Column: Food for Thought

"My food for thought so hot it give you dudes ulcers," Jay-Z said on his 2001 release, The Blueprint.

Well, better grab some Pepto-Bismol, Carafate or Cytotec because this week's Food for thought might get a little too intense.

With the ninth pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select ... Keith Rivers, linebacker from the University of Southern California.

Yes sir.

The Bengals desperately need some linebackers and have got to add some depth inside if they plan on competing in the AFC North.

Rivers' versatility should fit right inside the orange and black jungle whether it is a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.

At 6 feet 2 inches and 241 pounds, Rivers not only brings size to the Queen City, but also let's not forget he can play some football.

The Lake Mary, Fla. native - who will be 22 years old on May 5 - may not be some freak athlete, but what he lacks in athleticism he more than makes up for with his instincts, experience and character.

In four years at USC, the All-American Rivers accumulated 240 tackles (18.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, four pass breakups and most importantly helped lead the Trojans to a 47-5 record, three Rose Bowl appearances, four Pac-10 Conference Championships and was a part of the team that took home the 2004 National Championship.

And just to put it out there - number of arrests or run-ins with the law: 0

Another number Bengals fans might find intriguing is the number 55. Rivers donned 55 while at USC, joining other prominent former Trojan linebackers Willie McGinest, Chris Claiborne and Junior Seau.

It is up to USC head coach Pete Carroll to decide who wears the highly coveted jersey number, as it has become a tradition for the uniform to represent the leader of the Trojan defense.

McGinest, Claiborne and Seau were all top-10 picks in their respective drafts and we have all seen the impact they have had on the National Football League. Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis is surely hoping for that same production.

Not only did the Bengals address their need at linebacker, but also bulked up the defensive line, adding defensive tackles Pat Sims and Jason Shirley from Auburn and Fresno State respectively.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh tallied a franchise-record 112 receptions last season for the Bengals. Those 112 receptions not only tied him with New England's Wes Welker for the NFL-lead, but also earned the former seventh-round draft pick his first selection to the Pro Bowl in his eight-year career.

The question here isn't how will T.J. perform this upcoming season, but who will line up on the opposite side of him?

Chris Henry is gone and I don't know what the hell Ocho Cinco is doing.

Just in case he chooses not to figure it out before the regular-season opener at conference-rival Baltimore on Sept. 7, the Bengals drafted three wide receivers in Jerome Simpson from Coastal Carolina, University of Florida's Andre Caldwell and Louisville product Mario Urrutia.

It's almost like chess. The Bengals have made their move, now it's your turn Chad.

"A new era is dawning at wide receiver" for the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Dayton Daily News sports writer Chick Ludwig, who has been covering the Bengals franchise for more than 12 years.

Caldwell and Urrutia are two of the better value picks in the entire draft. Caldwell joins his brother - St. Louis Rams receiver Reche Caldwell - in the NFL and the 6-foot, 200-pound athlete played a key role in the Gators' route to the 2006 National Championship. At 6 feet 5 inches and 229 pounds, Urrutia can indubitably replenish the size to the receiving corpse that was lost when Chris Henry was dismissed.

Don't sleep on Simpson. His name may not ring a bell right now, but many critics and draft experts say the 6-foot-2, 199-pound receiver may have had the best hands of any player available.

"I was surprised [by the pick of Simpson] because I didn't really know much about the kid," Ludwig said, "but I got a bunch of e-mails today and one from (former Bengals wide receiver) Tim McGee, who was telling me how good this pick is. [Simpson] is a fantastic player. He catches the ball at its highest point. He's an acrobat."

In the seventh round, the Bengals selected University of Cincinnati product Angelo Craig. The 6-foot-4, 252-pound defensive end/outside linebacker could be a valued pass-rusher for the Cincinnati Bengals defense.

Oh and former Bearcat free safety Haruki Nakamura is headed to AFC North-rival Baltimore to compete for a job.

Chew on that one until the next meal.