Even in this 24-hour “we want more” era, east coast bias is still huffin’ and puffin’. If Bengals receiver A.J. Green played in one of those real deal Atlantic Ocean-bordering metropolises, he’d be a household name. He’d be selling e-readers and smartphones on commercials and getting retweeted by Roland Martin. Why you ask? Because Adriel Jeremiah is a prodigy.
He followed up his impressive 2012 rookie campaign (65 receptions, 1057 yards and seven TDs) with an expletive-inducing 2012 season, during which he caught 97 balls for 1350 yards and 13 TDs. Playing for Cincinnati puts him at a competitive disadvantage in regards to his “brand,” but football fans are well aware of his exploits. After a balling out at the University of Georgia, he came out of the 2011 draft as the fourth pick and immediately put to bed any considerations of bust or a rookie learning curve.
There are few players in the game with his combination of breakaway speed, glue-like hands, defensive interpretation and big-game awareness. But what really makes him special is the way he takes all those aforementioned skills and melds them together. He has what we like to call a wide-catch radius. Underthrown balls are not a problem. Overthrown balls aren't much of a big deal, either. Back of the shoulder catches, sluggos (slant and go), fades, and end-zone jump balls are all within his ability.
He’s been one of the main reasons that the Bengals have made the playoffs for the last two seasons running (no small feat for one of the worst franchises in American sports.) He and QB Andy Dalton have already developed a strong chemistry and with a burgeoning defense, are on the cusp of starting something real in Cincy. If that happens – “that” being making consistent and extended playoff runs – then Green will get the big-game recognition that currently eludes him. Consider yourself looped in.
