It is that time of year when every fan’s hopes are as high as Josh Hamilton in a Tempe bar in January.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist!  With just a little over a month to go before the Bengals open at home against Denver, training camp has provided a few answers and raised additional questions about the upcoming season.  The offensive line seems to have found their center in Kyle Cook who by all accounts has displayed the confidence and ability to get the job done.  Left side seems solid but man what a blow losing Reggie Kelly and no news on the Andre Smith holdout although I’m following his agent Alvin Keels on Twitter and the ball seems to be in the Bengals court.  Note to Mike Brown, get this done now.

Is everyone else as stoked as I am to see if the old Chad has really re-surfaced?  Can Cedric Benson get the

running game back to where it was circa 2005/2006?  Is the defense really on the verge of being a top ten unit or were the last three games of the 2008 season an aberration?      Is Carson Palmer 100% healthy and will he stay that way?  As usual there are so many plot lines and twists when you look at the Bengals it makes your head spin!

I am writing this blog because I love the Bengals and am a proud Bengals fan even though this opens me up to a certain amount of ridicule, especially living in Los Angeles.   I grew up a Bengals fan in the 70’s and 80’s watching future hall of famers like Anthony Munoz and crazy draft picks like Davd Klingler.  I have watched Bengals team that would have trouble beating Ohio State and teams like the 1981 squad that wore the new stripes and made it to the Super Bowl.    Who knows what this year will bring, disappointment or the return to a playoff team like the AFC North Champions of 2005, we’ll get a sneak preview on Friday at New Orleans.

So stick with me throughout the year and hopefully we’ll be celebrating a ton of wins and trip back to the playoffs.  In the meantime if you are a Twitter user you have to follow Chad @OGOchocinco and for the most up to date camp reports @JoeReedy who is doing an amazing job.  So until next time I wish you a hearty WHO DEY from Los Angeles!