Bengals WR Jerome Simpson has puzzled coaches for two years.
I said it here a week ago. Or maybe a month ago (oh, I forget … time has no meaning trapped down here in a Colombian coal mine). The 2010 knee-season, oops, I mean pre-season, was all about Jerome Simpson. Okay, toss in a little, tiny, itsy-bitsey bit of Pacman and Matt Jones. But this pre-season was all Jerome.
So, do we write off the two “developmental” seasons? Admit defeat? Cut our losses? Blame Bush? Get drunk, and then blame Bush? Or do we saddle up, again, for year three? Remember, this pre-season was all about Jerome. But as Yoda told us in the greatest movie ever made, The Empire Strikes Back … “there is another.”
And his name is Mr. D.Z. Briscoe.
According to reports out of Bengalton, DC (courtesy of press secretary GEOFF HOBSON) -
Go with Simpson and the big-league measurable and while he has struggled with the scheme he has also been in it now for three years. Or go with Briscoe, a guy that showed how good his technique is despite turning just 21 on Tuesday. The Bengals could keep Simpson and try to put Briscoe on the practice squad, but Briscoe was a high-profile player at Kansas and that TD is now on tape. So someone could claim him either off waivers or off the practice squad once it is formed Sunday.
Hmmmm. Jeee-rome or D.Z? … D.Z. or Jeee-rome?
For the record, Briscoe will last on the practice squad about as long as four apples pies would survive cooling in a kitchen window with Bengals RT Entree Smith around. Not long, buddy. I agree with Hobson’s assessment … it’s very likely the coaching staff is mulling over Jeee-rome or D.Z? … D.Z. or Jeee-rome?
Bengals don’t need another “route runner” guy.
We have Ocho, Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley to run precise routes. The Bengals need … Palmer needs … I need … you need a deep-threat, playmaker stud. Not a route-runner. For all the Ocho fan, I’m sorry … his days of running past people and catching long TD passes are gone. Terrell Owens is this team’s primary long-ball threat.
So, the votes are in and 76 percent of Americans feel Jerome’s the guy. He had a decent pre-season, and a strong showing in the Indy game.
Look, very few WRs make serious contributions their rookie season, and count Briscoe in that group. If we’re looking for a deep threat (yes, we are) … looking for someone who knows the system (yes, we are) … and looking for someone with the best chance of contributing this year (yes, we are!) … I say it’s Jeee-rome.
Because 76 percent of Americans can’t be wrong.
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Cut Dan Coats. Keep Simpson and Briscoe. But you’re right…Bengals’ coaches and management have shown that they want to win big THIS year. So they probably keep Simpson.