Bengals tidbits

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Cincy

Where's the '03 mindset?
Anderson wants to unearth it again
BY SHANNON RUSSELL | [email protected]

On a November Sunday in 2003, Willie Anderson borrowed a shovel from the grounds crew and brought it into the Bengals' locker room as a motivational prop.
Hours later the Bengals celebrated a win over undefeated Kansas City, coach Marvin Lewis held up the shovel, and some players hoped it was the long-awaited start to a franchise turn-around.
"We're finally pointed in the right direction," then-Bengal Peter Warrick told ESPN.com. "We're digging ourselves out of the hole that we've been in for what seems like forever."

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Dispatch

O'Neal says he's taking rap for missed tackle

Thursday, November 22, 2007 3:22 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CINCINNATI -- Deltha O'Neal understands why he is no longer starting for the Bengals. That doesn't make it easier to swallow.
Cincinnati has taken cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall with its past two first-round draft picks. Teams don't pay first-round draft picks to sit on the bench for long.
O'Neal knows that Joseph and Hall are the Bengals' long-term future at cornerback, but he doesn't understand why that future has come so soon.

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Dispatch

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Bengals' reasons to be thankful

Thursday, November 22, 2007 3:22 AM

David Duprey Associated Press
Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the NFL with 76 catches and has 11 TD receptions.



CINCINNATI -- One might think the Bengals have as much reason to celebrate Thanksgiving this year as Lloyd Carr does.
The Bengals may be eating their Thanksgiving maize today, but they're feeling blue. At 3-7 heading into Sunday's home game against the Tennessee Titans, their playoff hopes are practically gone. A porous defense, mediocre special teams and an underachieving offense have caused the Bengals to hit their lowest point since Marvin Lewis arrived as coach in 2003.
Quarterback Carson Palmer is as disappointed as anybody with the collapse, but he at least is able to keep things in perspective. He said he won't allow a disappointing season to ruin his holiday.

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Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Decision looms on Perry's status

Saturday, November 24, 2007 2:56 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Chris Perry dodged and weaved. Coach Marvin Lewis was noncommittal.
The deadline for completing Perry's status for this season is two days away, and the Cincinnati Bengals are doing their best not to tip their hand about their star-crossed running back, who is trying to return from a dislocated ankle.
But perhaps by being so evasive, their hand has been tipped. The likely outcome: Perry won't play this season.

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Dispatch

Big decisions facing Bengals after the season
Some older players might not be back
Sunday, November 25, 2007 3:29 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

This was supposed to start the homestretch for the Bengals. Ten games have been played, and Cincinnati fully expected to be in the thick of the playoff race.

But at 3-7 entering a game today in Paul Brown Stadium against the Tennessee Titans, the Bengals might be the NFL's biggest disappointment.
Even if they win their last six games -- does anyone expect that? -- they still would need the chips to fall right to make the playoffs.

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Dispatch

Bengals emerge from funk
Offense, defense click in team's best effort of season
Monday, November 26, 2007 3:12 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CINCINNATI -- Carson Palmer lit it up. Chad Johnson caught three touchdown passes. The running game was productive. The defense put the clamps on Vince Young and kept the Tennessee Titans out of the end zone.
The performance added up to a 35-6 rout yesterday in Paul Brown Stadium and prompted the obvious question: Where have these Bengals been all season?
"It's a long time coming," defensive tackle John Thornton said.

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Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Chad's camera gig doesn't rile Lewis

Monday, November 26, 2007 5:51 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

AL BEHRMAN Associated Press
Bengals receiver Chad Johnson operates a television camera after catching a touchdown pass that ended a long dry spell.



CINCINNATI -- Chad Johnson had just drawn an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for excessive celebration by commandeering a television camera after a touchdown catch.
On the sideline, Marvin Lewis was waiting for him. Coaches hate surrendering penalty yardage for something as frivolous as a celebration, but Lewis simply gave Johnson a pat on the head and uttered two words.
"I understand," he told Johnson.

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Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Brooks' groin injury required surgery

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:13 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CINCINNATI -- There was a good reason Ahmad Brooks was slow to return from what was described as a groin injury.
The injury was more severe than the Bengals let on, and the linebacker recently had surgery to fix it.
"They cut the abductor (to) release (it) and reattached it and sewed it to the muscle," Brooks said yesterday. "They said it was worse than what I thought it was."

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Dispatch

Bengals
Jones' rise on defense boosts unit
Improvement seen in past three weeks
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:13 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

AL BEHRMAN Associated Press
Linebacker Dhani Jones, forcing Titans quarterback Vince Young to fumble, led the Bengals with nine tackles Sunday.



CINCINNATI -- There is nowhere here for him to surf, but sun-loving linebacker Dhani Jones is warming to his new town. He appreciates the quiet, polite populace and has endured the fall chill.
"It's not so bad," he said. "Cincinnati has a lot to offer for a lot of people."
For Jones, it offered a job after about three weeks of unemployment. In turn, he offered the Bengals a veteran presence at an injury-depleted position.

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Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Sloppy Heinz Field awaits
Players expecting to adjust for turf
Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:16 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals watched Pittsburgh's game Monday night against Miami on a field that resembled pig slop with more than a passing interest.
They'll be playing on that Heinz Field grass -- or what's left of it -- Sunday night against the Steelers. Conditions aren't likely to be much better than they were Monday when Pittsburgh and Miami were scoreless until a field goal with 17 seconds left won it for the Steelers. Sunday's forecast calls for rain.

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Dispatch

Bengals notebook
Dorsey shows promise when included in mix

Saturday, December 1, 2007 2:52 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch
CINCINNATI -- The Bengals used three running backs on the first three plays from scrimmage last Sunday. Kenny Watson got the first call, as he has often this season. Rudi Johnson got the most calls and produced his best effort in two months.

As a change of pace, seldom-used second-year back DeDe Dorsey carried five times for 42 eye-opening yards. It was his best chance yet to make an impression in a game, and he succeeded.

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Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Palmer expects to bounce back

Thursday, December 6, 2007 3:33 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

CINCINNATI -- Whether because of the steady rain on his shoulders or the persistent pass rush in his face, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer played one of the worst games of his career Sunday in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It followed one of the best games of his career, which followed another of the worst.
Such inconsistency at such a crucial position would be unsettling, if it were not so unusual. In his four seasons as a starter, Palmer has earned a reputation for steadiness on the field and off. Those around him say that has not changed despite the on-field roller coaster.

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Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Palmer's backup waits for chance

Saturday, December 8, 2007 3:29 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

CINCINNATI -- Twenty-six backup quarterbacks have thrown a pass in an NFL game this season. Bengals backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, has done little more than hold a clipboard and grow a goatee.
"I've been working on the facial hair a little bit to try to fit in," he said with a smile.

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Dispatch

Unexpected heroes spark Bengals

Monday, December 10, 2007 3:03 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

David KohlAssociated Press
Bengals tackle Levi Jones, left, joins running back Rudi Johnson after Johnson's 1-yard TD run in the first half.



CINCINNATI -- It would be tempting to look at the identity of the Bengals' and St. Louis Rams' quarterbacks and conclude that was the difference in Cincinnati's 19-10 win yesterday in rainy Paul Brown Stadium.
Carson Palmer vs. Brock Berlin. A Pro Bowler vs. an undrafted third-stringer who'd never thrown an NFL pass.
But that supposed mismatch wasn't that pivotal to the outcome. The one interception returned for a touchdown was thrown by Palmer, not Berlin. Their passer ratings were almost identical -- a pedestrian 60.8 for Palmer and a 60.6 for Berlin.

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Dispatch

Notebook: Dorsey's touches make Rams pay

Monday, December 10, 2007 2:49 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

David KohlAssociated Press
Bengals cornerback Deltha O'Neal jumps on safety Dexter Jackson after Jackson's interception sealed Cincinnati's victory.



CINCINNATI -- DeDe Dorsey attended Lindenwood College, which is a short drive from the Rams facility in suburban St. Louis.
The running back visited the Rams for a pre-draft interview last year and said he was "a little bit" surprised St. Louis didn't try to sign him as a free agent.
Dorsey acknowledged that was in the back of his mind yesterday as he gave the Bengals a needed spark in their 19-10 victory over the Rams.
Dorsey had only three carries in the first half but made all of them count.

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