Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
On Thursday, we examined if this was the worst Cincinnati Bengals team ever assembled, which it very well might be. Because this season is already a lost cause for the winless Bengals (0-8), it's time to look at fixing the problems.
With that in mind, here are five starting blocks for the Bengals:
1. Start the youth movement
Why: The Bengals had a whopping 10 draft picks this year. But where are they? Granted, top draft pick Keith Rivers suffered a broken jaw and is out for the season. But rookies such as Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson, when healthy, must play during the second half of the season. The team needs to find out if some of its younger players can contribute so the coaching staff will avoid guessing at the beginning of next season.
2. Blow up the roster
Why: Part of the reason you start a youth movement in Cincinnati is due to the fact the roster needs a major overhaul. Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are talented, but Cincinnati's run with these two 30-plus receivers are over. Houshmandzadeh is an unrestricted free agent and deserves a big contract, but it shouldn't come from the Bengals. Ocho Cinco wants out, so the team should trade him for draft picks. In addition, the money and cap room Cincinnati gets back from lifting the franchise tag from offensive tackle Stacy Andrews and other money from veteran free agents such as defensive tackle John Thornton should go to help other areas. Overall, that remaining core from the playoff team in 2005 should be dismantled to give the team a fresh start.
3. Trade down in the NFL draft
Why: The Bengals should get one of the top two picks in the draft. Even with a small hot streak to finish the season, Cincinnati likely will land in the top 5. But this team doesn't need one good player, it needs a dozen more good players. Therefore the Bengals need to trade their potential top pick in the 2009 NFL draft for multiple picks that still includes a top-10 selection. From there, Cincinnati can take the best player with the first pick and begin plugging its many holes. Historically, the Bengals are not big players in free agency, so the draft will be vital.
4. Hire a bigger scouting staff
Why: Bengals fans want to fire the owner and the head coach. The former isn't going to happen and it's possible neither will the latter. But if Cincinnati is serious about winning, what it can do is hire a bigger scouting staff. Every team is doing it, and it's time for the Bengals to join the rest of the NFL. Why the Bengals prefer to save a few hundred thousand dollars on scouts while blowing millions on poor draft picks every year is baffling. Even if it's just an extra two or three scouts, it would be a worthy investment for ownership.
5. Carson Palmer should have surgery now
Why: The Bengals and Palmer need to decide on having elbow surgery right now or, at the very least, start the rehab process for 2009. Cincinnati's franchise quarterback continuing to be indecisive about this helps no one. Word is the type of elbow surgery Palmer may need has a timeline where he can afford to put it off for another month or two and still be back in time for next season. But why wait? There's always a chance of having a setback or further complications with surgery or rehab. Play it safe and get the problem corrected now to avoid any chances of toying with 2009.
Follow these steps and Cincinnati should be in better shape moving forward. It can't possibly get any worse.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after three seasons covering the Cleveland Browns for the Columbus Dispatch. He also covered the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Cavaliers at the Dispatch. Walker grew up in Hyattsville, Md., before attending Temple University, graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in communications and mass media. He resides in the Cleveland area.