Bengals tidbits

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/16/06

Palmer passes, but return date uncertain

JOE KAY

Associated Press

<!-- begin body-content -->CINCINNATI - Carson Palmer dropped back to pass Thursday and decided to take it easy, protecting his rebuilt left knee while flinging the ball to a receiver during a minicamp drill.
With that one mundane move, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback showed how far he has come and how much progress he has to make in order to meet his goal of playing in the season opener.
"Now we've got a couple of months," Palmer said, following his most ambitious workout since his surgery. "I wish we had a couple of more months for me personally. But when you look at the flip side, if I am ready to play that day, that game can't come quickly enough."
Palmer has been immersed in his comeback since he had reconstructive surgery on Jan. 10. Kimo von Oelhoffen slammed into his left knee during the Pittsburgh Steelers' playoff victory in Cincinnati two days earlier.
After the surgery, the Bengals acknowledged only that Palmer tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. Dr. Lonnie Paulos, who performed the operation, told The Associated Press that the damage was more extensive and included torn tissue around the kneecap and cartilage damage that was repaired.
The team acknowledged the full extent of Palmer's injury for the first time on Thursday, confirming Paulos' account. Trainer Paul Sparling said the torn tissue around the kneecap - which dislocated during the tackle - has healed and is no longer a concern.
Palmer is aiming to return for the season opener on Sept. 10 in Kansas City - exactly eight months after the knee was rebuilt.
"It certainly is cutting it close," Sparling said. "I much rather would have a little bit more time. But that being said, given the position he plays, given the successful surgery that's been done so far, given the fact that he's had an uneventful rehab, it's very conceivable."
Sparling said Palmer hasn't had a significant setback in his comeback. The worst problem has been soreness and some swelling that prompted him to rest for a day.
He was cleared to throw to receivers during 7-on-7 drills Thursday morning, when defensive backs covered the receivers but no one rushed the passer. He also briefly ran the offense at the end of practice. Palmer was rusty and off-target, which was to be expected.
He moved cautiously and was careful not to put too much stress on the knee.
"It's something in the back of my mind and something I need to be aware of," Palmer said. "And as soon as I feel my body is ready take over and I'm ready to play, I need to wipe all that out and just play football."
Barring a setback, that point could come sometime during training camp. Palmer's teammates are curious to see how he responds the first time he's playing for real.
"How will he be able to adjust to the hits?" receiver Chad Johnson said. "Will it affect his knee? I think that's the only thing we have to worry about, because there's nothing wrong with his arm."
The Bengals won't rush him. Sparling wouldn't speculate about whether Palmer will be cleared to fully participate when training camp opens late next month.
"If we're going to make a mistake, it's going to be by holding him back too long, not pushing him out too soon," Sparling said. "There's too much riding on this. He knows it, we know it, and we're not going to be foolish about it."
Palmer said he's starting to get a feel for how much the knee can handle. He won't put himself in position to take a hit until he's confident the knee - and his psyche - will be intact when he gets off the ground.
"You never look forward to getting hit, but I'll be fine," he said. "I'm going to make sure that my body is fine, that my knee is healthy and I'm ready to roll. Getting hit in that game or whichever game it is that I'm back will be just like getting hit in any other game."
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

6/16/06

Bengals great Munoz to speak in Springboro

By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer

Bengals legend and Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz will speak to the Springboro Football Quarterback Club next week.

New head football coach Ryan Wilhite said Munoz will speak to the Panthers' players and their fathers about Munoz's relationship with his son Michael, a former University of Tennessee player.

While the 6 p.m. Wednesday dinner is not open to the public, Wilhite said similar events may become fund-raisers.

"The focus was on the message being good," Wilhite said. "Rather than making money."

DDN

6/16/06

BENGALS MINICAMP
Palmer takes positive steps in minicamp

Quarterback attempts to shake off rust while recovering from last season's knee injury.

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — It was one small step for Carson Palmer, but a gigantic leap for the Cincinnati Bengals at minicamp on Thursday.

Palmer threw a series of passes in 7-on-7 drills in the morning, then ran a two-minute drill in 11-on-11 practice in the afternoon.

Just call it another milestone in his rehabilitation from left knee surgery because it marked the first time he's faced a defense since his Jan. 8 injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I felt good," he said. "I felt confident with my reads, confident with what I was doing on the field, But I didn't quite feel athletic and fluid like I should and like I normally am.

"It's going to take a while to get the rust off and just get the strength and all the balance back. But it was a first good opportunity to get back on the field, throw against the defense and do quarterback drills."

Palmer's passes were crisp, except for one in the afternoon. It floated high over the middle and linebacker Caleb Miller swatted it away, a near interception.

"I got lucky," Palmer said. "Overall, it was a great day just because I wasn't bored watching practice. I actually got to do some things and throw some balls. That was fun. I felt rusty, I felt awkward at times and off-balanced, but that stuff will come."

As his rehab intensifies, Palmer clings to his goal of starting the Sept. 10 opener at Kansas City.

"It's not like one day the doctor is going to say, 'OK, you're ready to play,' " Palmer said. "The only person that's going to be able to tell me I'm ready and what I can do is myself — with how my knee feels and how my body responds. Everything's felt great."

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

6/16/06

BENGALS NOTEBOOK

Lewis has little to say on Henry

Friday, June 16, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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CINCINNATI — After addressing Chris Henry’s off-field troubles last week, Marvin Lewis wasn’t in the mood to rehash old territory yesterday after the receiver was arrested yet again Wednesday.

The Bengals coach said the week before that the recent arrests of Henry and rookie A.J. Nicholson had embarrassed him and the team. So after Henry’s fourth arrest in six months, this time for allegedly supplying alcohol to minors, Lewis added little. Henry pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday.

"Well, this issue has already been there," Lewis said. "Chris will recover from it."

Or not. It’s clear the Bengals’ hands are tied because the NFL has authority over suspensions for off-the-field behavior. Besides, Henry still has not been medically cleared from the knee injury sustained in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh. If the Bengals cut Henry now, they’d likely face a grievance from the players union.

"He has lingering soreness from a knee injury," Bengals trainer Paul Sparling said. "He’s close. We’ve got a number of guys who are close. If this camp were another two to three weeks down the road, you’d consider letting them (participate). But at this point in time, if they’re not ready, they’re not ready."
Pollack the slugger



Bengals linebacker David Pollack is not a baseball fan and said he hadn’t swung a bat since he was a sixth-grader. But when the Bengals took batting practice Wednesday before the Reds game, Pollack was the star. He hit five home runs, including one to the upper deck.

Most of the other Bengals flailed away.

"I already knew what I was getting into," running back Rudi Johnson said. "I went to batting practice with them about two years ago and I couldn’t hit anything. I knew what I was getting into."
Palmer defends Roethlisberger



Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer doesn’t hide his dislike of the Steelers, but he came out in defense of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was injured Monday when his motorcycle collided with a car.

"He went through seven hours of surgery, and the last thing he needs right now is guys banging on him for not wearing a helmet," Palmer said. "He needs everybody’s prayers and needs to come through this thing healthy and hopefully be able to move on with his football career.

"He made a decision, went with it and a bad thing happened, but I’m not going to sit here and knock the guy. The only thing I’m going to say is that my thoughts and prayers are with him."
Thurman absent



Second-year middle linebacker Odell Thurman was not at minicamp and is not expected the next two days.

"He’s excused for personal reasons," Lewis said.
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Dispatch

6/16/06

Palmer still hopes to play in opener

Injured quarterback participates in drills

Friday, June 16, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>AL BEHRMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer participated in a minicamp but said he felt rusty as he completed 4 of 7 passes. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — Carson Palmer dropped back, planted his feet and fired the ball a good 45 yards. Chad Johnson got a step or two behind Tory James and caught it in stride.

The pass was majestic, reminiscent of the last one the Bengals quarterback threw in a game, which made the minicamp practice yesterday morning all the more impressive, but perhaps deceiving.

Palmer is making excellent progress in his return from reconstructive knee surgery, but he knows he’s not close to being finished with rehabilitation, and the target date of Sept. 10 isn’t that far away anymore.

Will he be ready to start the season opener? He doesn’t know. No one does.
Yesterday had to be considered a major step forward. Palmer participated in seven-on-seven drills for the first time and even took a few snaps in the full-team two-minute drill in the afternoon session.

"Even though it was limited, it was great being able to see him do what he did after going through what he went through," left tackle Levi Jones said. "I mean, it was a devastating injury. For him to be able to do anything at this point is spectacular."

Johnson, Palmer’s favorite target, also was impressed.

"There’s nothing wrong with his arm at all," he said.

Palmer was a tougher critic. He was unhappy he completed only 4 of 7 passes in the seven-on-seven drill.

"Overall, it was a great day just because I wasn’t bored watching practice," he said. "I actually got to do some things and throw some balls. That was fun. But it wasn’t a good practice as far as I’m concerned. I felt rusty. I felt awkward at times and off-balance, but that stuff will come."

The Bengals made trainer Paul Sparling available to the media yesterday, the first of a three-day minicamp, for the first time since Marvin Lewis took over as coach in 2003. Sparling praised Palmer’s work ethic and attitude.

He said there have been no setbacks. He said he was "cautiously optimistic" Palmer would be able to start the opener against Kansas City. But Sparling also acknowledged they are pushing it with only eight months of recovery time after the injury occurred in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh in January.

"It certainly is cutting it close," Sparling said. "I much rather would have a little bit more time. But that being said, given the position that he plays, given the successful surgery that’s been done so far, given the fact that he’s had an uneventful rehab, it’s very conceivable."

The Bengals have been tightlipped about the full extent of Palmer’s injuries, suffered when Steelers lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen hit him. Sparling confirmed the description given to Sports Illustrated — anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament tears, cartilage damage and a dislocated kneecap.

"Certainly, if he were a wide receiver or a running back, another skilled position, we wouldn’t be able to push him and have him do some things in camp as we can now, given what he needs to do at his given position," Sparling said.

The challenge for Palmer is mental as well as physical. In drills yesterday, he said the knee remained in the back of his mind. Overcoming that will take patience, and Palmer said he’s impatient by nature.

Meanwhile, Sept. 10 looms.

"It seemed close a month ago (when) someone told me I had three months to get ready. Now, we’ve got a couple of months. I wish we had a couple of more just for me personally, but when you look at the flip side, if I am ready to play that day, that game can’t come quickly enough."

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

6/17/06

BENGALS NOTEBOOK

Truth’s out: Johnson played hurt

Bengals back set rushing record despite knee injury

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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CINCINNATI – It wasn’t necessarily a secret that something was wrong with Rudi Johnson last season, but the details were always murky.
For most of the season, the Cincinnati Bengals running back didn’t practice on Wednesdays, typically the heaviest practice day of the week. But only now has Johnson revealed what was wrong and how close he came to missing a big chunk of the 2005 season.
Johnson played the final 14 games last season with torn cartilage in his left knee. He hurt the knee in the season’s second week against Minnesota, but he can’t specify the play.
"That’s the crazy part," Johnson said yesterday between minicamp practices. "I went home after the game and I stayed up until about 2 in the morning with no pain. I woke up the next morning and my leg was swollen and hurting. I thought I was just banged up. A couple days went by and it didn’t get any better."
A magnetic resonance imaging the next week revealed the injury.
"When it first happened, we didn’t know if I was going to have surgery during the season and sit six to eight weeks or whatever," Johnson said. "So we took it week by week."
Johnson gutted it out. He didn’t miss a game and broke his own team record for rushing yards in a season with 1,458.
"If you knew him like we know him, you’d know how much of a warrior he actually was," Bengals running backs coach Jim Anderson said.
But even as the yards piled up, Johnson knew he wasn’t the runner he could be.
"I wasn’t as powerful with my left leg," he said. "There were definitely some times I could have pulled out of some tackles or moved the pile more if I’d been 100 percent."
Johnson said he’s not completely pain free, but the knee feels dramatically better than it did a year ago. Not much can be definitely judged in a minicamp devoid of tackling, but Johnson does look to be moving crisper. "He has looked really quick," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. Considering that Johnson broke a record with one good leg, he’s practically salivating about the possibilities this year. "The sky’s the limit," he said.
Chad scare

Receiver Chad Johnson was carted off the practice field yesterday afternoon with what appeared to be a groin injury, but Lewis didn’t seem overly concerned.
"I don’t think it’s serious," he said. "He goes down quite a bit, but usually he pops up. This time he was hurt. He had already tweaked himself once in practice."
Palmer timetable

Quarterback Carson Palmer practiced twice without incident for the second day in a row. That’s significant because the Bengals will not have back-to-back two-aday practices in training camp.
"He is continuing to be ahead of where we thought he’d be when we got started. When we got started, we thought he’d be doing this (full-team drills) in August. He’s doing it in June. It’s a credit to him and the people he’s working with."
Lewis said he targeted a while ago a preseason game for Palmer’s return but wouldn’t tip his hand as to which one.
"You’re not going to not let him play in the preseason and then say, ‘Go out there in the first game,’ " Lewis said.
He said he would not move up the timetable even if Palmer continues to be ahead of schedule.
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Dispatch

6/18/06

Wright accepts insurance role with Bengals

Backup quarterback wants to be ready if opportunity knocks

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>AL BEHRMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Bengals quarterback Anthony Wright is the top backup to Carson Palmer, who is coming off an operation to his left knee. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — A knee injury holds Anthony Wright’s fate this season.
Only this time, the knee that will determine whether and how much the quarterback will play is not his.
Wright knows he’s the Cincinnati Bengals’ insurance policy in case Carson Palmer’s knee isn’t sufficiently healed for the start of this season. Being the quarterback the team would prefer not to use can be humbling. Wright is fine with that.
"It’s always good to have an insurance policy, you know," Wright said Friday during the Bengals’ minicamp. "You’ve got to have insurance for everything. You’ve got to have insurance for floods now. I don’t have a problem being an insurance policy. It’s either be an insurance policy or be at home. Any day of the week, I’d rather be an insurance policy."
Wright, 30, can identify with Palmer’s plight. If not for his own knee injury, Wright’s career path might have been much different. He was a budding star as a junior at South Carolina, where he was the first African-American starting quarterback in school history. But in a game against Tennessee, he was tackled by Al Wilson and suffered a torn anterior cruciate and torn medial collateral ligaments, a torn meniscus and two torn hamstring tendons. Except for the hamstring, the injury was similar to Palmer’s.
Unlike Palmer’s surgery and rehab, which has been remarkably smooth, Wright’s did not go without complications.
"They didn’t tie my ACL down," he said. "There was some laxness in my ACL."
That wasn’t discovered right away. Wright returned for his senior season and went to the NFL combine, where doctors discovered the problem.
"I had a pretty good combine and had a couple of teams that really wanted to draft me, but they didn’t based on the physical," Wright said.
Wright signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh and played so well in the 1999 preseason that the Steelers took the unusual step of keeping four quarterbacks rather than risk losing him. He didn’t play that year and was released the following season. Dallas signed him and he played in 11 games the next two seasons for the Cowboys.
Wright spent the last four years with the Baltimore Ravens. He was a part-time starter two of the last three seasons. He missed the 2004 season recovering from a torn labrum.
"I’ve proved myself in a lot of cases," Wright said. "Coming in as an undrafted free agent, a lot of people don’t really give you the respect of a drafted guy. I’ve pretty much earned my due. If I hadn’t produced, I definitely wouldn’t have been here.
"The undrafted label never really leaves you. I pretty much get scraps."
That’s what it could be in Cincinnati, or it could be much more if Palmer has a setback.
When Jon Kitna left as a free agent for the chance to start in Detroit, Cincinnati was desperate to sign an established veteran backup. Though the Bengals also signed Doug Johnson and have been careful not to tip their hand as to which quarterback they prefer, Wright has the stronger resume.
Though his career statistics are mediocre — a 55.1 completion percentage and 20/25 touchdown-to-interception ratio — Wright is certainly a serviceable quarterback. He has good arm strength and accuracy and can scramble when necessary.
"I think this weekend and in the off-season Anthony has been sharp," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "He’s been impressive. He’s getting a good handle for what we want. He’s real hard on himself, which we’ll have to correct a little bit.
"I think he’s embraced this (opportunity) and handled this as though he’s competing to be the starter and is willing to be the starter."
In his mind, Wright is a legitimate NFL starting quarterback.
"I think it’d be tough for somebody to give me the opportunity, but I believe I am," he said. "I know the hoops I’ve jumped through have been very tough hoops to jump through."
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

6/19/06

BENGALS MINICAMP
Palmer takes positive steps in minicamp

Quarterback attempts to shake off rust while recovering from last season's knee injury.

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — It was one small step for Carson Palmer, but a gigantic leap for the Cincinnati Bengals at minicamp on Thursday.
Palmer threw a series of passes in 7-on-7 drills in the morning, then ran a two-minute drill in 11-on-11 practice in the afternoon.
Just call it another milestone in his rehabilitation from left knee surgery because it marked the first time he's faced a defense since his Jan. 8 injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I felt good," he said. "I felt confident with my reads, confident with what I was doing on the field, But I didn't quite feel athletic and fluid like I should and like I normally am.
"It's going to take a while to get the rust off and just get the strength and all the balance back. But it was a first good opportunity to get back on the field, throw against the defense and do quarterback drills."
Palmer's passes were crisp, except for one in the afternoon. It floated high over the middle and linebacker Caleb Miller swatted it away, a near interception.
"I got lucky," Palmer said. "Overall, it was a great day just because I wasn't bored watching practice. I actually got to do some things and throw some balls. That was fun. I felt rusty, I felt awkward at times and off-balanced, but that stuff will come."
As his rehab intensifies, Palmer clings to his goal of starting the Sept. 10 opener at Kansas City.
"It's not like one day the doctor is going to say, 'OK, you're ready to play,' " Palmer said. "The only person that's going to be able to tell me I'm ready and what I can do is myself — with how my knee feels and how my body responds. Everything's felt great."

DDN

6/19/06

Palmer's progress at minicamp pleases Bengals

QB signs autographs Saturday while resting his knee after practicing the previous two days.

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — Wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh thrilled the Cincinnati fans with some acrobatic catches and chest-bumping leaps in the end zone.
Kicker Shayne Graham converted a field goal that banged against the left upright on Ben Wilkerson's high snap from center.
And Reggie "Slash" McNeal took a left-side pitch, darted past defenders and danced across the goal line.
But the loudest ovation Saturday during the Bengals Minicamp Open House at Paul Brown Stadium came when quarterback Carson Palmer walked onto the field near the end of practice and stayed for the autograph session.
On the third day of minicamp — the final organized practice until training camp opens July 29 — Palmer rested his reconstructed left knee after completing two-a-days Thursday and Friday.
"It's been a good five practices, a good productive three days," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "We came out of it ahead of when we went into it with Carson getting four practices in, and being able to come through and show where he is. Now we have an opportunity to build upon it as we move into training camp.
"It was the first opportunity (for Palmer) to go two times in a day. That was the only thing that might have been in question, because he hasn't had to do that. He was able to do it two times in a row. Those are good things. We just keep moving forward and keep preparing the other (quarterbacks) as though he won't be there, but chances are he will be."
Johnson, who got wheeled off the practice field with a strained groin Friday, emerged from the tunnel with tape covering the left thigh of his bright orange Spider-Man-like jumpsuit. Once he loosened up, the tape came off.
After catching a deep pass for a touchdown, he flipped the football into the stands as the crowd cheered.
"He's Gumby," wide receivers coach Hue Jackson said. "Chad keeps running and running."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or [email protected].

DDN

6/19/06

bengals notes
Bengals' top pick a quick study

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — Rookie cornerback Johnathan Joseph is like a human sponge.
The Cincinnati Bengals' No. 1 draft pick is soaking up every ounce of advice from veterans Tory James and Deltha O'Neal.
"It's a great feeling to have some older guys in here that have a lot of experience, guys who have been to the Pro Bowl who know what they're doing and you know are going to help you out any way they can."
It also helps to have a supportive coaching staff teaching the nuances of pass coverage.
"Johnathan is as fine a guy as I've been around as an athlete," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "He's played coverage (at the University of South Carolina) like we play in the NFL. So he's able to step right in and understand things just like we're doing it."
Now or never
Third-year defensive tackle Matthias Askew, who spent 2005 in the doghouse with nagging injuries and a questionable attitude, looks impressive.
Blessed with size and athleticism, he's reshaped his body with strength and flexibility training, and has a chance to be a factor in the rotation.
"I feel more want-to," Askew said. "I'm trying to really prove it to myself that I can play at this level and be a contender. They brought in some new guys (veteran Sam Adams and rookie Domata Peko). It's definitely a wake-up call."
New position
Outside linebacker Rashad Jeanty, who played the last three years at defensive end for the CFL Edmonton Eskimos, zeroed in on the most difficult aspect of the transition in positions.
"It's the coverage part of things," he said. "When you're an end, you're playing in just a little bit of space. Playing outside linebacker, you've got to be in coverage and make open-field tackles. It's coming along, but it's still a work in progress. I'm looking forward to improving."
Injury report
Tailback Kenny Watson (sprained right ring finger) and WR Bennie Brazell (staph infection) sat out practice.
Defensive end Justin Smith and center Ben Wilkerson shared long-snapping duties while Brad St. Louis recovers from a strained pectoral muscle.
Lewis said tailback Chris Perry (left leg and ankle) and left tackle Adam Kieft (left knee) are the only players who might not be ready for the July 29 start of training camp.
Quick hitters
• Resting QB Carson Palmer on Saturday was planned.
"I didn't decide anything," Lewis said. "His therapist decided, long before we got started, when he would work."
• Quarterback Dave Ragone is waiting in the wings behind Palmer, Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson.
"I was told it's just a process of me learning as much as I can and knowing I'm not going to get that many reps," Ragone said.
• Saturday's 89-degree heat served as a reminder that training camp is closing in.
"The calendar tells me more than the weather," defensive end Justin Smith said. "I'm excited. I wish camp started tomorrow."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or [email protected].

DDN

6/19/06

BENGALS NOTES
Lewis pencils in QB Palmer for a preseason start

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — Yes, quarterback Carson Palmer will start a game in the preseason. The date is circled on head coach Marvin Lewis' calendar. When is it?
"I'll tell you later," Lewis said. "But it's already set. You're not going to not let him play in preseason and then think he can roll out there the first game against Kansas City (Sept. 10). So that's always been the plan."
Palmer practiced both minicamp sessions on Friday and will get more snaps as he rehabilitates from left knee surgery.
"There's no reason to back him off," Lewis said. "He's continued to be ahead of where we thought he would be. When we got started, we thought he'd be doing this in August. He's doing it in June. It's a credit to him and the people that have been working with him.
"He jumped in there when I didn't know he was in there. I just want to make sure when he's on the field against the defense, I know it. So I had to correct him. He's not been fatigued with it. He's carrying himself well. He's out there working now after practice."
Chad Johnson injured
Wide receiver Chad Johnson was wheeled off the field on a golf cart after sustaining a groin injury leaping for a pass.
Lewis said Johnson "stretched a core muscle. We don't think it's serious. He would've loved to finish practice, but they just took him in and iced him down. We'll see how sore he is (today).
"He goes down quite a bit, but usually he pops back up. This time he was hurt. But he was a little tight before, and had already tweaked himself earlier in the practice. We've had a lot of four- and five-wide work the last couple of days, so those guys have been doing a lot of running."
'Slash' debuts
Sixth-round draft pick Reggie McNeal finally got to show some of his "Slash" skills. The rookie wide receiver took snaps at quarterback, the position he played at Texas A&M. He also threw a pass after taking a lateral at wideout.
"Reggie was excited, which is big," Lewis said. "That's what you want to have. That's what we said when we drafted him. We've got to do things that make him feel comfortable, which will enable him to grow and learn quicker as a wide receiver.
"This was part of the plan. We wanted to do some things where he could get the ball in his hands."
Where's Jamall?
Wide receiver Jamall Broussard is in Birmingham, Ala., rehabbing a sprained ankle he hurt with the Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe. Broussard caught 24 passes for 262 yards and led the league with a 9.9-yard punt return average.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

6/21/06

Bengals ship QB Ragone to Rams for draft pick

CINCINNATI — The Bengals traded quarterback Dave Ragone to the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday for what is believed to be a late-round draft choice conditional on his making the team.

The Bengals claimed Ragone on waivers from the Houston Texans on May 24, but there had been little time to work him into a mix that already includes Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson, in addition to rehabbing starter Carson Palmer.

Ragone is reunited with one of his college mentors, Rams head coach Scott Linehan, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach when Ragone played at Louisville.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Rucker charged with spousal battery

Posted: Thursday June 22, 2006 12:57AM; Updated: Thursday June 22, 2006 12:57AM

Frostee Rucker, who played college ball at Southern California, was selected by the Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
AP


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker has been charged with two counts of spousal battery and vandalism.
The misdemeanor charges were filed Tuesday after an alleged fight between Rucker and his girlfriend at a party he was hosting in Los Angeles last August, said Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the city attorney's office.
Rucker's girlfriend, whose name wasn't released, sustained minor injuries in the fight, Mateljan said. The woman's Blackberry and a cell phone were damaged, he said.
There is no warrant for Rucker's arrest. Mateljan said Rucker was sent a letter requesting his or his lawyer's appearance at an arraignment July 13 in Superior Court.
If convicted, Rucker could face up to three years in county jail.
Rucker denies the charges, his attorney said.
"We're in the process of investigating these charges and intend to uncover evidence which we believe will totally exonerate that," attorney Leonard Levine said. "When we do so, we'll provide evidence to the City Attorney's Office and ask them to dismiss all charges."
A Bengals spokesman says the team does not comment on pending legal matters.
Rucker is the third Bengals player to face criminal charges recently.
Wide receiver Chris Henry turned himself in to authorities last week after he was charged with providing alcohol to underage girls. Linebacker A.J. Nicholson was charged earlier this month with burglarizing the apartment of a former Florida State teammate.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/06/22/bc.fbn.bengals.ruckerch.ap/index.html

 

[buckeyefool]

he misdemeanor charges were filed Tuesday after an alleged fight between Rucker and his girlfriend at a party he was hosting in Los Angeles last August, said Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the city attorney's office.[/B]

I find it strang that nothing was charged for over a year, for a misdomeanor. Should be interesting to see how it all shakes out

 

[redskinbucksfan]

I find it strang that nothing was charged for over a year, for a misdomeanor. Should be interesting to see how it all shakes out

Wouldn't want risk his eligibility for ol' Petey now, would we?

 

[buckeyefool]

Wouldn't want risk his eligibility for ol' Petey now, would we?

I'm thinking more that the gf came forward with the charges after she saw some dollar signs light up in her eyes

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

6/23/06

Veteran defensive tackle Sam Adams was the mystery of the Cincinnati Bengals’ recent mini-camp.
Adams didn’t practice and limited his activity to work on the side with strength coaches Chip Morton and Ray Oliver. Although coach Marvin Lewis offered comments on the injuries of other players who missed time, he wouldn’t specify an injury in Adams’ case.
A reporter caught up with Adams in the parking lot, asked him if he was rehabilitating an injury and got a smile and a cryptic non-response: "I’m in the NFL. I’ve been rehabbing for 12 years." When another reporter asked at another point where he was in his rehabilitation, he invited him to "line up across from me and you’ll see."
By the end of camp, some reporters had concluded that Adams didn’t have anything wrong with him. He has never been a practice warrior, and coming off three Pro Bowl seasons and being 33 years old, he might have reached the point in his career where he simply doesn’t want to do mini-camps. He might have even made that a deal with Lewis and the Bengals when he signed as a free agent from Buffalo. Lewis said Adams would be ready for the start of training camp July 29.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

6/26/06

Joseph could have immediate impact

NFL Insider

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->The performance of Johnathan Joseph is making Bengals coaches and scouts smile.

The first-round draft pick, a cornerback from South Carolina, is showing the speed, quickness and grasp of the game that the Bengals talked about on draft day.

The sense inside the organization is Joseph will contribute sooner than later as a rookie.

An additional benefit is how Joseph's presence is pushing third-year cornerback Keiwan Ratliff. Ratliff has been shuttled from corner to safety because of injuries at safety.

But with that position strengthened in the offseason, the Bengals are leaving Ratliff alone to concentrate on cornerback.

Ratliff has the inside track on the nickel role - the fifth defensive back in passing downs - but Joseph is threatening.

Roster competition is ideal. It's a desired outcome of drafting wisely.

QB QUESTIONS: The Chiefs look ahead at their schedule and they see opponents with inexperienced or injured quarterbacks - including the Bengals. Cincinnati will open the regular season Sept. 10 at Kansas City.

The injuries sustained by Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in his motorcycle accident means at least seven of the Chiefs' 13 opponents - including all four AFC North teams - will head to training camp in late July with unsettled quarterback positions.

Besides Roethlisberger, who is expected to need six to eight weeks to recover from his multiple injuries to his face, the Bengals' Carson Palmer and Miami's Daunte Culpepper are coming off reconstructive knee surgeries. And Baltimore's Steve McNair has a history of regular injuries.

Three other Chiefs opponents - San Francisco, San Diego and Cleveland - will go into the season with young, inexperienced, mistake-prone quarterbacks: Alex Smith, Philip Rivers and Charlie Frye.

BROWNS TOWN: Speaking of Cleveland, Browns general manager Phil Savage said he won't add a veteran quarterback to compete with Ken Dorsey as a backup to Frye.

But the signals are that coach Romeo Crennel will call on 42-year-old Vinny Testaverde if Dorsey doesn't play well. There are serious questions about Dorsey's arm strength.

"I've got a guy in mind who knows the (offensive) system," Crennel said. "He might be a little older than I am, but he still can line up."

Testaverde played for the Bill Belichick Browns from 1993-95.

RAM JAM: St. Louis, after acquiring Dave Ragone from the Bengals this past week in exchange for an undisclosed, conditional draft pick, now has a crowd at quarterback.

The Rams could enter training camp with five quarterbacks: Marc Bulger, Gus Frerotte, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jeff Smoker and Ragone.

Ragone could be more than a camp arm. He was a three-time Conference USA offensive player of the year at the University of Louisville, where coach Scott Linehan was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

TICE IS NICE: Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio is praising the early work of former Vikings coach Mike Tice in improving the Jaguars' offensive scheme.

"Mike has been around a lot of really terrific offensive players in Minnesota," Del Rio said. "He's brought some things in here that we've taken a look at as a staff that we've looked at in the offseason, and they look pretty good.

We've tweaked our system a little bit to tailor it to the people we have here."

That statement adds up to a less-than-sterling endorsement for offensive coordinator Carl Smith. Smith's offense scored three points in three quarters of the second Indianapolis game and three points in the playoff game at New England.

Del Rio has not been slow to fire assistant coaches in his three seasons at Jacksonville.

VIVA LA FRANCE: French linebacker Phillipe Gardent will participate in the Washington Redskins' training camp. Gardent, the co-Defensive Most Valuable Player of NFL Europe after leading the league with 70 tackles for Cologne, is guaranteed a spot on an expanded practice squad in the third year of a special NFL program.

WHEELS: Redskins center Casey Rabach suffered a major gash on his leg when his four-wheeler overturned on his property in March.

"Not even close," Rabach said of comparisons between his accident and Roethlisberger's. "I was doing yard work. I wasn't joy riding or goofing around."

SPREAD HIS WINGS: With Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler held out of on-field work because of arthroscopic surgery on his knee, quarterback Michael Vick was forced to focus more on the perimeter passing game.

The underlying benefit was the improved recognition of the passing game and improved chemistry between quarterbacks and wide receivers, Atlanta coach Jim Mora said.

"With Alge such a comfort zone, taking him out of the mix, that was 16 practices where Mike couldn't go to Alge," Mora said. "It subconsciously forced him to throw more outside than inside. I'm sure it helped things between Mike, Roddy White, (Michael Jenkins), (Brian Finneran) and Adam Jennings and Jerome Pathon. That was my feeling."

Written, in part, from notes provided by other NFL beat writers
<!-- BEGIN: Article Tools -->

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

6/27/06

Bengals cut receiver who played in Europe

By the Dayton Daily News

CINCINNATI | The Bengals on Thursday released receiver Jamall Broussard.

The 5-9, 175-pounder spent all last season on the practice squad and never played a regular-season snap for the Bengals. Before suffering an ankle injury, he caught 24 balls and returned 11 punts for a 9.9 average this spring in NFL Europe for Cologne.

Broussard's fate was sealed when the Bengals signed similar-sized free-agent Antonio Chatman during the offseason. Chatman has 71 catches and 110 punt returns in the NFL after three seasons.

 

[tibor75]

Shocking news! Marvin takes a guy with character problems.
Guess there might be something with Odell after all....

Bengals use third-round pick to select BrooksBy John Clayton
ESPN.com


The Bengals jumped in front of the 49ers and other teams to select Ahmad Brooks in the third round of the supplemental draft.

History Lesson

Of the 34 players chosen since the supplemental draft was introduced in 1977, there have been more than twice as many prospects who didn't log a single snap in a regular-season game (nine) as there have been Pro Bowl players (four).

• For more of Len Pasquarelli's analysis, Click here.


Brooks was considered a first-round pick before having troubles at the University of Virginia. He suffered a knee injury last season and some off-field problems led him to being kicked off the football team.

Brooks' weight ballooned to around 290 pounds before he started going on a diet and then started working out with trainer Chip Smith in Atlanta. For his workout for NFL teams in June, he was 260 pounds, and he had decent but not great times in the 40.

In the past couple of weeks, Brooks started training with his former coach at Hargrave Military Academy. He lifted for two hours and did hard running drills for two hours.

Brooks told his agent, Greg Williams, he was in the best shape of his life.

It was interesting the Bengals would take him ahead of other teams such as the 49ers or Miami Dolphins. Character was an issue with Brooks, but it's a big theme of the Bengals' offseason. Bengals draft choices Frostee Rucker and A.J. Nicholson have had off-the-field incidents. Wide receiver Chris Henry, a third-round choice last year, has been arrested four times in the past year.

To acquire Brooks, the Bengals gave up a third-round choice in the 2007 draft.