2008 Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengal offseason has been dominated by the drama that is Chad Johnson – the star receiver is threatening to sit out the year in a contract dispute. We’re hoping that Carson Palmer and crew will be able to move past this locker room distraction to focus on the bounty of offensive weapons that bless the Bengal team. In addition to emerging superstar TJ Houshmandzadeh, there are very talented rookies Jerome Simpson, Mario Urrutia, and Andre Caldwell that ensure that the Bengals will move the ball well up and down the field. If the defense can pull its weight, the Bengals have all the tools for an NFL Playoff spot.

Some Cincinnati Bengals history: The Bengals joined the American Football League (AFL) as an expansion team in 1968. Organized by Paul Brown, a coach who had won three NFL titles with the Cleveland Browns during the 1950s, the Bengals' first season featured rookie of the year Paul Robinson leading the AFL in rushing.

In 1970, when the NFL and AFL merged, the team won the AFC Central Division, relying on an outstanding defense that starred cornerbacks Lemar Parrish and Ken Riley.

Brown guided the Bengals to postseason appearances again in 1973 and 1975, and Ken Anderson emerged as one of the NFL's finest quarterbacks. He won three consecutive passing titles from 1973 to 1975 with the help of wide receiver Isaac Curtis and tight end Bob Trumpy. Another favorite target of Anderson was running back Boobie Clark, the 1973 rookie of the year.

The Bengals won the division crown in 1981 under head coach Forrest Gregg, a former offensive tackle and a member of the Hall of Fame. Anderson won his fourth passing title, and running back Pete Johnson and rookie wide receiver Cris Collinsworth each gained more than 1,000 yards. In the playoffs, Cincinnati beat the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, 26-21.

The Bengals remained competitive throughout the mid-1980s. Boomer Esiason replaced Anderson in 1985 and he, too, became one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks. Following a 4-11 win-loss record in 1987, Cincinnati finished the 1988 season with a 12-4 mark. Esiason won the first of his two NFC passing titles and shared player of the year honors with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham. In the playoffs the Bengals advanced to their second Super Bowl of the decade. Once there, however, Cincinnati again lost to the 49ers (20-16) when San Francisco scored a last-minute touchdown.

In 1990 Cincinnati won its fifth division title. Esiason notched his sixth consecutive 3,000-yard season, a club record. The Bengals won a total of just 11 games from 1992 to 1994, and the team continued to struggle for much of the rest of the 1990s.