2007 Cincinnati Bengals

The 2007 Cincinnati Bengals season is the 39th season for the team in the National Football League. They will try to improve upon their 8-8 record in 2006 and are looking to return to the playoffs and avoid narrowly missing them as they did in 2006.

Coaching changes
Head coach Marvin Lewis will be entering his fifth year with the Bengals. He will be joined with offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan.

Departures

 * Safety Kevin Kaesviharn signed with the New Orleans Saints.


 * Guard Eric Steinbach signed with the Cleveland Browns.


 * Linebacker Brian Simmons signed with the New Orleans Saints.


 * Tight end Tony Stewart signed with the Oakland Raiders.


 * Linebacker Marcus Wilkins signed with the Atlanta Falcons.


 * Wide receiver Kelly Washington signed with the New England Patriots.


 * Defensive tackle Shaun Smith signed with the Cleveland Browns.


 * Center Rich Braham retired at the end of the 2006 after recovering from an early-season injury.


 * Cornerback Tory James signed with the New England Patriots.


 * Defensive tackle Sam Adams was released and signed with the Denver Broncos.


 * Linebacker A.J. Nicholson was released.

Signings

 * Defensive tackle Michael Myers from the Denver Broncos.


 * Linebacker Edgerton Hartwell from the Atlanta Falcons


 * Cornerback Blue Adams from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Suspensions
Chris Henry, after repeated off-field run-ins with the law, he was suspended for 8 games (½ the regular season) after a private meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Odell Thurman, another NFL player currently under contract with the Bengals has had legal troubles and still appears to be in trouble with the Bengals as well. Generally speaking, head coach Marvin Lewis has repeatedly avoided or refused to speak about his status with the team after Thurman was suspended for the all of 2006. When he applied for reinstatement in July of 2007 he was denied and was further suspended the entire 2007-08 season. The exact reason for the extension was not specified by the league but many suspect it had to do with an drunk-driving incident earlier that same month. His suspension prompted Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge John Burlew to call the NFL officials "Hypocrites" for promoting alcohol sales and consumption during games but punishing players for drinking.

Off-field incidents
Chris Henry was arrested for driving without a license and a seatbelt, which led to the meeting with Goodell and his subsequent suspension for 8 games. In May, it was reported he failed a drug test as part of his parole agreement but shortly after the announcement was made it was recanted by the Kentucky police department.

Levi Jones was involved in an altercation with linebacker Joey Porter of the Miami Dolphins. Allegedly Porter and some others ambushed Levi, physically assaulted and robbed him. Porter was charged with a misdemeanor for assault. Jones characterized the incident as a "cowardly assault".

AJ Nicholson was arrested for the second time in as many years but for domestic violence. His wife dropped the charges but due to statutory state laws the state continued to press charges. On the day his arrest was announced he was released a few hours later by the Bengals.

Odell Thurman, who was suspended for all of the previous season but still contractually bound to the Bengals, was reportedly involved in an assault at his home but the hearing was cancelled as no charges were leveled before the hearing date.

Long term and/or important injuries
David Pollack, injured last season with a broken neck vertabrae will spend this season in rehab with the hopes to return in the 2008-09 season.

Kenny Irons, the 2nd round draft pick, experienced a serious knee injuring during the preseason putting him on Injured Reserve for his rookie year.

Chris Perry experienced another injury which threatens to keep him out the entire season. In August he was placed on the PUP (Phycially Unable to Perform) list meaning he will be out a minimum of 6 games.

Henderson fractured his wrist during the preseason and was put on Injured Reserve.

Preseason Games
In the previous preseason the Bengals went 4-0. The Bengals in the 2007-08 season are 0-3 with one last game (versus Indianapolis) pending.

The preseason started off with a loss to the Detriot Lions at their dome. The big focus was the limited showdown and relationship between Palmer and his former mentor Jon Kitna. The Bengals' starting team did not score a touchdown in their posessions, walking away with 2 Shayne Graham field goals and a huge time of posession advantage before they were benched. The Lions' starters did not score a TD during their posessions during that same time. In this game the 2nd round draft pick, Kenny Irons, experienced his season-ending injury. Detroit went on to win the game.

The second game was against the New Orleans Saints. Again, the starting Bengals offense failed to score a TD and settled for several Shane Graham field goals. LB Henderson suffered a season-ending wrist injury late in the game.

The third game was at the home of the Atlanta Falcons on a Monday night. The starting Bengals played until the 3rd quarter and scored two touchdowns to end their drought. Shayne Graham was injured on a kickoff during an attempted tackle and did not return to kick any PATs or kickoffs, which meant the Bengals made a conversion attempt on 4th down and attempted a 2 point try. Atlanta's starting team, lead by Joey Harrington since Vick's legal troubles will keep him from the team, also managed two touchdowns. The Bengals went on to lose the game.

Their finaly preseason game is against the Indianapolis Colts and came 3 days after the Atlanta game. The Bengals' starting lineup is not expected to play more than a few series if they take the field at all.

Regular season schedule
The 2007 Bengals' schedule includes two Monday Night Football games for the first time ever. They will appear in nationally televised games up to four times this season (the fourth game, versus the Steelers, is set as a "flexible time" and depending on the predicted interest in the game may be moved to showcase other late-season playoff race games).

Notes and references
Judge calls NFL 'hypocrites' http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070821/SPT02/308210037/