Backdraft: Cincinnati Bengals

BACKDRAFT SERIES: For 16 days leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft, we're rolling out capsule draft histories of each of the 32 NFL Teams.

 

 

Backdraft Series

Apr. 12 - Packers | Steelers

Apr. 13 - Bears | Jets

Apr. 14- Patriots | Falcons

Apr. 15- Ravens | Seahawks

Apr. 16- Saints | Eagles

Apr. 17- Colts | Chiefs

Apr. 18- Buccaneers | Giants

Apr. 19- Chargers | Raiders

Apr. 20- Jaguars | Dolphins

Apr. 21- Rams | Lions

Apr. 22- Vikings | Texans

Apr. 23- Redskins | Cowboys

Apr. 24- Titans | 49ers

Apr. 25- Browns | Cardinals

Apr. 26- Bengals | Bills

Apr. 27- Broncos | Panthers

2011 Draft Position:

• 4

 

First-Ever NFL Draft Pick:

• Bob Johnson, C, Tennessee (1st Round, 2nd overall, in 1968)

 

Most Recent Draft Pick:

• Reggie Stephens, C, Iowa State (7th round, 228th overall, in 2010)

 

Hall of Famers Drafted:

• Anthony Muñoz - 1st Round (3rd overall), 1980

 

First Overall Pick in the NFL Draft:

• 2003 – Carson Palmer, QB, Southern California
• 1995 – Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State
• 1994 – Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State, HB, Tennessee

 

Bob Johnson	Cris Collinsworth	Dan Wilkinson

Did you know?

The Bengals went into the 1981 NFL Draft looking to add some youth to their receiving corps after the team finished in the lower third of NFL in passing the previous two seasons. Cincinnati was the first team to select a wide receiver when they took David Verser from Kansas with the 10th pick overall. Another receiver was added in the second round, 37th overall, when Cincy chose Cris Collinsworth out of Florida.

The team's draft strategy worked immediately but it was second-rounder Collinsworth who outshined Verser. As a rookie, Collinsworth led the team in receiving yards as he amassed 1,009 yards on 67 catches and scored 8 TDs. The Bengals jumped to third in passing offense that year while earning a berth in Super Bowl XVI.

Cincinnati finished as the third overall in passing offense again the following season. Leading the way was Collinsworth who had 49 receptions for 700 yards, and 1 TD during the strike-shortened 1982 season.
He retired after the 1988 season as the franchise's all-time leading receiver with 417 catches. Verser mustered just 23 receptions over four seasons with the Bengals.

 

Quotable:

"He's everything you would ever want in a pro football player."

The Los Angeles Rams Director of Player Personnel Dick Steinberg shared his evaluation of Southern California tackle Anthony Muñoz. Most of the concern about Muñoz's knee injury has been dismissed and it was widely known that the talented and likeable lineman would go very high in the 1980 NFL Draft, long before the Rams had a chance at the local boy.

The Detroit Lions had made it clear that they would select running back Billy Sims with the top pick so most draft pundits had Muñoz going next to the San Francisco 49ers, Bengals, or Green Bay Packers. The stars aligned for the Bengals as the 49ers traded the second pick to the New York Jets who took wide receiver Johnny "Lam" Jones. That made Munoz available to the Bengals and they quickly made the selection.

Eleven straight All-Pro seasons was followed by election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Bengals' top pick of the '80 draft.

 

Shop:

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Who in '11?

Post your comment about who you think Bengals will take in the first round on Thursday. Why?