We’re just wrapping up the pre-season and, as many of you know, it hasn’t been the best pre-season for me. As you can see from this picture, I suffered a broken nose and a busted lip in our game against the Saints. Most people think that are helmets make us somewhat invincible but I got hit by a blitzing safety and my helmet got me. The worst part about it was I had to get the broken bone reset following the game. I was numbed up but it’s still made for a tough week.

On to a brighter subject, the NFL season is just around the corner. I, like most fans in Cincinnati, have high hopes for the Bengals in 2008. We’re returning a large group of solid players including two wide receivers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson, who make up one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL. As a quarterback, it’s always good to have one Pro Bowl receiver. Since I have two, I’m especially lucky. We also have a strong offensive line and a running game that I think is going to be solid. I mentioned our defense

once before and they’ve continued to impress through the off-season. Again, we’re excited in the Nati and I hope you guys get to see us play this year.

I haven’t had much time for anything but football of late. When I have had free time, I’ve just stayed mellow at home with my wife and our three dogs. We have two Rottweilers, Homer and Chunk, and a Maltese, Muffin. Although Muffin only weighs about 15 pounds, she definitely commands the respect of the “big dogs.”

I hope you guys are ready for football season to begin. Not only am I excited about the Bengals season, but I’m also looking forward to watching my USC Trojans play. Despite losing a ton of players, I think they’re super talented and should be a strong run at the National Championship again this season. To all the Trojan fans out there, “Fight On!”

I hope you all are well. You’ll be hearing from me after the season begins. Hopefully by then, I’ll be able to breathe out of my nose again.

Safe travels,

Carson