It's time for another installment of "sink or swim." You've got tough predicaments; I've got easy, although not always heartwarming solutions. Today's agenda or feature is one we probably should've squared away several weeks ago. Instead it's hovered over many and lingered like a bad odor. And it's of little shame to call the Cincinnati Bengals offense stale odor... right? Yup, it's getting late very early this year for a few choice draft selections. Did that make sense? Point being, you probably snagged or targeted a few players from the Bengals "high-flying" offense expecting the same old results. Check; through six weeks the offense is hardly flying or getting off the ground for that matter. And those expected results, well – that's leaving you mighty discouraged or stressed.
However, stop the panic. I'm here to give you a compass, a guide as to which Bengals you can stash and the ones you can sink or cut loose. Better late than never, let's roll...
Carson Palmer: Tommy. John. Those words never sound good when you're an athlete that relies on your arm. Um, a word of encouragement from his top two receivers has been to shut it down for the season. Ah yes, it must just be the most pleasant of times in Cincinnati this year for Carson Palmer. Problem is, you selected him to be your QB with the expectations that he'd be a top-five QB. Well, I hate to break it to you buddy – that ship has sailed. Not only has Palmer been atrocious, his team is a disaster, he's walking around with a gimpy elbow and a look that says "I hate life" on his face. Verdict: Sink, Sink, Sink. And sink again for safe measure.
Chris Perry: Remember how you thought you were clever on draft day when you nabbed Perry in the later rounds, while somebody else snagged Rudi Johnson earlier? Yup, you patted yourself on the back and said "I've got the real feature RB in Cincinnati's offense." Well, as they say – the joke is on you pal. Chris Perry has been a ba-ba-ba-BUST!! He can't hold onto the football to save his life and now the Bengals have brought in Cedric Benson. Um, I'd say this calls for the sinker. Yup, get rid of Perry, there's nothing to be had.
Cedric Benson: We've got an undetermined body of work here. If you have the roster space, just hold with a loose grip for a few weeks. Do you really think the Bengals running game is gonna flourish eventually? Hmm, I'm saying no chance, but you'd hate to watch this guy help out somebody else's team down the stretch.
Kenny Watson: Save for later use. See Benson, Cedric.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh: I know times are tough and now you've got Ryan Fitzpatrick or is it Patrick Fitzryan throwing him the ball. However, you simply can't bail out on a guy you were greatly dependent upon. Besides, you've gotta feel Housh has a few big games left in him at some point in the season. As much as I hate (and I mean loathe) his matchup this weekend against the Steelers, he does always bring it when he plays Pittsburgh. Just saying. Play the matchups, but you can't shed the weight of Housh, unless you play in a four-man league.
Chad Ocho Cinco: Really tough call, seriously. He's a dud any way you look at it and his season total is just horrible. He's failed to go over 60 yards once this season. He has 19 catches on the year. Brandon Marshall had 18 catches in one game. Oh boy, what do you do? Well, the way I see it Johnson is still good for at least one monster game this season. It always happens and it will probably happen while he's on your bench, because you can't seriously still be starting this guy. And so, with that logic – I say "sink." Yup, you can't hold out much longer and he's just way too pedestrian to trust. I know it hurts, but it's the only way.
