THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

Here's why the the Bengals MUST get an early lead on the Steelers: Pittsburgh will run the ball down the Bengals' collective throat if it gets the lead. And we all know, the Bengals can't stop a running attack if their lives depended on it. If Pittsburgh gets up 14-0 on the Bengals, you are going to get a lot of Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport....maybe 45 carries worth.


The game plan could not be more basic and obvious. But, like anything else, it doesn't matter what we know. It's whether or not the Bengals players can execute it.


Just posted on my web site: http://www.kenbroo.com/ is the latest "Bengals Report Podcast". We've got a look back at the Bengals big win over the Jets. Check it out now. The next edition will be up tomorrow, when Marc Hardin and I scope out Sunday's game against the Steelers.


Some internet/blog buzz that the Reds may be big players in the free agent market this season, now that they've hired Dusty Baker. A blog devoted to Cubs baseball (one of about a million) predicts the Reds will chase Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez, now that Dusty is here. Reds owner, Bob Castellini would have to take a leave of mental absence for either of those two scenarios to happen. Bonds is about to become radio-active again, with the Mitchell report release on the horizon. Whether or not Bonds is implicated, he's been linked to the story since day one. That should end any thought, knowing the conservative Castellini. As for A-Rod, unless Bob has a printing press in his basement, where will he come up with the money for that?

A-Rod is making $25 mil a year right now. Only a few teams figure to have the dough to bid on him, if he elects to leave the Yankees. And one of them isn't named the Reds.


I'm talking sports, a lot this weekend. From 9am-11:30am this Sunday, I'll be on 700 WLW in Cincinnati, co-hosting Sunday Morning Sportstalk with Gregg Doyel. If you live outside of the greater Cincinnati area, you can listen on line at www.700wlw.com or on XM satellite radio channel 173. Then, after the Bengals vs Steelers, I'll be hosting "Bengals Feedback" on 700 WLW and 1530 WCKY. And Sunday night at 11:35pm, I'll be in the WLWT channel 5 studios co-hosting Sports Rock! with our usual cast of characters, breaking down what went down at Paul Brown Stadium.


I thought Sunday was a day of rest!