We have defended, and will continue to defend, the Cincinnati Bengals for their stance regarding receiver Chad Johnson’s desire to be traded.

We do so because the best way to keep other players from trying to pull the same routine in the future is to not cave in to Chad now.

Another prudent strategy to achieve the same end, however, would be to refrain from bringing in more players who might be inclined to misbehave in the future.  In this regard, we can’t support the Bengals’ tactics.

As a league source opined with respect to several of the team’s 2008 draft picks, the Bengals “are up to their old tricks.”

The most glaring selection was Jason Shirley, a defensive tackle from Fresno State. 

Shirley was ultimately kicked off the team in 2007 after a series of incidents, including a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team and a suspension for a DUI arrest.  The last straw was an arrest for driving with a suspended license.

The source said that Shirley was off most teams’ draft boards.

Per the source, teams also had concerns about Auburn defensive tackle Pat Sims and Kansas offensive tackle Anthony Collins.  A Google search revealed that neither player has had any trouble with the law, however.

It has been explained to us in the past that the Bengals will take a player like Shirley not because the team doesn’t know about his off-field troubles but because the team’s lack of a full-blown scouting department makes the Bengals more likely to pick a player who had the talent to otherwise be drafted much earlier. 

Put simply, the Bengals will be more inclined to take the player who generally is regarded as highly talented later in the draft because they lack confidence in their ability to pick a guy who isn’t generally recognized as having the physical talent to play in the NFL.