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The Cincinnati Bengals continue to give a figurative middle finger to those who would criticize their habit of signing players with questionable off-field backgrounds.
The latest acquisition is former Nebraska receiver Maurice “Mr. First Round” Purify. Undrafted last month, the Bengals brought him in for a tryout, but didn’t offer him a contract at the time.
Earlier today, the Bengals announced that Purify has been signed to a two-year deal.
Purify pleaded no contest in 2007 to charges of DUI, assault, disturbing the peace, and hindering arrest in the wake of two separate incidents. He currently faces a potential probation violation hearing after allegedly using alcohol, in violation of the terms of his probation.
So when will the Bengals learn their lesson? In our view, it won’t happen until there are real penalties for taking risks on players whose past conduct suggests that they will get into trouble in the future, and who then get into trouble.
It recently was reported that the league will begin fining teams with players who receive suspensions under the Personal Conduct Policy. But we doubt that anything other than taking away draft picks will deter teams from giving a guy who can play football at a high level his latest second chance.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
At this point, does anyone care? It’s plain to see the Bengals could give a rat’s tail about a player’s past. I know playing in the NFL should be a privilege, but it’s clear that if you have enough talent, no one will care what you’ve done, short of murder (unless your name is Ray Lewis or Leonard Little.)
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Rating: 2.85 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
For someone who claims to be a lawyer, why not think and talk like one? It is illegal to stop a player who even has any kind of conviction an opportunity to try out for the team. That is called an anti-trust violation. Moreover, you will note that the NFL does not prohibit teams from drafting said players. So the Bears drafted one and the Pats last year drafted a guy in the first round who had been in trouble and the Skins drafted a guy who admitted to violating drug laws in the 2nd, etc. And what are the odds if Pacman gets in trouble again or Tank Johnson that the Cowboys receive no punishment. Also, whatever trouble Purify was in was in college. If he gets into trouble in the pros then you can bitch. In the meantime, get a life.
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Rating: 3.7 / 5 with 10 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
this guy’s name is Purify Mo
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
WTF. Can this guy really even be worth the risk?
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Rating: 1.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Being convicted of a crime does not preclude an individual from obtaining employment. I plead guilty to a D.U.I. when I was in college and I was still allowed to become an attorney. Why should it be any different for NFL players?
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Rating: 3.75 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I hate the Bengals.
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Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 10 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Please Mike Brown, this should be a wakeup call for you to open up your wallet and expand on your pathetically understaffed scouting department. Don’t the Bengals do background checks on anyone they draft or sign as an UFA?
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Rating: 2.15 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I feel guilty for defending my home team since they do make stupid decisions, but they are not by far the worst at this. If the Bengals should be punished for drafting players who end up being suspended for off the field conduct how can you not also punish the Cowboys who sign these same guys after they get into trouble with the law. They signed Tank Johnson after his armory was discovered, and they just traded for Pacman Jones who isn’t even off the suspended list yet.
How can you say a team should be punished for drafting bad apples and then say its ok for another team to sign them to huge contracts after they get into trouble. A little hypocritical if you ask me. Don’t believe me see how long it takes for Chris Henry to get a bigger deal than the one he had in Cincinnati.
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Rating: 4.8 / 5 with 9 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Am I they only one getting tired of this personal conduct out cry Bull*#@$. So what if the Bengals got this guy? If he gets in trouble then get rid of him. Do people forget that its all about winning games. I’m tired of all this crap about sending a bad message. The NFL dominates other sports because of the die hard fans who are going to continue to watch no matter who is on the their team. Quit giving us the role model speech.
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Rating: 4.25 / 5 with 11 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Hey Florio - do you support banning lawyers from practicing after they get a DUI? What’s worse, an entertainer drinking too much or a lawyer?
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Rating: 4.1 / 5 with 9 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
So you’re saying that teams should be penalized for picking up players who have committed a crime in the past? Anyone is susceptible of committing a crime, take Marvin Harrison for example, so if you want to punish someone for the likelihood that they are going to commit a crime, should you not start punishing teams that employ people who have violated the league’s drug policy as well since what they are doing has more impact on the way the game is played itself (the ones who take performance enhancers)? I think that levying fines on teams when a player gets into trouble is a good enough deterrant with the fines increasing for every offense, but taking away draft picks is pushing the limit. It is even a stretch to make teams accountable for the actions of their employees while they are not at work considering that we are talking about grown men, but I can understand how the NFL does not want the image of the league to be one of criminals.
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Rating: 3.6 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
The Bengals will finally learn around week 10 when they’re 2-7, Stinko is throwing a fit and benched, TJ is demanding a trade, and Marvin Lewis is on career builder looking for college gigs.
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Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
They wonder why Stinlo wants to leave town. The FBI is building an office accross from the Bungle Staduim. May as well build a prison in the basement of the thing.
Seriously though, while it is fun to point out dumb criminal behavior, it is not like they should not get a second chance or as many as the justice system gives them. I am sick of all this PC PR BS. Who cares? Can he play and is he in jail right now? Heck I want to know when Vick gets out. I despise dog figting and all and I am glad he went to jail, but they don’t arrest people for it in Baltimore so I guess he can play here and PETA and them can F themselves.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
“I feel guilty for defending my home team since they do make stupid decisions, but they are not by far the worst at this. ”
Yes they are. Read a paper sometime.
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Rating: 3.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
What’s your problem Florio? There you go piling on the Bengals once again. How come you never go after any of the other teams who have dreadfully worst turds than the Bengals? Check out your turd list for 2007 and explain how you cannot go after the Dolphins, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Chargers, Vikings, Broncos, and Titans. What will you say to whoever picks up Chris Henry? It’s OK if the Raiders, Cowboys, Buccaneers or Patriots sign this guy, but you have an ax to grind against the Bengals. Please explain why you really hate them so much. Also, note that all these so called Bengal turds are low round picks or free agent players. It’s not that big a risk! Maybe the NFL should use your turd list to punish teams and you’ll see who the real perpetrators are. What’s your real complaint?
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
that myspace page find is awesome…..
signed….Mr. Thirteen Inches
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Isn’t an lawyer from WV an oxymoron?
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Hahahahaha. The Bengals’ administration from coaches to front office are hopeless. I’m a Fins fan and I thought we were the biggest joke last year as far as admin - but I had forgotten about the Bungles. But the Bengals have longevity at this sh*t. They are the absolute laughing stock. Not trading Stinko for all the picks Washington offered just to make a point -that was such a Homer move. OMG what a bunch of pathetic losers. Marvin Lewis and Mike Brown are clowns. Got to feel sorry for Carson Palmer and TJH. Good Lord.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Bengal fans, just shut up already. Your team has a bad rep for a bunch of very good reasons. Courtesy of Larry Brown Sports:
Note that this list is oalmost a year old and doesn’t include anything that has happened between June 19 of ‘07 and today.
Ranking the Cincinnati Bengals Arrests
1. Chris Henry (June 14th, ‘06) - providing alcohol to three underaged females, but did he score?
2. Chris Henry (Jan. 28th, ‘06) - possession of a concealed firearm, improper exhibition of firearm, aggravated assault with firearm, that’s a lot of firearm action
3. A.J. Nicholson (June 3rd, ‘06) - burglary, vandalism, grant theft, *bonus points for stealing electronics from a teammate, that’s not easy
4. Frostee Rucker (June 21st, ‘06) - vandalism, spousal battery, just don’t beat up that blackberry
5. Reggie McNeal (Dec. 3rd, ‘06) - resisting arrest and drug possession, always fun to catch the cops with an elbow to the chest
6. Eric Steinbach (Aug. 5th, ‘06) - boating under the influence, admit it, you didn’t even know that counted
7. A.J. Nicholson (May 18th, ‘06) - domestic violence, he restarted the streak after they had gone four months in between arrests
8. Chris Henry (June 3rd, ‘06) - DUI, 0.092, I’d blow that from a sip of Manischweitz
9. Odell Thurman (Sept. 25th, ‘06) - drunken driving, a 0.18, but he was more sober than Chris Henry or Reggie McNeal, so it’s all good
10. Deltha O’Neal (Dec. 9th, ‘06) - DWI, come on a 0.10 shouldn’t even count
11. Matthias Askew (July 22nd, ‘06) - disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, failure to comply with police officer’s order, obstructing justice, kinda boring
12. Chris Henry (Dec. 15 ‘05) - weed possession, just kids being kids
13. Quincy Wilson (June 17, ‘07) - disorderly conduct, kind of weak, but cool that the bride and groom were arrested too
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Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
If Artie Donovan played today he wouldn’t be a “colorfull legend of the game” and funny, would he?
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
all i know is, if i was an nfl player and anyone approached me with a camera i would run like hell. after i broke it.
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May 8th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Any negative posting about the Bengals brings out the same outpouring, and in bigger numbers than for any other team.
The Bengals are not the only team criticized on this site when it comes to turds, but every time a turd-related Bengals post shows up, you’d think that they were based on the response it gets. It’s always the same refrain: What about the ?
I am not a Bengals fan, but if I were, I certainly would not be defending them for their latest two “risky” endeavors. The fact that other teams dabble in risky endeavors doesn’t matter. The Bengals have a reputation for doing it, and it’s bitten them in the past. They earned their reputation, and I don’t think even Marvin Lewis would disagree with that, since he’s discussed it before. With that reputation, comes the microscope — all decisions will be heavily scrutinized. It’s not bias and it’s not a conspiracy. It’s just a natural thing that happens when a reputation develops.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Y’all wanna know the real truth in all of this OTF Personal Conduct PC BS??? Goodell has really brought all of this attention on all by himself. When he went all balls to the wall on his Personal Conduct crusade all he did was open the window for every single incident — no matter how minor or bad — to get scrutinized by all. I mean c’mon, this stuff has been going on for DECADES!!!!! Back in the 70’s those guys were rock stars for crying out loud. Then in the 80’s it was all the players on cocaine … and not just the NFL, MLB had several on coke. Since then it has gotten worse as more major athletes are getting busted for more major things. I’m not trying to condone or poo poo any of this stuff by any means, I’m just saying drugs and crime and pro athletes is nothing new. The difference nowadays is we know about EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE FIVE MINUTES AFTER IT HAPPENS. Back in the 70’s on through the 80’s (before ESPN got so big they sucked) odds are we wouldn’t know about anything unless it made the national news. Local media outlets don’t have time in their little 22-23 minute newscasts to worry about this stuff. They’re more worried about the weather forecasts.. Of course, if it was local then they would definitely cover it. I live in Chattanooga, TN and am a huge Titans fan. Our local news never really gave either the Pacman saga nor the Vick mess all that much airtime (Chatt is 2 hrs from both Nashville & Atlanta). I’m serious, Goodell is painting himself into a corner on this. Arrests are happening weekly if not more frequent. Does it really seem these players give two sheoits about it??? When you have the money these athletes already have they can pretty much get themselves out of any trouble they get into. Tagliabue didn’t address this stuff, whether that was good or bad I don’t know, but I do feel like Goodell is really painting himself into a corner. He has been so inconsistent in how he hands down punishment it is riduculous. Jared Allen gets a SECOND dewey and only gets a 2 gm’er … are you f’in kidding me??? That second dewey should’ve triggered an automatic 16 gm’er IMO. I mean who’s the NFL’s biggest sponsor(s)??? What’s with all the “Booze it or lose it” stuff at the stadiums??? A second dewey equals a 2 gm suspension … that makes a whole lotta sense to me … sheeesh … yeah, I ain’t a big fan of Goodell at all …
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Ok Division Champ riddle me this, you want to call me out and say read the papers the Bengals are that bad. Than how can anyone say other teams are better for signing a guy after he has been suspended??? That’s what pisses me off most is that while the Bengals may be stupid how can you call teams like Dallas “America’s” team and speak how their owner will do anything to win blah blah blah, but he signs these thugs after they have gotten into trouble but no one bitches about him.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 9th, 2008 at 8:28 am
mindriot25, a Cheerleader, says:
“That’s what pisses me off most is that while the Bengals may be stupid how can you call teams like Dallas “America’s” team and speak how their owner will do anything to win blah blah blah, but he signs these thugs after they have gotten into trouble but no one bitches about him.”
LOL, did you just crawl out from under a rock? JJ and the Cowboys get plenty of flack!
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