Bengals CB Dre Kirkpatrick and Madden 13

Apr 27, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick holds up his jersey during the press conference at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE

Dre Kirkpatrick, the first round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, has been non-existent on the team since his arrival. The young cornerback was injured before training camp even began. Then just as everyone was anticipating his play at the beginning of the season, he found himself sidelined with another injury.

This was to the dismay of Bengals fans everywhere as they watched their team struggle on defense. Kirkpatrick, coming out of Alabama highly touted as the top recruit in football, was supposed to be the team’s savior. All he could do was watch from the sidelines.

Though, Dre has been recovering and ready to go the past two weeks, Marvin Lewis has been cautious with the young back. The wait is over, though. On Sunday, Kirkpatrick will have his first opportunity in the NFL field to bring life back to this Bengals team in his debut against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

I was lucky enough to get to attend a small event with Dre at Paul Brown Stadium this week. The fans in attendance were able to ask Kirkpatrick questions and hang out with the first round draft pick over a little Madden play.

Here is the question and answer portion of the event. The questions were asked by the fans, while Dre answered as honestly as he could.

Fan: What was the first thing people were on you about (food), that you had to try when you came to Cincinnati?
Dre: Try the Skyline Chili.
Fan: Did you get the 3-way?
Dre: I got the coney.
Fan: Is it better or worse (than down south)?
Dre: Down south a little bit better.

Fan: Now you got a couple of National Championships under your belt, looking for a world championship coming here. What’s been the most frustrating thing about going through your rehab and getting ready and getting geared up to play?
Dre: Just watching those guys being out there playing. You know, they brought me here to play and contribute. I want to contribute, but I can’t because I was held back because of my injury. So that was probably the most difficult thing about it, but you know now it’s time so I am going out there and hopefully be good for the team.

Fan: Are you going to play Sunday against the Broncos?
Dre: Yes.

Fan: That Peyton Manning guy from what I understand, I just want to let you know he is pretty good. Did you get a chance to watch him on Sunday Night Football?
Dre: Oh, I did, I did, but you know we gonna talk about him later on in the week.

Fan: How good are you at Madden?
Dre: I’m not that good. You know I really don’t have a lot of time to play because I am trying to learn the playbook and so it is a lot of rehab. I got the game at home, I played it like twice, but I just ain’t got into it yet.

Fan: Do you have a girlfriend.
Dre: No.

Fan: Do you think they were being extra careful with you with your rehab because you were a first round pick?
Dre: The second time. You know the first time they thought I was going to be ready to play. The second day I re-injured myself. So, this time, you know they took extra caution and I feel like my body is back to where it needs to be.

Fan: Are you gonna motivate everybody to win this game?
Dre: No doubt. You know, I’m not gonna say I’m no leader or nothing because I am still a rookie, but you know I am going to give it my all. I am going to give it the same passion I gave to Bama on the field.

Fan: Do you yell at the guys? I know Marvin doesn’t really yell at you, but do you yell at them?
Dre: I don’t. We all grown and everybody has different tactics how they approach things. So, I just let them be grown about it. If I have to say something or if somebody has something to say to me, I’m just going to listen to it and take heed to what they say.

Fan: Who is the defensive leader on the team?
Dre: Well Coach, he isn’t a big pride on leader. I wouldn’t really want to say nothing on that because he doesn’t speak on that. Anybody can be the leader on the team. That is what he (Lewis) preaches to us.

Fan: When you first got signed, what was the first big purchase you made for yourself?
Dre: First big purchase, um, I bought my mom a house.

Fan: Who is your bff on the team?
Dre: I’m still getting to learn the people, but who I pretty much talk to the most would probably be Jason Allen or Leon Hall.

Fan: So since you are the rookie this year, have any of the veteran players made you do any crazy stuff?
Dre: They let me be grown. You might have to take a helmet off the field or take shoulder pads off. It’s all fun and games.

Fan: Is the hair difficult.
Dre: Not really, not really. I need it, I’m up north.

Fan: Do you know what your Madden rating is yet?
Dre: Probably 0.

Fan: Do you play fantasy?
Dre: I don’t.

Fan: What do you do in your down time, though, when you are new in a city?
Dre: I just stay in the house, you know, talk to my son. Play around the house. I try to find stuff to do. I am in to the little go cart thing around here, somewhere around the city. I’m for real, in it.

Fan: You must have played this (Madden) all through college right?
Dre: I didn’t. Call of Duty. I’m into new things, so I’ve been trying to get into that FIFA game. A little soccer, you know.

The event was a success and Kirkpatrick, masterfully, won his Madden matchup against a young player. He even did a victory dance. It couldn’t have been sweeter for the fans either, as we actually got to watch the Bengals beat the Steelers. Virtual or not, it was a win.