For years the Cincinnati Bengals were the team of the troublemakers. Chris Henry, Odell Thurman, and others kept getting in trouble with the law and the big sheriff of the league, Commissioner Roger Goddell. Now they seem to be the scrapheap, where the junkyard dogs that everyone else abandoned can find a home.
You can go back to 2008 and find a starting point. Chris Henry was arrested for the 5th time, and the Bengals released him. He was suspended for 8 games but there were no takers. Then Mike Brown, against the wishes of his coach, Marvin Lewis, re-signed the troubled receiver. In doing so Brown said that he is a redeemer, and that he would give Henry one last shot.
The risk seemed to be working out for the best. Henry had difficulty getting back into the flow of the game in 2008, but some of that was seen as Carson Palmer not being on the field. In 2009 Henry showed flashes of his potential before breaking his arm, then tragically died in an accident during the season. Henry had kept himself out of trouble and looked to be on the path to redemption.
When Chris Perry showed that he was not going to be a bell cow ball carrier, the Bengals took in Cedric Benson, who had been a bust with Chicago, found his own trouble with the law and was released by the Bears. When he got a second chance to show that he was deserving of his 4th overall draft selection in 2005 he took the most of it. Benson finished the 2008 season with three 100 yard games, and rushed for over 1200 yards in 2009 despite sitting out 3 games with injuries.
Going into the 2010 season the Bengals have signed Matt Jones and Adam Jones. Matt was released by Jacksonville after being arrested for drug possession, and I don't know if this blog has enough space to list the problems Adam has had since coming into the league in 2005. Both were signed to low risk contracts and will be joining a team coming off of an AFC North Division title. With the efforts the Bengals have put into Henry and Benson, they know how to handle players who have had troubles and are coming off the scrapheap. If they can stay out of trouble as Henry did and can contribute on the field the Bengals will reap the benefits.
But now there is a possibility that the Bengals might sign JaMarcus Russell. Is there a better place for him? I don't think so. With Palmer as the starter, Russell would be strictly a backup. No pressure to carry the franchise, and I'm sure if he signs with any team the financial risk will be very small. Why not take a chance on Russell? If it is going to work out, it will probably happen in Cincinnati.
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