But I did super good at the Arizona camp. Have something to tell us about this article? Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. 4. Did the SI Cover Jinx Apply? West coast games youre supposed to leave on Friday, we left on Saturday. I love him to death. At the free OBD forum we will be posting Oregon Sports article links, the daily Press Releases from the Athletic Department and the news coming out every day. Then he received an offer from Fresno State head coach Tedford himself. Brown did not respond to an interview request. "Kitna and Brat were together in Seattle, and I knew Kit was Brat's guy," Smith said. Quarterback was the theme early in the 99 draft. You saw what happened on the Bears' fourth possession, the one that included a near disaster on a first-down snap from the Eagles 31-yard line. ", Casserly: "Edgerrin James' flight got canceled and he rebooked the whole thing himself and was sitting on the curb at the airport when we went to pick him up. If there's a better evaluator of quarterbacks than Andy Reid, I can't figure out who it could possibly be. Smith admitted he didn't put in the necessary time required to get a first grasp of the playbook. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. akili smith with the commish You know you're a bust when . [9] In 2005, he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a stint in NFL Europe where he started four games for the Frankfurt Galaxy. Smith Jr. was offered on the spot at Arizona's camp by the Wildcats. Nathan Roholt is a senior writer and managing editor emeritus for FishDuck. University of Oregon quarterback Akili Smith (1997-1998) is one of the greatest players in the history of the Oregon Ducks, resetting the record books with o. On April 28, 2007, Smith signed a two-year contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, where he was expected to compete for the starting quarterback position with another former NFL player, Henry Burris. Terry O'Neil, Saints cap specialist (to the Times-Picayune in 2009): "The Ricky Williams trade was really the death of the whole operation. His agent Leigh Steinberg hired a tutor to help improve his score for the 1999 scouting combine, and he scored a 37 on the second try.[1]. Kabisa Akili Maradufu Smith Wiki Biography Kabisa Akili Maradufu Smith (born August 21, 1975) is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. His offensive coordinator from 2001 to 2002, Bob Bratkowski, said Smith "wasn't as diligent as he should have been" regarding his film and playbook study habits. Its been me and my dad all the way, Smith Jr. said. Our PR people came in and said the phone lines are burning up. But after throwing for 3,763 yards with 32 TDs against eight INTs, Smith had a spectacular pro day workout that left scouts oohing and aahing, making him one of the fastest risers in draft history. No matter how I look at it, or anybody looks at it, that was Akili Smith out on that football field., The Bengals offensive coordinator at the time, Bob Bratkowski, said Smith had the athleticism to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, but the drive wasnt always there. How old is Akili Smith? No. What Happened to the Team after the Cover: The Bengals missed the playoffs in all four of Smiths seasons, bottoming out with a league-worst 2-14 record in 2002. Had we picked the wrong quarterback or, frankly, either of those running backs, the next decade of the Eagles' history would have been completely different. Glad it happened, it would have kept Dick LeBeau in Cincy as the head coach and the rest, as they say . However, Smith's NFL career was short lived. Like a broadcaster praising a kicker about his consecutive streak of kicks moments before he shanks one, somehow it always seems inevitable, whether or not it comes to fruition.Or not, if history is any indication. The Bengals turned it down. Even Akili Smith offered Sunday, "I feel extremely bad (for the defense)." Defensive captain Takeo Spikes doesn't want to split the locker room and he chose his words carefully about the pressure . He said Lewis brought in those pieces that were needed and brought stability to the team. Do you sit there and say we're drafting a guy who will go to more Pro Bowls at cornerback in the history of football and end up in the Hall of Fame? Im very confident in my skills.. What Happened to the Team after the Cover: Oregon would go on to win its first outright conference title in seven years. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Looking at their IG pages, Vinny isnt following Akielia, but she is still following Vinny, so its unlikely that theyre still in a relationship. For his position, he wasnt as diligent as he should have been.. Discover Akili Smith's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. [16], In June 2020, Smith was hired onto the coaching staff at Maranatha High School in Pasadena, California.[17]. The food, the travel, the strength and conditioning program. We always pick draft picks up with the intern's car because we wanted to get them straight: You're starting at the bottom now. The worst of the worst. On October 7 the ship docked at Alexandria, Egypt . ET. Pac-12 commish George Kliavkoff visiting SMU Wednesday, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. ", Casserly: "The morning of the draft I called [Saints GM Bill Kuharich] and confirmed that we had the basics for the deal. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site. In 2003, Smith tried out for the Green Bay Packers, as Brett Favre's backup. Will Smith was once at the top of the world -- then came a heated altercation at the 2022 Oscars. No. Meanwhile, on the morning of the draft, another backroom deal loomed large over the entire event. He had so much raw athletic ability with long arms and the ability to catch the ball. He only played in 22 games and was out of the league after the 2002 season. Akielia is a travel nurse and a model who has over 34k followers on Instagram. But Couch had that 'I can make the guys around me better' factor. 2023 GRV Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved. . RICKY! 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Utah TE Dalton Kincaid, Trey Hendrickson lands in PFFs top edge rushers, Bengals meet with top cornerbacks at NFL Combine. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. 3 pick of the 1999 draft after a stellar career at Oregon. A rough preseason for Akili Smith. The Life And Career Of David Klingler (Story), The Life And Career Of Carl Pickens (Story), The Life And Career Of Archie Griffin (Story), The Life And Career Of Anthony Muoz (Story), The Life And Career Of Jack "Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Story), What Happened To Chris Henry? It was weeks of film work to do that and everybody came away knowing who was the better choice. I was a really good college football player, but it was just hard for people to make sense of that [deal] in real life. What Happened to Him After the Cover: After running mostly untouched through three games, Arizona held Thomas to 58 yards from scrimmage, the first time he had been held under 100 yards all season. It wouldnt last, the Ducks next week at home would be thrashed by Washington State, 55-16, a game that was 38-2 at halftime, and wasnt even that close. At 3:30 a.m. Browns president Carmen Policy signed a deal for Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, who had set SEC records in attempts (553), completion percentage (72.3), passing yards (4,275) and touchdowns (36) in an early iteration of Hal Mumme's and Mike Leach's vaunted Air Raid offense. The Saints, meanwhile, landed Williams in a deal with the Washington Redskins. They can't do that!" Smith would be the fifth first-round pick of the Bengals represented by Steinberg, and his relationship with Bengals owner and GM Mike Brown had been, at times, contentious. Despite displaying an extraordinary amount of athleticism and a knack for the position in college, Akili struggled to adapt to the speed of the professional game. Meanwhile, Oregon finished with a losing record in the remaining games that season, punctuated by a Sun Bowl loss to Minnesota. But we knew we were drafting the best defensive player in the draft with a lot of upside and we knew that all the deals we did gave the Redskins three No. Akili Smith had 2,212 passing yards over his career. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Jim Loscutoff: an Oregon Star and NBA Enforcer. Follow him on Twitter @nathanroholt. Akili Smith was the biggest bust in . But I think he ran a little more than me. More recently, Smith Sr. has been coaching high school football and coaching up his son at every step in the process. In hindsight, it was one of the most ridiculous deals in history. [8] During the four years he was with the Bengals, he started in only 17 games and threw just five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions, eventually leading to his release on May 31, 2003, after riding the bench mostly during the previous two years. That's how we found out. Akili Smith played 22 games over his career. Following the shows final episode, viewers may be wondering who Vinny Guadagnino is dating in 2021. As soon as Kuharich confirms the deal I start calling everyone in front of us to move back up. Akili Smith had 5 touchdowns over his career. Yes. Coach Peterson, Thank you for believing in me as a sophomore this season. So, let's find out more about what happened between him and Akeila. The funniest line of the day came from our personnel director Dom Anile, who flipped the keys to his car to Tom Telesco, a scout, and said, 'Hey Tom, go start my car.' GM Bill Polian didn't want to do it, but Faulk's contract had become untenable and the Colts weren't in a position to renegotiate the deal or tolerate a long, disruptive holdout. And the next year? And clearly it's because they are entertaining trade offers.". The Bengals just had to have Akili Smith. Oregon's 2025 recruiting class could include a player . What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? Odds & lines subject to change. Hampered by injuries and expectations, Williams rushed for 884 yards and two touchdowns in 1999. Out of football after four seasons, he's considered one of the biggest draft busts in history. The near-equal likelihood of jinx-or-not seems less a product of luck and more of a regression to the mean; an outlier returning to a regular level of performance, which seems in line to what Oregon has experienced when cursed following its Sports Illustrated covers. He's what we need. Every second seems like a minute and every minute seems like an hour. Join our linker program. While many would be hesitant to use their third overall pick on a guy who employed such a limited sample size, the Bengals had several needs, most of all a flailing organization that's won five games or less in five of the previous eight seasons. Casserly: "We loved Bailey. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. Smith Jr. reacted to the offer saying, I was surprised. In the 1999 NFL Draft, a year in which five quarterbacks were drafted in the first round, Smith was the third quarterback and third player selected overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals. Oregon They were in need of a quarterback, but the Cleveland Browns had already selected Tim Couch first and the Philadelphia Eagles followed by taking Donovan McNabb. How They Got On the Cover: Coming off arguably the most exciting bowl game of the 2008 season (Holiday Bowl vs. Oklahoma State), Oregon was one of the favorites to challenge for a Pac-10 title in 2009. At the spring NFL owners meetings, Saints coach Mike Ditka proclaimed that he would be willing to trade his entire draft for the chance to move up and take Heisman Trophy winner and Texas running back Ricky Williams. Stints in Europe and Canada followed, and he retired in 2007. The position the franchise put him in was incredibly disastrous. Is . Marvin Lewis was a savior to the Cincinnati Bengals. SB Nation recently embarked on a new video series looking at what would have hypothetically happened if a major event in NFL history had gone differently. Carter was like a powerful gazelle with an incredible first step during his Penn State days. There was no general manager so the coaches had to do it., When the Bengals eventually brought in Marvin Lewis, Smith said that changed the culture for the franchise. Gone golfing.". ", Polian: "We flew down to Miami to watch James in a Thursday night game and we left blown away by his talent. Did the SI Cover Jinx Apply? After a pre-draft interview with Williams, the Browns were smitten with the Texas running back and thought he would be a force in bad-weather games on the shores of Lake Erie. He never fully recovered his confidence or his nerve and was out of the league by 2003. cover jinx has inflicted other players or teams heavier than Oregon, many fans dont easily forget the events that have occurred following a SI feature, in particular one in 2003 that was so atrocious it seemed there had to have been a curse, broken mirror, black cat, and Coach Bellotti walking under a ladder pre-game for things to turn so sour. The Achille Lauro left Genoa, Italy, on October 3 for a 12-day cruise of the Mediterranean Sea. Where was Akili Smith born? He signed late and it hurt the young quarterback. I agree with this perspective more than the perspective that Akili Smith didn't want to work. Vinnys journey to find love has been one with many ups and downs. Akili Smith got off to a late start with the Cincinnati Bengals after holding out during a contract dispute. Williams had gained more rushing yards than anyone in NCAA history and was being hyped as "the second coming of Jim Brown," according to one GM. Chris Rock is breaking his silence about the Oscars incident when Will Smith struck him onstage after the presenter made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith . I know this: We weren't the only team that didn't take the trade. [13], In 2012, Smith took over as quarterbacks coach for St. Augustine High School in San Diego. The 57-year-old comedian . I still talk to Corey Dillion and hes still upset with some of the stuff that he was trying to get changed., Smith went on to elaborate. How tall is Akili Smith? Following the death of 17-year-old lioness Akili at the Birmingham Zoo earlier this week, zoo spokesperson Jennifer Ogilvie said there are no current plans to remove from the habitat the male . The following season the team endured horrible tragedy, as a highly-touted incoming freshman, Terrance Kelly, was shot and killed a day before he was to report to fall camp for the start of the 2004 season. OSU finished with a losing record, one season after finishing fourth in the nation. ", Banner: "We were chuckling to ourselves inside the building a bit, because if people knew that not only are we not picking Ricky over Donovan, we don't even have Ricky rated as our top running back, that probably would have had our fans set the city of Philadelphia on fire. 1999 EDGE ADVANTAGE #183 AKILI SMITH AUTO. Seven years later, Akili Smith knew he might be headed to Cincinnati. Akili Smith was born on 21 August, 1975 in San Diego, CA. Vinny had three women to choose from during the Double Shot at Love finale Peachy, Erika D and Akielia. On Saturday night at the hotels, once we landed and got situated and got ready to go for a Sunday game, our coaches were on the road scouting other collegiate athletes. ", Banner: "You felt for Donovan and his family. And now all of a sudden they want to change the deal, they wanted another third-round draft choice. Prince also appeared in the Homicide: Life on the Street season 5 episode "Bad Medicine" as Vernon Troy. Smith was passed over by the team picking next, the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected another dual-threat quarterback, Donovan McNabb. Ditka: "We're gonna become a much better football team because of Ricky Williams. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. ", Palmer: "You throw these young quarterbacks to the wolves and there's a learning curve. The backdrop to all this was the Redskins were being sold and so none of us knew if we'd even be around tomorrow. Eventually the Bears did pick McNown at 12, one spot after the Vikings selected Daunte Culpepper. Polian: "In spite of his poor workout, Ricky was still being heralded as the greatest thing since Gale Sayers. At the center of it all was Washington general manager Charley Casserly, who recently categorized the 1999 draft as a "once in a generation" type event. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The Tattnall County Sheriff's Office requested the GBI investigate the death on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Not really. After that he tried out for Green Bay and . NEW! And Masolis dismissal after the season had nothing to do with luck. He was deprived of a huge thrill that he deserved and it's hard to not have any feelings about that at all. So do fans need to worry in the wake of the most recent Sports Illustrated cover feature?Lets review all the cover cases to find out. When Sports Illustrated addressed its cover jinx in 2002, they noted that for every example of the jinx occurring, there were just as many examples where absolutely nothing happened. At a pre-draft meeting described by the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Ditka went around the room and asked every scout if they'd trade their entire draft for Williams; only two disagreed and said they wouldn't. Akielia AKA Big A-K writes in her IG bio that she was the Double Shot at Love season 3 winner. It's not fair. But we still wanted to double- and triple-check so we looked at every play of both their careers. [14] Smith planned to finish the college degree that he started at the University of Oregon. Incidentally, McNabb was drafted second by Philadelphia and Smith was third to Cincinnati. ", Williams (to Jim Rome in 2019): "The trade was an amazing gesture and something I'll probably be remembered for for a long time, but it was too much -- for the organization, for the team, for his coaching career, and for my time in New Orleans -- to overcome, and it wasn't until I was shipped away [in 2002] to Miami until the Saints could move past it and move toward their first Super Bowl and I could move on and get my career going. Regrettably, he never got to show his true potential on the NFL gridiron when a freak injury during . [12], In March 2010, Smith joined the University of California's football staff as a graduate assistant to work with the offense. I called John Cooke, who at that point was still running the team, and he said, 'We all know none of us may be here next year, so do what's best for the team: Take the deal.' Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. by Rodrigo Torrejn. Now Akili Smith Jr. has an offer to play for his fathers former coach. Born: School: Oregon. Donovan was very good. The holdout actually hurt me a lot, he said. While the top three teams in the 1999 NFL draft were busy selecting quarterbacks, the New Orleans Saints were busy trying to work out a deal. The team then struggled that year with injuries and heavy hearts over their fallen teammate, ending with the only losing season (5-6) during Mike Bellottis entire coaching tenure as head coach at Oregon, the first losing season since 1993 (5-6). June 24, 2022 - 12:55 BST Hannah Hargrave. As soon as it became clear Smith was probably going to Cincinnati with the third pick, Akili's family, led by his father, Ray Smith, a minister in San Diego, formed a circle to specifically pray . The name obviously rings a bell; Smith Jr. is the son of Oregon legend Akili Smith, who was the starting QB in Eugene for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Both quarterbacks would make it to the NFL. Oscars Producer Will Packer Explains Why Will Smith Was Not Removed From the Show. The Bengals needed a franchise quarterback. Did the SI Cover Jinx Apply? Akili Smith Student at Parkview High School Norcross, GA. Akili Smith-Washington SRTP Intern at UCSF Houston, TX. Worried that the Colts would take Williams with the fourth pick, Ditka and the Saints had offered Cincinnati all six of their picks in the 1999 draft along with their first- and third-round picks in 2000. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. If I ended up representing astronauts, Mike would have somehow ended up commissioner of the moon. There was some stuff going on with the organization and I think even the organization would agree that they werent doing things right back in the day. . And he wouldn't tell me. Smith threw for 45 touchdowns in his two seasons. Did the SI Cover Jinx Apply? We had a good team. Before the draft, New Orleans head coach Mike Ditka offered the Bengals nine draft picks for the 1999 and 2000 NFL Drafts, hoping to move up and draft Ricky Williams. Instead, Williams' rookie season turned out to be the final chapter of Ditka's coaching career. Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NFL biography Template:Infobox baseball biography Kabisa Akili Maradufu Smith (born August 21, 1975) is a former American football quarterback. Did the SI Cover Jinx Apply? Akili Prince is an actor who played Darnell Chenault in the Law & Order episode "Subterranean Homeboy Blues". Whether commitment issues, the organization is at fault I want to bring things to light on a person that had so much potential but in the end it just did not workout.My 1st video is about former Bengals 1st round pick Akili Smith. He did a great job of making sure that happens this week, extending a scholarship offer to Akili Smith Jr., a 2025 quarterback out of California. Over a career that spanned 12 years and included a yearlong retirement, myriad suspensions for violating the NFL's drug policy, a stint as a vagabond world traveler and a season in the CFL, Williams rushed for more than 10,000 yards. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. It wouldn't be long before he supplanted the current Eagles starting quarterback: Doug Pederson. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe. The deal reportedly included every 1999 pick from the Saints, There were times in there when the game was in slow-motion, Bengals eventually brought in Marvin Lewis. Thunderous boos, double-crosses, late-night deals, green-room tears, prayer circles, internal franchise revolts, Mike Ditka in a dreadlocks wig, a Hall of Fame cornerback, a Heisman Trophy winner in a wedding dress and several juicy secrets that have just now come to light. We present them here for purely educational purposes. ", McNabb (to YES Network in 2016): "They booed me in the beginning when they introduced everyone in the green room and I thought it was pretty funny. Akili Smith is 6-3 (190 cm) tall. ", Joe Banner, Eagles president: "We took Ditka seriously when he said he'd trade his whole draft for Williams but we didn't think it was much of an offer. We all had a good laugh, with people joking that the fans were going to storm the building at any second. That was the end of it all. He was, however, unsuccessful there and was later released. Movies. The biggest action of the day was the booing of Donovan McNabb. Ditka and the Saints had their sights set on the University of Texas running back Ricky Williams. Casserly: "After I had secured the deal with the Saints, I picked up the phone and called Chicago. He was a legitimate two-way player at Georgia. One of which was his half brother, Akili Roberson, who played football and was highly recruited out of high school, along with his sister Arnique Jelks. Rock performed a sold-out show . 1, 2 or 3 you're going to a team that's missing a lot of parts and you need time, we needed time, to fill those parts in.". How He Got On the Cover: Fifes 15-yard TD run gave Oregon the lead for good in a 31-27 victory over #3 Michigan, a game some would categorize as the biggest win in school history. Smith would only make one start in 2001, only one appearance in 2002 and was told that he was done in Cincinnati on May 31, 2003. If they didnt bring in Marvin Lewis, they mightve been in that same age of what they were in under Akili Smith, under Dave Klingler, under Big Daddy Wilkinson, everybody they call a bust. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. My dad helped me get that offer because of coach, (Photo: Left: Jeff Tedford, BarkBoard.com | Right: Akili Smith Jr. (Family photo) ). It's not fair. But this didn't come without its controversy. Given the name Kabisa Akili Maradufu Smith (in Swahili, "kabisa" means "completely", "akili" means "mind", and "maradufu" means "double" or "a Gemini twin") by his parents Glorida Bryant and Ray Smith,[1] Akili Smith was born in San Diego, California. And I think he's gonna show everybody that he is the best college football player coming out and I don't care about the other guys.". Despite showing athleticism in his early games, he failed to grasp the Bengals playbook fully and never established himself with the team. The deal-breaker for the Bears was UCLA quarterback Cade McNown, so I just went through what everyone else was gonna pick with the info I had gathered and explained to them that he'd still be there. There have been six Oregon Football players (technically Dennis Dixon was the seventh, but he wasnt the feature) who have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the magazines history. People booing you during a moment you've been dreaming about for most of your life is harsh. OBD Forum members.we got your back. Smith also played for the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Frankfurt Galaxy, and Calgary Stampeders. *Sources are at the bottom*Hey everyone and welcome to a new Series I'm trying out called "What happened to" where I take a promising athlete (in this case N. "I knew I was done.". Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 45 years old? Just three days after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, the comedian is addressing what happened in his first stand-up show since the altercation. Were looking forward to visiting Fresno State soon.. Maybe. I'm sure a lot of guys didn't like riding in the intern's car. Cleveland nearly selected Smith, agreeing on contract terms with him before the team agreed with Couch. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. It could be argued certainly that the cover jinx affected Oregon, but Cam Newton was on just as many covers as James that season, and we know how it ended for Newton. The final offer, which was refused by Bengals management, was for nine draft picks, several extra in that year as well as many the next year. Akili Smith Net Worth: Akili Smith is an American former professional football player who has a net worth of $1.5 million. Traded to Miami in 2002 for two first-round picks, Williams was an All-Pro that season for the Dolphins. As Steinberg feared, the negotiations with Brown dragged on. 1 picks the next season. Granted the #1 pick in the following springs draft, the team selected the USC Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, who later led the Bengals to the franchises first playoff appearance in 14 years. Possibly one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, Smith was drafted third overall by the Bengals in 1999 after a dominant junior season at Oregon where he scored 36 touchdowns. Your email address will not be published. How much did Akili Smith weigh when playing? Hes like the quarterback guru and hes taught us everything we know. *Sources are at the bottom*Hey everyone and welcome to a new Series I'm trying out called \"What happened to\" where I take a promising athlete (in this case NFL player) who did not live up to expectations. Akili Smith was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals third overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. The deal reportedly included every 1999 pick from the Saints, a 2000 first-round pick, a 2001 first-round pick, and a second-round pick in 2002. ProFootballHistory.com. Ditka and the Saints were so desperate to land Williams that they were offering their entire slate of 1999 draft picks and more to move up to that third slot. [8] Smith was a deacon at a Missionary Baptist church and played football for "God's House", a flag football team. Here's everything we know, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Top QB prospect Levis eager to unleash 'cannon', QB Bennett addresses off-field issues at combine, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations. Despite two ten-win seasons (2005 and 2008), and being the best team in the nation for half of another (2007), Oregon wasnt featured on another cover until 2009. The Bengals followed suit by selecting a quarterback, taking Oregons Akili Smith, and passing up what couldve been a franchise-altering trade.