Adios AJ

The most popular backup quarterback in Cincinnati Bengals history is now an unrestricted free agent. AJ McCarron won his grievance against the Bengals and can now sign with any NFL team the he chooses. It is a big win for McCarron as he now has a shot to prove that he has what it takes to be a legitimate starting quarterback in the National Football League.

As for the Bengals, losing McCarron is a costly loss for the franchise as they will get nothing but a compensatory pick when McCarron signs with another team. Considering that the Bengals were on the verge of completing a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the Browns’ second and third round draft picks, only getting one compensatory pick is a big time downgrade in terms of McCarron’s return value. Had the Browns been able to complete the trade on their end, we would be talking about how the Bengals essentially stole two picks from the Browns. Instead we are left to wonder what could have been if the trade had been finalized.

Speaking of what could have been, Who Dey Nation will be left to wonder what could have been should McCarron have been named the starting quarterback over Andy Dalton. I am not bashing on Dalton. I am a Dalton fan and think he is a good quarterback. I’m not saying he is elite, but when it comes to current day NFL teams, there are a number of franchises that would love to have Dalton throwing the ball. However, McCarron is a proven winner. Just check out film from his days with the Alabama Crimson Tide. When Dalton broke his thumb in 2015, McCarron stepped in and played well enough to not only help the team win a few games to close out the regular season, but he almost guided the Bengals to their first playoff win in 25 years. I would have like to see what McCarron could have done had he been the starter for an entire season.

Unfortunately, the Bengals had other plans. Instead of making the starting quarterback job up for grabs in training camp, Dalton was always going to get the nod over McCarron. I will always root for my Bengals, but I like McCarron and hope he gets a starting job on another team. Maybe he will show the Bengals what they were missing. Or maybe he will prove the Bengals were right in not making him a starting quarterback. Either way, I wish him nothing but the best…except when he plays he Bengals in which case I hope Geno Atkins or Carlos Dunlap take him to the ground with an earth shaking sack.

Who Dey!

Elimination Chamber 2018 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Elimination Chamber 2018.

WWE Undertaker Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a WWE bobblehead of the Undertaker. 

The Olympics Are Awesome

With the Winter Olympics set to wrap up by the end of the week, I decided to write a short post on my thoughts on the Olympics as a whole. As all of you know, I love sports. Watching, reading, listening to, and following sports consumes most of my free time. I am a self diagnosed sports addict. That is why I love the Olympics.

For two weeks, the best athletes in the world come together to compete in sporting events. Political and religious differences are set aside all in the name of competition as sportsmanship and national pride reign supreme. A perfect example of this is the unified Korean women’s hockey team. Despite the political differences between the two countries, players are setting aside their difference to play hockey. While this feeling of unification may end as soon as the flames of the Olympic torch are extinguished, it is very refreshing to see the countries playing as one on the ice rink.

The biggest draw for me though is the nonstop sports coverage. Seemingly from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, sports are on television. Whether it be winter Olympic favorites of mine such as hockey, snowboarding, speed skating or slope style skiing, I am always tuned in and cheering on Team U.S.A. I also make sure to watch obscure sports that only air during the two weeks the Olympics are on television. I love watching curling and all the Nordic skiing events as well as figure skating, luge, skeleton and bobsledding. Simply put, if the Olympics are on television, I am watching.

On a personal level, I like the summer Olympics more than I do the winter games. There are a lot more events during the summer Olympics, and I feel that those events are often more dramatic and exciting than the winter events. I still love the winter Olympics though and will be a little sad when they come to a close. Until then, I will continue to watch as much of the winter Olympics as I can while cheering on Team U.S.A.

Cincinnati Reds 1975 Replica World Series Ring Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds 1975 Replica World Series ring. 

This is the Month

FC Cincinnati’s Major League Soccer expansion process has officially been going on for over a year. What started in January of 2017 was supposed to conclude before Christmas. Nashville was the first city to be awarded one of two MLS expansion slots in December. The other three finalists, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Sacramento, would have to wait as Commissioner Don Garber said the next slot will be awarded before the MLS season starts in March.

The 2018 MLS season is less than a month away and for FC Cincinnati, the light at the end of the tunnel might finally be coming into view. As traffic studies and last minute stadium negotiations wrap up, we may have an answer as to whether or not FCC will receive an MLS bid over the next few weeks. If Don Garber does in fact pay a visit to the Queen City, it will cap off a very eventful month for the franchise.

February started with talks of FCC pursuing the West End and meeting with Cincinnati Public Schools to perhaps work out a stadium deal. The new kits (which look incredible) were unveiled on February 5, and the team’s preseason schedule is currently underway. After releasing Tommy Heinemann, the club appears to have made its final signing by bringing aboard Blake Smith. Aside from preseason match results, the big news that FCC fans will be checking for is MLS expansion. Barring more delays, Cincinnati should have its answer in a few weeks.

Bengals Recap 2017

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone recaps the 2017 season of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Roman vs. Brock…Round 2

At the Royal Rumble, we learned that Shinske Nakamura will challenge WWE World Heavyweight Champion A.J. Styles for the belt at Wrestlemania 34 by virtue of his royal rumble match victory. The Wrestle Kingdom rematch should be one of the best that take place in the Superdome on April 8 and could potentially steal the show. With SmackDown’s main event set, what will Raw counter with at Wrestlemania? I believe that the red brand will showcase Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship.

Much like Nakamura vs. Styles is a rematch, so is Reigns vs. Lesnar. The two previously had a main event battle at Wrestlemania 31 for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. While the match itself was fine, the true moment of excitement occurred when Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase during the bout and pinned Reigns to win the title for himself. It was an incredible ending to one of the best Wrestlemania events of all time. A lot of people feel that the enormous amount of backlash that Reigns was receiving from fans caused WWE to call an audible and have Rollins cash in and win the belt.

Even though WWE gave into the demands of the fans in 2015, they did not in 2016 as Reigns defeated Triple H for the title at Wrestlemania 32 to a deafening chorus of boos. Fan hatred for Reigns only grew after last year’s Wrestlemania main event in which the “Big Dog” pinned the Undertaker to hand the “Phenom” only his second Wrestlemania loss. That was the third consecutive Wrestlemania main event that featured Reigns, and I think he is heading for a fourth. Immediately after Wrestlemania 33 ended, I tweeted that it will be Reigns vs. Lesnar at Wrestlemania 34. I’m sticking with that prediction.

WWE has seemingly been building up to this match ever since Rollins cashed in at Wrestlemania 31. They have been building up Lesnar as an unstoppable beast while at the same time packaging Reigns as the only man who can truly conquer the conqueror. Reigns and Lesnar rarely lose cleanly if at all, and they are the only two wrestlers to have defeated the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Reigns was supposed to defeat Lesnar three years ago. WWE made a last minute switch. That will not happen this year. I’m predicting Reigns will win the Elimination Chamber match before he turns “Suplex City” into the latest extension of the “Roman Empire” at Wrestlemania 34. I’m not saying I’m a fan of that decision, but I definitely think it will happen.

Believe that.