Ships Don't Sink Until They're Out to Sea

I think it's a little crazy that there is already talk that Antonio Bryant is in jeopardy of being cut when he hasn't had one training camp practice yet.

All of this swirls around the comments that unnamed assistant coaches have told select media members that they are lukewarm on Bryant's performance in OTAs and other drills thus far. That led some to speculate that his knee was an ongoing issue, but Marvin Lewis has gone on record to say that is false and that Bryant is expected to be in on the field tomorrow when camp opens.

I get that bringing in Terrell Owens could indicate that the team is worried about Bryant, but I see it as more of a sign that Cincinnati wants to beef up its offensive talent and is doing so by bringing in veteran receivers. The reports have speculated that out of Bryant, Owens and Chad Ochocinco, one of these men will be disappointed with a lack of catches, but I'm not so sure about that. These people aren't teenagers—they are longtime professionals who should know what championship teams look like. Typically, when stars are forced to relinquish their own stats for the good of the team, it's an indicator that “the team” is a damned good one. Like Chad has already astutely pointed out in his Twitter feeds, Cedric Benson is the one who should benefit the most from all this receiver attention in Cincinnati.

Bryant has been very good on very bad teams. He has never been surrounded with the talent around him now. No one knows how that will translate into his own personal success, but to panic about him now is foolish. If by September, Bryant is still receiving negative attention, I will start to worry too, but for now, I just want to see him play and make up my own mind.

Mojokong—like sands of the hourglass....