Cedric Benson joined Alex Marvez and Rich Gannon on SiriusXM Radio today.
Listen HERE for what Ced said.
Mock it!
Mock draft
National Football Post
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick adds a physical element to the Bengals secondary. He’s got the ability to press off the line, make plays in zone and consistently tackle the ball carrier. Plus, he has the size to handle some of the bigger wideouts in the AFC North.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Boise State RB Doug Martin
Martin is one of the “hot” names right now and has really done a nice for job himself all post-season. The Bengals could use some youth at the running back spot and Martin is an ideal fit for the physical NFC North.
Bengals go primetime
From the Bengals:
The Bengals’ 2012 regular-season schedule, released today by the National Football League, reflects the club’s profile as a young team coming off a 2011 playoff season. Cincinnati is scheduled for three national prime-time games -- one each on NBC (Sunday), ESPN (Monday) and NFL Network (Thursday). The NBC Sunday night game, Oct. 21 vs. Pittsburgh, will be at Paul Brown Stadium.
The Bengals’ last year with more regular-season prime-time games was 2007, when Cincinnati had four. This season’s total could rise to four or above, due to flex scheduling that could change kickoff times during Weeks 11-17, but it cannot drop below three because the games currently scheduled will not be subject to being flexed.
The Bengals will open the season on Monday night for only the second time in franchise history, visiting division rival Baltimore, the defending AFC North champion, at 7 p.m. on ESPN. In 2007, the Bengals hosted Baltimore in a Monday night season opener, winning 27-20.
Cincinnati’s home opener will be at 1 p.m. against Cleveland on Sun., Sept. 16, marking the 78th meeting in the “Battle of Ohio” series. The Bengals are opening with two division games for the first time since ’07. Cincinnati also will close the season with two division games for the first time since ’01, visiting Pittsburgh and hosting Baltimore.
“We start the season with a great opportunity,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, “playing our division champion and AFC semifinalist (Baltimore) at their place. You never know at this point where the biggest challenges on a schedule are going to be, but obviously it looks like we also will have two very crucial division games to close the schedule.”
The Bengals’ Thursday night game on NFL Network will be at Philadelphia on Dec. 13. Though the game falls within the flex scheduling period, the Thursday night schedule cannot be flexed. Broadcasts of the Bengals’ two games on cable, on ESPN and NFL Network, will also be simulcast in Cincinnati by a local non-cable station, yet to be determined.
The Bengals’ home schedule also features games against several marquee non-division opponents, all currently scheduled on Sundays at 1 p.m. Denver and QB Peyton Manning are set for Nov. 4 and will be followed the next week by the defending NFL champion N.Y. Giants. Oakland and former Bengals QB Carson Palmer are scheduled on Nov. 25, and the always high-profile Dallas Cowboys will make their fifth all-time Cincinnati visit on Dec. 9.
Bengals 2012 schedule
PRESEASON (day, date, opponent, time)
Fri., Aug. 10, N.Y. JETS, 7:30 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 16, at Atlanta (FOX), 8 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 23, GREEN BAY, 7 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 30, at Indianapolis, 7 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON (day, date, opponent, time)
Mon., Sept. 10, at Baltimore (ESPN), 7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 16, CLEVELAND, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 23, at Washington, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 30, at Jacksonville, 4:05 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 7, MIAMI, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 14, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 21, PITTSBURGH (NBC), 8:20 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 28, — BYE —
Sun., Nov. 4, DENVER, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 11, N.Y. GIANTS, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 18, at Kansas City*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 25, OAKLAND*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 2, at San Diego*, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 9, DALLAS*, 1 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 13, at Philadelphia (NFL Network), 8:20 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 23, at Pittsburgh*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 30, BALTIMORE*, 1 p.m.
Bengals schedule analysis
ESPN
Sellout streak?: It's no secret that the Bengals have had trouble selling tickets. Only two home games last season weren't blacked out (and one was the result of a "buy one, get one free" promotion). But there's no excuse for a lack of sellouts this year. The Bengals have a three-game home stretch in the middle of the season when Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning come to town. If the Bengals can't pack the stadium for those games, there's a major problem in Cincinnati.
