Carman Stays Ready in Time of Despair, Provides Boost When Bengals Need It Most;
Burrow, Tee, Give Shoutouts
By Deon Cash
Jackson Carman, a 2nd year player in the NFL, was supposed to be a starter this season for the Cincinnati Bengals.
When preseason started for the Nati, Carman was penciled in to start at a guard position when things suddenly started going south.
First there were reports that he wasn't in shape. Then there were the murmurs that he wasn't ready to be a starter, and that some rookies and other free agent signings would do the job, relegating Carmen back to the bench, and for a while, street clothes.
Once it was official, Carmen was indeed, on the bench during the start of the season.
There were whispers of him being released, or traded, but the Bengals brass decided not to go that route. Good move.
While Jackson was upset, he handled it with professionalism. He didn't go to the media. He didn't worry about the blogs and "Expert Analysts" and "Social Media Couch Potato Experts" who said he was a bust and should be traded or released.
During mid-season his support system checked on him. Knowing Carman, and how much success he had endured on his journey, sitting the bench was not one of his strong suits. It hurt and humbled him.
But Jackson remained calm, continued to work hard in practice, and never questioned the process. So when Lael Collins and others went down, Carman was asked to step up.
And boy has he, as the last two games with Carman in the lineup, the offensive line has looked as good now as it has the entire season. And dont forget this is with Carman playing left tackle, a position he hasn't played since High School ball.
Joe Burrow noticed immediately, especially since the playoffs started. He even mentioned Carman in the press conference after the Baltimore win.
"Jackson Carman came in for us and done a great job along with the entire offensive line," Burrow would say in that press conference.
After the last press conference, Burrow spoke even more highly of Carman and the job they did in dismantling the Buffalo Bills, on Carman's birthday of all days.
The offensive line was great, maybe the best game we have had all year. Great job by Carman and the entire offensive line."
Is this a coincidence? We think not.
Tee Higgins, one of Carman's former teammates at Clemson, said after the Bills game:
"Jackson is a dog. I know what he can do. We saw it at Clemson and now we seeing it here," after Carman shut down any pressures coming from Burrows back side the entire game.
We said it last year, and we will say it again. Carman is a future all-pro and sitting at 22 years old, he has learned all the nuances about playing all over on the line. The question is: are the Bengals aware of how great Carman could be? They seemed to either be teaching him a lesson, or possibly overlooking his talent and skills.
Last year he showed flashes, and when he wasn't in the linuep, it showed, especially in the Super Bowl, when Cincinnati gave up 7 sacks in a close loss to the L.A.Rams with Carman on the bench.
No matter what, when the chips was down last year, Carman stepped up. When the chips are down this year, Carman, once again, showed his worth and stepped up even more.
Now it's time for the Bengals to double down on the young dynamic 6'7 320lb offensive lineman who can play 4 of the 5 positions on the OL and is the best offensive lineman prospect they have, hands down.
Jackson is as focused as ever, and after the last game, look for more of what happened last week.
If the Bengals want to reach their 2nd consecutive Super Bowl they will need "Big Jack" to step up and do what he does.
Carman response?
"I'm ready and I been ready. I love my brothers and I want to get back to the Super Bowl."
Good luck to Carman and the Bengals team Sunday against Kansas City. In sports, sometimes, you just have to wait and be ready for your opportunity. It may not come when you want it, but when it does? You have to be ready to seize the moment.
Look for a inspired and hungry Jackson Carman this weekend on the line for the Cincinnati Bengals.
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