Cherry

The Palmer-Johnson era is much more inconsistent. While they did put up solid stats and act as a good pair, the rest of the team wasn't as developed as they are now. Back then, Chad and Palmer carried the team to the playoffs, with Houshmandzadeh playing a role in it too. However, the defense wasn't anything close to what it is now. The Bengals are a much improved team that has the ability to start surpassing Baltimore. This year could be a transition year, or it could be another year of Pittsburgh and Baltimore holding onto what they have and trying to keep the team building while staying at a top team level. If you look at Chad Johnson when he was one of the top receivers, it's pretty obvious he had more help. Palmer could get the deep ball, if needed, something that Dalton can't do as good. According to ESPN stats, in his first two years, Chad Johnson caught 97 passes (What AJ Green caught last year alone) for 6 TDs and 1,493 yards (Green caught worth 1,350 yards just last year and had 11 touchdowns.) Green, while having a slightly more productive QB in Andy Dalton (Johnson had Kitna for his first 3 years.) he is a much better receiver with less help, and a less productive QB (Referring to 05-06 Palmer). Johnson hovered roughly around 90 receptions a year from 2003-2007, catching an average of 1,374 yards. Green is just two years in the NFL, has an average of 1203.5 yards a year. While this isn't the biggest collection of data, and Green is going up from here, I think Green holds the advantage. In the first two years with a QB of solid ability, AKA:Kitna to Palmer, Johnson caught 90 and 95 passes in 2003 and 2004. In 2003 he caught 10 touchdowns, and in 2004 he caught 9 touchdowns. Those years he managed 1,355 yards, and 1,274 yards. He experienced both a rookie QB, and being thrown to by a quarterback who played just average (Kitna managed 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Similar to what Dalton did last year getting 27 and 16. Also, they both had 87.4 ratings, and 62.3 completion percentage. A nearly exact statistical year.) In terms of help, not including help from the #2 wide receiver, Green's complimenting receivers had roughly 65 catches (Less if you include the times they weren't playing across from Green.) In 2007, a year where Palmer had a close QB rating to Dalton, 86.7 compared to 87.4, Houshmandzadeh had 112 catches. He was targeted 169 times. Don't think it was too much because of Johnson being irrelevant. He was targeted 161 times, 3 times less than Green was last year. Green's sidekicks were targeted 106 times. A 63 passes difference. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that Green is already at Johnson's level, and surpassing him. As the offense improves, so will Green. When it comes to Dalton and Palmer, I know practically everyone would take 05-06 Palmer over current Dalton. The reason why I wouldn't is because we know what happens to Palmer. He drops off severely. In those two years Palmer is 60 and 25 in TD-INT, 7,871 in passing yards, and had a completion percentage of 65.05% While that is an incredible number, you have to look at his rookie year, just like you look at Dalton's. In his rookie year, Palmer went 18-18 in TD-INT, had 2,897 yards, with a 60.9% completion percentage. Now considering that Palmer did miss 3 games, you have to account for those three games statistically, as Dalton started all his games in rookie year. Palmer would have ended up roughly 22-22, with 3,565 yards, and a close completion percentage(barring something wild.) Dalton in his first year threw for 20-13 TD-INT, getting 3,398 yards, and a 58.1% completion percentage. Palmer in his first two years 50-30 TD-INT, 6,733 yards, and a completion percentage of 64.35% Dalton however, produced 47-29 TD-INT, 7,067 yards, and a 60.2% completion percentage. Pretty similar, huh? Now if Palmer had played those three games at the end of his rookie season? 54-34, 7,401 yards, and a similar completion percentage. From here though? We know what happens to Palmer. We don't know what happens to Dalton. An improved offense that rivals that of Palmer's, possibly better. A better defense. Dalton is like Palmer in his first two years, but we know that Palmer declines. That's why Dalton is the better choice in the end. He might not make the plays that Palmer would make, or be able to put as many points up, but he can lead the team and have solid games without making as many mistakes. Palmer has been in the spot to win playoff games before, and he has failed. Dalton has done the same thing, but he still has a lot of time left, and is still progressing. Yeah, it's a make or break year, but I believe in Dalton. Bengals also have a much better running attack now than they did back in the Palmer era. Statistically speaking, if we can win the division back then, we can win it now.

So losing a guy who has been the biggest voice on the team since it came into the league doesn't have an effect on the team? I just don't see any player stepping into Ray's shoes to take over as the true leader of the team. Maybe a year or so from now someone will come even close to filling his shoes, but it won't happen over the summer. The Bengals time for 8 years? When did I claim that? Johnson wasnt even close to what Green is, and I'd take Dalton over Palmer any day. Our defense is much improved, and arguably top 5. Our offense is better with our new weapons in Bernard and Eifert. The biggest question mark on our team is Andy Dalton, but I think he'll start to blossom this year. Do you think Flacco is gonna make a repeat performance of what he did in the super bowl? Boldin is gone. Do you think with an arsenal that limited he can drag the team to another ring, or even to the top spot in the division? While the team definitely has talent, I don't think that they have more than the Bengals do, as of now. I'd love to be proven wrong though. I'm pretty sure it's time for Baltimore and Pittsburgh to pass the torch.

Sell, I don't think McCoy is the rusher that everyone puts him out to be, and the rest of the league has solid running backs. I can see top 10 though. Buy or sell: Seahawks or 49ers win Super Bowl?

1.Richard Sherman (While Revis is proven much moe than Sherman, I can't see Sherman losing any momentum. It's his spot to lose.) 2.Charles Tillman (He is extremely underrated. I constantly see him getting picks, and making plays.) 3.Darrelle Revis (Only reason I don't have him higher is his injury. He is going to have to turn a lot on that knee, and that is what worries me.) 4.Brandon Flowers (Underrated. He has the great overall skill set of a corner. He may not be the best, but he is definitely good.) 5.Johnathan Joseph (He is rated as one of the top 3 cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus. He has the ability to shadow a receiver all game long. He isn't a pick machine, but that's because he doesn't have the ball thrown to his side much.) 6.Joe Haden (Time and time again I see the receivers in the AFC North get blanketed by Haden. He has great coverage ability, despite not being a true physical corner.) 7.Brandon Carr (Not much to say. He has hovered here for a while. He lost a little bit of love after transitioning to Dallas.) 8.Leon Hall (Severely severely underrated. Hall doesn't get a lot of turnovers but that's because not many quarterbacks test him. He shows up when most needed, despite below average tackling ability.) 9.Ladarius Webb (Just an all around above average player. He has the tools to get better, but for now he is stuck in this bottom rung of the Top 10.) 10.Patrick Peterson (He isn't the best corner, but his playmaking abilities sure as hell make up for it. When he isn't playing corner he is returning punts for TDs. Gotta love a playmaker.)

Not trying to fuel the wagon for the Bengals hype, but I think the Bengals can do it this year. Our biggest issue last year was Dalton making plays. While I don't think he is the best playmaker, and he has a tendency to overthrow Green, I think he needs more playmakers and options to be able to be comfortable in big spots. If a team puts triple coverage on Green and Dalton can't find Gresham, it's almost a guaranteed bomb to Green. You can't force a QB into that. Look at all the successful QBs out there. Rodgers had Jennings, Nelson, Finley, Jones, and Cobb. Brady had Welker, Gronk, Hernandez, and Lloyd. Manning had Dreesen, Tamme, Decker, and Thomas. While those aren't top of the food chain like Green, they are good at spreading out the game and opening it up for a quarterback. Look at Cutler trying to force feed the ball to Marshall. Look at Stafford trying to send 300 passes a year at Calvin Johnson. When you only have one receiving threat, it clogs up the pass attack. While Gresham is a solid TE, he isn't a big option. Sanu proved good, until injuring his foot. Hawkins is a big x-factor but he can get bottled up once teams expect him. The Bengals adding Eifert and Bernard really lined up the offense for success. Now a top 10 offense mixed with a top 5 defense? I think we can go a good way this year. The Steelers, while hurting pretty bad last year, aren't gonna be able to do much better. You lost a big playmaker on the offensive side with Wallace, lost Mendenhall, who provided a front runner in a trio of backs. Harrison is now with the Bengals(Oh the irony.) Keenan Allen is gone, who was one of the few cornerbacks you could rely on. The defense is old and rusty. The offense is lacking playmakers. I can see 8-8 tops. Browns are still building. The defense is solid all around but struggles too much due to constantly being out on the field. The offense is the big issue. The line is very solid, one of the best, in my opinion, but the quarterback spot is just non-existing. Weeden vs. Campbell isn't a very good battle to be having for the quarterback spot. Richardson will have the ability to pass 1,200 yards if he can stay healthy and fight through the boxes that'll be set up on him. Josh Gordon is a prospering young receiver and I see him as a bright spot in a receiving corps full of dying hope. Ravens aren't half the team they were last year. They lost Lewis, Reed, and Boldin.(They lost Pollard too but it isn't as big.) There isn't much high morale in a locker room that loses it's key leaders. Flacco is going to have to step up, or the entire team will fall apart. While the Dumervil situation shouldn't have happened, it did, and I hope Baltimore is greatful for him. He is the only true bright spot of the offseason. They are going to be starting a rookie safety, possibly a free agent signing across from the rookie. They lost Ellerbe and Kruger, roleplayers who were set to take up place. McClain just retired so any hope for a good linebacker corps has died. Arthur Brown could step in and fill up Lewis in a physical hole, but the mental hole is still gonna be there. Flacco is the future of this team, and let's hope the team made the right choice by investing so much in him.

Sell. Campbell is gonna get a shot at least one of the weeks. Buy/Sell: Bengals win the AFC North