[More Cowbell]

I'm wondering how this will effect the draft, because if he's reinstated, do we still take Laurinaitis if he's available and put Brooks and Odell on the outside or do we go with Keith Rivers and put him and Odell on the outside and Brooks in the middle (I don't think Odell's big enough to play middle, but we'll see)?

Do we take Sedrick Ellis in the first and hope a solid backer's avalaible in the later rounds?

I'd rather take a backer who can cause **** in the middle in the first and just assume we can get solid defensive ends and defensive tackles in any round after the first.

You're right, this could greatly affect how the Bengals draft this April. But I was thinking more along the lines of if we get Thurman back, we don't need to take a LB in the first round. We still need more help on the D-line, and a top-notch tackle or end would be hard to pass up.

I noticed in your assessment of the Bengals' linebackers for next year that you left off Landon Johnson. Are you assuming he won't be back? I hope that's not the case, as he has been their most consistent LB the last couple years and can still make plays. I hope the Bengals make him a competitive offer. A starting LB group of Brooks, Thurman, and Johnson looks pretty good to me. Maybe they could pick up some LB depth in the later rounds.