Bengals Recap 2020

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone recaps the 2020 Cincinnati Bengals season.

Cincinnati Bengals 2020 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone previews the 2020 Cincinnati Bengals' season.

Peter Warrick Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals bobblehead of Peter Warrick. 

Who Dey Draft 2020

The moment that the city of Cincinnati had been waiting for since last December finally came to fruition. Heisman Trophy winner, national champion, and local kid Joe Burrow is officially the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals. The 2020 NFL Draft happened last weekend and although it was a virtual format, that did not dampen the excitement of Bengals fans everywhere as the team chose the cornerstone of the franchise for the next 10-15 years. Aside from Burrow, key pieces that will shape the team’s future and launch the Bengals to championship success were also drafted. 

The Bengals had the number one overall pick in the draft by virtue of the horrendous 2019 season. Selecting Burrow as the top pick was the easiest decision of the entire draft process. Burrow had the greatest college football season in the history of the sport and was a no-brainer to be the face of the franchise. Aside from his incredible resume, Burrow is also a local kid as he grew up in Athens, Ohio, which Is about a three-hour drive from Cincinnati. If everything goes according to plan, Burrow will lead his local childhood team to multiple Super Bowl championships.

The Bengals have their quarterback, but he needs to targets to throw to on the field. The Bengals got him one in the second round of the draft by selecting wide receiver Tee Higgins out of Clemson. Higgins and Burrow reportedly did some training together before the draft and the rookie duo are poised to be the next big offensive combo for the Bengals for years to come. Higgins has said he became a Bengals fan after the team drafted his favorite player, A.J. Green, in 2011. Higgins grew up modeling his game after Green, and he now has the opportunity to play alongside his idol. 

The Bengals have not had the best linebackers the last few years and used this year’s draft to address that need. In the third round, they selected linebacker Logan Wilson out of the University of Wyoming. Considered to be one of the more athletic players at his position in the draft, the team jumped at the opportunity to select Wilson with their third-round pick. Wilson already has some experience with the Bengals as their staff met with Wilson while coaching the Senior Bowl.

The Bengals went back to the linebacker well in round four by drafting Akeem Davis-Gaither out of Appalachian State. The team clearly looks to rebuild its linebacker squad as any Bengals fan could easily tell you that it has been an absolute disaster for the past few seasons. Like Wilson, Davis-Gaither met the Bengals coaching staff at the Senior Bowl and was named a captain of his Senior Bowl team.

The Bengals stayed on the defensive side of the ball by drafting Khalid Kareem in the fifth round. Kareem played collegiately at Notre Dame as a defensive end. The Bengals need another guy to rush into the backfield, and Kareem looks to fill that spot as he racked up a total of 13 sacks for the Fighting Irish. 

The sixth-round pick selected by the Bengals was Hakeem Adeniji, an offensive tackle who played at the University of Kansas. Adeniji was the only lineman selected by the Bengals during the entire draft which was odd considering how poor the offensive line has been in recent years. He was a four-year starter for the Jayhawks and seemed to make a good impression on the Bengals coaching staff at the Senior Bowl.

The seventh and final pick of the Bengals in the 202 NFL draft was Markus Bailey, a linebacker out of Purdue. Bailey was the third linebacker taken by the Bengals in the draft despite missing his entire senior season with a torn ACL. With the position being a big need, it is no shock that the Bengals loaded up on linebackers in this year’s draft.

The Bengals addressed most of their needs in this year’s NFL draft. They stocked up on defense, drafted an offensive line, and added two possible franchise cornerstones that could lead to championship success. I do wish that they would have selected an offensive lineman earlier in the draft, but I cannot help but feel excited about the players they have added to the roster. Tee Higgins could be the heir apparent to A.J. Green, and Joe Burrow is shaping up be the biggest star in the history of the franchise. I can honestly say I have never been this hyped to be a Bengals fan. The only things that could top this feeling are a playoff win and Super Bowl championships, and this draft class has the potential to accomplish both of those things. 

Who Dey!

Bengals Recap 2019

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone recaps the Cincinnati Bengals' 2019 season. 

Geno Atkins Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals Geno Atkins bobblehead. 

Domata Peko Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2012 Florence Freedom SGA Cincinnati Bengals bobblehead of Domata Peko. 

The Boo Birds and the Bengals

This past Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals dropped a massive turd on the field for their 2019 NFL home opener when they were waxed by the San Francisco 49ers 41-17. I was in attendance and stayed for the entire game. I can honestly say it was the worst Bengals game I have watched in person. Fans justifiably booed this team and left the game early. 

I had to have been one of maybe 200 Bengals fans left in the stands. The 49ers faithful stayed until the end and greatly outnumbered the remaining fans of the Bengals. Chants of "Let's go Niners" echoed throughout Paul Brown Stadium. It was a deflating loss that drained me of all optimism that I had following the encouraging performance the Bengals turned in against the Seattle Seahawks. 

During post game interviews, quarterback Andy Dalton and running back Joe Mixon said they did not like the fans booing. My first thought on this is for both Dalton and Mixon was to grow up and not complain about it. Fans have a right to boo. It comes with the price of admission. If I spend some of my hard earned money on a ticket to see my favorite football team play in person, I will boo until I have no voice left if they play like absolute garbage. 

Another thought that came to mind was that if they don't want fans booing, don't give them a reason to boo. There was very little to cheer for on Sunday. On the other hand, there was a ton to boo. Dropped passes, an interception, a fumble, blown coverage, and a missed field goal are a few of the many reasons fans had to boo the Bengals. You know what? I'm also going boo Dalton and Mixon's comments. Boooooooooooooooo!

Don't get me wrong. I love Dalton, Mixon, and the Bengals. I have been and always will be a faithful member of Who Dey Nation. But if this team gives me a reason to boo, I'm going to do just that. In conclusion, if the Bengals want to hear cheers over boos, then give the fans a reason to cheer. If not, expect the boo birds to continue to circle Paul Brown Stadium. 

Cincinnati Bengals 2019 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone previews the Cincinnati Bengals' 2019 season. 

Bengals Training Camp 2019

With the Cincinnati Reds and FC Cincinnati dominating the Cincinnati summer sports scene, it is easy to become mesmerized by the action that unfolds on the diamond and on the pitch. Soon though, Cincinnati sports fans will be able to take in the action of the gridiron as the Bengals officially start their 2019 training camp.

Training camp starts on Saturday, July 27, in Dayton. It will then move to Cincinnati on Sunday, July 28, and last until Monday August 12. Gates will open 30 minutes before practice starts with most practices starting at 3 p.m. The only exception is when practice starts at 2:30 p.m. on July 27 in which case gates will open at 1:30 p.m. The Family DEY practice on August 3 will also have an earlier entrance time beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Practices are held on the practice field right next to Paul Brown Stadium. The only practices not held on the practice field will be the one in Dayton and the Family Day event on August 3. The Family Day practice will be held inside Paul Brown Stadium and will feature a lot of activities and a giveaway for kids. If you are an autograph hunter like me, the family day practice is the best training camp session to attend as every player is available for autographs once practice concludes.

The Cincinnati Bengals training camp is a great way to check out the team up close and personal. It is really cool to witness the current players mix it up the rookie draft picks and see how well they mesh together. It is also a great opportunity to get some autographs from your favorite Bengals players! Attending training camp is something that I highly recommend as every true Bengals fan needs to experience it before the season starts.

Who Dey!

Who Dey Draft 2019

New Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor's first NFL Draft has come and gone and it became clear that his main focus was to select players that could revamp the run game. So who did Taylor and the Bengals add to the team in hopes of making a Super Bowl run? Let's take a look.

The first ever NFL draft pick of the Zac Taylor era was Jonah Williams. He was taken with the 11th overall pick in the first round. Williams is an offensive tackle out of the University of Alabama and should help protect quarterback Andy Dalton while also opening up running lanes for running back Joe Mixon.

In the second round, the Bengals selected Drew Sample. He is a tight end from the University of Washington. Considered to be one of the best blocking tight ends available, you can see why the Bengals selected him despite bringing back both Tyler Eifer and C.J. Uzomah. If he lives up to his reputation, he could be another asset to amplify the rushing attack.

The third round saw the Bengals pick up OLB Germaine Pratt from North Carolina State. The linebacker position was a weakness for the Bengals in 2018, so it is easy to see why the team went with Pratt in round three. He is a former safety and his versatility could be a great asset for the Bengals' defense.

The first fourth round pick of the Bengals was quarterback Ryan Finley. The team traded up six spots to snag Finley. While Andy Dalton is apparently still their quarterback of choice, Finely will most likely take over backup duties from Jeff Driskel and could perhaps challenge for the starting job when Dalton's contract expires in two years.

The second fourth round pick of the Bengals was Renell Wren. He is a defensive tackle out of Arizona State University. He is a nose tackle, and his size has already garnered him the nickname of Mt. Wren. He can help bolster the defensive line and contribute to the pass rush.

The third fourth round pick of the Bengals was center/guard Michael Jordan out of Ohio State University. Jordan's ability to play either guard or center gives the team the flexibility it needs to make sure that their five best lineman are in the field. This enables them to both protect Dalton and open up the running game.

The Bengals wouldn't pick again until the sixth round when they selected running back Trayveon Williams out of Texas A&M. The team needed another running back after they released Mark Walton due to off field issues. Williams is a versatile player and can play various positions for the Bengals such as kick returner.

The teams' second sixth round pick was Deshaun Davis. He is a linebacker out of Auburn. With the Bengals needing help at the linebacker position, it makes sense that they would pick up Davis. He is considered to have a high football IQ which is never a bad thing.

The Bengals had one more pick in the sixth round and drafted another running back. Rodney Anderson played for the Oklahoma Sooners and had injuries in 2015, 2016, and 2018. It is hard to say where he could fit in with the Bengals system, but based on the numbers he was able to put up in college, Anderson has a lot of potential.

The Bengals' final pick of the 2019 NFL draft was in the seventh round. They selected cornerback Jordan Brown out of South Dakota State. He might have trouble finding playing time behind Darqueze Dennard and Dre Kirkpatrick, but his stats from college suggest he could be a suitable backup for the time being.

Those were all the Bengals' 2019 NFL draft picks. They addressed their offensive line woes and really made an attempt at boosting the rushing attack for the offense. A lot of people (including myself) wanted them to take quarterback Dwayne Haskins out of Ohio State, but you can see why they decided to go with Jonah Williams in the first round instead. Hopefully all these picks pan out well and help make the Bengals a contender in the AFC North Division once again.

Who Dey!

What Paul Brown Can Learn From Lucas Oil

I love going to Cincinnati Bengals games. Getting to watch professional football live and in person is one of the best sports events that all fans of the National Football League should try to experience. The atmosphere is phenomenal, the action on the field is usually constant, and getting to watch the game with a bunch of fellow football fans is always fun. Until this past season, I have only watched NFL games at Paul Brown Stadium. I always have fun cheering on the Bengals, and Paul Brown Stadium is a fine place to watch a game. However, my eyes were truly opened when I went up to Indianapolis to watch the Bengals take on the Colts in their 2018 season opener at Lucas Oil Stadium.

I have seen Lucas Oil Stadium on television multiple times but being there in person was a breathtaking experience. The Colts have a gorgeous stadium. From the Peyton Manning statue that greets fans outside the main entrance to the championship banners that hang from the ceiling, Lucas Oil Stadium is a palace when compared to Paul Brown Stadium. The stadium pays tribute to the city’s racecar heritage with various NASCAR and Indy Car models and it blends together nicely with the Colts décor that fills Lucas Oil Stadium to the brim. It was a cold and rainy day in Indianapolis so the roof was closed, and I believe that helped make the stadium louder. The retractable roof structure of the stadium also allowed the team to shoot off pyro and fire off streamers every time the Colt scored a touchdown. Lucas Oil Stadium was truly an experience that I wish Paul Brown Stadium could replicate.

I know that stadiums in Cincinnati is a touchy subject considering how the Reds and Bengals stadium deals are regarded as some of the worst of all time, and FC Cincinnati’s bait and switch and three site rotation stadium saga was nauseating. However, should the Bengals decide that they need a new stadium, I would hope they model it after Lucas Oil Stadium. I love Paul Brown Stadium, but Lucas Oil Stadium is without a shadow of a doubt much better. A new Bengals stadium could feature statues of franchise legends and also pay tribute to the city’s heritage. A retractable roof would be nice during the winter and for whenever it rains during a game and having orange fireworks go off whenever the Bengals score would be awesome. 

Those are just some of the things that I think the Bengals could implement into a new stadium should one be built. It would greatly enhance the game day experience, and the franchise could host a lot more events. Final Fours, College Football Championship games, state championship football games, concerts, Super Bowls, and WrestleMania among other events could all emanate from a new Bengals stadium that followed the Lucas Oil Stadium model. Maybe one day a new state of the art Paul Brown Stadium will see the Bengals not only host the Super Bowl but win it as well. 

Who Dey!

The Taylor Era Has Begun

After weeks of speculation, the worst kept secret in the National Football League of Zac Taylor becoming the next head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals was made official last Monday. Taylor will become the tenth head coach in the history of the franchise and is considered to be a breath of fresh air for the team as his offensive mindset is the total opposite of the defensive atmosphere that was created under the Marvin Lewis regime. Despite being only 35 years old, Taylor has a plethora of coaching experience.

He started his coaching career at Texas A&M University in 2008 as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2012 as assistant quarterbacks coach. In 2013, he became the team’s quarterbacks coach and served as interim offensive coordinator in 2015. Taylor had his first stint in the Queen City as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in 2016. He then joined the Los Angeles Rams staff in 2017 as assistant wide receivers coach before taking over as quarterbacks coach in 2018. 

I am very excited to see what the Bengals can do with Zac Taylor as the new head coach. The team had become very stale and the fanbase had become beyond frustrated with Marvin Lewis and his style of coaching. With offensive innovation becoming the growing trend in the NFL, the Bengals wanted to hire somebody with a connection to one of the coaches leading that change, and I believe they did that by hiring a former protégé of Sean McVay in Zac Taylor. Hopefully Taylor can take what he learned from under McVay, make it his own, and turn the Cincinnati Bengals into Super Bowl Champions.

Who Dey!

Anthony Munoz Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals Anthony Munoz bobblehead. 

The Real Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Super Bowl Halftime Show has almost become as big as the actual game. Over the years, the biggest musical acts in the industry have performed mini concerts on a global stage while the AFC and NFC champions catch their breath before the start of the second half of the game. This year’s musical act is pop rock band Maroon 5. I am not a fan of the band and was most likely going to use the halftime show as a bathroom break and to restock my plate with food. That plan changed when World Wrestling Entertainment announced that they will bring back Halftime Heat this Sunday.

Halftime Heat is a wrestling match that occurs during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. It originated in 1999 when the Rock and Mankind battled for the WWE Championship in a very entertaining “Empty Arena” match. The match was fun to watch, and it allowed football fans to get their wrestling fix on Super Bowl Sunday. With the advent of the WWE Network as well as WWE’s various social media platforms, Halftime Heat is making its glorious return with a six man tag team match that features some of the best that NXT has to offer. The team of Aleister Black, Ricochet and Velveteen Dream will take on NXT Champ Tommaso Ciampa, NXT North American Champ Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole. These are some of the best wrestlers that NXT has to offer and some of the most athletic guys in professional wrestling. 

If you are a wrestling fan like myself, make sure you check out Halftime Heat. The 1999 edition was a fun alternative to the halftime show, and this year’s battle between some of NXT’s best is sure to be very entertaining. Hopefully Halftime Heat does well and draws a big enough audience to convince WWE to keep it going for future Super Bowls. 

Sam Wyche Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals Sam Wyche bobblehead.

2018 Cincinnati Sports Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The city of Cincinnati had a very interesting year with its three professional sports teams. There was some good, some bad, and some ugly as FC Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Cincinnati Bengals all competed in their respective sports to bring a championship to the Queen City. So how was 2018 for each team? Let's take a look.

Let's start with the good. FC Cincinnati by far had the best year when compared to the Reds and the Bengals. They once again set numerous attendance records and strung together a 23 match unbeaten streak that culminated in a United Soccer League Regular Season Championship. Despite bowing out of the USL Cup playoffs in the second round, their season was a smashing success. Forrest Lasso won the USL Defender of the Year award, Emmanuel Ledesma won the USL Most Valuable Player award, and Alan Koch won the USL Coach of the Year award. The biggest prize the team won was its expansion spot in Major League Soccer. MLS officially awarded FCC an expansion franchise on May 29, 2018, and the team will begin MLS play in 2019.

Moving on to the bad, we have the Reds. 2018 was supposed to be a season that saw the team make strides and show that the rebuild was actually working. Instead it turned out to be a very forgettable season as the Redlegs once again finished at the bottom of the National League Central Division. The lack of pitching plagued the team all season as inconsistent performances from both the rotation and the bullpen proved to be the franchise's Achilles heel. The hitting on the other hand was pretty good all year as Joey Votto, Scooter Gennett, and Eugenio Suarez were the backbone of the Reds lineup and earned spots on the National League All-Star team. Jesse Winker and Scott Schebler became reliable at the plate as well and Jose Peraza showed great progress both in the field and with a bat in his hand. The team did fire Bryan Price early in the season and named Jim Riggleman as interim manager for the remainder of the season. Under Riggleman, the Reds were hot for about a month but ultimately still played poorly for a majority of the season. David Bell was named manager once the season concluded and two blockbuster additions in Turner Ward and Derek Johnson have been added to Bell's coaching staff. Most recently, the team announced they will part ways with Billy Hamilton which could lead to top prospects like Nick Senzel and Taylor Trammell getting some big league playing time in 2019.

The ugly unquestionably goes to the Bengals. 2018 was a year that started out with immense optimism as the team jumped out to a 4-1 start with an offense that looked unstoppable. The defense was another story however as they continued to turn in poor performance after poor performance. They were so bad that the team's brand new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was fired during the middle of the season. Head coach Marvin Lewis took over defensive duties but little improvement was made. The team was ravaged by injuries as Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, and Tyler Eifert all wound up on the season ending injured reserved list and guys like Joe Mixon and Gio Bernard missed a few games due to knee problems. The team as a whole looked uninspired and unprepared in games against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns, and the Denver Broncos. As I write this, the Bengals are most likely going to miss the playoffs and Lewis is rumored once again to be on the hot seat. Many Bengals fans fear that the recently fired Browns coach Hue Jackson was rehired by the Bengals to be the heir apparent to Lewis. Overall, 2018 was a disastrous year that reminded Who Dey Nation of the dark decade that was the 1990s.

In conclusion, 2018 was a mixed bag for Cincinnati sports. FC Cincinnati had a very successful season and is currently preparing to begin MLS play. The Reds had a bad season but have renewed fan optimism by hiring a new manager and hitting the reset button with the coaching staff while their prospects appear to be making exciting strides at the minor league level. The Bengals are looking like a mess and are in desperate need of massive shakeup to revitalize the franchise. Hopefully FCC builds upon its 2018 success in 2019 and both the Reds and Bengals are able to right the ship and get back to their winning ways. With three professional major league sports teams, maybe one of these teams can bring a championship to Cincinnati for the first time since 1990.

Bengal Shows 2018

With the 2018 NFL season officially underway, the opportunities for fans of the Cincinnati Bengals to get autographs are popping up each and every week in the form of Bengal shows. Bengal shows are shows where fans can get autographs from Cincinnati Bengals players, and I have attended at least one show a week in hopes of snagging a signature for my Bengals autograph collection. In this post, I will discuss the two Bengal shows that take place each week.

The first show of the week is “Benagls Line.” It is held at the Holy Grail on the banks in Cincinnati the day after Bengals games and can be heard on ESPN 1530. The show features radio personality Lance McAllister and former Bengals player Dave Lapham as the hosts and goes from 6 pm to 9 pm. The show has undergone a format change as now only one guest player is feature as opposed to two players like previous years. McAllister and Lapham will discuss the game from 6 pm to 7 pm and the player is interviewed from 7 pm to 8 pm with the final hour being mainly more discussion between McAllister and Lapham. Players sign autographs during commercials and there are raffles throughout the night with the prizes ranging from Bengals apparel to Bengals tickets.

The other Bengals show that takes place during the week is “Bengals Pep Rally.” This is another radio show and is hosted by Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham. This show takes place on Fridays throughout the season from various Buffalo Wings and Rings restaurants throughout the greater Cincinnati area. It goes from 3 pm to 6 pm and a player will join Hoard and Lapham during the 5 pm hour. Like Bengals Line, the guest player signs autographs during commercials and prizes are raffled off throughout the show.

Those are the only two Bengals shows that I am aware of that are happening throughout the 2018 NFL season. This is less than previous years as Beyond the Stripes and Bengals Nation are no longer filmed in bars and have been moved to studios. Also, the format change of Bengals Line means 16 players instead of 32 will be available for autographs. The lack of shows this year combined with my training camp absence means that my series of “Bengal Graphs” videos will be cancelled for the 2018 season. I have decided to save my autograph football for next season and head to the Holy Grail for Bengals Line only when the guest player is somebody who is missing from my autographed Bengals banner. 

Who Dey!

Sunday Night Lights

The National Football League flexed its muscle last Tuesday. Literally. The league flexed the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs game from a 1:00 p.m. kickoff to an 8:20 p.m. primetime game that will be broadcasted nationally on NBC.

As I type, this the Bengals are currently preparing for a big game on Sunday against their arch nemesis of the AFC north, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chiefs’ offense owned the Steeler defense when those two teams met earlier in the season. The Bengals defense has been spotty through five games. They looked weak against the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons but were able to force key turnovers against the Indianapolis Colts, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Miami Dolphins. The defense will unquestionably need to play one of its best games of the season in Kansas City.

The Chiefs have been arguably the best team in the NFL and are led by their dynamic quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who has been nothing short of incredible. He commands a high-powered offense that is sure to be a huge test for the Bengals. That being said, the Bengals’ offense has been just as exciting to watch as the Chiefs’ offense in my opinion. Andy Dalton has been solid, A.J. Green is still A.J. Green, Joe Mixon is building upon his good rookie campaign, and Tyler Boyd has emerged as the breakout start of the offense and clear number two receiver behind Green. With two high-octane offenses slugging it out at Arrowhead Stadium, the game should be a fun one to watch.

There is the dubious characteristic of the Bengals wilting in primetime games, however, and that has been a big topic of conversation ahead of the team’s Sunday night showdown with the Chiefs. To me though, this team feels different. They have been resilient, they have made key plays when needed, and most importantly, they have found ways to win. I am excited for the Sunday night game. It is an opportunity for my beloved Bengals to make a big statement on a national stage. I have been chugging the orange Kool-Aid since training camp, and maybe a lot more people will join me following Sunday’s game.

Who Dey!

Bengals on the Ballot

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019 selection process is currently underway. Fans have a unique opportunity to help select who gets inducted from the list of 102 Modern-Era nominees by voting for who they think deserves a gold hall of fame jacket. Once the votes are tallied, the list will be reduced to 25 semi-finalists in November before being reduced again to 15 finalists who will be revealed in January.  

My beloved Cincinnati Bengals have a few former players on the list. Willie Anderson, one of the best offensive lineman to have worn the black and orange stripes is on the ballot as is former linebacker Takeo Spikes who stood head and shoulders above the other defensive players on the team during his time with the Bengals in the late 90s and early 2000s. Former offensive tackle Richmond Webb, who spent most of his career with the Miami Dolphins but did play two seasons with the the Bengals, is also on the list. Local product Shaun Alexander is also up for nomination. Despite being known for his dominant run game with the Seattle Seahawks, Alexander had a cup of coffee with the Bengals but ultimately could not come to terms on a final contract with the franchise although I do have a football card of Alexander in a Bengals uniform.

Another former Bengal on the ballot is running back Corey Dillon. During the dark ages of the franchise in the 90s, Dillon was able to put crazy numbers and run roughshod over opposing defenses. He is arguably the greatest running back in franchise history and is deserving of a spot in the hall of fame. The last player on the list of nominees is Chad Johnson. Ochocinco was one of the greatest if not the best wide receiver in the history of the Bengals. His numbers are jaw dropping, and he was the first true superstar the team had since the 1980s. Johnson was my favorite player as a kid because he played a huge part in turning the franchise around, and he made being a Bengals fan fun again. In my opinion, he has definitely earned a gold jacket. 

As you can see, the Bengals are well represented on the Modern-Era ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Out of the players listed, I think Alexander, Dillon, and Johnson have the best chances of being inducted. Make you sure visit the NFL website and vote for these former Bengals players!

Who Dey!