Memo to Bengals' Fans: Relax

The Cincinnati Bengals, at 3-0, sit alone at the top of the AFC North. Quarterback Andy Dalton is off to his best start since coming into the league, throwing for 866 yards, 8 TDs and only 1 interception.

Division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore seem to be heading in the opposite direction. The Steelers learned yesterday they will be without the services of Ben Roethlisberger for approximately six weeks. While Michael Vick would appear a competent backup, he's a relative newcomer to Pittsburgh offense.  The Ravens, 0-3 for the first time in franchise history, appear to be a team on the decline.

Then there are the Cleveland Browns, who can't seem to get out of their own way if their lives depended on it.

All of this should make Cincinnati fans fairly optimistic about the 2015 season. Yet that's not the impression I get. Reading comments on social media forums you'd think the Bengals were in last place.

I understand the aforementioned Mr. Dalton hasn't won a playoff game. I also get that it is still early in the season.

But c'mon Bengals fans, is it really time to panic yet? Even if Cincy had lost to Baltimore yesterday,  it wouldn't have been the collapse that fans have been used to.

Bottom line is Cincy fans need to relax and enjoy the moment. Because while they are worrying about when the other shoe will drop, the rest of the AFC is worried the Bengals might be serious contenders come playoff time

Pro Athletes and Personal Conduct

As I was reading ESPN.com's article regarding the closing arguments in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial, it got me thinking about the NFL's personal conduct policy. More specifically, what standard should players be held to with respect to off-the-field conduct? And where is the line in which athletes should no longer be allowed to pursue a professional football career?


For starters, let's use the Aaron Hernandez case as an example. Even if he is found not guilty of murdering Odin Lloyd, he still awaits trial for the murder of two other individuals in 2012 (For the record, I maintain that Hernandez did murder Lloyd. His defense that he saw his two friends committing the murder, but was too shaken to do anything, is weak at best. I mean, you're really telling me that Hernandez, upon seeing two people he knew killing the someone he was more than acquaintances with, wouldn't even call 911?) If he were to somehow beat that indictment as well, I guess he would have a case to return to the NFL. Not that I would want him to play for my Browns. Of course, should he be convicted on any of the charges I think this point would be moot, as might be spending the remainder of his life in prison.


What about the case of Ray Rice then, or any player that commits domestic violence? Again, I am not certain I would want Rice playing for my team, but as long as he serves his sentence according to the law, and satisfies his punishment/rehabilitation with regard to the NFL, who am I to say he can't return to play? But taking it a step further, should Adrian Peterson be allowed to return to the NFL? I understand the need to discipline your kid. I should also state I am not (nor have ever been) a parent. But I also understand that his kid was four when Adrian punished him with a switch, leaving him with very visible bruises. From my experience being around my best friend's kid (who isn't much older, btw), someone that old barely even knows right from wrong. So there are many people who would say what Peterson did was more than excessive.


Of course, I also feel that NFL players should be held to the same standard as society as large. So, in the case of Peterson or Rice, if their actions would result in them being blacklisted from a lesser profession, why should there be a double standard just because they are professional athletes? In many instances an ordinary citizen who commits a felony might have a hard time getting a job in his previous profession. Just because these guys can run or jump faster than most people should not make them special.


Ultimately, however, this issue falls on the league and commissioner Roger Goodell to formulate a consistent policy on the issue. It doesn't necessarily mean we have to agree with his decision (or indecision, for that matter). Of course we also don't have to go to the games, either.

Cleveland Browns Coaching Dilemma: The Time For Rebuilding is Over

The Cleveland Browns are set to finish what has become yet another disappointing season in 2012 today at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh against their hated rivals, the Steelers.

And while it is almost a certainty that after the season incumbent general manager Tom Heckert and head coach Pat Shurmur will be given the axe, the future direction of the team is somewhat uncertain.

There have been many theories that have popped up in recent weeks as to who should/will replace the aforementioned individuals. Many people believe that Michael Lombardi will take over for Heckert, while someone like Josh McDaniels will be brought in to replace Shurmur.

But as much as Cleveland and its fans want to think that a new regime will bring different results, there is no guarantee that Cleveland will be a contender anytime soon.

From a talent standpoint, the Browns might be in the best situation yet since returning to the league in 1999. Rookie running back Trent Richardson, whose 3.6 yard per carry average is not overly impressive, has shown a knack for finding the endzone. Fellow rookie Josh Gordon appears to be emerging as the number one wide receiver Cleveland has lacked for quite some time. And even quarterback Brandon Weeden has shown signs of promise this season. Weeden's final passer rating of 72.6 is one full point better than Peyton Manning's rookie rating (71.2 in case you were wondering. FYI, Weeden also threw for 3385 yards thru 15 games this season. Manning, playing a full 16 game schedule during his rookie campaign, threw for 3739 yards.)

Defensively, Dick Jauron's 4-3 scheme appeared to be gaining traction toward the latter half of 2012. The Browns have recorded almost twice as many interceptions in 2012 (17) as they did in 2011 (9), and they are +7 in turnover differential as well. Of the Browns 10 losses, seven of them were by 10 points or less.

At this point, you're probably wondering to yourself, so what? I am glad you asked. It is at this point the Browns' brass needs to understand they have a good nucleus in place, and not to go in with the attitude of 'blowing the whole thing up.' Four years ago, when Randy Lerner brought in George Kokinis and Eric Mangini to replace Romeo Crennel, that is exactly what happened. The results were somewhat mixed, and, after Mike Holmgren was brought in to replace Kokinis, the Browns once again started from scratch.

So, four years later, what have Browns' fans had to look forward to? Four consecutive seasons with 10 or more losses and zero playoff berths.

But good teams in the NFL aren't built from scratch every two seasons. It takes time to develop the proper chemistry and personnel needed for success. So while owner Jimmy Haslam and company will be looking to the guy who can finally get them over the hump, they also need to bring in a guy who isn't necessarily going to 'rock the boat', either.

The offense is a few player(s) away from being in the upper half of the league. There is plenty of young talent on defense (especially the line), and a switch from the 4-3 to a 3-4 defense would be a mistake. Sure there are holes to be addressed, most notably in the secondary and linebacker corps, but those are things that should be upgraded via the draft and free agency in the coming years.

So the bottom line is that while the Browns search for head coach, they need to make sure they select one who doesn't view this as a rebuilding project. He should have a proven track record, and realize this team is only a few pieces away from greatness. He also should be willing to let his assistants call the plays, so he isn't trying to micromanage the team.

If Jimmy Haslam III and Joe Banner fail to heed this advice, however, the Browns will be in rebuild mode once again. Of course, Mr. Haslam, don't the fans deserve better?

The NFL Needs a New Thanksgiving Tradition

So with it technically being Thanksgiving and all, let me be the first to wish all my loyal readers a Happy Thanksgiving. J-Rod's Sportszone is thankful for those readers loyal to his blog, people who have just stumbled onto his blog, and those who have yet to stumble onto it. He is also extremely grateful for all sports, especially football in the falls. Many people don't get my obsession with this game but, like so many other things for other people, it is my happy diversion from the routine of daily life.

Also, with this Saturday marking the renewal of so many rivalries in college football, I would like to take an opportunity to suggest at least one sports-related Thanksgiving tradition that should be changed. That is the NFL's decision to broadcast only games hosted by either the Detroit Lions or the Dallas Cowboys on this day.

Now I do understand that later this evening(since it is technically Thursday morning) the New York Jets and the New England Patriots will play each other, but that is not the same thing. First, it will be broadcast on the NFL Network, which, in my humble opinion, might just be the worst invention in all of sports. I mean forget the fact that if my cable company didn't offer a free premium channel preview this weekend I wouldn't get to see Jets-Pats. I would rather watch the Big Ten Network than NFL Net. Ouch indeed.

But on to the point at hand. Despite pleas from Yahoo! that the Lions and Cowboys on Thanksgiving is a tradition not to be messed with, I don't agree. Certainly, however, I am not arguing for the Browns to be broadcast on this day, but, with Cleveland playing Pittsburgh this week, that might have been a better draw, seeing as that is one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL.

Or what about the Patriots and the Colts on Turkey Day? Certainly last Sunday's contest wasn't an edge-of-your-seat affair, but what if you put them in front of a national audience on a short week? Or how about the thriller that was Denver versus New England a few weeks earlier?

Or what about the most heated rivalry in all of professional sports, the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers? I don't know if you can go anywhere in the continental United States without running into a cheesehead or someone whose license plates reads 'Da Bears.' Wouldn't that game be more exciting than the Lions and the Texans?

And as much as the Cowboys may have been 'America's Team' in the late 80s and the 90s, I think their owner, Jerry Jones, has turned them into one of the most vilified franchises in the nation currently.  Isn't it quite possible, NFL, that by giving us a reprieve from the 'Boys on this holiday dedicated to food and football, it will allow those of us who aren't Dallas fans to bury the hatchet?

The point being is that, for the NFL anyway, today marks the largest captive television audience they will have all season. Yet they continue to squander such an opportunity for the sake of a tradition not nearly as old as the game of football itself.  Especially when they have already messed with two other hallowed traditions, namely kickoffs and overtimes, in the last two seasons.

It's time for the NFL to take a hint from the college ranks on this one. As conferences in collegiate football expand, some rivalries, like Oklahoma vs Nebraska, have died, while others, such as Nebraska vs Wisconsin, are born. So too, with the expansion of the NFL fanbase, should some of the old NFL traditions make way for new ones. And what better tradition to start anew than Thanksgiving Day programming.