Each hat and visor will feature an NFL team’s logo blazoned on the left panel. The team’s name will also be stitched onto the left corner of the hat/visor. The TaylorMade logo will appear in 3D embroidery on the front panel of the hat.

The hats will be available at retail at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $27.99.

The agent for linebacker Rashad Jeanty is angry at the Bengals for how his client was dealt with after being waived with an injury designation today when he failed his physical. Jeanty broke his fibula during the playoffs, but was informed by the team at the time that he didn’t require surgery to repair the damage. However, the Miami Dolphins subsequently told Jeanty during a visit that he needed major surgery to stabilize the ankle, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Ultimately, Jeanty had surgery and signed his restricted free agent tender with the Bengals. “It’s tremendously disappointing on the way this has been handled,” agent David Canter told the Enquirer. “We don’t see how the Cincinnati Bengals can do this without any inclination that this was even a possibility. It’s a tad shocking how he was released and was done in a disheartening, callous and unfair manner. The only reason why he isn’t healthy and wasn’t able to pass the physical is because they failed to fully diagnose and mistreated the injury.” Jeanty was expected to begin season on the physically unable to perform list or be placed on injured reserve but now he’s out of a job after winning the Ed Block Courage award two years ago. “Rashad is as flabbergasted as I am the way this was done,” Canter said. “To do this to him after the success he had with the team and throw someone on the trash heap like this is mind blowing.”

Antonio Bryant: What a stupid signing.

One NFL medical person — don’t want to be too specific — told me Sunday that the injury that is apparently plaguing fired Cincinnati wideout Antonio Bryant could be Chondral Defect of the knee. “If you’re not looking for it, you won’t find it,” this official said. “It’s a long-term knee problem that won’t go away.”

He goes on to lambast the club some more, even going so far as to assert that the Bengals were the only team interested in Bryant.

Unfortunately in this case, King isn’t just spewing his usual “I hate everything Bengal” drivel.  In this particular instance, he has a good point.  How on earth did the club’s medical staff clear Bryant?  How did it slip past the pro player personnel team?  How did it get past the coaches, who let Bryant suit up for the first practice of the season?  And why was the whole thing shrouded in more secrecy than a Politburo meeting with overly optimistic reports coming out of the club as late as Thursday?

The bottom line is the Bengals messed up on this one.  Terrell Owens, at 36, signed for roughly 4 million less than what Bryant got without playing a down, and T.O. has already brought more practices, more catches, and more buzz than A.B. ever could.  But then, the excitement stirred by Owens’ signing may end up paying for the Bryant mistake and then some.

And when the team needs a big time play during a Super Bowl run, odds are they’re better off looking to the new 81 than they ever would be looking at the original.

Purify signed with the Bengals before the 2008 season as an undrafted free agent from Nebraska. He has spent most of his time on the practice squad, appearing in only five games without catching a pass.

He was arrested following a scuffle at a northern Kentucky night spot in May, charged with a misdemeanour count of disorderly conduct. Purify is eligible to play in the final pre-season game at Indianapolis on Thursday. He will miss the season opener September 12th at New England.

Nelson will continue to rehabilitate his left knee after offseason surgery. Beginning with Week Seven of the regular season, the Bengals will have a three-week window in which Nelson may practice with the team, and by the end of that window Nelson must be added to the roster, placed on I.R. for the remainder of the season or released.

In a move that signals the end to perhaps the most disasterous and embarassing free agency mistake the team has ever made, WR Antonio Bryant was released today.

There was no injury settlement announced, nor any move to season-ending injured reserve.  The team has simply moved on. This seems to signal that the team has no confidence in Bryant’s ability to play anytime in the near future.

At least 5 million dollars were wasted, and frankly, team doctors, coaches and pro personnel scouts should be evaluated to determine how this could have happened.

At any rate, this opens another WR spot for one of the other receivers.  Assuming the team keeps six, Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, and Jordan Shipley are locks.  Andre  Caldwell is probably safe.  That leaves two spots for Quan Cosby, Jerome Simpson, Matt Jones, Dez Briscoe, and Maurice Purify.

At this point, my money’s on Quan Cosby and Dez Briscoe.

In other news, the team cut LS Mike Windt and put S Gibril Wilson on season-ending injured reserve. 

The roster is now down to 77.  The team needs to cut two more players by Tuesday to get to the 75-man limit.

Of course, the offense clicked so well while running the no-huddle attack, an old friend from the happy offensive years of 2005-2006, but the antithesis of the run-first, ball control offense Marvin Lewis seems to prefer.

–Personal input here–why not use the no huddle and go ahead an get up by 2 scores, then switch the grind-it-out stuff later?? Perhaps this is the plan?

Cedric Benson was solid, with 50 yards on 8 carriers, Jermaine Gresham got his first NFL touchdown, and both T.O. and Chad got some big catches, with Chad getting a 6 yard scoring toss.

The defense, depleted due to injuries, had difficulty containing rookie C.J. Spiller, who gashed them 52 yards and 2 scores.  This kid looks like he may very well be a superstar in the making for Buffalo, particularly in the way new coach Chan Gailey is using him.

12 penalties were committed by the men in stripes, a continuation of an extremely disturbing trend.  The 122 yards surrended in penalties included drive-killing holding penalties on offense, and drive extending mistakes on defense.  This area, above all others, must be corrected before the bullets start flying for real.

Quan Cosby continues to make big plays.  His 44-yard catch from Jordan Palmer proved that despite his short stature, he can stretch the field and contribute on offense.  He ended up leading all receivers with 82 yards on 4 catches. His fumble certainly didn’t help his chances, but at this point he looks like a far better option than Jerome Simpson, who continues to look out of control and confused. 

Jordan Palmer’s interception, returned for a touchdown by Buffalo’s aptly-named Reggie Corner, looked like a clear case of miscommunication  when Simpson ran an ‘in route’ with Palmer expected a dig.  Not sure who read the play wrong since I’m not a coach, but my money’s on Simpson.

JT O’Sullivan continues to look timid out there, but was better statistically than Palmer.  Neither one looks like a good option to me.  Of course, the back-up offensive line was atrocious, particularly the 3rd teamers.

Adam Jones had some outstanding kick returns, (averaging 38 yards per return) and an 11-yard punt return.

Speaking of Jones, he suffered a neck injury in the game along with fellow DB Brandon Ghee, who was taken off the field on a cart after a scary collision left him motionless for several minutes.  Early indications are both should be okay.

On the bright side defensively, the Michael Johnson experiment got another lift with Johnson sacking  Buffalo starter Trent Edwards in the first half.  Our favorite rookie, Geno “Taz” Atkins also got a sack, giving him 4.5 in 4 games.

Kicker Mike Nugent finally staked his claim to a roster spot with a 54 yard field goal in the first half.  He definitely seems to have a strong leg.  Dave Rayner also connected on his only FG attempt, from 34 yards out.

Overall, coach Marvin Lewis will have a lot of corrections to make, and the team absolutely must reduce the penalties in a hurry.  However, the starters looked good in limited snaps and the back-ups remained competitive against Buffalo’s starters.

As the final preseason game approaches Thursday against Indy, the team must focus on getting healthy and sorting out who will get the last few spots on the roster. 

We’ll provide more information and coverage on this game and the roster scrum in the coming days…

With that said, how much the starters play is an open question. 

One school of thought would be that they should treat the game as any other fourth preseason tilt, with the starters playing one or two series at most.  The coaches can then substitute back-ups freely to get adequate tape on every player on the team for final evaluations.  The team could do so again next week versus Indianapolis, allowing them twice as much evaluation tape than in other years.  Essentially they’d get two “last” games. 

The other school of thought would be to treat this game as a second “third” preseason game.  Under this scenario, the team could get the starters, particularly on offense, more snaps to hone their skills in preparation for the games that count.  

Keep in mind that this is Buffalo’s “third” preseason game, and therefore they’ll be playing their starters into the third quarter.  So it will all come down to whether Marvin Lewis would like to see how his starters or his back-ups perform against Buffalo’s first teamers. 

I look for Lewis to play the starters for the first quarter or so, then let the back-ups face Buffalo’s best for the second quarter to see how they match up.  

As for the Bills, new Head Coach Chan Gailey has inherited a team with some talent but with a lot of holes.  Former Bengal Ryan Fitzpatrick is currently backing up starter Trent Edwards who has been inconsistent so far in his career.  The team has high hopes for rookie RB C.J. Spiller, and second-year WR James Hardy.  Buffalo is unsettled at offensive line, so they’ll be interested to see how their starting five holds up against the Bengals’ aggressive front.  On defense, the Bills are searching for consistency and hope to see some positives from the front seven and the secondary against Cincinnati’s starters. 

It will be another homecoming for Terrell Owens, who gets to catch up with former teammates in Buffalo after doing so in previous weeks versus Dallas and Philadelphia.

From Cincinnati’s perspective, here are some things to look for in tonight’s game: 

• Continued Improvement by the First Offense:  After an abysmal showing in the Hall of Fame Game, the starting offense has steadily improved throughout the preseason, but they only have 2 touchdown drives in 10 attempts.  Better execution is needed, particularly in the passing game.  The offensive line has been guilty of some very costly penalties as well, and this will no doubt be an emphasis for improvement tonight.
• Some Domination by the First Defense:  The Bengals starters on defense haven’t been as impressive as the back-ups, with both Dallas and Denver shredding them for touchdown drives.  The D first-teamers did better against Philadelphia, but pass rush issues and penalties have plagued them so far.  Against Buffalo, last year’s number 4 defense needs to show they still have what it takes to shut people down. The first team will be without some guys with Roy Williams and Robert Geathers likely out.
• Back-up Tailback Battle:  Usually the Bengals carry 3 tailbacks and 1 fullback.  In that scenario, the likely combination would be Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott, and Brain Leonard at tailback, and either Joe Tronzo or Fui Vakapuna at fullback.  However, the team will sometimes carry 4 tailbacks, as they did last year when they brought in Larry Johnson.  If they keep 4, then a battle is brewing between James Johnson and Cedric Peerman.  Johnson, the former Kansas State star, has speed and elusiveness in the open field.  Peerman is more of a workhorse back.  The former Virginia Cavalier had two touchdowns last week against Philadelphia in his first extensive action.  Right now this battle is a toss-up.
• Punt Return Battle Royale:  This scrum seems to get tighter and tighter with each passing week.  WR Jordan Shipley, DB Adam Jones, and WR Quan Cosby have all had impressive returns.  Will someone separate tonight?
• Michael Johnson and Geno Atkins:  These two young defenders appear to be ready to crack the starting line-up.  Johnson has made a successful transition to linebacker so far and has added an extra dimension to the pass rush.  Atkins, though small for a defensive tackle at only 6-0 and 290, has shown quickness and agility and has a very impressive 3.5 sacks in 3 preseason games.  Keep an eye on these guys tonight.
• Jermaine Gresham:  The team will be sure to work the first-round TE into the offense more this week.  Offensive Coordinator Bob Bratkowski is counting on Gresham to give Carson Palmer an option in the middle of the field.  Gresham looked good last week against the Eagles and will get more looks tonight.
• Wide Receiver Battle:  Batman and Robin are the starters. Antonio Bryant’s status remains conspicuously in the air (that elephant in the room). Jordan Shipley looks like a lock. At most, that’s four receivers, and frankly maybe three.  So who makes this team after that?  Quan Cosby is making it almost impossible for the team to let him go.  Andre Caldwell is nursing injuries but has been a contributor in the past.  Matt Jones is a former number one pick who’s been productive in the league, and Jerome Simpson is working to fulfill the promise of being a 2008 second-round pick. It will be interesting to see how they do tonight.
• Who’s the back-up QB?:  J.T. O’Sullivan has been hot and cold (mainly cold) in his preseason work so far.  Carson’s baby brother Jordan looks the part but hasn’t put it all together yet.  Neither inspire confidence.  The team needs to see some productivity for these guys, and fast.
• Kicker Battle:  Dave Rayner holds a clear lead in this contest, with Mike Nugent’s untimely injuries hurting his cause.  Tonight we may see more from the former Ohio State Buckeye on both field goals and kick-offs. 

Seeing the Bengal back-ups versus Buffalo’s starters will be a good litmus test for the depth of this team.  If the Bengals are to be Super Bowl contenders, they’ll need to have the depth to make it happen.  

Getting some questions answered in the kicking game and at wide receiver will also be a priority for the coaching staff, along with some better discipline and a reduction in penalties. 

Enjoy the game everybody!

Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens flash their winning smiles for the masses, as throngs of media members and adoring fans swarm them to and froe. Their enormous talent and undeniable charm seems to disarm even the crankiest football purists and old schoolers. It seems no one can keep from joining in on the fawning. 

There’s no denying that adding T.O. to this team has been an absolute boon to the Bengals.  It has given the franchise its first major star free agent signing in its history, giving them instant credibility as a legitimate super bowl contender and freshly minted national respect and exposure. 

Indeed, Batman and Robin have taken over the Queen City. 

But while the carnival continues, Coach Marvin Lewis and the local media have thus far largely ignored the elephant in the room. Perhaps mesmerized by the glitz and glamour of our celebrity receivers, another one who was meant to be a super hero in his own right has continued to fly very conspicuously under the radar. 

It may be difficult to remember, but wide receiver Antonio Bryant was the team’s marquee free agent acquisition this spring. The fact is they chose to sign Bryant over Owens back in March. Since then, the team has brought in the mercurial Owens and Bryant has practiced only once. 

For weeks now we’ve been left to speculate and allow the rumor machine to develop a gamut of possible scenarios.  They’ve ranged everywhere from him practicing in the coming days to him being cut, to his career being over.  All the while, Lewis has been mum—even defiant—in a complete avoidance of the issue. 

Getting any kind of information from Coach Lew is notoriously difficult, even during the best of times.  His “between me and my team” approach surely wins loyalty within the organization, but breeds frustration and contempt outside.  With cut-down days approaching, fans and league observers alike need to know what the real story is with the man they call “A.B.” 

Lewis must peel back his striped iron curtain long enough to allow us to know what’s going on.  The most he offered recently was, “He had a good day.” As for the man himself, Bryant has said he’s “really close” and plans to be ready for the opener.

The Politburo would be proud. 

Perhaps the cloak-and-dagger routine is meant to protect reputations and super bowl dreams, or perhaps it’s meant to hide embarrassing truths.  Did team doctors pass Bryant properly during his physical?  Was his knee fully examined?  Did Bryant do enough rehab in the offseason, and if not, who was responsible on the organization’s side?  How on earth could a team invest 28 million dollars in a player in questionable health? 

For now, these questions meet with the sounds of crickets chirping. 

Nonetheless, the answers will come soon enough.  Teams must cut rosters down to 75 on Tuesday, and to 53 the following week.  It’s only a matter of time, and it’s running out on Bryant.  AB gets 3 million dollars if he’s on the opening day roster, and meanwhile there are talented and healthy receivers grinding every day for his spot.  

With a healthy AB, the circus has three rings. And so could the Bengals in a few years. 

Without him, the water gets muddy, and players like Quan Cosby, Jerome Simpson, and Andre Caldwell must step up. With the most talented roster in years, the threat of a labor dispute in 2011 and a small window for NFL glory, the team must handle this situation right. And we deserve to know the truth. 

So if Bryant cannot perform this year, put him on injured reserve.  If his knee is shot, move on.  If he’s actually close to practicing, for God’s sake let us know! 

While Batman and Robin play the pied piper, leading the lemmings away, can someone please demand answers from Two-Face and the Riddler?

Chad Ochocinco continues to expand his market reach by debuting the newest part of his budding conglomerate:   “Ochocincos” breakfast cereal.

Yes, you read that right.  He’s got a cereal.  Here’s an image of the box, and the full story from WLWT.

No word yet on whether they stay crunchy in milk, or if Mikey likes it. 

Cincinnati and Dayton area folks can pick up a box for 3 bucks at local Kroger stores starting on September 7th.  For those of you living outside the area yet still yearning for a bowl of Honey Nut Knucklehead, you can go to plbsports.com.

It’s just another story in what’s  been a busy year for Chad, with two reality shows,  a music video and numerous celebrity appearances, not to mention the millions of minions following him on twitter, facebook, and ustream.

The good news is proceeds will help a worthy cause:  Feed The Children. Kind of reminds me of Doug Flutie’s “Flutie Flakes” sold in the Buffalo area years ago to help fight Autism.

I suppose we should be on the lookout for “T-O’s” next…wait…that already happened.

Ever the humorless stick-in-the-mud, Coach Marvin Lewis had this to say about the diva part of this complete breakfast:

“No, it won’t be on the Bengals training table. You can quote me on that one.”

Then again, maybe Coach Lew is on to something.  Turns out the cereal is made by a Pittsburgh-based company.  Hmmm….