Maema Njongmeta Is Putting “That Dog” In Underdog
Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Outside of writing about the Bengals, I’ve been a stand-up comic since 2012. One key feature of my act is self-deprecating humor. The secret to self-deprecation on stage is to portray yourself not as a person to pity, but rather as an underdog. When done correctly it tells the crowd “I may have my shortcomings, but I’m getting better and not letting them drag me down.”
What audience member can’t buy into that?
Everyone loves rooting for the underdog. They’re endearing and fun. They make it impossible for themselves to fail, often armed with little more than the belief that they can overcome the odds.
Game recognizes game, and underdogs recognize underdogs. And from my experience as a professional underdog, I’m here to tell you: The Cincinnati Bengals may have an all time underdog in their midst.
Do they sell Maema Njongmeta jerseys? 🤔
— ZIM (@zimwhodey) August 17, 2024
Cameroon-born linebacker Maema Njongmeta has arguably been the best story of the entire NFL this preseason. He has quickly caught Bengals fans’ attention with his old-school approach to the game, a mentality that makes him incredibly easy to root for. He has that tough, bowl-of-nails-for-breakfast mentality that makes coaches describe him as “He’s the first one to get to practice and last one to leave.” That’s not your ordinary coach cliche, that’s a cliche they only hand out to their favorites.
One of the great, unexpected stories of Bengals camp is Maema Njongmeta.
He’s currently tied for the most tackles of any player in the preseason and is tough to outwork.
He did this for a good 15 minutes after practice. pic.twitter.com/fhwVJqVqh8
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) August 19, 2024
In two preseason games thus far, he is the NFL’s co-leader in tackles with 17. He is also the NFL’s standalone leader in solo tackles with 13, two more than any player in the league and eight more than anyone else in Cincinnati. He’s made such a name for himself that Bengals media personalities are literally giving us tutorials on his name.
How to say Maema Njongmeta’s name 😅 https://t.co/IWHzNQaIHz pic.twitter.com/0DnoWCK7IR
— Elise Jesse (@EliseJesseTV) August 14, 2024
Maema Njongmeta (pronounced MOO-mah jong-MET-tah) can credit his strong preseason to one of his greatest strengths: his motor. From snap to whistle, Njongmeta plays with a visible intensity and purpose on every single play. The star linebacker has already become a fan favorite because he makes up for his lack of elite physical traits (6-foot-0, 229 pounds) and lack of off-the-charts speed and agility with his energy and feel for locating the ball carrier. In a sense, he’s the embodiment of the phrase It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog — another cliche only given to impressive players.
“I play fast with a high motor,” Njongmeta said in a pre-draft interview. “I’m very difficult to block in the run game. That’s a good combination that helps a linebacker like myself make plays behind the line of scrimmage.”
Njongmeta has forged a crystal-clear path to not only making the 53-man roster, but also an immediate impact in the regular season. The Bengals are thin at linebacker, especially with the departure of Markus Bailey to the Arizona Cardinals. While it’s unlikely that the undrafted rookie linebacker will be a Day 1 starter, his strong performance in the preseason is certainly putting him in line for plenty of defensive snaps. If he keeps making this type of impact, the sky’s the limit.
Tycen Anderson + Maema Njongmeta for the sweet run stop pic.twitter.com/A7gG9SvWlY
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) August 17, 2024
Dating back to college, he exuded the type of character that will allow him to mesh perfectly with the team culture that Zac Taylor has built. A four-year Academic All-Big Ten member, Njongmeta was a team captain at Wisconsin in 2023. This is largely due to him embracing his leadership role both on and off the field, particularly as a linebacker where he said he has to be the “quarterback of the defense, the heart and soul of the defense.”
“I do the little things right,” Njongmeta said. “I’m a consistent player with a high football IQ. Above all, (the team that drafts me is) going to get a great teammate. It’s a team sport. I love being a great teammate. It’s never about the individual. You have to elevate your teammates as players and people. That’s something I’ve always done.”
The fans have taken notice, including my buddy Josh, the founder of WDN Today, who sent me the following message about Njongmeta:
“Part of me hopes when Njongmeta makes the roster, he flips his number to 54. Dude’s too big of a hitter to not be in a 50s number.”
The key word in his message: When. Njongmeta’s arrival is inevitable, and from what we’ve seen so far, it’s going to be glorious.
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