Without a doubt the Cincinnati Bengals will be rebuilding after the 2010 season comes to a close. This season has been a tremendous disappointment for this team, and they have a number of key free agents, and more than likely will be firing their head coach. All of that means a new day will be dawning for the Bengals and their terrible 2010 season will likely yield them the second pick in the 2011 NFL draft. What they have to decide now is how to most effectively to rebuild this team.
The first question will be QB Carson Palmer. Since the Carolina Panthers will likely use the first overall pick on QB Andrew Luck. The Bengals have to decide between Palmer’s 11.5 million 2011 salary and another QB in the 2011 draft. They could go after Cam Newton or a free agent, or chose to keep Palmer and draft a big time star at another position.
The defense could use some help, but there are a lot of key free agents on the offense. Terrelle Owens and RB Cedric Benson are likely gone, and the team will face a decision on Chad Ochocinco, they have an option on him for 2011 but they may feel the need to go in another direction. The first decision will have to be Palmer, and I don’t see a way for the team to dump him just yet.
Sure Carson has struggled mightily in 2010, but he is still on pace to throw for 4,000 yards. He has 21 TD’s and 18 INT’s and that is not great, but this team cannot completely rip itself apart in the name of rebuilding. Sure it is time to strip away some parts and find key youngsters to step in but a bad team with a rookie QB would mean 2011 would be as awful as 2010.
Related Links:
- Cincinnati Bengals news and notes
- The Business of the NFL
- Joshua Lobdell.com
