Gregory Shamus - Getty Images
6 months ago: PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 04: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals tries to catch a second quarter pass next to Ike Taylor #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers but ends up drifting out of bounds at Heinz Field on December 4, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The NFL is known as a "copycat" league. And in that type of league, all kinds of comparisons are constantly being made. Great players are judged against other great players. Great teams are evaluated according to other great teams. How often have you heard the phrase structure "(Insert team here) is playing as well as ('72 Dolphins, '85 Bears, etc.) ever did!!", or, "(Current running back) looks like (historically great running back) out there. Seriously, I don't know if he's better than (currently great running back), but he's definitely top five"? Players, teams, coaches, uniforms, stadiums, fan bases, concession prices...you name it, it's being compared. Everyone does it, myself included - it's just a part of being a fan. Geoff Hobson, official Cincinnati Bengals writer, said that the Pro Bowl is of course no exception, but this time the comparisons weren't readily accepted.
People were comparing the 6-4 Green to Marshall, but Marshall wouldn't have it.
"He's in a league of his own," Marshall said. "He's totally different. He's really smooth. Sometimes it takes people a couple of years to get it. But it looks like he has it. I'm looking forward to following his career."
After a phenomenal rookie season, A.J. Green drawing comparisons to other NFL wide receiver greats should come as no surprise. Green led all rookie wideouts with 1,057 yards in 2011 and earned a starting spot on the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl roster. Even with all the accolades, however, Green still seems to slip under the radar slightly more than he deserves. In a conversation about rookies, Green may not receive more than a slight mention. Instead the talks will focus on the flashy Patrick Peterson, Von Miller, the sack master Aldon Smith, and of course Cam Newton. But arguably the most valuable player on a team with three other pro bowlers including fellow rookie Andy Dalton, Brandon Marshall thinks Green is the one who deserves the praise.
"I love his focus. I love his demeanor in a game," he said. "He doesn't get rattled. It doesn't matter who he's playing. He just makes plays."
Like Dalton and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals, Green has nothing but the brightest of futures ahead of him. Soon enough it'll be the rest of the league saying, "Hey, have you watched this (insert young wide receiver)? Great player. He might be the next A.J. Green."
0 recs | 26 comments
+1000000000000
Over and over and over again
Toasted_Orange_Monster - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Marshall want to come TD passes from Dalton full time?
TCfromDubVee - January 30, 2012
Well, he's shown a lot of respect and admiration for both Green and Dalton.
Too bad he won’t be hitting FA for a long time.
sexsalad - January 30, 2012
Yeah true.
TCfromDubVee - January 30, 2012
We can give them Jerome Simpson.
We know the Dolphins like players that do drugs….Ricky Williams?
“Oh Ricky he’s so high he left the dolphins high and dry go ricky….go ricky”
ddbumpus - January 30, 2012
we have an extra 2nd next year that could turn to a first...
miami doesnt need him they dont even have a QB
Bengalsfan024 - January 31, 2012
More double moves in '012-13!
Im_a_fun_haver - January 30, 2012
what about our #2 wideout
green ? shipley in the slot or whalen plus gresham
QBG - January 30, 2012
Competition, plus a wily vet
I think they know they might have something in Binns and Hazelton.
Some veteran WR will come loose, and after the way that offense played someone is going to WANT to come here.
Shipley is definitely the guy in the slot.
And they’ll likely have an extra pick or two to risk on a late round receiver, someone who fell, because someone always does.
Skyhook - January 30, 2012
is kevin walter's contract almost up ?
Bengalsfan024 - January 31, 2012
I think he's a FA this yr.
Bigcatdaddy - January 31, 2012 via Android app
I think that Whalen will be as good as Walter or Housh next year.
Whalen has the size needed to be a # 2 receiver, he caught everything thrown to him, and will be where Dalton needs him to be. Green is good enough that we don’t need a deep threat as a #2 receiver (though we will need one as a #4). I am increasingly against a FA WR, though I think we need someone in the draft.
jim0ijk - January 31, 2012
On top of loving AJ....
I also love the picture…especially the camel toe that #24 is sporting.
Oxailis - January 30, 2012
Uhhhhhhh
Creepy.
KentuckianaBrowncoat - January 30, 2012
Nasty
but funny.
nohops - January 30, 2012
WHY DID YOU HAVE TO POINT THAT OUT?
sexsalad - January 30, 2012
Because
Its a steeler with a camel toe…. How could I just pass that up?
Oxailis - January 31, 2012
good lord
on a dude, fwiw, it’s a “moose knuckle”.
supergrover - January 31, 2012
lol
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
Why are you looking at that dudes balls?
Diesel2405 - January 31, 2012
The irony of this is
Marshall was being discussed here and the Bengals went after him. Some people wanted him b/c of his extreme talent but others were worried about his attitude. In the end the Bengals went in a different direction that ultimately led to the Bengals need at WR and their drafting of AJ. Had Marshall come to the Bengals AJ may be wearing Dolphin green. He definitely wouldn’t be wearing stripes.
How about this unlikely scenario: The Dolphins are desperate for a QB. In order to either pry Matt Flynn from the Packers or get the #2 pick so they can select RG III, they need chips. This draft is fairly deep with respect to the Bengals’ needs, so why not offer the Dolphins a 1st round pick for Marshall (plus a late round pick if needed). That will give them the chips to move up, give the Bengals the best 1-2 WR combo in the league and, thanks to the Raiders, the Bengals can still get a 1st round CB. (If Simpson was not a FA I would throw him in there too, but assuming we get the backs we need in the draft we could throw in Scott to sweeten the deal.)
WOOD98 - January 31, 2012
dont even talk about AJ not being here
as a Bengals fan I am just waiting for a breaking news report saying that there was an error in the draft and AJ actually goes to the Raiders to play for Carson……HE OURS DARN IT…I dont even want to think about him in another uni
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
This.
I am sooooooo glad the draft worked out for us the way it did. Here’s to another great draft, starting on my birthday none the less. :)
Ben-GAL - January 31, 2012
nice...hopefully you get a great present from the bengals front office
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
Thanks! I am hoping for the same.
Ben-GAL - January 31, 2012
Praise from Marshall...........I think that says a lot about AJ by itself.
The Van Buren Boys - January 31, 2012
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