I'll tell you - if any of you are actually watching - which word describes the Bengals offense through three preseason games.

1. Pathetic

2. Abysmal

3. Disastrous

4. Fantasy wasteland.

Right now without a doubt it is fantasy wasteland personified. These guys are worse offensively than the David Klingler or Akili Smith Bengals ever were. I'm not saying it's Carson Palmer's fault but the comparison fits.

Now some will say it's only preseason and the team has had plenty of injuries. At full strength they will be the Bengals of 2005 ... If you believe that I have some swamp land here in Wilmington Ohio that I'd like to sell you.

If you haven't seen the bloodied face of Palmer yet from the Saints game, then you're missing the one item you need to know this team is a mess ... from top (Mike Brown) to bottom (53rd man on the roster).

Brown made a mockery of this franchise this week when he allowed Chris Henry to return. Yes, Chris Henry is one of the most talented receivers in the NFL right now. Quite frankly, physically speaking he's at Randy Moss's level. But mentally and off the field, there is no comparison. Henry is a team breaker and Marvin Lewis didn't want him but Mikie Boy did and Mikie Boy got his way. That undermines Lewis and what this franchise could have done getting rid of all the bad apples and starting a road to respectability.

Instead, they are the same old Bungles and the first three preseason games have done nothing to dispel that.

At quarterback, Palmer is clearly the guy. Fitzpatrick is a solid backup but let's hope he doesn't have to be called into the game in an emergency situation. Rowe and Jordan Palmer are fighting for the third spot but there's no fantasy value there.

At running back, Chris Perry is slowing showing what might have been as he's been the man with Rudi Johnson out with his expected injuries. Frankly, if anybody expects Rudi to come back and be a productive starter and/or runner period is only fooling themselves. Rudi is done and I've said this for more than a year. Get Perry if you want a runner in this offense.

Perry's play may be tempered by Kenny Watson, who wasn't bad last year in place of Rudi. Watson and Perry could share and neither would be worth much. Watch how this works out.

Beyond those two, I'd said don't worry about any Bengals runners. James JOhnson was impressive in camp early but won't be given a real chance during the regular season.

At tight end, Ben Utecht might be the guy this team needed a few years ago but right now he'll be lost in the shuffle with this horrific offense. I have Utecht as my guy with Antonio Gates injury issues. I think Utecht can be special if this offense gets it right.

At wide receiver, the Chad and Housh show has yet to get off the ground. Housh has been injured, or so he says, but some believe he's posturing for a new deal like Chad. What a whiny bunch of prima donnas. If healthy, they are the key to the offense. This team's search for a third wideout has come up empty so the first two have to be in there. With Perry and Utecht the lack of a three isn't so critical but it would help to find a guy who can go deep.

Marcus Maxwell was said to have the advantage but got hurt by doing something you rarely hear about in Cincinnati - working after practice to get better. That sucks.

Antonio Chatman is a darting short yardage guy but I don't see him as a deep threat. Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell maybe down the road but not right now.

Chris Henry is a punk and I don't think he should be here. Maybe Mike signed him to give the guy a pay check or two and then they'll release him. We'll see. If he plays and performs up to the level of his past, Henry is a dynamite guy but how long can you count on him? When will he be back in the clink? This is way to risky for a franchise already on shaky ground.

Shayne Graham is a guy I have long put in the stud category but now I have to drop him a notch or two or three. This offense is not good enough to give him field goal chances right now so I'd would not be so antsy to get him.

The defense has actually looked better this preseason. There is still the pressure or lack of same on the quarterback but other than that, the defense is improved. Keith Rivers is a stud and in IDP leagues I would go after him early.

The special teams are not so special which really hurts the def/spec combo. I'd probably stay away unless you need a bye week fit.