Readers call for Justin Friday, November 20, 1998
Here are more comments from you from our Enquirer.com survey: "Who's the Quarterback?" Thanks to everyone who emailed us.
HOW YOU VOTED (Out of 319 votes)
Paul Justin - 111
Jeff Blake - 95
Neil O'Donnell - 38
Eric Kresser - 28
Boomer Esiason - 18
Mike Brown - 7
Others - 22
"I was born and raised in Cincinnati but now I'm a transplanted Baltimore Raven season ticket holder. I don't really care which QB the Bengals select to start Sunday's game, but could we (the Ravens) use the third place finisher as our QB?"
George Kramer
"Paul Justin should be starter on Sunday and for the rest of the season. Both Blake and O'Donnell have had ample opportunity either this or past years, and they have proven they are not the answer for this offense. Justin brings mobility, leadership and creativity which is grossly needed right now. Blake is too one dimensional and O'Donnell is too conservative."
Ron Miller, Upper Sandusky, OH
"Did people in Cincy actually believe that O'Donnell would bring this team back!! Did anyone think this was a .500 team with him? Only the Brown family. I'm disappointed to see a potentially powerful offense sucked back into David Shula era field goal hell. Once again we get to wait until next year."
Mike Kuhl, Honolulu
"Justin - Because O'Donnell is an older, non-mobile QB on a young team (he is not our future) and because Blake has already proven that he cannot overcome it when opponents take away the long ball... Even better, trade all of our picks in next year's draft for the #1 pick and get Tim Couch."
Shannon Carpenter
"First of all O'Donnell is not the answer. His $17M salary could be much better spent in other ways. The Steelers realized this when they chose not to re-sign him. The Jets realized this when they refused his high-priced demands. The Bengals need a moble QB who can still function when the shoddy offensive line collapses as it often has in the past few seasons. If the Bengals are not going to give Blake another chance which they don't seem to be willing to do they should trade them both and bring in somebody new. In the meantime they should go with Justin, who has thrown the only touchdown in the last two plus games. I would also like to see Eric Kresser get an opportunity. He has paid his dues with two years on the practice squad. Let's get real he couldn't do much worse."
Brad Price, Huntington, WV
"Think about this......... We have so much money tied up at the QB position, Justin, Blake, and NOD. We have been spinning out of control and I don't think it matters who is playing. These guys have the tools, by now they should have the knowledge, we have a threat at running back, but nothing is happening on offense. Maybe, just maybe, it's the coaching. Also think about this........ Boomer was extremly effective last year when he read the defense at the line, knew the play called would not work and then changed the play. Boomer was calling the plays last year, he was the offensive cordinator, he just used Kenny as an advisor. He motivated better than the coaches, talked more than the coaches, delivered more than the coaches. Get Boomer back, he was the leader we needed!"
Phil Full
"Give Blake one more chance. He has all the tools, he has been brilliant at times in the past. He is young. Sometimes quarterbacks take time to develop."
John Ficke
"Give Blake a REAL chance now that we finally got a RB that can do something. one more thing, i just want to commend Neil for not forcing a pass and risking an interception by throwing the ball away, ON A 2 POINT PLAY! good call Neil, NOT!"
Matthew Cisco
"I think the Bengals need to decide on a quarterback and stick with him until they are able to see if they can improve their situation via the draft. To continually rotate quarterbacks will only hurt team chemistry and damage the psyche of a very young team. If they are unable to find help in the draft at the quaterback position, they should solidify their offensive line through the draft. This should help whomever is the quarterback of the future. Finally, I think that Jeff Blake should quarterback this Sunday against the Ravens because of his mobility. I think Neil O'Donnell is a very good quarterback in the wrong situation."
Gary Nicholds, Sacramento
"Neil is the long term solution for this ballclub. If they expect him to learn the system, for the sake of next season alone, the coaches need to quit shuffling these guys around. The offense has admitted that this (losing) is not Neil's fault and Neil has admitted he is still trying to learn the offense. Neil has proven he is a winner and will lead this team as far as the coaching staff will let him."
Paul Finn
"Start Blake. All he ever needed was a running game to complement his spectacular verticle passing ability. Now that the Bengals have a running threat, lets see what he can do if he has a whole game to play. I bet he can find Carl Pickens."
Brent Zuch, Columbus
"The season's done for the men in stripes. Has been since training camp. They don't have what it takes to be competitive in the NFL. It's not lack of talent, they have shown themselves to be physically capable of playing with the best the league has to offer. It's lack of leadership, particularly off field. Since it is painfully obvious that this season is merely an extended training camp for their young players, they should use the rest of the season wisely. I think pulling O'Donnell for Blake would be a mistake. At least O'Donnell is consistent, and provides a solid general for the guys on the field. I believe that Blake would cause more lop-sided thrashings than they have already experienced (if that's possible), and would end up being pulled after 3 or 4 interceptions anyway. Start O'Donnell, use Justin when the score is insurmountable either for or against, and use Blake if O'Donnell gets injured. Then Mr. Brown can stop worrying about starting QB's, and spend his time looking for the REAL answer to his problem, A COACHING STAFF THAT CAN MOTIVATE AND MOLD THESE YOUNG TALENTS INTO A WINNER!"
Ed Murphy
"I think that Eric Kresser should get the start. Nobody else has been spectacular and they are all older. Eric has never played in an NFL regular season game and would be excited. He would bring passion to a team that could use some. Blake, O'Donnell and Justin don't seem to care if they play or sit. I think the Bengals should trade either Blake or O'Donnel (maybe both) AND Ki-Jana Carter, James Francis, Tony Mcgee and their first round pick in the upcoming draft for Cleveland's #1 pick. If this isn't enough they should declare Pickens the franchise player and give Cleveland his rights. This should surely be enough. Then they should draft Tim Couch."
Adam Siegel, Villa Hills, Ky.
"I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PAUL JUSTIN PLAY SUNDAY AGAINST THE RAVENS. HOWEVER, WHY PLAY HIM IF O'DONNELL IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. CAN THE BENGALS TRADE O'DONNELL?? IF SO, PLEASE LET PAUL JUSTIN PLAY."
JEFF LECOUNT
"I think Paul Justin should get the nod for a couple of reasons. 1. O'Donnell's stats look good, but when you can only dump the ball off the the safety valve you are going to complete 65% of your passes. Your QB rating will be great as well because you are not throwing interceptions. O'Donnell is too timid and is not willing to go for the big play. (Can I get an AMEN Carl Pickens?) 2. Blake- NO WAY. Cut him before he can create another turnover for the team. Maybe switch him to defense. There is always a fumble when he is in the game. That leaves 3. Paul Justin- personally I want to see Kresser get his shot, but Coslet will get fired before that happens. The main reason I want Justin is so we can lose out the rest of the season, and get a chance at Culpepper, Couch, Huard, McNabb or anyone else coming out. Even if we trade the pick, I'll take another Takeo Spikes-Brian Simmons Draft anyday. Just hope they grab an O-lineman or two."
Jim Martin, Atlanta
"Jeff Blake because he's the guy that has done it before. I think he needs to be named the starter for the rest of the season so he does not have to look over his shoulder. He needs to be ensured that the whole organization is behind him. He has nothing to lose. He needs a total effort and support from each and every teammate."
Antwon Jackson
"It seems this Bengals team only responds when they are kicked in the head by drastic change. A couple of years ago it was a head coaching change and last year it was Boomer. So, if the only way to get this team to stop embarassing us is another drastic change, so be it. Replace O'Donnell with Blake and see if anything positive can be gained from this year's team. Unfortunately, the real drastic change won't take place for years and that's a complete high-level franchise overhaul. Mike Brown needs to realize that the way he's run the Bengals for the last 8 years is a complete failure. Get someone in there who has vision for a 90's franchise and who can actually evaluate talent."
Thomas A. Rench
"Eric Kresser should start. This team is going nowhere, so why not find out if the only QB which looked effective in the last 2 preseasons is perhaps a diamond in the rough, or if the 'Gals need to look to free agency next year as well as draft a couple young quarterbacks. The fact that one must be drafted is a must, 2 may not be as absurd as some might think. Just take historical QB's drafted late that played much better than their 1st round counterparts: K.Anderson, B.Favre, M.Brunell, B.Esiason, C.Batch(this years best looking rookie QB), and the list goes on and on, culminating in the greatest QB to ever strap on a helmet: Joe Montana. Sometimes you have to ignore the big-money risks of the 1st rounder that Mel Kiper says will save your franchise and grow some courage. Believe your own 2 eyes, and your scouts' network of college coaches to find out who is a winner. It isn't necessary to sell the farm on whichever professional scouting service tells you is a good pick. After all, who knows better what will fit in your teams scheme than your own people( supposedly, anyway). After 2 years you'll know whether or not your people are good enough at the drat to show light at the end of the tunnel, or to go get someone else who WILL get the job done."
Joel Von Bek
"I say start justin. why not? blake had his shot and lost it. o'donnell hasn't sparked the offensive revitalisation we were promised. so give the kid a shot. could he prove to be the future? who knows, or even cares? if he is any good, we would just trade him for a few draft picks in the 2000 draft, mabey have an offensive line by 2003, and mabey still have a healthy running back when the stars align over mike browns lucky star so they can raise seat prices one more time."
Mike Troehler - disgruntled season ticket holder and owner of 4 c.o.a.s
"I'm a longtime fan of the Bengals. I grew up in Ohio following them and I'm still a fan (through "fair" AND "foul" weather) even though I've lived in Northern California getting needled by the 49er and Raider fans who are constantly trying to get me to follow their teams. I follow the Bengals through "NFL Sunday Ticket" and by reading "Enquirer" articles on the internet regularly.
"Although I like Blake's arm going deep, the NFL has figured him out; the defenses have been geared to take the long ball from him and he has yet to develope a soft touch needed for the short game, therefore he can't "take what the defense gives you". I know that Bengal fans yearn for the days when Blake would throw those long, high arched spirals deep to Pickens and Scott, but those days are over. An NFL team cannot live by the long ball alone.
"I think Bengal fans have already lost sight of the fact that O'Donnell has been at or near the top of the stats in most qb categories most of the year and Pickens, as of last week, was still the leading receptions leader in the NFL; to be the leader in this category, someone has to throw the ball to you. That has been O'Donnell. The problems the Bengals have been experiencing have less to do with O'Donnell than with the injuries sustained to various starters and reserves and the ineffectiveness of the offensive line (also partly due to injuries).
"It is generally accepted that a QB takes approximately one full year to completely grasp the system and feel comfortabl running the offense. I believe O'Donnell has made remarkable strides in a very short time (although the coaches need to get him to adjust his passing game to throw more vertically and less horizontally; this can be accomplished) and with next year's weak schedule, due to this year's weak final record (I'm quessing 4-12, 5-11), the Bengals will end their long drought of playoffless seasons."
Shane Hillard
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