Rudi Johnson sets Bengals all-time single season rushing record...

[macro]

...today in Philadelphia. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy! The record was formerly held by a guy who was/is not so nice.

Maybe the name "Leon" will be completely erased from the Bengals record book some day! :D

(Nah, no hard feelings here! ;) )

[zombie-a-go-go]

If Brown doesn't resign him, I'm going to be... not very happy. I don't think Perry's run the ball once all season.

[RosieRed]

Z, you must not have paid much attention this season. Perry has 1 rushing yard in '04. ;)


RUSHING
Year Team G GS Att Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ FD
2004 Cin 2 0 2 1 0.5 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 2 0 2 1 0.5 1 0 0 0
RECEIVING
Year Team G GS No Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ FD
2004 Cin 2 0 3 33 11.0 13 0 0 0 2
TOTAL 2 0 3 33 11.0 13 0 0 0 2

[zombie-a-go-go]

And 2 attempts, nonetheless! Wow! Where have I been? :D

RB of the Future, ladies and gentlemen.

[remdog]

I love Rudi Johnson (he's a great guy and a good RB) but running back is one of the positions in the NFL that is among the easier to replace. No one thought much about Rudi till Dillon went down. Now, Rudi's a 'premier' back.

Put your resources into building a dominat 'O' line and most backs will look pretty good.

Rem

[wheels]

They've got the makings of one of the better left sides of O line in the AFC in Levi Jones and Eric Steinbach. I'd like to see a stud right Gaurd drafted, or maybe a Center. Willie's getting a little long in the tooth as well. If they do some things to shore it up, it won't matter who's lugging the rock.

But I still want Rudi back. I love the guy.

He's a perfect Marvin Lewis player.

[Steve4192]

I don't think Perry's run the ball once all season.
You do realize that Perry's mysterious 'abdominal strain' was FINALLY diagnosed as a sports hernia, right?

He should never have been practicing, much less been listed as probable on injury reports. It's not his fault the Bengals doctors kept telling the coaches to run him out their when he should have been undergoing surgery.

Combined with the incredible screwups they made diagnosing P-Dub, they rival Doc Hollywood for worst medical staff in pro sports.

[Steve4192]

Willie's getting a little long in the tooth as well.
Willie is still in his twenties, and stud OT's tend to play well deep into their 30s. With him and long-term project Stacy Andrews, the Bengals should be just fine at RT for a long-time.

[WVRed]

I love Rudi Johnson (he's a great guy and a good RB) but running back is one of the positions in the NFL that is among the easier to replace. No one thought much about Rudi till Dillon went down. Now, Rudi's a 'premier' back.

Put your resources into building a dominat 'O' line and most backs will look pretty good.

Rem

If the Bengals lose Rudi and get nothing in return, im not going to be very happy. I am willing to give Marvin a chance on Chris Perry, but I think we are going to regret not taking Steven Jackson or Kevin Jones.

[kheidg-]

I love Rudi Johnson (he's a great guy and a good RB) but running back is one of the positions in the NFL that is among the easier to replace. No one thought much about Rudi till Dillon went down. Now, Rudi's a 'premier' back.

Put your resources into building a dominat 'O' line and most backs will look pretty good.

Rem

As a non-Bengals fan I have to agree with you. I haven't heard much about him being a nice guy but he is replaceable. He had a good season but if he commands a lot of money the Bengals may want to look elsewhere.

[zombie-a-go-go]

You do realize that Perry's mysterious 'abdominal strain' was FINALLY diagnosed as a sports hernia, right?

He should never have been practicing, much less been listed as probable on injury reports. It's not his fault the Bengals doctors kept telling the coaches to run him out their when he should have been undergoing surgery.

Combined with the incredible screwups they made diagnosing P-Dub, they rival Doc Hollywood for worst medical staff in pro sports.

No, I didn't know that. Thanks for the intel.

[traderumor]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050103/SPT02/501030366/1066


But re-signing Rudi Johnson, the productive and popular running back, would reduce that stigma. The vibe around Paul Brown Stadium late last week significantly shifted toward the likelihood of bringing Johnson back.

This looks more positive than I've seen in weeks for Rudi coming back.

I have mixed feelings about paying and keeping Rudi. The NFL has historically been a league where the best running backs are often on losing teams, from the days of OJ and the pitiful Bills to Billy Sims and Barry Sanders playing on all those losers in Detroit, to Corey Dillon, just to name a few. The thing is, the Bengals offense is not one dimensional, but they do need a workhorse for Bratkowski's scheme, it seems.

To me, it all comes down to can they afford him with the goal being building a Super Bowl team. If paying him hinders that goal, you have to let him walk and trust your coaches ability to recognize Chris Perry as the successor. So far, Marvin's high round draft picks are playing pretty well (see Palmer, Steinbach, Williams, Ratliff, Landon Johnson, Washington), so I'd say either way the Bengals will have a good running back next season.

I'd be more upset if they signed Rudi and let TJ walk, personally. TJ has made it much clearer than Rudi that he wants to be a Bengal, and I like the way he makes plays. Guys like him turn crappy throws by the QB into TDs and he makes defenders miss (instead of looking for a place to fall like that other wideout does).

[zombie-a-go-go]

I definitely wouldn't let TJ walk. Could you imagine the offense without Housh or Warrick (who knows if he'll play again)?

Besides, TJ and Chad've got chemistry. :mhcky21:

[wheels]

Willie is still in his twenties, and stud OT's tend to play well deep into their 30s. With him and long-term project Stacy Andrews, the Bengals should be just fine at RT for a long-time.

Good point about Andrews. That guy is an absolute hoss, who really didn't play much football before he was drafted.

He's got plenty of time to learn under Willie, it's true, but I'm a little worried about that knee. I hope playing out the season on that injury didn't do anything to increase the damage.

[wheels]

I think Warrick will go, along with Tony Williams, or John Thornton.

I can imagine there is a way to work Rudi in, as well as signing another FA, along with TJ.

They'll have to do some serious capology, but under Lewis, they've been able to fit needed and productive players in.

This offseason should be no different.

Smart man, that Marvin Lewis.

[KYRedsFan]

We have some huge needs on the defensive side, as well as at guard and center, where Rudi's money would seem to be better spent. Unless somehow he accepts a low ball offer, no way he stays.

[Red Leader]

We have some huge needs on the defensive side, as well as at guard and center, where Rudi's money would seem to be better spent. Unless somehow he accepts a low ball offer, no way he stays.

The Bengals may be lucky in that he might except a lesser amount to stay on. I mean think about it. Think of all the RB's that are free agents that are going to get out of their current situations: Shaun Alexander, Rudi Johnson, Travis Henry, Nick Goings, Stephen Davis, LaMont Jordan, Derrick Blaylock, and Najeh Davenport are just some that come into my head that are either going to be FA's or be traded. There are only so many openings for starting jobs a year. Rudi may decide that he would rather remain in Cincy where he might have to accept less money, but still know the system and take a 1 year deal, or something like that.

[KYRedsFan]

I agree. There's a gluttony of backs, which will either allow us to sign Rudi for a discount or allow us some cheap insurance if they let him go.

[RosieRed]

I really liked this pic (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/misc/zoom.pbs&Site=AB&Date=20050102&Category=SPT02&ArtNo=102001&Ref=PH&Params=Item=1,NewTbl=1) of Rudi from the game.