The NFL and NFLRA Finally Reach Agreement

The NFL and the NFL Referees Association reached an agreement late Wednesday night to end the referee lockout, the league confirmed. NFL Network, citing a league source, reports the two sides agreed to a new developmental program, rather than adding 21 officials to current pool of 121 NFLRA officials. The pool of money for the current officials, according to the report, will remain the same.

Maualuga and Richardson Sparking The Flame for The Ohio Cup Part 1

This weekend is the first round of the battle of Ohio between our Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns. For the most part this game has been everything but a battle, it been lopsided in the Bengals favorite. However, this is still a battle and it still a rivalry even though the two team in the battle struggle to even be relevant on a consistent basis. The game this Sunday has yet to sell out, probably won't and fans honestly don't have much to look forward to except, one of these team will get in the win column and take part 1 of a 2 part battle for the Ohio cup. Two players decide they wanted to spark a flame and heat the rivalry up a little bit, those two guys benn Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga and Cleveland Browns top pic Trent Richardson. Maualuga stated early this week after watching film, " “He can run you over and you can miss a tackle, at the same time, from what we’ve seen he didn’t do nothing spectacular,” Maualuga said, via CBSSports.com. “From running screens, missing passes, trying to find a hole when he’s running the ball. He just didn’t do anything spectacular from what I’ve seen. I’m pretty sure he’s going to want to get after it once he plays us.” The comments made their way to Richardson, who told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that they were “very encouraging.”

“When somebody wants to talk mess, I mean, hey, that’s them. I let my game speak for

itself, so if they want to see how mad I am, or how upset they got me about the comment, you’ll see Sunday,” Richardson said. The funny thing about all this to me is, neither one of these guys should be saying anything. Not only did both their teams take an L this past week, but they both played horribly. Maualuga played by far his worst game in his Bengal career, getting pancaked and at times simply looking like he was ducking and dodging Ray Rice. Richardson had a fairly disappointing debut performance against the Eagles with 39 yards on 19 carries. The highlight of his day was when he ran over the top of Eagles safety Kurt Coleman, knocking his helmet off and 5 yards backwards. Which is probably the reason this story got as much attention as it did. I know I hope the time come, in this weekend game, where they meet in the gap and Maualuaga is the only thing between Richardson and his first career touchdown. I guess the real question is, who would you put your money on if that the opportunity present itself, or if that scenario actually come true?!?!?!? John G. Dunn II jgdunn.blogspot.com

Bengals @ Ravens Recap

Well there ain't nothing much to review here, although they show a lot of promise offensively, defensively they was just out played by Baltimore Ravens tonight.
the defense for the Cincinnati Bengals just did not show up at anytime in this game. we had no pass rush all night which just allow Joe Flacco to tear it up, secondary did not help at all, Flacco was just pretty much throwing to open guys all night. This secondary is the weakness of this football team Baltimore Ravens game out exploited it. Rey Maualuga played the worst game in his Cincinnati Bengals career, it makes you kind of wonder if he has what it takes to play middle linebacker in a division like the AFC North. offensively we had a lot of bright spot. I really like what Hawkins did, AJ Green did a lot better than I thought he would against this defense, BJGE also have a nice day, Andy Dalton played a good game minus a few overthrown ball and couple turnovers. The thing I was most impressed with was the offensive line, the open up seams for BJGE and Dalton didn't take much of a punishment. So who's the blame? Blame no one, this was sort of expect, not this bad but the overall outcome. The Cincinnati Bengals defense have a lot to learn from this tape, Rey Maualuga played scared all night, the secondary made a lot of small mistakes that turn into big pay out for the Ravens offense, and the D-line got no pressure or penetration to stop the run. The Defense had to set the tone and they didn't, this offense had no chance. We struggle to finish in the Red Zone, but so much of that is the lack of having a tight end to throw the football too or to even threaten the middle of the field. Overall it's week 1 and that was a tough challenge for us this week. Although many "fake" fan or throwing the towel in already, real fans won't panic the season is looong. Time to go listen to Coach Lewis.........

Week 1 Bengals @ Ravens

It's not too often The Cincinnati Bengals open up on primetime. 2012 is our lucky year for that at least. I'm sure I speak for many fans when I say the Cincinnati Bengals only seem to get air time when one of our players are being locked up or when we our losing more than we're winning. They don't deny us our primetime games. The problem with the Bengals is, when they get opportunities to play primetime games, we lose more often than we win. Today the Bengals start their season off on Monday night football against the Baltimore Ravens and hope to take a step in changing that fortune as they play their first of three primetime games in 2012. Tonight game will be what we all are use to, another part in the everlasting war between two AFC north rivals. We all know what the Ravens bring to the the table, and that extraordinary defense. Though they will be without All-pro Terrell Suggs, and they are getting old I don't expect this Defensive to miss a beat. The Ravens offense is slowly coming around as well slowly but surely. You have Joe Flacco, who seem to get better every year. Ray Rice, who that offense run through. Anquan Boldin has been an effective addition the last couple years, and the emergence of wideout Torrey Smith.

For the Bengals, some expert believe this defensive can be a Top 10 Defensive this year, and if you read my 2012 season preview yesterday, I agree. I believe this team will only go as far as they defense allow them too, and they have a tough task ahead of them, trying to stop Ray Rice and company. Offensively they have an even tougher task trying to find a way to produce and manufacture points against a defensive that being a top the league for years upon years. Last year the Bengals was sweep by the Ravens in their two meetings, although it a new year it pretty much the same players, coaches and systems.

Tomorrow night will bring about a good football game, and being a fan of course I want to see the Bengals win, I just don't see it happening, sorry fans. I think the final score will be 21-10 Baltimore. I see this offensive struggling to score, not only cause it the Ravens D, but a combination of Ravens D and the lack of offensive weapons we have. With A.J. Green being our only valuable weapon, I believe they will take him away by having Ed Reed Bracket him all night. The rest of our option just won't match up equally with the rest of that defense. Also I think we will be dominated by that front 6 or 7 of the Ravens. It the NFL and every team has a chance any given day, but matching the teams up we have our at disadvantage in every position as a whole. I always look at us as a younger protege of the Ravens, especially Defensively. And no matter what you never beat your older sibling ha, I hope I'm wrong but 21-10 Baltimore is what I have. John G.Dunn II jgdunn.blogspot.com

Cincinnati Bengals 2012 Preview.

Well it a new NFL season getting underway, and our beloved Bengals look to repeat their efforts of last year and have back to back playoff appearances for the first time in over 20 years. The play from Rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green took the NFL world by surprise, and is all the more reason many have doubt about the 2012 Bengals. Although we had some quality additions and not a lot of quality subtractions this Cincinnati Bengal football team will look a lot the same at almost all positions as you will see while I breakdown each position in this preview of the 2012 Cincinnati Bengals.

////Quarterbacks//// Although now days in the NFL, it seems as if it's inhumane to not have QB controversy every off season, we are a team that will not have to worry about that, not only this year, but hopefully in the many years to come. Even though we have a Solid #1, we better hope he never goes down, because we have no quality backup behind him. Only Carrying two quarterbacks, in my opinion after watching pre-season, the Cincinnati Bengals best #2 options is on Practice squad in Zac Robinson.

////Running Backs//// Our biggest off season addition came in the back field, when Bengals sign free agent running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He is no question the starting back and one of the few new faces you will see for the Bengals, his signing is just a sign that the Bengals are becoming a passing football team. Also the fact that the two guys backing up Green-Ellis are more receiving type backs. Bernard Scott will be your #2 back, but will start the season on the Injury List, Brian Leonard will be listed as your #3 running back, but will more than likely have 3rd Down responsibilities as well. Cedric Peerman is on the depth chart 4th but not likely to see any snaps, and we have one fullback on the depth chart, Chris Pressley, which is also a clear sign of what this offense is becoming.

////Wide Receivers//// Even the we are really moving into our West Coast style offense that we knew Gruden was bring in, and more pass Oriented, we don't have the quality receivers for the systems in my opinion. After A.J. Green, who's clear the #1 guy, who else is there? The depth chart has Brandon Tate being the #2 guy, but honestly do he scare anybody, is he a guy that can take pressure off A.J. Green? I don't think so. Andrew Hawkins is the #3 guy, or the guy you will see in the Slot a lot, and had a really eye opening season last year, but he has to show consistency before you can have belief in him. #4 Guy is Armon Binns, a guy who spent all of last year on practice squad and although showed promise in pre-season, you have to wonder how well he'll do when it counts, against starters. Ryan Whalen follows him on the depth chart, a guy who was on the roster last year but didn't see much of the field, he's a guy that you will also run slot most the times he in the game, another unproven guy. The two rookies, Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones finish out the List of receivers on the roster. Both these guys are big targets who is more suitable for the outside, and will see some play time because of the non-stability we have after that #1 guy. Andy Dalton has already been on record saying, he expect it to be fluctuation at the #2 spot.

////Tight Ends//// When it comes to the tight end position for the Bengals, it's honestly the most disappointing position on the feel for us. The tight end position is so important to the success, and execution of the west coast offense, and our #1 guy, Jermaine Gresham has been a disappointment with the inconsistency, or not inconsistency but the fact that we all know he has more potential and can be a lot better than what he has put on display the last 2 years. Backing up Gresham is Donald Lee, rookie Orson Charles and newly signed Richard Quinn. None these guys are a threat to Gresham's jobs or guys that can allow us to effectively run two tight end sets, these guy are more blocking tight ends than anything. Coach Gruden said Greshem his the potential to be like them two guys in New England, I show hope he shows us a little more it would certainly help this offense especially since we're at the receiver spot. Greshem needs to be become the best #2 option for Andy Dalton.

////Offensive Tackles//// The starting tackles are familiar faces, Andre Smith on the right, and Andrew Withworth on the left. Smith is guy who in my opinion has yet to live up to that top 10 pick we used on him, and never will, his durability is questionable and Dennis Roland is a guy has to stay ready on his toes backing up Andre. Andrew Withworth is by far our best offensive lineman and he has the most important job in protecting Dalton's blind side, Anthony Collins is listed as his back up.

////Guards//// One of our 2 first round picks was to fill the need at this position. Kevin Zeitler, rookie out of Wisconsin, had a great camp and has look really well. Clint Boling is listed as the starting left guard who I believe is helped a lot by the skill of the guy he plays next too, Withworth. Rookie Trevor Robinson and before mentioned, Dennis Roland is listed as back ups, and that fact show's how thin we our on the O-line.

////Center//// With Kyle Cook been placed on the IR, the Bengals went out and signed veteran Jeff Faine. He's a guy who very familiar with the offense we run and Kevin Zeitler said " He knew all the line call within his first week with the team." So even though we may not miss a beat with Faine, if he was to go down we have no other center, Trevor Robinson is listed as his back up, so let's keep our finger crossed.

////Defensive Line//// We have a lot Defensive Tackles that our young, hungry, and very talented and I believe is our most talented position on the field along with the Defensive Ends. Left to right goes Carlos Dunlap, Domata Peko, Geno Atkins and Michael Johnson. Dunlap can be an all-pro in my opinion if he can stay on the field, Peko does an extraordinary job clogging up the middle, Geno Atkins is and will be an all-pro if he stays on field, looking forward to seeing him coming of a 2011 pro bowl season. Michael Johnson is quietly becoming a leader on this young defensive. These guy are very important to this Defense and no doubt is the strength. The guys backing, this group up is guy with good track records like Robert Gathers, and top free agent Jamaal Anderson. Plus top rookie D-tackle from Penn State Devon Still.

////Linebackers//// After the initials 3, there not much behind them. You have Rey Mauluga, Manny Lawson and Thomas Howard your usual suspects, but after that the only guy I think worth mentioning is Dan Skuta who has been really coming along since late last year. With Mauluga decreasing durability he become rather important. Vontaze Burfict a rookie who barely made the roster and Vincent Rey is another guy I don't think going to see much of the field. Honestly, I think Dan Skuta will be the first guy off the bench backing up all three of the starting guys.

////Defensive Backs//// Defensively I think our clear weakness is the secondary. It was the weakness last year, and it will be the weakness this year. Some wonder where our first round draft pick is, outside of Zeitler. Dre Kirkpatrick was our first, 1st round pick and has yet to step on the field since the BCS National Championship game. He was a guy who was suppose to start, but after a off the field injury he will start the season on the injury list and likely be there for the first 3 games(You heard it hear first). Honestly I don't see him playing much at all this season, and as I said on draft day, this guy is a high risk pick that I don't think will pan out for the Bengals. Leon Hall is the best corner on this football team and that not a good thing, because I don't think he would carry that title on any other NFL team. I like the signing of Terrance Newman and Jason Allen but both these guys have durability questions and consistency question. Nate Clements has did well here, but also has shown in consistency. The bright spot in this secondary and the best player behind that front seven, I think no question has been Reggie Nelson. He's has revamped his career every since he touchdown in Cincinnati. Taylor Mays is now the full time free safety, and as much as Marvin Lewis love this guys size, some would say that's the only reason he still here. We all know the potential Mays have, but let's be honest, at times he has look scared, and like straight trash, he quickly become known as the Safety that's afraid to fill holes. Jeremy Miles could easily take that job in my opinion, and Nelson back up George Iloke is a big guy with a lot of potential.

////My Opinion/Projection//// Overall this Bengal football team will look almost identical to last year in every way, As long as Andy Dalton And A.J. Green Avoid Sophomore slumps. However, if they have any bit of Sophomore slumps this can be an ugly season for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2012 I have the Bengals finishing with the same record as last year, going 9-7. Honest that 9-7 can be 7-9, or I wouldn't be surprise at all if it's 11-5 I can see it being possible. I see a decrease in production for A.J. Green for the simple fact he is the only offensive threat we have, he is the only guy D-Coordinators will be concern about, so he will see double, and bracket coverage all year. I hope Greshem emerge as that top tight end everybody believe he can be, the time is now for him, he either do it now, or be the guy that can't get it done. I think cutting Jordan Shipley was a premature act of the Bengals front office, and I believe it weakened this offense even more. I have no belief in any of the other receivers on this roster to emerge as threats which is why I say the time is now for Jermaine Greshem. Sometime tells me Dalton will have similar #'s to last year, maybe a little better even though Green will be harder to find. Green reduction in numbers, but Dalton a jump in numbers? How is that possible, you ask? I think with Benson being gone, Gruden will spread it out a little more and Dalton will have more opportunities, also spreading it out will have to be one the ways you get Green loose. I believe Green-Ellis can be very productive for this football team, I only see him aveaging 12-15 carries a game, but he can be a good receiving back as well, part the role he play in New England for past few years. This team, like last year, will go as far as the defensive allow them to go, They are an extremely young defense, but they return nearly all their starters, and with one the best Defensive Coordinators in the business I think they will only get better from last year, and they were not a bad D last year. Being a Bengal fan, of course I won't them to go undefeated and win a ring, but the realist in me see 9-7 for this team fighting for a wild card spot and even though that's Identical to last year, they will be better this year. The Schedule is much more difficult this year than last, and this year we will get a true evaluation of this team and direction of this franchise. I'm sure I speak for everybody when I say, boi I'm glad football is back, Enjoy the season! John G.Dunn II jgdunn.blogspot.com

Stop Placing Blame. Blaming Yourself Is Better.

People growl intermittently about the current ‘blame culture’. And it’s true the word ‘accident’ is sometimes mistakenly used in place of ‘potential payout’. Don’t blame me! I’m just saying, is all. It used to be the case that plain bad luck or an ‘act of God’ was something you just had to live with. We rarely hear: “It was nobody’s fault…just bad luck.” “Well, Bad Luck better get himself a fine lawyer, because I’m suing!!” Of course, sometimes an organization or individual really was woefully, even fatally, negligent; in which case, just blame and compensation are right and proper. Terrible life-threatening mistakes are made sometimes. But on a more day-to-day level, I think it’s true that passing the buck is now a cultural pastime. This is a big problem if finding blame becomes more important than finding ways to put things right. But what’s so attractive about the international pastime of blaming others? Finding someone to blame (and then blaming them) may give us a substitute sensation for having solved a problem when we haven’t really understood cause and effect at all. Sure, anger and self-righteousness are exciting feelings, but we mustn’t become so hooked on excitement that we stop being able to see more subtle shades of cause and effect. And let’s not forget that blaming others is a neat little way of letting ourselves off the hook. We might say we want truth, but can we handle it? Take control of your life by blaming others less Some people get emotional satisfaction from talking about how awful other people are. But research has found that when you talk negatively to, say, a friend about how awful a colleague is, the listening friend is more likely to associate the negativity to you rather than to the person you’re describing (1). Researchers call this ‘spontaneous trait transference’. So it’s best to go easy on bad-mouthing others because it may backfire anyway. It takes a big person to accept outwardly and inwardly that they screwed up. I’m not saying we should never blame other people. Sometimes others are at fault and they need to know it and take responsibility. But being able to accept responsibility when that’s right means we actually become less helpless and passive. If everything is someone else’s fault, then what part do I play in my own life? Are my actions entirely without consequence? Am I that powerless? Or do all my actions only lead to good outcomes? Am I an entirely new type of human being? Knowing we can accept responsibility when things go wrong means we can also accept credit when things go well. We do, as individuals, have an effect on life; and that’s a good thing. But we need to develop the capacity to be objective enough about ourselves to avoid assuming we could never possibly have created problems ourselves. We also need to distinguish between accepting responsibility and punishing ourselves unduly. It seems we need to tread a path between overly internalizing (“Everything is always my fault!”) and overly externalizing (“Why do other people always screw up!”) when bad things happen. Doing too much of either make us off-balance and unhappy. Having the ‘everything and anything I do is self-justifiably wonderful and right!’ type of attitude is okay if you’re two, but I’m guessing you’re not. And the fact is, we all need feedback about ourselves. Otherwise, we don’t move forward. The pill can be bitter to swallow sometimes, but it can do us an awful lot of good. A jester is a person who is given to witticisms, jokes, and pranks(dictionary.com) and we all need one or to be one, Why? Blaming doesn’t have to mean ‘punishing’. If you are big enough to realize when you have made a mistake, you can admit it and then find ways, if possible, to make things better. That’s all it takes and all you can do. If other people use it as an excuse to turn on you, then that’s their issue. If you feel you have a tendency to blame others unfairly, then I salute you because you’ve already become your own Jester and everyone needs one. Most people will refuse to even countenance the idea that they may be prone to unfairly blaming others. So you’ve already taken a massive step. Look for the cause, not just any cause. If something doesn’t work out, it’s easy to get creative and find some reason why it’s someone else’s fault. Learn to relax with not actually knowing for a while why something worked out the way it did. Tolerate the temporary uncertainty of just not knowing until you get a wider perspective on things. Jumping to blame the first person isn’t an effective way of going about things. Wait for a bit by telling yourself: “Okay, this is the situation at the moment. Now, what’s the very best thing I can now do in these circumstances…?” Remember you can only grow by perceiving true feedback about yourself. Seeing objectively where you went wrong is how you improve and develop. We don’t progress as human beings just by ‘learning to love ourselves’ unconditionally. We need to develop the capacity to respond to the feedback life gives us about ourselves free of either the distorting effects of low self-esteem or conceit and arrogance. There is absolutely no shame in being able to admit to yourself or others that you made mistakes. Quite the opposite; it shows real strength of character. Very clever people make ‘stupid mistakes’ it is part of being human. The only genuine way not to make mistakes is not to be in the world. Get into the habit of admitting your mistakes sometimes. How do you react when things go wrong? Do you feel a sense of shock, a sense of “how can this happen to me?” Do you find yourself getting angry and worked up? Do you immediately start casting about in your mind to identify someone to blame for the problem? And working out a string of epithets to fling at them before you’ve even clearly established what exactly has happened? If you are used to just dishing out the blame and not accepting your part, remember the research that shows being able to apologize in relationships makes them much more likely to last and thrive (2). Don’t always be too quick to blame yourself, but just now and then admit to co-workers or your partner or friend that, yes, you too are human and you made a mistake. People will respect you for it. Forget blame and focus on where to go from here.Ever noticed how some people get more hung up on assigning blame than actually fixing a problem? If people feel you blame them unfairly, they will resent you. They may even come to hate you. People instinctively hate injustice. Get used to saying out loud: “Okay, it happened! For the time being, we need to focus on making things better!” You can give people feedback later, once you’ve calmed down and if it’s necessary. Remember how to motivate people. People can be shouted at, cursed at, and blamed, but still not know what it is they did wrong. If other people have made mistakes, they need to know: What may have led to those mistakes and How to do things better in future. Calling someone an idiot or telling them they “always do everything wrong!” is not feedback; it’s just abuse, no matter why you think you’re doing it. This kind of emotional incontinence may make people anxious, but they’ll never respect you because it displays your weaknesses so clearly. Life is full of people who take emotional shortcuts and blame other people unfairly or aggressively; for the sake of the human race, don’t be one of them. But I wouldn’t blame you if you were. If you ever learn to do these thing, not only will you become a better person in the eyes of all your peers, and people you encounter all throughout life, but also more importantly content with your self. In the beginning It's not easy to some time put the blame on your self, but in time it gets easier and you find the ability to become a better problem solver, and accomplisher. You also become better at helping others and that what it's all about. Let's make this place a better place. John G. Dunn II