The Cincinnati Bengals will kick off the NFL preseason when they face the Dallas Cowboys in the 2010 Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The game will take place on August 8, as the defending AFC North champions take on the top team from the NFC East last season.

While the Cowboys will be acknowledging their former three-time Super Bowl winning running back in Emmitt Smith, the Bengals will see one of their former coaches in Dick LeBeau enter Canton as arguably one of the greatest defensive coaches in NFL history—even though his induction is based off his playing career. He is currently tied for eighth all-time with Dave Brown with 62 career interceptions.

LeBeau spent 18 seasons as a member of the Bengals coaching staff. From 1980-91, he spent four years as a defensive backfield coach before taking on the role of defensive coordinator. From there, he established his zone blitz scheme to help Cincinnati contain one of the most superb defenses in the NFL during the 80’s.

After a five-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, LeBeau returned as defensive coordinator for the Bengals before taking over as the head coach in 2000 for three seasons—becoming the oldest rookie head coach in NFL history at the age of 63. During his 18 years with the organization, he’s been a part of the franchise’s only two Super Bowl
appearances in ’82 and ’89.

It may have been 25 years since he took the field as a player, but LeBeau’s induction set to take place in August seems like an honor well worth the wait. He may be inducted as a member of the Detroit Lions, but LeBeau will always have a place in the hearts of Cincinnati fans for the 18 seasons he spent with the Bengals.

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The NFL announced Wednesday that the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will kick off the preseason in August by participating in the 2010 Hall of Fame game August 8 in Canton, Ohio. It will mark the first time since 1982 that two previous division winners will square off in the exhibition game.

While the Cowboys are coming off an 11-5 season in which they recorded their first playoff win in 14 years, the Bengals will enter 2010 as AFC North champions—an accomplishment not many expected coming into last season.

In a division with arguably two of the best defenses the last couple of years, most analysts expected the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens to be crowned AFC North champions in 2009—especially after the two teams met in the AFC Championship the previous season.

Instead, Cincinnati proved all doubters wrong on the way to their first division sweep in franchise history before falling to the New York Jets in the opening round of the 2010 playoffs.

It may only be a preseason game, but there should be plenty of excitement when the defending NFC East champions take on the Bengals August 8—espeically since both teams should be strong playoff contenders once again in 2010.

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According to his Twitter page, Bob Glauber of Newsday.com claims a source close with the organization says the Cincinnati Bengals regret signing wide receiver Laveranues Coles last March.

"Source familiar with Bengals' situation tells me there are no plans to sign Terrell Owens. Team also regrets Laveranues Coles signing in '09."

Since everyone is already familiar with the Terrell Owens situation, so for now, that topic will be saved until after free agency officially kicks off March 5.

Coles on the other hand was nothing short of a disappointment during his first season with the Bengals. He signed a four-year deal worth $28 million in hopes of filling in the void as an effective No. 2 wideout that T.J. Houshmandzadeh left after he signed with the Seattle Seahawks last March.

Instead, Coles struggled to stay consistent in the passing game all season, finishing with just 43 catches for 514 yards and five touchdowns. Not only did he arguably have his worst year since his rookie season in 2000 with the New York Jets, but Coles failed to even cross the 100-yard mark any game in 2010—with the closest time coming in a Week Nine contest against the Baltimore Ravens in which he finished with 72 yards.

Does that mean the reports about the organization regretting signing Coles be taken seriously? Of course they should.

However, the fact that it’s been just one season should be taken into consideration. If anything, the sources should be showing signs of frustration at this point, not regret.

If Coles finishes 2010 with similar numbers to last season, then it should be safe to say the Bengals regret spending all that money on a player on the downfall of his career in Coles.

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Last season, no player may have been more of a disappointment than Cincinnati Bengals tight end Chase Coffman. After being inactive for the first 12 games of the 2009 season, he was eventually placed on injured reserve due to bone spurs in his left ankle.

The Bengals set high expectations for Coffman when they selected him with the 98th overall pick of last year's draft, considering they were in need of a tight end to make a threat in the passing game. They hoped to make him a consistent target for Carson Palmer after he finished his career at Missouri as the NCAA's all-time leader in receptions for a tight end with 247 to go along with his 2,659 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns.

Instead, Coffman struggled during training camp to make the adjustment from playing at the college level to a professional level. During HBO’s Hard Knocks , the Bengals’ coaching staff constantly pointed out his inability to make the type of blocks expected for an effective tight end in the NFL.

With the 2010 NFL Draft quickly approaching, there have been numerous talks surrounding Cincinnati selecting a tight end with the 21st pick to improve the passing game. ESPN’s Todd McShay suggests the Bengals select Jermaine Gresham out of Oklahoma in his recent Mock Draft while Mel Kiper originally suggested Aaron Hernandez out of Florida .

If Cincinnati does end up selecting a tight end in the first round of this year’s draft, there may be even more pressure on Coffman to come through in 2010 after a disappointing rookie season if he expects to be with the Bengals in the near future.

The Bengals have been in need of a consistent tight end in the passing game for quite some time. If Coffman can bounce back and live up to the high expectations from last season, Cincinnati may have a bright future with not one, but two threats at the tight end position.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco continues to urge his organization to take a shot at Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens when he becomes a free agent on March 5—this time insisting he would take a pay cut to bring in the six-time Pro Bowler.

Even if the Bengals continue to show no signs of interest in signing the controversial wide receiver, reports have indicated Ochocinco insists he would take a pay cut to bring Owens along board for the 2010 season. Last season, Owens signed a one-year deal with the Bills worth $6.5 million—which means he will most likely be looking for another hefty contract.

Of course, the only question that remains is how serious Ochocinco’s comments should be taken. He has a history of running his mouth for fun and these so-called comments could be just another classic move by No. 85.

If Owens does happen to land in Cincinnati next season, the Bengals would immediately become one of the most dangerous offenses in football. With him and Ochocinco playing side-by-side, the passing game would improve after finishing 26th last season.

After a disappointing 2009 season in which he finished with just 55 catches for 829 yards and five touchdowns, the argument can be made that Owens would return to his dominant form with a quarterback like Carson Palmer throwing the ball. In his three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Bills, Owens led all active wide receivers with 38 touchdowns.

It may be all talk at the moment, but the thought of Owens and Ochocinco playing together in Cincinnati next season will continue to be a popular topic during the offseason.

That is until Owens finally makes a decision on where he’ll play in 2010.

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Not even a week after his signing, former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones is already receiving criticism for the unimpressive workout he provided for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports released an article about Jones, claiming sources within the organization said the team wasn't impressed with his workout, yet still managed to sign him.

“It was one of the worst workouts I have ever seen,” one of the sources said. “I don’t care how fast his 40 time is or was, he’s a slow-twitch athlete.”

Another source from inside the organization had a similar opinion towards Jones' workout.

“He obviously has great size, but not even that is much of an advantage when you don’t move very fast,” the other source said. “He’s not really the solution to what we need.”

If this happens to be true, why would Cincinnati go through with the signing?

It’s hard to imagine the Bengals offering a deal to a player if he had as bad of a workout as the source claims. Cincinnati may be hoping for a low-risk, high-reward with the signing considering Jones’ deal is only worth $700,000, but there’s no logic behind bringing him on board if his workout was that awful.

In 2008, Jones finished with 65 receptions for 761 yards and two touchdowns in just 12 games. After sitting out the 2009 season following his release by the Jaguars last March, there’s no denying it will take some time for Jones to get back to a level where he could make an impact in the Bengals’ offense.

That is, if he ever reaches that level.

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Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Andre Smith recently underwent surgery on the same foot that kept him sidelined for a majority of his rookie season.

The surgery was performed as a clean-up procedure to prevent future breaks and will keep him out for the next 10 weeks.

Even though his rehabilitation should have him return in time for the start of organized team activities in May, there seems to be a ton of frustration with Smith during his time here in Cincinnati.

The former first-round pick out of Alabama was expected to have an immediate impact on a Bengals offensive line that finished third in 2008 by allowing 51 sacks.

While the offensive line saw a drastic improvement in 2009, Smith was a non-factor and never made the immediate impact the Bengals hoped he would have after he fractured his foot during training camp—an injury that seems like it could have been avoided.

After holding out of training camp until the end of August for a bigger contract, Smith fractured his foot in just his second day with his new team. The injury came during a non-contact drill—which was even more frustrating for a Bengals team who spent so long to just get him to camp.

Two days after the organization finally agreed to pay him a large sum of money (four-year deal worth $26 million with $21 million guaranteed), he was expected to miss a few months, if not the entire season.

During his holdout, while the rest of his teammates were participating in training camp, Smith did his best to stay in shape by working out with a personal trainer. However, the argument can be made that Smith wasn't in the correct shape he should have been when he finally decided to attend training camp at the end of August—which also brings in the question of whether or not his foot fracture could have been avoided.

There is a significant difference on the intensity between working out with a trainer and participating in training camp with a professional football team. If Smith had just put his selfishness aside and entered training camp on time last year, there's a good chance this foot injury would never have even happened.

Instead, the Bengals will have to be prepared in case this foot injury has an affect on their plans for 2010. He may be expected to return in May, but that doesn't mean Smith will be in the type of shape Cincinnati hopes for him to be in.

For the meantime, the frustration behind Andre Smith continues for the Bengals and their fans in Cincinnati.

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Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith had surgery on the same foot he had surgery on last season and is expected to be sidelined for the next 10 weeks. The surgery was performed this time around as a clean-up procedure to prevent future breaks in the foot and should be rehabilitated in time for the start of organized team activities in May.

Even though his injury allowed him to return for the remaining seven games in 2009, Smith's rookie season was not only disappointing, but frustrating for the Bengals considering how the injury could have been prevented.

Smith held out for most of training camp last season and didn't sign with the Bengals until the end of August until they agree on a four-year deal worth $26 million—$21 million of which is guaranteed.

While his teammates spent their time in Georgetown, Kentucky preparing for the upcoming season, Smith was left to stay his shape on his own time until the two parties came to an agreement. It was only two days after he finally came to an agreement with the Bengals that he fractured his left foot during a non-contact drill that ended up sidelining him for most of his rookie season.

The question that will now linger in the back of the minds of the Bengals’ organization and their fans is if Smith’s injury could have been prevented. If he had just put his selfishness aside during contract negotiations and showed up to training camp on time, would the injury even have happened?

As great as it was for Smith to stay in shape on his own during the holdout, there’s no way his workout could have been as intense as the one Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was giving to his players at training camp. Had he been in the right shape at the time he finally entered training camp towards the end of August, Smith may not have even fractured his foot.

Instead, the Bengals have to worry about how Smith’s foot may have an impact in 2010, a season in which he is expected to be a starter. He may be expected to return in time for organized team activities, but after last season, there’s no telling what to expect from Smith and his foot during the offseason.

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The Cincinnati Bengals signed former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones to a one-year deal on Friday in hopes of improving a passing game that ranked 26th overall last season.

He received offers from both the Bengals and Tennessee Titans, but he felt Cincinnati would be a better fit.

After sitting out the 2009 season since no team showed interest in him, there seems to be mixed emotions from fans around the league about the signing because of Jones and his troubled past.

The main reason why he was released by the Jaguars last March was because of his inability to stay out of trouble with the law.

Jones' release came following a drug test that provided evidence for alcohol in his system—which was a violation of a plea agreement that had been reached following his second arrest.

He also received a three-game suspension by the league that season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Now, Jones looks for a fresh start with a Cincinnati team with a reputation for granting troubled players a second chance.

Of course, there's a chance the risk may backfire for the Bengals if Jones is still the same troubled player who continues to run into trouble with the law.

However, what if the move works out in the team's favor?

The Bengals find themselves in a low-risk situation with the hope of a high-reward when it comes to Jones considering they are paying him $700,000—which is slightly above the league minimum.

They're receiving a player who had enough talent and potential to be selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

He already has an advantage with his height at 6'6" and has explosive speed for a player his size. Cincinnati is in need of a deep threat after Chris Henry's death and Jones has the potential to make just as much of an impact, if not more.

If Jones can make an impact for the Bengals' offense next season and become a reliable target for Carson Palmer, it will make another success story for a player receiving a second chance and a fresh start.

Of course if this happens, there's a good chance the Jaguars may feel the same frustration the Chicago Bears once felt.

If any team knows anything about frustration with one of their former troubled players succeeding elsewhere, it's the Bears.

Chicago released Cedric Benson after he saw his fair share of trouble with the law while failing to live up to expectations as a running back.

In his first full season as a starter with the Bengals, Benson ran for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. He even finished with a career-high 189 yards against his former team in a game at Paul Brown Stadium in Week Seven.

For all the Bengals and their fans know, the situation with Jones may work out just as well as it did with Benson. All he has to do is be smart with his decisions and realize how lucky he is to be given a second chance with a team like Cincinnati.

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According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, former first-round pick Adam "Pacman" Jones received his first workout from a NFL team after he worked out with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.

Jones was released in February 2009 after a one-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys. He was traded to the Cowboys from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft—despite the chance he may not even be reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

After an impressive sophomore season with the Titans, Jones was arguably one of the most dangerous players in football. Not only was he a threat as a cornerback on defense, but on special teams as well. Jones returned three punt returns for a touchdown to go along with his four interceptions.

Jones is one of two players making headlines with the Bengals this week. On Thursday, the team made an offer to former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones—who also has a troubled past with the law.

It may be just one workout, but it should be interesting to see if Marvin Lewis and company take a gamble with Jones. Despite his troubled past, signing Pacman may be worth the risk if he can find a way to return to the playing level from a few years ago.

If any team knows a thing or two about taking risks with troubled players, it’s the Cincinnati Bengals. Just look how the Cedric Benson situation worked out.

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ESPN's Todd McShay has released his second version of his NFL Mock Draft before with the Cincinnati Bengals selecting tight end Jermaine Gresham out of Oklahoma with the 21st overall pick. He is arguably the top tight end in this year's draft class and is expected to be a first-round pick, whether the Bengals decide to select him or not.

With all of the mock drafts across the internet, many NFL experts and analysts seem to believe the Bengals need to use their first-round pick on a tight end. A few weeks ago, ESPN's Mel Kiper released the first version of his NFL Mock Draft with Cincinnati selecting Aaron Hernandez out of Florida. However, Gresham's stock has risen over the last couple of weeks with the NFL Combine set to begin for tight ends on February 27.

The tight end position is an area the Bengals have struggled with over the last couple of years. Last season, Reggie Kelly ruptured his Achilles tendon during training camp and was missed the entire season. Chase Coffman—who was selected in the third round of last year’s draft after finishing his three-year career at Missouri with 156 receptions for 1,664 yards and 20 touchdowns—was inactive for 12 games before being placed on season-ending injured reserve. With all of the high expectations for Coffman that will be even higher in 2010, he will not be the type of impact player the Bengals want him to be without improving his blocking skills during the offseason.

If Cincinnati does end up selecting Gresham with the 21st pick, they will be adding a tight end capable of helping Carson Palmer in the passing game. From 2007-08, he finished with 103 receptions for 1,468 yards 25 touchdowns.

It’s no secret the Bengals need to figure out a way to improve their passing game after finishing 26th last season. Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell need to bounce back after struggling for most of 2009. Not to mention the team needs to adjust to life without their deep threat in Chris Henry—who passed away in December.

Gresham has the potential to make an immediate impact as a rookie pending last year’s knee injury doesn’t become a factor. And to think if Coffman finds a way to become effective in the Bengals’ offense, this team may end up having a solid group of tight ends in 2010—which they haven’t had in quite some time.

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For the Cincinnati Bengals, it's no secret their main goal during the 2010 offseason is to figure out a way to improve their passing game—which finished 26th out of 32 teams in 2009.

The Bengals have a number of options to choose from to help Carson Palmer next season. They could use the draft in April to select a wide receiver or tight end. Of course, they could also do the same in free agency.

Lately, one of the hottest topics swirling around the city of Cincinnati is whether or not Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens could play alongside Chad Ochocinco next season. Despite all of the discussion, the chances of these two playing side-by-side next season are low.

This year's draft class is filled with loads of talent that could help the Bengals in their passing game. Dez Bryant, Golden Tate, and Jermaine Gresham are all players Cincinnati would love to have fall into their hands come draft day.

As great as this may be, there's another player on the free-agent market that Cincinnati may want to consider signing: former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth.

Before any readers jump to conclusions, a few things need to be made clear.

Yes, what Stallworth did was unacceptable and in a way, unforgiving. He took the life of an innocent man, which will draw mixed emotions from fans just like Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick did, no matter what team he may end up playing for.

That being said, there's a good chance Stallworth is going to receive an opportunity from at least one team this offseason to see if he's still capable of becoming an impact at wide receiver. He may have a history of hamstring injuries, but Stallworth has proven to be capable of being one of the most dangerous and fastest guys on the field when healthy throughout his career.

So should the Bengals take a risk by signing Stallworth—even with his troubled past?

If any team is capable of taking a player once troubled with the law and turning them into a threat, it's the Cincinnati Bengals.

Does Cedric Benson ring a bell?

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All of a sudden, the possibility of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens signing with the Cincinnati Bengals seems to be more likely than first thought.

When the comments were first made by Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, it seemed to be No. 85 running his mouth again for fun.

As much as he would love to see his beloved friend in orange and black, the idea of Ochocinco and Owens playing together side-by-side seemed impossible. Two players well-known throughout their career as being the go-to guys on offense together seemed like it would cause conflict on who should be the No. 1 wideout.

Then there were the comments by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports on his Twitter page after he talked to Ochocinco.

"Chad Ochocinco just told me on The Jay Glazer Pre-Party on FSN that he thinks T.O. will be a Bengal next year. He said he's sure of it."

As convincing as the comments may seem, it was still seemed hard to believe Ochocinco was being serious. After all, he’s always been the type of player known for running his mouth for the fun of it.

Finally, there came the report from Chris Littman of The Sporting News, who attended Ochocinco’s mansion party Friday night that raised money for the Haiti relief fund. He provided a video of Owens joking around about changing his name to “Ocho Uno” if he signs with the Bengals during the offseason.

Now the question comes to mind, should the Bengals actually consider signing Owens when he becomes a free agent again March 5?

The argument can be made that Owens flopped in his first years with the Bills after finishing with just 55 receptions for 829 yards and five touchdowns. However, the same argument can be made that he can flourish with the right quarterback.

In 2008, Ochocinco finished with just 540 yards and four touchdowns with Ryan Fitzpatrick behind quarterback—who replaced Carson Palmer after he suffered an elbow injury that kept him sidelined for most of the season. As unfair as it is to blame Fitzpatrick for Owens’ disappointing 2009 season, the fact that he threw for just 1,422 yards and nine touchdowns in the 10 games he played in doesn’t help his case.

From 2006-08, Owens led all receivers with 26 touchdowns in a three-year span with Tony Romo as his quarterback. With a player like Palmer on his side, there is every reason to believe Owens would succeed in orange and black.

The only question left to be answered is whether the events from this week should be taken serious or it’s just some joking around between Ochocinco and Owens. If all of the talk surrounding Owens going to the Bengals eventually becomes true, Cincinnati may contain one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL come September.

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Numerous reports have emerged this week regarding former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason and how he suggests the team should part ways with Chad Ochocinco. He claims the Pro Bowl wide receiver only cares about himself, and not what's important for team.

Esiason criticized Ochocinco for his acts leading up to games throughout the season during the Westwood One Pro Bowl broadcast last Sunday. He claimed all of the trash talking provided to opposing defenses worked as a disadvantage to the Bengals since opposing teams would become more focused and motivated to prove him wrong.

While Esiason may see Ochocinco as a distraction, it would be difficult for owner Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis to part ways with the six-time Pro Bowl receiver. In eight seasons with the Bengals, Ochocinco has recorded just two seasons with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards—including six straight seasons from 2002-07 with at least 1,100 yards. His antics off the field may be questioned at times, but he’s backed up all of the talk on the football field.

There’s nothing wrong with Ochocinco having a little fun playing the game he love. There are times where he may fall short of living up to his talk—such as New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.

However, that’s just part of the game of football. Ochocinco can’t be expected to come through each time he calls out opposing defenders or plans a special touchdown celebration.

As far as Esiason’s comments are concerned, the Bengals’ passing game is already in need of improvements for next season. By releasing Ochocinco, the team would only be digging themselves a deeper hole in an area they finished 26th in last season.

Therefore, it’s safe to say Ochocinco’s not going anywhere next season. Expect No. 85 to be back looking to help Cincinnati to a second-straight AFC North title and cross the 1,000 yard mark for the eighth time in his career.

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They may not be participating in Super Bowl XLIV, but the Cincinnati Bengals have made quite the headlines during the week leading up to Sunday's big game between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints.

It's been almost four weeks since the Bengals' season ended after a 34-14 home loss to the New York Jets in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. With a busy offseason ahead, Cincinnati has already emerged with plenty of offseason stories before the Super Bowl. Here are some of the headlines for the Bengals this week.

Boomer Esiason suggests Bengals part ways with Ochocinco

During the Westwood One Pro Bowl broadcast, former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason took a shot at wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. He claimed that Ochocinco is all about himself, and his actions leading up to games—such as trash-talking opposing defenders—provide opponents with an advantage of becoming more focused to prove him wrong.

So should Cincinnati actually consider parting ways with No. 85?

Of course not.

The Bengals already need to figure out a way to improve their 26th-ranked passing game from last season. By cutting ties with their six-time Pro Bowler who just finished with his seventh 1,000-yard season in nine years, they would only be making the wide receiver situation worse.

Without question, a move like that would most certainly deserve a "child, please."

Rumors of Terrell Owens to the Bengals continue to emerge, but not likely

On Thursday, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports made a post on his Twitter page that has stirred up debate in the headlines this week.

"Chad Ochocinco just told me on The Jay Glazer Pre-Party on FSN that he thinks T.O. will be a Bengal next year. He said he's sure of it."

Sure, the odds of this actually happening may seem slim. Of course, now the question that comes into play is whether or not the Bengals should actually consider signing Owens.

Nobody's questioning how much the passing game would improve if Cincinnati were to sign Owens once he is no longer under the Bills' control come March 5. The only thing people are questioning is whether a No. 1 wideout like Owens can play alongside Ochocinco without stirring up controversy.

Even if this deal seems highly unlikely, it's still fun for the city of Cincinnati to hope for. By adding a player with the type of work ethic and talent as Owens, the Bengals would immediately become one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL entering 2010.

Ochocinco throws party to benefit Haiti relief fund

Alright, so this headline doesn't have the type of debate or controversy as the others. Instead, it's a chance to recognize Ochocinco for the type of man he really is.

On Friday night, Ochocinco hosted a Super Bowl party at his mansion in Miami with appearances by Owens and LPGA Golfer Anna Rawson. Tickets sold for $500 apiece with all proceeds going to the Haiti relief fund.

Whether your a fan of his antics or not, everyone should have the same opinion regarding Ochocinco's work in the community. His party to help with the recent events in Haiti is only a small part of the type of service he provides to those in need off the field.

Recently, Ochocinco finished his "Tour of Giving," in which he traveled with 10 fans on a bus to Miami, making stops along the way to serve food to those in need. The fans were selected at random who purchased one of the tour shirts from his Web site.

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Numerous reports have emerged this week regarding former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason and how he suggests the team should part ways with Chad Ochocinco. He claims the Pro Bowl wide receiver only cares about himself, and not what's important for team.

Esiason criticized Ochocinco for his acts leading up to games throughout the season during the Westwood One Pro Bowl broadcast last Sunday. He claimed all of the trash talking provided to opposing defenses worked as a disadvantage to the Bengals since opposing teams would become more focused and motivated to prove him wrong.

While Esiason may see Ochocinco as a distraction, it would be difficult for owner Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis to part ways with the six-time Pro Bowl receiver. In eight seasons with the Bengals, Ochocinco has recorded just two seasons with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards—including six straight seasons from 2002-07 with at least 1,100 yards. His antics off the field may be questioned at times, but he’s backed up all of the talk on the football field.

There’s nothing wrong with Ochocinco having a little fun playing the game he love. There are times where he may fall short of living up to his talk—such as New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.

However, that’s just part of the game of football. Ochocinco can’t be expected to come through each time he calls out opposing defenders or plans a special touchdown celebration.

As far as Esiason’s comments are concerned, the Bengals’ passing game is already in need of improvements for next season. By releasing Ochocinco, the team would only be digging themselves a deeper hole in an area they finished 26th in last season.

Therefore, it’s safe to say Ochocinco’s not going anywhere next season. Expect No. 85 to be back looking to help Cincinnati to a second-straight AFC North title and cross the 1,000 yard mark for the eighth time in his career.

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On Tuesday, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga pleaded guilty to drunk driving after he was arrested early Friday morning after hitting a parking meter and two parked cars. The former USC linebacker received a suspended jail sentence that will last seven days along with two years of probation. His driver's license has been suspended for 90 days and was fined $350 for the incident.

Maualuga was held in Kenton County jail for seven hours after his arrest last Friday, with reports indicating he had drank six drinks of Captain Morgan and Coca Cola. At the time of arrest, his blood-alcohol level was .157, which was well above the .08 legal limit in Kentucky.

Despite the incident, Maualuga has realized his wrong doing and apologized for his actions to everyone affected by the incident.

"I apologize to my family, Mike Brown, and the Bengals organization. My coaches, my teammates, the fans, the city of Cincinnati, and Kentucky for bringing humiliation and embarrassment to the team. Secondly, I would like to thank everybody-the Bengals organization, family and friends for being by my side and supporting me in all of this. I will learn from this and will become a better person and a better man because of this. I assure you this will never happen again."

The Bengals selected Maualuga with the 38th pick in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft after a stellar career at the University of Southern California. He started 15 games for Cincinnati during his rookie season before being placed on injured reserve for a broken ankle. His rookie campaign consisted of 63 tackles, one sack, and three forced fumbles.

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