Free Agency Day 1: Good Times

So far, so good.

It was relieving to see Stacy Andrews join his brother, Shawn, in the City of Brotherly Love, mostly because that means the Bengals no longer will feel pressured to turn this ‘project’ into a player. Another potentially happy side-effect could be that Stacy can assist with Shawn’s bouts of depression which kept him out of training camp last season. If so, Stacy may become known as Zoloft Andrews.

The Eagles must think that Stacy still hasn’t reached his potential and that it will all just click one day. The Bengals proved that making him a starter and paying him starter’s money is a mistake, but with Philly’s former tackle Jon Runyan ruined by injury, the Eagles had to make a move like this. Good riddance.

Ryan Fitzpatrick found himself a cozy spot in Buffalo backing up second-rate starter, Trent Edwards. Fitzy may crack that starting spot by Week 4 after Edwards has thrown eight interceptions; he may even dazzle Bills fans in preseason games by scrambling for big chunks of yardage against fourth-string defenses, and, in turn, demand consideration to start Week 1. I stand by the opinion that Fitzpatrick was not main problem with our offense last season; the offensive line was. Even with an average running game – which, in Buffalo is in limbo after Bills Pro-Bowler, Marshawn Lynch, was recently arrested on felonious weapons charges – Fitzpatrick would be far more productive as a “game manager”. Good luck.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer got his wish by resigning safety Chris Crocker. Zimmer coached Crocker in Atlanta, and used him well once he landed in Paul Brown Stadium following his release from the Dolphins.

“I'm still shocked Miami cut me,” Crocker told Cincinnati media yesterday.

Crocker will likely start at the free safety spot next year, relegating Marvin White as a backup. It doesn’t hurt having depth in the secondary and, as a backup, White will be relied on more on special teams; a logical role for a natural hitter with speed. Good thinking.

The most surprising news from yesterday was that running back Derrick Ward is scheduled to visit Cincinnati over the weekend. Ward averaged a gaudy 5.6 yards per carry last year on the best running team in the NFL: the Giants. He was able to rack up over 1,000 yards even having to share the load with both Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Ward will likely cost around the $6 million a year mark, and is 29 years old – not that young by NFL running back standards. We also don’t know how effective he can be running behind a rebuilding, and often times, struggling offensive line like that of the Bengals. In theory, he would be an upgrade from Cedric Benson, but I urge fans to curb their enthusiasm of Ward until we can see it work for ourselves. Good clinical practice.

Not as surprising is that Cedric Benson has not appeared to have garnered much attention from the rest of the league. I’ve read nothing of interested teams, nothing of scheduled visits. Other fairly average running backs have already signed with new teams (Maurice Morris to the Lions, Correll Buckhalter to the Broncos). Face it, Ced, the NFL just isn’t that into you. If Ward does end up signing with the Bengals, Benson may end up back in Texas, unemployed. Good grief.

Housh is out and about, shopping himself around and conducting what seems like thousands of interviews. Carson has lobbied for him to stay and it seemed to have some impact on T.J., prompting the Bengals to offer him a contract, but it wasn’t enough to lock him up and now he’s gone astray. I certainly hope he finds what’s best for him, because, perhaps more than any other player in the NFL, T.J. has paid his dues and deserves the big check that’s coming to him. Good effort.

Mojokong – good night.