I stand with the students of Penn State

On November 9, the Board of Trustees fired Penn State University fired head coach Joe Paterno. For forty five years Joe Paterno was the head coach of the football team. He built a football program that would become a national powerhouse. He won two national championships, had over 400 victories and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

But Joe Paterno was more than football victories. Putting Penn State on the map meant positive publicity for the university. That translates to getting students to come to Penn State. According to Wikipedia, he and his wife have contributed more than 4 million dollars to Penn State. That's not just to football. He helped to raise over 13.5 million dollars to expand the University's library. He dedicated his life to educate the students and the young people of Penn State.

We've read the horrible allegations about former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Allegedly graduate assistant Mike McQuery saw Sandusky sodomizing a boy in 2002. He told Paterno. Paterno reported the incident to his Athletic Director. We don't know what details of the alleged attack was relayed to Paterno.

The allegations are horrific. Yet, put yourself in Paterno's position. On one hand he has a report of an alleged sex attack between Sandusky and a boy. On the other hand he has to weigh that against his loyalty to a long time ally and trusted assistant coach. If we don't know what was relayed to Paterno, can we judge him? He did the minimal. He reported the allegation to his AD. If the report was of a rape, then Paterno should report the alleged attack to the police.

Based on no allegation that Joe Paterno aided or assisted Sandusky in his alleged crimes, the Board of Trustees fired Paterno. And if Joe Paterno helped Sandusky commit his alleged crimes, he should be brought to justice. But there are no facts that support this. And based on the board's actions, the students went out into the streets. They did what any American had any right to do. Not to get violent. But to protest. Certainly turning over a news van was wrong. But understand the anger. The media has been whipping this story to hurricane proportions. This hurricane has swept up Joe Paterno.

So, these young people went out and expressed their anger. They saw an 84 year old man unceremoniously get thrown under the bus. They saw a man who gave his life to their education get destroyed by the winds of unthinking emotion. I applaud the protesters. They stood for fairness. The students stood up for a man who stood up for them.

The Brilliance of Stephen Colbert

There's an insidious thing going on with Super PACs. They're forbidden to coordinate their activities with candidates. But under the guise of "issue advocacy" these groups are inserting candidates into their ads. Thus doing an end around campaign contribution laws.

Now Karl Rove wants to break down the barrier. He wants permission to use candidates in these Super PAC ads and basically coordinate with them. He has petitioned the FEC for the approval. So get this. Satirist Stephen Colbert has sent his own letter "supporting" Rove. He's attached a video ad to his letter. The video makes the argument against Rove. It's brilliant satire by Stephen Colbert. Check it out. Warning: Jokes about um, "birds and bees." Hey it's basic cable. And there's a lawyer joke.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Cool Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Ad

Check out this cool and funny ad for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 called "The Vet and The n00b." It features Sam Worthington (Avatar), Jonah Hill (Moneyball) and basketball player Dwight Howard.

The Bengals schedule works in their favor

You'll hear a lot of football pundits saying that the Cincinnati Bengals 6-2 record is a product of their easy schedule. First, you want to know something? This is the NFL. Perhaps with the exception of beating the Green Bay Packers, any team can beat another. Second, if you're a good team, you must beat the bad ones. It's not easy to run off five straight victories in this league.

But more importantly, the easier part of the schedule coming first for the Bengals has been an advantage. It's given more time for rookies QB Andy Dalton and A.J. Green to get more experience. That experience will bode well for the Bengals upcoming matches with the tough Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. Green and Dalton are learning quickly from game to game. Last week against Seattle, Green did fight for a ball which led to an interception. This week against the Tennessee Titans, he fought for a long ball. The defender was forced to interfere with Green. Result? Forty five yard pass interference call. Dalton is learning about the speed of the game. He's seeing exotic defenses thrown at him. And he's flourishing as the season wears on. He's got poise, accuracy and leadership. The team knows he can lead them on winning touchdown drives.

It's Steelers week folks. Time to batten down the hatches. Bengals Nation, I'm confident in our kids, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.

Cincinnati Bengals at the halfway point of the season

It's time to eat crow. Yeah, I'm going to admit that I was wrong about a lot of things about the 2011 Cincinnati Bengals. Let's go over the Bengals after eight games.

1. The Offense.

I said that if the Cincinnati Bengals were to win the Super Bowl, rookie QB Andy Dalton would have to be the Mozart of quarterbacks. It's obvious, he's the Mozart and Bach of quarterbacks. He's accurate. He's got moxie. He's a leader.

I've said the Bengals should not draft A.J. Green. Time for me to eat crow. Green's offensive production as a rookie has led to more victories than a defensive tackle. The Dalton-Green combination will be one of the most potent attacks in the NFL for years to come.

Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has shown more imagination than his predecessor. The result? Defenses can no longer predict whether Gruden will pass or run in his West Coast offense. While I want to see a better running attack, Gruden can be excused because teams are putting eight in the box to stop the run. When that happens, Gruden and Dalton have been able to adjust and throw the ball.

2. Special Teams.

Special teams are solid. Brandon Tate is a good kick returner. He's got a punt return for a touchdown. And with Pacman Jones coming back, the Bengals have a dangerous kick returning tandem. Punter Kevin Huber is good again. Kicker Mike Nugent has range and accuracy.

3. Defense.

Free agent linebackers Thomas Howard and Manny Lawson are playing like Pro Bowlers. The cornerbacks are solid. Corner Nate Clements may be over thirty but he's playing like he's been rejuvenated. Leon Hall covers as well as anyone in the league. Safeties Reggie Nelson and Chris Crocker are everywhere.

But it's the defensive line that is spectacular. The Bengals have a rotation that is fast, tall and big. This no name line includes Michael Johnson, Geno Atkins, Domata Peko and soon to be Superstar Carlos Dunlap. (Pictured.) What they do is provide tremendous pressure on the quarterback.

4. The Coaches and management.

Both head coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer are marvelous motivators of men. It's clear the Bengal players are listening to the coaches. And the players love playing for Marvin and Mike.

Oy Vey. Here comes a painful tip of my Bengals cap to Bengals owner Mike Brown. Yeah, he exercises some of the worst judgment in the history of professional sports. So it's hard for me to praise him. But he's had some good drafts over the last four years. This year, he listened to his offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and drafted Andy Dalton over Ryan Mallet. Brown wanted Mallet but thankfully he listened to Gruden. Brown set aside pride and jumped at the offer of a first round and second round pick for disgruntled Carson Palmer. I'll admit this is a good year for Mike Brown.

5. Conclusion.

I projected three victories this year. The Bengals are now 6-2. They've just won five games. They could easily have been 8-0. So my projection is more crow for me to eat.

Can the Bengals get in the playoffs? Yes. Can they win the Super Bowl? Yes. Just remember that defense wins championships. And the Bengals have an excellent defense. Rookie QB Andy Dalton plays like a veteran who's been around the league for years. This season and the future looks bright for the Bengals.

My love and hate affair with Carson Palmer, Part 2

Shannon Sharpe of CBS NFL Today asked Oakland Raiders QB Carson Palmer if he quit on the Cincinnati Bengals and the city by demanding a trade. And to his credit, Palmer was honest. Palmer answered,

"It was a selfish decision. I knew what I was doing. I knew the ramifications. I knew that it was what was best for me and what was best for them."

I wrote about this before. But hearing him admit that he abandoned us, hurts even more. So now we know Carson Palmer doesn't have scruples. He didn't care about his Bengal teammates or the fans that loved him. Yeah, the Bengals are a dysfunctional professional sports team. But instead of facing the adversity, he ran from it. He left his teammates and fans behind. Well, this Bengals fan says, "Good riddance."

Bengals Beat Titans

Today the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-17. It didn't look good in the first half as the Titans moved the ball up and down the field. The Titans were leading 17-7.

But football games are composed of four quarters. Last year the Cincinnati Bengals would crumble like a cookie in the second half. This year, the Bengals play the all four quarters. They fight in the second half. The Bengals defense woke up. The defensive line were in Titans QB Matt Hasselback all day. And what can I say about Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap? The guys is going to be a star. Two sacks. He did tweak his hamstring, so let's hope he's okay. (Post game interview indicates a muscle knot.) But the result of the defense's effort? Shut out the Titans.

And what about Bengals rookies QB Andy Dalton and A.J. Green? Dalton runs the offense like he's been around for three years. There's ice water in his veins. Green caught some clutch passes. One was for a first down after the Bengals were set back for a holding call. Dalton led the Bengals for two drives of 65 and 75 yards. Three touchdown passes. Wow. Bengals win 24-17 GOING AWAY. Five in a row. Bengals are now 6-2.

Here are the highlights Bengals Nation. I listened to the post game interviews. And the players are talking about next week's game. Next week, we play those bums from Pittsburgh at sold out Paul Brown Stadium. Bring on the Steelers. But by thinking about next week's game, that shows this team is concerned about a goal. The goal? Win the Super Bowl.