On Sunday, August 8th, football finally gets underway with an epic, preseason tilt between two teams that underachieved last year - my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Cincinnati Bengals, who now feature the two greatest talking wide receivers in recent history. To celebrate this event I am going to take a sharpie and draw crazy 85’s and 81’s all over a bag of microwave popcorn while I watch the game!
Will TO play in the Hall of Fame Game? Even though he was late to training camp and even later because he missed an overnight flight to Cincinnati, my money still says, “Yes, he will play.” The reason he will play against Dallas is because, quite simply, it will be against Dallas. The primetime broadcast won’t hurt his desire to get back on the field against one of his old teams, either. Besides, how much preparation will he need in order to run down the field, wave his arm in the air to say he’s open, drop the pass that may or may not reach him accurately and then stroll back to the huddle in a huff?
I personally love the idea of TO and Ochocinco being on the same field at the same time. Neither is the superstar they once were, but their personalities have not degraded like their skills. TO will make the Cincinnati Bengals better this year. He did not succeed in Buffalo last fall because he had to be “the guy” on a slow-moving offense going nowhere. He doesn’t have to be “the guy” in Cincinnati. He may not ultimately get along with Ochocinco as the season progresses if they let their egos get in the way of each other, but he will thrive in the secondary receiver role.
Cincinnati has a decent running game and a solid quarterback – two things virtually non-existent in Buffalo last season. Granted TO has soured relationships with greater quarterbacks in the past, but he usually plays nice his first season. Since he only signed a 1-year contract, he is also auditioning for a chance to play anywhere next year.
Though I think he’ll have a decent year as part of a much-improved offense, I wouldn’t put him on my fantasy roster unless there were no other viable 3rd wide receiver options available. But you can. Heck, you can even reach and draft him early as a sleeper pick. Your league will thank you.
Next week, Letters of Misfortune start their journey around the NFL…
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