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Home > Blogs > Big C's NFL Blitz > Archives > 2010 > June > 28 > Entry
Shipley believe it or not
Bengals third-round draft choice Jordan Shipley comes to Cincinnati with more fanfare than a Christmas Day parade. You want to talk about pressure? No one is under the gun to perform more than Shipley thanks to some folks’ willingness to thrust him into the limelight before playing a down in the NFL.
Shipley is being hyped up more than a drunk ready for a bar fight. All the hype is a bit premature if you ask me.
I understand the high expectations in regard to Shipley’s playing ability. He was a productive and highly decorated receiver in college. The boy has mad skills, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to the playing field in the pros. Let’s not kid ourselves, college is one thing and the NFL is a beast.
Rookie first-round pick Jermaine Gresham has to be loving this. With Shipley receiving all the attention, it takes the focus off him. I recall the first day of rookie minicamp when reporters were all over Shipley like ants on a meat skin immediately after practice. He sat at his locker mystified at the center of the swarm while Gresham had the freedom to go about his business uninterrupted.
Usually, it’s the first-round pick being looked upon as the savior.
On top of all this, Shipley has been anointed as the next Wes Welker. It took some time for Welker to develop into the receiver he is today. Besides, those are pretty big shoes to fill.
I do love the potential of Shipley. He fits the mold of an ideal NFL slot receiver, but is the rookie ready to assume the role of T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Child please! Well, at least not this season.
By no means am I trying to sell the player short. I believe it’s good to have high expectations, but is it really fair to put this kind of pressure on the rookie? Remember, nothing is a given.
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Comments
By Max
June 28, 2010 7:09 PM | Link to this
Yeah, I agree; it is way too early to start merchandising Shipley. Gresham is the potential star and I’m glad to see all the attention elsewhere while he establishes a starting position.
By Jordan
June 28, 2010 7:20 PM | Link to this
Whats the word on Carlos Dunlap? Seems to be having a quiet couple of camps.
By Anthony
June 28, 2010 8:05 PM | Link to this
I feel where you’re coming from Big C. The speed of the game is terrifying enough in the pros versus college. Not to mention receiver may be the second hardest position to learn after quarterback. Max, you’re right. Gresham is the key to success for the Bengals this season.
By dude
June 29, 2010 6:48 AM | Link to this
The Bengas offense was broken in three spots in the passing game last year. Nobody on the oppositie side of the field for Chad, no Tight End and no production from the slot. There is no one key to the success of the offense. This article kind of leaves me scratching my head. I dont think I have heard any more of Shipley thus far than I have Gresham and I have heard no one refer to him as the Next Wes Welker or TJ. His receivers coach said he takes tapes of the two and studies them in no way did he compare them. Is Big C trying to put a slant on this thing?
By Zeke
June 29, 2010 7:12 AM | Link to this
Doesnt need hype. We are already upgraded at TE and slot.
By Tim
June 29, 2010 8:22 AM | Link to this
Dude, the acticle didn’t say coaches. It’s talking about bandwagon fans, like you, and the media. I guess you are probably scratching your head because there’s nothing in there. You would never see a Steeler fan hyping up a unproven player. That’s a Bengal fan for ya. Go Steelers!!
By Terry
June 29, 2010 8:51 AM | Link to this
Only in your own mind Big C is he receiving hype. I don’t see any fans hyping him, only you reporters. Kiper did refer to him as a Wes Walker type, but that is all. You reporters seem to go overboard sometimes like you all did with Farve.
By Obumer
June 29, 2010 8:54 AM | Link to this
I have never understood why we Bengal fans get so hyped about draft picks before they even play a game. Looking at the Bengals bad luck draft history and just the overall odds that a player drafted will emerge as even a semi-star in the NFL speaks volumes. We will know how good the top 3 or 4 picks are by the middle of the season. Or, maybe not even for a couple of seasons.
By dude
June 29, 2010 9:16 AM | Link to this
Tim, I can read!!! I know what the article said. Now, read what I said. The only person that I have heard use the Welker, TJ names was his receivers coach saying he studied tapes of the two. I have heard no one compare him to these two. That includes fans or coaches. The article is complete bulls*hit. Who in the hell would compare a player who has never played a down in the NFL to those two guy’s? Has he received a lot of hype? Sure. But, no more than Gresham. By the way, who is the Steelers QB for the first 4 games? Where’s their starter?
By Steelers fan are idiots
June 29, 2010 9:25 AM | Link to this
Tim = Typical Steeler fan. Running his mouth about something he knows nothing about. Go worry about your own team.
By Steeler fans are idiots
June 29, 2010 9:26 AM | Link to this
Tim = Typical Steeler fan. Running his mouth about something he knows nothing about. Go worry about your own team.
By grumpy
June 29, 2010 9:49 AM | Link to this
Go to the Bengals web sight and you will see where Holmes got his article. T.J. talking about Shipley. Wasn’t the media, wasn’t the fans, wasn’t the coaches. It was T.J. talking up Shipley.
By Yippee
June 29, 2010 10:33 AM | Link to this
Yes, Steelers fans should worry about how they’re going to replace the production of a benched Roethlisberger, a traded away Santonio Holmes, and an out for the season OT Colon. Oh, by the way, Troy Polomalu isn’t getting any younger, either…have fun with the Byron Leftwich experience !!
By Boo Bengals
June 29, 2010 10:50 AM | Link to this
No, but Chad Ococinco is. Or should we say Twinkle toes. Cheryl says get lost. No Steeler fans here either.
By Sho'nique
June 29, 2010 11:02 AM | Link to this
Hype? What hype? He’s a draft pick who hasn’t yet made the team. Carlos Dunlap is making this crap up.
By Bob540
June 29, 2010 1:47 PM | Link to this
If any receiver should feel pressure to perform, I think it is Caldwell. He has had a few years now to emerge and he has never impressed me as starter material. As for Shipley, he will likely only get in the game during multi-receiver sets, so how much pressure can he be under being, at best, the 3rd receiver in select plays?
By Pharrell
June 29, 2010 1:58 PM | Link to this
Shipley is being hyped up more than a drunk ready for a bar fight? You mean Ced Benson?
By nyc
June 29, 2010 6:30 PM | Link to this
he will be a bust..or get busted like all the other bungals….
By Dustin
July 2, 2010 4:43 PM | Link to this
Shipley has been under immense pressure as a starter in a NCG. Carried a team there and in the Big 12 champ game. The man is not gonna feel pressure to make 3rd on the depth chart.