CarolinaBengalFanGuy Wrote: Apparently it was Andrew Whitworth, or he'd still be here right?

Huh?

He is the best tackle- nay- lineman in our history, after Munoz; I think at this point, we can all agree on that.

Wilkinson will always be underrated, because he went 1st overall; same with Justin Smith.

John Copeland is underrated in the same sense Geathers was; great run defenders, solid in the pass-rush game, but not spectacular.

Geathers just hung around a few too many seasons, so he's even more unliked.

And of course, Shake's and mine Favourite, Tony Mcgee.

Of All time I would say Rudi Johnson he wasn't flashy but he got the job done from 2003 to 2006.
Currently I would say a toss up between Dennard and Shawn Williams.

hmmm..under rated....

Carl Pickens.
when that list of great WRs comes out regarding the Bengals. I.see with justification
Chad
AJ
Issac
Collionsworth
TJ
Tim McGee
Chip.Meyers

but rarely is Pickens brought up.
simply put him and Blake were as lethal as any tandem in the AFC for 3 year run.
Blake had to put up.28 a game just to keep Cincy in the game
those defenses under Coslet could not create stands in the 2nd half of games
but back to Carl.
I remember 1 yr he had like 99 catches and 15 or 16 TDs.
he was uncoverable that year.

Dhani Jones

Andy Dalton.

(03-04-2019, 09:10 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I mentioned Brian Simmons in the Duffner thread and got to thinking about how underrated the guy is. Not only was he a very versatile defender (he played inside and out in both the 3-4 and 4-3 for us), he was a very quiet, AJ Green-like leader. Compare his Bengals career to Burficts:

Simmons: 121 games - 714 tackles - 23.0 sacks - 11 int's - 13 forced fumbles - 3 TD's - 39 passes defensed
Burfict: 75 games - 610 tackles - 8.5 sacks - 5 int's - 4 forced fumbles - 1 TD - 28 passes defensed

Burfict is more of a tackle machine, but Simmons was always a playmaker. He never got the Pro Bowl recognition, but our own fans seem to have forgotten the guy, or forgotten how good he was. For awhile, people considered him and Spikes as 1A and 1B as the best players on our defense.

The lack of appreciation for Simmons wasn't just isolated to fans though. The Bengals unceremoniously cut Simmons in 2007, just to save $2 million in cap space.

So who do you think is a guy who doesn't get the recognition he deserves? Be it from the fanbase or the team itself?

Ah.. Brian Simmons AKA The Silent Assassin

Spikes was more outspoken but Simmons came to play. 

In 2018? Shawn Williams

Every kicker who ever put on stripes and had even the slightest bit of success...

(03-05-2019, 01:33 AM)impactplaya Wrote: hmmm..under rated....

Carl Pickens.
when that list of great WRs comes out regarding the Bengals. I.see with justification
Chad
AJ
Issac
Collionsworth
TJ
Tim McGee
Chip.Meyers

but rarely is Pickens brought up.
simply put him and Blake were as lethal as any tandem in the AFC for 3 year run.
Blake had to put up.28 a game just to keep Cincy in the game
those defenses under Coslet could not create stands in the 2nd half of games
but back to Carl.
I remember 1 yr he had like 99 catches and 15 or 16 TDs.
he was uncoverable that year.

Good choice.....like Brian Simmons, he is largely forgotten due to playing on some mediocre to very bad teams.

(03-04-2019, 09:37 PM)Jakeypoo Wrote: Of All time I would say Rudi Johnson he wasn't flashy but he got the job done from 2003 to 2006.
Currently I would say a toss up between Dennard and Shawn Williams.

Rudi is a great one. He's often underrated because of that mid-2000's passing attack, but he did unseat Corey Dillon and put up 1300+ rushing yards and 12 TDs every season 2004-2006.

One I know I'm going to get flack for is Jermaine Gresham.
For everything he lacked, he averaged ~550 yards and 5 TDs a year while in Cincinnati.
While he wasn't as elite as Eifert, he remained far more durable and provided consistency at the TE position that we haven't seen since he left.

TE Dan Ross. He was a huge key to the Bengals offense in the early 1980's and at the time set a franchise record for receptions in a season in 1981. He had a huge performance in the Super Bowl that year with 11 receptions for 104 yards and 2 TD's. Two time All-Pro.

(03-05-2019, 11:03 AM)Fullrock Wrote: TE Dan Ross. He was a huge key to the Bengals offense in the early 1980's and at the time set a franchise record for receptions in a season in 1981. He had a huge performance in the Super Bowl that year with 11 receptions for 104 yards and 2 TD's. Two time All-Pro.

Ross, Holman and Trumpy are OVERRATED, if anything; I remember on the mothership, when I was new and fresh, I threw in Tony McGee's name (and the numbers back it up, not to mention he was thrown to by awful/mediocre QBs for his entire career) for best Bengals TE and everyone was creaming their pants over the above three names...

They were all (well, Trumpy not so much) the 3rd or fourth option for the team, so how can they be underrated, when their numbers fall inline with their role?

I agree with Simmons. I actually got a chance to meet him a few years back. Really great guy.

Pickens was one of my favorite players ever. GREAT receiver. Had he played on a big name team, he might have got some HOF consideration.

Those sky balls Blake threw to Pickens were pretty great.

(03-05-2019, 10:48 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Rudi is a great one. He's often underrated because of that mid-2000's passing attack, but he did unseat Corey Dillon and put up 1300+ rushing yards and 12 TDs every season 2004-2006.

I'm not sure about "unseating" Corey Dillon.  As I recall, CD left of his own free will, when Marvin announced that anyone that didn't want to be there was free to pursue other options.  However, Rudi did do a great job in place of CD.

If I remember correctly, Rudi was good for 3-4 years. Wasn't really much in the longevity department.

Dillon's career was mostly over at that point. He went on to win a SB with the Patriots which was great for him.

Tommy Casanova.....

(03-05-2019, 02:08 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Tommy Casanova.....

Rep to sled.

In 1977 Casanova made his 3rd Pro Bowl in 4 seasons.  He had been First Team All Pro the year before.  He was only 27.   In the prime years of a career on a possible Hall of Fame trajectory.  But he retired to become a doctor.

Casanova was a life long badass.

He is in the College Football Hall of Fame and in 2000 Walter Camp selected him to their All-Century college team.

He did not just become a doctor.  He became a respected specialist in eye surgery.

He then went on to get elected to the Louisiana State Senate.

(03-05-2019, 11:38 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Pickens was one of my favorite players ever. GREAT receiver. Had he played on a big name team, he might have got some HOF consideration.

Pickens was just an incredible athlete.

His sophomore season in college they moved him from WR to safety in the middle of the season.  He ended up leading the team in interceptions and winning the Defensive MVP in the Cotton Bowl.  And Tennessee was a top 5 team that year.

I think he still holds the Bengal record for longest PR (95 yds), and in college he scored tds on receptions, punt returns, kick returns and interception returns.

From 94-96 he averaged over 90 receptions per year racking up 3540 receiving yards and 40 td for the Bengals.