This is as close to a Bengals uniform as Andre will get for quite sometime now.

the first round, sixth overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals.  Many analysts thought Smith had “lost a step” as far as his blocking talents are concerned, but the Bengals took a chance on Smith anyway.  Not a bad gamble…until now.  Smith missed all of training camp and the first three preseason games because of a contract dispute (just what every team plans for when they draft a player they want to make an immediate impact).  So finally the Bengals got him signed this past Monday, and then on Tuesday – in true Bengals fashion – he went down with a foot injury.  Smith is expected to miss at least a few weeks, as Bengals doctors are still diagnosing the injury and putting a timeline on it.

Cassel gripping his right knee after being sacked three plays into the Chiefs' third preseason game against the Seahawks. (Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)

After sitting behind Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC, and then Tom Brady at New England, Cassel finally got a team to call his own when he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs.  Cassel got a starting job and a six-year-deal that’s worth 28 million guaranteed before he even took a snap in a Chiefs’ uniform.  But as training camp progressed and the preseason started, Cassel realized he wasn’t playing in New England anymore.  Cassel has gone 11-19 in three games, with just one TD and he’s been sacked four times.  Cassel isn’t throwing to Moss and Welker anymore, and has no protection as well.  His fourth sack resulted in a sprained MCL; He could miss the first two weeks of the regular season.

Gotta story brewing there? Nice little narrative? Beginning, middle, and end? Some friends become enemies, some enemies become friends?

Vick went 4-4 with no TDs and had a rush for a total of one yard.  The biggest highlight for the media nation came when starting Eagles QB Donovan McNabb made a gesture (the ol’ enough-of-that-throat-slit) toward head coach Andy Reid after a stalled drive that featured Vick.  McNabb just wanted the team to be able to get some rhythm going without a wildcat formation being involved – but that’s not what happened according to the media.  They are reporting that a quarterback controversy has spawned – unbeknownst to McNabb or Vick or Reid – and that McNabb dislikes this “gimmick” offense.  Things should be exciting to watch as the season pans out (can’t wait to see which idiots are the first ones to hold up the “PUT IN VICK!” signs the first time McNabb throws an incomplete pass).

Broncos QB Kyle Orton holding his injured right hand as he walks off of the field during a game against the Chicago Bears. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey )

McDaniel didn’t quite see eye-to-eye with former QB Jay Cutler, so Cutler was shipped out to Chicago for QB Kyle Orton.  Orton had struggled at Chicago, but in Denver he would have the chance to throw to a big-time wide-out in Brandon Marshall.  Except Brandon doesn’t like McDaniels either and wants a new contract that he is not getting.  So he has quietly gone about making a campaign for a trade (not running with the team, showing up when he wants to, batting down balls thrown to him, and punting them away if he does decide to catch them).  To make matters worse, Orton was injured (dislocated right index finger) on his throwing hand ironically while playing against Chicago and could miss a substantial amount of time.  So now rookie Tom Brandstater out of Fresno State will take over as the starter (since backup Chris Simms is also out with a left high ankle sprain) and he won’t have Brandon Marshall to throw to – or be able to hand the ball off to first round pick Knowshon Moreno. The running back out of Georgia has been out with a knee injury since August 14 and, although he is on his way back, is still not 100%. I’m sure this is just how McDaniels planned it…he couldn’t have asked for a better start to his head coaching career.