As the Bengals head to Jacksonville for Sunday’s pre-season game (8 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 5), the summer’s most intriguing roster joust is basically a coin flip.
Heads is 28-year-old Brandon Tate, the franchise punt return leader, a methodical, grinding veteran who somehow finds a way to make it every year.
Tails is Alex Erickson, 23, trying to add to his small school legend and once again do the improbable by walking on to the big time for the second time in five years as undrafted free agent out of the University of Wisconsin.
The only place it’s not a coin flip is in the precincts of Darlington, Wis.