The Cincinnati Bengals (1390 hits)
Category: SportsLabels: sports
Rating: 1.15 on 35 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Tom Sorrell - sorrelltr.at.hotmail.com (View user info) at 2006-01-12 13:16:38 EST
As a 27 year old who has lived and died with the Bengals since 1987, watching Carson Palmer go down last week was something I'll never get over as long as I live. I meant to write about this earlier, but I couldn't put into words what I wanted to say.
Watching Palmer connect on his first pass of the game to Chris Henry for a 66 yard gain was fantastic. It was more than a completed pass, it was a bold statement. "We're here and we're ready to play." The raucous crowd erupted as Henry cradled the ball and fell to the ground. Three seconds later, when everyone looked back and saw Palmer sprawled across the turf the victim of a violent crime, the cheers stopped and the earth momentarily stopped on its axis. Then the reality of the situation set in.
With Palmer out, it didn't take a genius to see that Pittsburgh would win the game. With Carson in there, the Bengals would have been able to float a few deep balls outside in order to stretch the defense. This would have opened up the middle of the field and given Rudi Johnson more room to run. However, with Jon Kitna in the game, this was not a viable option. Kitna's deep ball lacks the zip and placement of Palmer's and he's forced to rely on shorter routes.
After being picked apart by Kitna for most of the first two quarters, the Steelers defense finally adjusted and took away the short to intermediate routes in the second half. They practically dared Kitna to go deep, knowing he couldn't do so effectively. This, of course, led to him pulling the ball down and running around in the backfield like a frightened teenager being chased through the woods by Jason Vorhees. The game was over long before the clock hit zero.
This went beyond stomach punches or broken axels. This was borderline apocalyptic. This one act on its own could be enough to sink the franchise into the depths of mediocrity for another 15 years. Think about it. They finally find a franchise quarterback and reward his efforts by signing him to an extraordinarily large contract. A few weeks later, he's being taken off the field in a cart. They lose their first playoff game in 15 years at home to their bitter divisional rival who react to the win as if they've conquered Rome and burnt it to the ground. Rumors fly about their receiver doing his best impression of Hulk Hogan on the head coach in the post-game locker room. I mean, do I even need to go on?
It was almost like watching a close friend suffer through 15 years of his life -- eventually losing everything he owned and being forced to live in a box under the overpass. Miraculously, after 15 years of hardship, he finally got his life together. He found a good job and bought a nice house in a quiet neighborhood. His whole life was back on track and you were so happy for him. He even met and fell in love with a woman and decided to get married. Then, on the day of the wedding, his wife to be left him standing at the alter.
User Reviews
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2006-02-08 01:32:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
not career threatening.
Submitted by JesterOfUnnamedGods (user info) at 2006-02-08 01:24:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Me and a couple guys I know watched the game in Iraq at 3 in the morning. It was an upset to say the least. I had 50 dollar bet saying they would make it to round 2 of the playoffs. I made the bet the last time I was home. It was at the preseason game where they played the Colts. Carson Palmer getting taken out second play of the game, he was the Nati's last great hope. Hoo-Fuckin-Dey next year though.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-01-13 08:57:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Potentially career ending, but the doctors have faith that he'll be ok in time for the '06 season.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2006-01-13 06:47:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Career-ending :(
Submitted by Foonbo (user info) at 2006-01-12 22:45:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I guess I'll allow you to jump on the Bears bandwagon for just this year.
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2006-01-12 22:29:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
har har im glad he got hit
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2006-01-12 19:42:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Worse yet: Try going home for Christmas to see the Steelers stomp the Browns at home. The only game I went to all year and the best part was when that idiot fan got bodyslammed.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2006-01-12 19:40:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Boo fucking hoo.
Try being a Browns fan.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-01-12 15:57:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You're lucky this didn't happen the year that Boone plunked the homer off'a Wakefield to send the Sox packin' it up for the year.
I'd imagine you'd be on suicide watch right now.
I'll admit, I'm not particularly attached to the Bengals or Steelers, but I hated seeing that go down. Injuries are never fun to watch, but injuries like this, during the playoffs, are just heartbreaking. PARTICULARLY with this team, this year, and under these circumstances.
During one of the replays they focused on the Steelers lineman that had connected w/ Palmer's knee. He looked back to check on him, and could obviously tell that he was really injured, because the guy hit his leg (or the ground, I can't recall which) in frustration. Turns out he used to play for the Bengals, and knew how much the playoffs meant to them. Sad, really.
Anyway, I thought it was classy that he stayed with him and tried to help.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2006-01-12 15:13:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Actually, no I haven't.
The Bengals kind of suck.
To quote Tom Petty, "Even the losers get lucky sometimes.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2006-01-12 15:12:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
OH YEAH?!?!?!
Well I've been a Bengals fan since 1980.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-01-12 14:48:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I think the edited version of it is much better. Like I said, this is only a rough draft. I have trouble seeing my errors when it's in an e-mail.
Submitted by VengefulDaddy (user info) at 2006-01-12 14:35:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I've just emerged from a drunken stupor I'd been maintaining since that horrible day. Nice post.
Oh, and I've been a Bengals fan since I moved to the Cincy area in 1981. I should be used to this shit since I was Browns fan before that.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2006-01-12 14:16:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And Bengals fan since '82.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2006-01-12 14:15:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm still too broken up for words.
While the hit wasn't dirty, it should have been a penalty. No hitting low once the qb has released the ball. That's the rule. And don't say "He was blocked into him" because a player doesn't wrap his arm around the ankle when he is blocked into someone.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2006-01-12 14:15:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by kitchens_closed (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:46:03 (#)
Ranking: -1
It's a football game, pussy. A GAME.
Shit, even Eagles fans didn't feel this way when McNabb when down in '02 and this year.
-------------
You obviously dont understand shit about sports.
If it makes you feel better, Tom, the tear was complete, and so it is easier to fix and rehab. The surgery went perfectly. He should be ready for next season. I'm sure you already know this, or somebody already mentioned this, but I dont care to read the responses.
I know how I would feel if Brett Favre went down like that six or seven years ago. Or even now.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-01-12 14:07:34 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I need to find a bookie, damn it.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-01-12 14:05:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Not for me, nitty...Had the Playoff Home Underdog and was feeling pretty good about a cover at halftime.
Submitted by ajanssen (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:57:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I got fucked on that game, my money was on Cincinatti. Fuck the Steelers. Rothlisberger needs to shave that shit off his face, Palamalalalalalalauu needs a fucking haircut, and Randle El needs to get fucked in the mouth.
Submitted by nitty34 (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:56:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You're getting q +2 for 2 reasons:
The Steelers covered the 3.5
The total went over 47.
It made for a nice Sunday.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:51:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh, thank you so much for telling me it's a game. I wasn't aware.
Perhaps this whole thing is a bit of an exaggeration that you didn't pick up on?
Shlongy, I'll be his own personal gopher if he wants. I'll clean his shoes and go get him food and whatnot. Anything that could get me a job working for the Bengals.
Submitted by kitchens_closed (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:46:03 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
It's a football game, pussy. A GAME.
Shit, even Eagles fans didn't feel this way when McNabb when down in '02 and this year.
Submitted by Sphagnum (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:45:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
ZZZzzzzzzz.....
Submitted by JohnGalt (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:41:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Confuzitron (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:28:11 (#)
Ranking: 2
Eh, don't be too damned gloomy. Palmer will be back next year. So will Chad and Rudi hopefully. They'll still be a playoff team.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:38:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
The only thing I MAY have to do is lie... and tell him that you're a level-headed, mentally stable adult.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:37:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I'll see if Marvin has any "pull" in the non-football related job situation. Fuck, I'll ask him...why not?
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:34:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Jesus Shlongy, how about you try to get me a job with the Bengals? I don't care if it's a job as a towel boy....
Submitted by Mike00295 (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:32:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
GO HORSE
Submitted by Badlands (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:30:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
What drama.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:29:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I'll pass along your love story to Marvin when I see him in about a month.
And I am not kidding.
Submitted by Confuzitron (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:28:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Eh, don't be too damned gloomy. Palmer will be back next year. So will Chad and Rudi hopefully. They'll still be a playoff team.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:28:01 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
This is just a rough draft of something I'm doing. I wanted to see how it looked before I sent it out so I posted it.
I don't care if anyone likes this or not. -2 it. Whatever.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:26:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i like the bengals this year. palmer's fun to watch.
he'll be back.
Submitted by MisterCeltic (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:23:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
GO Bungles WOOT!
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2006-01-12 13:21:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
At least they made the playoffs. Palmer will return next season.