I believe the Bengals drafted Irons to be the replacement for the always I.R.'d C.Perry. Everybody was so high on Perry for the last couple years, but he's gotten hurt and has dissappointed and eventually forgotten. Go just beyond your short-term memory, and remember the kind of #s Perry was projected for, and how high he was being drafted. Now, remember two seasons ago at Auburn. Irons won the job from Lester and never looked back. He went into last year ranked as possibly the 2nd best back to AD. Irons was easily, pound-for-pound the toughest back in football. He's always falling forward, fighting for the extra yard and refusing to let the 1st guy bring him down. He lost some explosion last year after battling nagging injuries last year, including an early-season high-ankle sprain. By the last game of the season, and more so by the Senior Bowl, Irons looked to be regaining some of his burst. I expect the 1 year recovery of the high-ankle sprain is nearing 100% by now, and he will definately be seing the field at some point early in the season. Irons was an early draft pick for a reason, and he'll get his shot and, IMO he will excel. Possibly could even supplant Rudi in a couple years.