|
Good morning, folks.
When I heard about the devastating injury to Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow, I wasn’t surprised.
As a lifetime Bengals fan, news like this is kind of matter-of-fact.
Advertisement
 Why this ad?
Yes, you heard that right. While I’m not a diehard fan of any team anymore, I was a big-time Bengals fan as a kid and young adult — and still keep an eye peeled on how the team is making out. Usually, it’s not good.
In case you missed it, Burrow — the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at LSU — was carted off the field on Sunday after taking a hit to his left knee in a game against Washington. An MRI on Monday revealed a torn ACL, a torn MCL and “other structural issues as well.”
Ouch.
If this seems eerily familiar, it’s because Burrow is not the first No. 1 pick by the Bengals to go down in action.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
QB Carson Palmer — the first pick in the 2003 draft — tore two ligaments and had his kneecap dislocated on the second play from scrimmage in a wild card game loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 season. (I hate the Steelers like I hate the Yankees, by the way).
And, running back Ki-Jana Carter didn’t play a single regular-season snap for the Bengals after tearing his ACL on the third carry of his first preseason game after Cincinnati had traded up to make the Penn State star the top pick in the 1995 draft.
All of this is evidence that the Bengals and their fans aren’t allowed to have nice things.
I’m not the only Bengals fan in our newsroom. Perspectives editor Brad Oswald also cheers for them. Oddly, both Oswald and I are Dakota Collegiate grads — perhaps, there was something in the water there.
Brad asked me on Monday how I ended up a Bengals fan. I told him that as a kid, I rooted for the Cincinnati Reds in baseball. I later thought the Bengals were kinda like lions, and with my last name decided I might as well cheer for them too. Of course, Bengals are tigers, but what did I know?
Brad may have a better explanation. He recalls that in the era we grew up in south St. Vital, for some reason the Sunday games on cable were always from the old AFC Central — Steelers, Bengals, Browns and Oilers. Since he hates the Steelers like I do, it was a choice of the three others. Could have been worse, I suppose — had we chosen the Browns.
The Bengals have had their moments. Not to mention a few memorable players.
Anthony Munoz is regarded by many to be the greatest offensive lineman of all time, and is the team’s only member of the Football Hall of Fame.
Quarterbacks Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason both led their teams to a Super Bowl appearance.
Receiver Chad Johnson had seven 1,000-yard seasons, was an All-Pro four times and is one of only 48 receivers in league history to surpass 10,000 yards in his career. Ochocinco’s numbers alone seem to qualify him for Canton — and his TD celebrations rank up there with the greatest of all-time.
david kohl/ The Associated Press archivesChad Ochocinco becomes a tad vexed during Monday game against Steelers.
On that subject, who doesn’t remember the Ickey Shuffle, the TD dance performed by Bengals RB Elbert “Ickey” Woods in the late 80s? His awkward dance lives on as one of the weirdest of all-time.
And if not for the hated Joe Montana, the Bengals might be the two-time Super Bowl champion Bengals. Cincinnati lost the title game twice (1982 and 1988) to Joe and the San Francisco 49ers, the ’88 loss coming on a Montana TD pass to John Taylor with just 39 seconds left to play.
Now before you judge me, what’s worse, really — being a Bengals fan or a Vikings fan? I mean Minny has lost four Super Bowls.
I know there’s a bunch of you out there.
As always, you can reach me by replying to this mailing or by sending me an email here.
|
