Smith: TV star Bengals defying the odds

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Here's a joke for you: What does HBO's training camp reality show "Hard Knocks" and the Heisman Trophy have in common?

The answer is that they're both usually considered NFL kryptonite.

Since you're probably not laughing right now, let me save myself by saying that this particular joke may not be funny, but it is true.

Only one team profiled by HBO made the playoffs in the five previous editions of the show -- the 2001 Baltimore Ravens, which finished at 10-6 before getting knocked out in the divisional playoffs -- while the 2002 Dallas Cowboys, 2004 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2007 Kansas City Chiefs and 2008 Cowboys combined for a 27-37 record.

But look out, here come this season's Cincinnati Bengals to turn this whole argument on its ear.

The Bengals, who already performed a miracle of sorts by turning former Texas star-Chicago Bears washout Cedric Benson into a serviceable running back, now will try to go 2-for-2 by attempting the same magic trick with former superstar/Internet malcontent Larry Johnson.

The word out of Queen City is that Johnson is a fourth running back and just an insurance policy. A little something just in case Benson or "another running back gets hurt."

Sure, this organization has put the "I" in ineptitude for some time now, but come on.

Benson, who left last Sunday's win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh, is already hurt and isn't a sure thing to play this Sunday in Oakland. And you're trying to tell me -- inept or not -- that Brian Leonard and DeDe Dorsey will get more carries than Johnson.

Spare me.

Johnson ran for 2.7 yards per carry behind Swiss cheese in Kansas City, but he's not there anymore as Benson's 859 yards in nine games attests.

Already at 7-2, the usually toothless Bengals should be 10-2 if things stay according to script against the Raiders, Lions and Browns -- who don't have Lex Luthor or 10 wins between them -- before taking on San Diego and Minnesota back-to-back.

If the Bengals should happen to win it all, the line at HBO to be on next year's show should be lengthy.

Hopefully everyone will remember to bring their own lead-lined box.

(Stephen C. Smith Sr. can be reached at stephencsmith1(at)yahoo.com or facebook.com/Stephen C. Smith)

(Stephen C. Smith Sr. writes for the Wichita Falls Times Record News in Texas.)

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