With all the improvements in 2008, the biggest bust is, y'all know...

[The Answer]

Speaks volumes about the Bengals, doesn't it?

No. It speaks volumes about our linebacking core.

[pantherclaw]

...It's got to be D.J. Hackett. I thought very highly of Hackett since he helped me out in a few fantasy games last year. He was an absolute up and coming beast last year with the Hawks when not vieiwing from the sidelines because of injury, but he has pretty much fallen from the face of the earth this year. I vaguely remember one or two key catches to move the chains this year, vaguely. While watching life pass him by on the bench, he must have read the Invisible Man, or perhaps Disappearing Acts and taken the titles to heart because to be one of the most coveted receivers in free agency, but come to this has to make him the most unimpressive impact player that I have seen in years (besides for untested, much ballyhooed rookie quarterbacks, but this is like comparing apples to oranges).

Y'all forty-something types may remember those pretty much dumb shirts that popped up when we were kids asking about a particular geographic location where we lived? Well let me bring back the memories: Where in the hell is D.J. Hackett?

Anybody who had high expectations from Hackett in the off season is their own damn failure. A talented receiver who has trouble staying healthy.

[top dawg]

Anybody who had high expectations from Hackett in the off season is their own damn failure. A talented receiver who has trouble staying healthy.

This is such an ignorant post. WTF is going on with the huddle?

[pantherclaw]

This is such an ignorant post. WTF is going on with the huddle?

truth hurts!:party:

[solorca]

Hackett was a player I wanted going into the offseason, but he really hasn't done much. Even with his injury issues, I felt that he was a guy who could do some good things when he was on the field. I prefer Jarrett at this point.

They both suffer from the same issues regarding opportunities though.

[solorca]

This is such an ignorant post. WTF is going on with the huddle?

I wouldn't call it ignorant, it's true. Hackett has never been able to stay healthy.

[top dawg]

I wouldn't call it ignorant, it's true. Hackett has never been able to stay healthy.

Well, to get technical, I never said that I had "high expectations" of Hackett, but even if you assume that I did, "high expectations" are a matter of prospective. Anyone who thinks that the fans expected around a hundred yards of offense out of Hackett when he was signed, then they are being disingenuous. I do believe it's not too much to expect a guy with Hackett's experience and talent to at least put up a few hundred yards and a couple of TDs. I do think that it's not too much to think that Hackett would account for more than a couple of first downs throughout an entire season. I knew that the return of Moose solidified Muhammad's spot as the number 2 WR on the team, so my expectations of Hackett were not that "high" at the start of the season. Say what you want though, no one expected this kind of season out of Hackett. To say different is not the truth. And, this is despite our success at running the ball, and despite Hackett's injury history.

[pantherclaw]

Here was the situation. We had a 2nd year player in Jarrett. Moose came back, becoming the 2nd receiver, no questions asked. So regardless of the talent with Hackett, everybody knew coming into this season he would be sharing time with Jarrett. On top of that, Hackett has a problem staying healthy. So, really, the ignorance was having expectations of being a major component to our offense ~ which is based upon Williams, Stewart, Steve Smith, and Moose.