Bengals tidbits

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals
Offensive linemen pass the torch
Assistant creates environment of putting team first
Monday, September 1, 2008 3:07 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CINCINNATI -- When the Bengals drafted Levi Jones in the first round in 2002, it was the beginning of the end for veteran offensive tackles John Jackson and Richmond Webb. Each had been a productive player for more than a decade, and the end never comes easily for such players. But they made sure it was not hard on Jones.
Six years later, the Bengals drafted Anthony Collins in the fourth round, and Jones and the rest of the veterans have taken the rookie under their wing.
"That's the way we do it here," Jones said.
It is one of offensive line coach Paul Alexander's hard-and-fast rules, and one of the reasons why the Bengals' line has been perhaps the most consistently strong part of the franchise for three decades. The Bengals transitioned well from Eric Steinbach to Andrew Whitworth, Willie Anderson to Stacy Andrews, and perhaps soon from Jones to Collins.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals: Offensive keys eager to prove their worth

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 2:56 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

AL BEHRMAN Associated Press
Chris Perry is expected to carry a heavy workload despite missing 42 of 64 games with the Bengals because of injuries.



CINCINNATI -- Talent masks many faults, which explains why Chad Johnson was so happy to take the field yesterday. After an offseason of drama, a summer of injuries and a weekend of uncomfortable goodbyes, the Bengals reconvened for the start of the regular season, and the first-string offense played together for the first time in eight months. There was a lot of talent on the field.
Johnson, newly focused, reclaimed his starting spot at receiver, along with T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Chris Perry, newly appointed to the first team, was in the backfield with Jeremi Johnson. Carson Palmer, broken nose and all, played quarterback.

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[bluechillj]

This isn't really Bengals material, but check out this story on former Bengal Rudi Johnson and Tatum Bell Shades of Ray Finkel.

ProFootballTalk.com - RUDI’S CRAZY DAY IN DETROIT

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals: New faces aim to finally fix leaky defense

Thursday, September 4, 2008 3:38 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

Cara Owsley | The Cincinnati Enquirer
Linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald and rookie Keith Rivers are two of the cogs the Bengals have brought in to shore up a defense that has long been among the worst in the NFL. "It's going to be trying at times," FitzGerald admitted.



CINCINNATI -- For the past four years, Jeff FitzGerald taught linebacking play at a graduate level. His students included Ray Lewis, who was twice named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and fellow Pro Bowl players Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas.
After leaving the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason to coach for the Bengals, FitzGerald now must teach Linebacker 101. His students include rookie Keith Rivers; Dhani Jones, a veteran who was released twice in the five months before signing with the Bengals; and assorted backups and projects.
"We had to start from ground zero, and we've got more ground to cover to get this thing right," FitzGerald said. "It's a different situation, obviously, when you've been with a group of guys for one, two, three years. You can come in on a very accelerated pace and start advancing the things you want to teach, and quickly. We aren't there. Some guys are moving a lot faster than others."

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals: 2 star receivers mean the world to this team
If Johnson or Houshmandzadeh goes down, alternatives look bleak
Thursday, September 4, 2008 3:51 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

Al Behrman | Associated Press
Chad Johnson, left, plans to play despite a sprained left shoulder that would require surgery if it pops out. T.J. Houshmandzadeh missed training camp because of a hamstring injury.



CINCINNATI -- Whenever he has an audience, even if it is merely in practice, Chad Johnson makes himself conspicuous. The few days he participated in the Bengals training camp in Georgetown, Ky., he trash-talked relentlessly, clowned in the end zone at every opportunity and even jumped into a fight between two teammates. Anything for the crowd's attention.
When Johnson was not on the field this preseason -- which was often -- his absence was just as noticeable, if in more subtle ways.
In four exhibition games, the Bengals ranked in the bottom third of the league in passing yards per game and second worst in yards per pass attempt.

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[Buckeye Chris]

Do you all think this jersey is authentic?

CARSON PALMER REEBOK NWT CINCINNATI BENGALS JERSEY XXL - eBay (item 370082764412 end time Sep-06-08 16:19:30 PDT)

 

[Buckeye Chris]

It's Official

Ocho Cinco unveiled; Willie too?
By GEOFF HOBSON
September 4, 2008

It was official in Florida.

Now it is official in the NFL.

The former Chad Johnson is now Chad Ocho Cinco and will wear the name on the back of his uniform in Baltimore Opening Day Sunday.

The Bengals sent out the following press release:

"Effective today, the Bengals begin the process of listing the former Chad Johnson as Chad Ocho Cinco for all club business, per the legal change of his surname effected in Florida. The list of appropriate changes will include the player wearing the name Ocho Cinco on the back of his jersey for Sunday's season opener at Baltimore."

The No. 85 Ocho Cinco jersey could go on sale at the Paul Brown Stadium Pro Shop as early as Wednesday, said Monty Montague, the Bengals merchandise manager.

"At the latest, we're hoping Thursday," Montague said. "We think it's going to be a big seller because Chad has gone by that name for awhile."

Asked why the NFL decided to recognize the name change, league spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail, "It's his legal surname."

Former Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson may very well get a chance to see Ocho up close Sunday because agent Terry Bolar said he's in "strong talks," with the Ravens but nothing had been finalized late Thursday afternoon. Asked if Tampa Bay and San Diego are still in the mix, Bolar said, "Until we have a contract."

Bengals honor 'Ocho Cinco'
By Mark Curnutte • [email protected] • September 4, 2008

The Bengals announced this afternoon that they will now refer to the player formerly known as Chad Johnson as Chad Ocho Cinco, per his legal name change in Florida.


The decision was approved by the NFL office and the Bengals.

He will be listed as “Chad Ocho Cinco for all club business,” the club announced in a press release.

The list of approved changes will include Ocho Cinco wearing his new surname on the back of his jersey for the season opener Sunday at Baltimore.

engals confirm: it will be Ocho Cinco on his jersey
Thursday, September 04, 2008

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals say No. 85 is officially Ocho Cinco.

The NFL team said Thursday that they will refer to the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson by his new legal name, Chad Ocho Cinco, in all club business. That includes the back of his jersey for Sunday's season opener at Baltimore.

Johnson told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he wants to be called by his new name, but declined to talk about it any further.

Johnson, a Miami native, used "ocho cinco" in 2006 as part of the NFL's Hispanic Heritage month. It means "eight five" in Spanish.

He changed his name last month in Broward County, Fla.

Learnin’ to love Chad again
By Chick Ludwig | Thursday, September 4, 2008, 11:46 AM

RAY-RAY TELLS CHAD:

‘PUT MIND ON GOD’

& APPRECIATE YOUR

BLESSING AS NFL STAR

RAY LEWIS MENTORS

MANY PLAYERS; CHAD’S

ONE OF HIS LOYAL DICIPLES

We know they’re as “thick as thieves” … as close as a razor blade on a face full of shaving cream … as tight as Ludwig drums.

So it comes as no surprise that Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis has made a significant impact on the life of the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson, who legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco.

Chad turned to Ray-Ray, who told him to turn to “God.”

Hey, whatever helps ya get through the day, man. I’m all for it.

Had Chad asked my advice — after all, I’m the Bengals’ pseudo alumni relations director and part-time safeties coach — I could’ve saved him some cash on his cell phone bill.

All he had to do was go down a few lockers to tight end Reggie Kelly, who is the club’s resident “Prince in Gym Shoes.”

LUDWIG AT LARGE wants to know from loyal readers: Will you cheer for Chad? Do you forgive his offseason “antics?” Will you accept him back as a fan favorite? Will you wear his Bengals’ jersey to the stadium? Will we learn to — ahem — love “85” again?

Q. Did you talk some sense into Chad?

A. Of course, whatever was personal, what he didn’t want to me to share, I won’t. But what I will share is that I just told him to put his mind on God. He should focus more on God and the true blessings you have to be a role model for so many kids, so many people who want to do what you do and can’t do what you do and don’t have the ability to do what you do. So I told him every time you step out on the football field, every time you step anywhere in life let the image of God be shown through you. Let that be your image, let that be your stepping stone. After that, life is going to bring you ups and downs. Life is going to bring you differences and after you’ve prayed about it, let them be. There’s certain things, don’t take everything to everybody, because everybody can’t handle everything that you feel sometimes, even good or bad. A lot of times I try to explain to people all the training I do, but sometimes you can’t. You can’t get it across to people. That was the same message I relayed to him and a couple of other guys around the league that were going through the same thing. I was like: Keep your peace. Let the business side of the business side take care of itself, but keep your peace and always stay who Chad is, and that’s just loving the game of football, and that, in a nutshell, is pretty much what I told him.

Q. What motivated you to give him a call?

A. There’s no one reason to give him the call, we always talk. It’s been three or four years since Chad’s been with Cincinnati we’ve had the same type of conversation. It’s like a father to children, sometimes you have to let them go off and do their own thing and just be there for him. That’s the same situation I have this time. We talk every other day. I try to keep him up in his Bible, keep him up in His Word, I send him scriptures just to try to pull him over every day, pull us through every day. Just like the calls I send out to many guys. They say, ‘Give me a word, talk to me or whatever.’ These are the things I try to reach out and give back to most of these guys.

Q. Have you turned into a mentor for other players?

A. Absolutely. You can’t shy away from it. That’s one of the things that even (Baltimore head coach) John Harbaugh’s father spoke about. He told a couple of different stories about why do you play this game? If you realize that I’ve only played this game for the respect, for the respect of your peers, for the respect of the people that you play with and things like that. That respect, coming from them knowing that I’m the person that’s been in this league for a long time and has excelled in so many different areas. I’ve been through down times in my life, I’ve been challenged in my life but I’ve found a way to trust God completely through it all and so if that’s my role as a man to relate God’s word and get the Word out there that you take everything to him and just live. If that’s my job, then I’m definitely excited about doing it.

Q. Has Chad taken your advice to heart?

A. Absolutely. Absolutely. And all you have to do is watch him. He’s Chad and that’s what I told him. Don’t stop being Chad. Be Chad. But when Chad has got something to say that Chad wants to say, keep it to Chad. Keep it to Chad and God and let everything else take care of itself. Don’t get into all of these war of words with whoever it is. I don’t care who it is. If it’s somebody out on the street that wants a war with you then, ‘OK, brother, you win. I’m good. I’ll smile.’ But these are the things that he has grabbed onto to say that life is life. Life is good. I can be a true role model to some people and show people what life is about and when you really challenge yourself to be great every day. For me, just his talent alone proves that he wants to be the best in this game. You can’t ever hate him for wanting to be the best in this game and wanting to win. A lot of times you get the bad side of people when those two things aren’t happening and Chad is one of those people.

Q. What do you think of Chad’s name change to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco?

A. I kind of knew about that before anybody ever thought about it. People do that all of the time. Didn’t John Wayne do that? Yeah. So some of the great ones have done that. I don’t think it’s a big issue. It’s publicized everywhere but it’s whatever it is. If that’s the way he feels he wants to be called then let him go by that. Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest ever and he did the same thing. So whatever belief he has just roll with it and deal with you as a man, deal with you and God and everything else will take care of itself.

Heres some other articles
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-b...p&type=lgns
http://www.700wlw.com/cc-common/news/secti...article=4193347

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NFL
Inept Bengals embarrassed by Ravens

Sunday, September 7, 2008 11:06 PM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

BALTIMORE?Reality struck the Cincinnati Bengals today with the force of an unblocked linebacker. Sometimes that linebacker was Ray Lewis, sometimes Terrell Suggs, sometimes Jarret Johnson.

The offensive problems that plagued the Bengals throughout the preseason resurfaced in a 17-10 loss to the Ravens, black-and-blue proof that the team has deeper issues than a couple of receivers missing time during training camp.
The line was pushed around, key skill-position players could not hold onto the ball and the communication was poor, negating the obvious skills of quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Chris Perry and receivers Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The foundation of the franchise is cracked, and while it might be fixable, it certainly won't heal on its own.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals notebook
Signs of life shown on defense
Joseph's fumble return for TD a rare bright spot
Monday, September 8, 2008 2:56 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

Gene Sweeney jr. associated press
Cincinnati's Johnathan Joseph returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown for the Bengals' only touchdown in a season-opening loss to Baltimore.




BALTIMORE -- Bengals defensive back Johnathan Joseph returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown yesterday, and his teammates were too tired to follow him. Most stood with hands on hips, sucking in as much air as possible.
The Bengals defense was forced to work so hard that it could not enjoy its few successes. It was partially its own fault (the Ravens faced third-and-1 six times and converted all six) and partially the fault of the offense (which generated only 154 yards and eight first downs).
If the defense showed potential, it also was saddled with a 17-10 loss to the host Ravens.
"That's all that counts," Joseph said.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Offense licking its wounds
Line takes brunt of blame for heat on QB, weak run game
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 3:15 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Nick Wass Associated Press
Brandon Johnson, left, and Marvin White flail at Ravens running back Le'Ron McClain.



CINCINNATI -- Bengals players and coaches watched film yesterday of their loss in Baltimore. It was only slightly prettier than the live version. If they want to watch it again, they need only wait five days: The Tennessee Titans come to town Sunday with another dominating defensive line and punishing running game.
If the Bengals don't fix the holes they saw Sunday, they likely will suffer the same result in the second game.
"Our football team needs to learn something from this," coach Marvin Lewis said, without elaborating on what they need to learn.

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[cincibuck]

OBJ, you're a better fan than the bengals deserve. Hats off to you. I don't have the stomach for the task.

 

[NastyDogg72]

Do you all think this jersey is authentic?

CARSON PALMER REEBOK NWT CINCINNATI BENGALS JERSEY XXL - eBay (item 370082764412 end time Sep-06-08 16:19:30 PDT)

It's a new invention that the NFL came out with last year for some of the biggest selling jerseys called Replithentic, not my word. As you would guess it is a cross between the screen printed replicas and the authentics. From what I can tell they are basically a replica base with tackle twill letters instead of the traditional screen printing. I know the Roethlisberger one goes for about 100 bucks.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Fundamental change
Cincinnati re-emphasizes the basics in hopes of fixing its feckless offense
Thursday, September 11, 2008 3:11 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

Nick Wass Associated Press
The Bengals are looking to shore up the offensive line to help quarterback Carson Palmer and the running game.




CINCINNATI -- In a locker room after a loss Sunday, Chris Perry shouldered the blame for a Bengals running game that seemed stuck in mud against the Baltimore Ravens. When it was pointed out that the offensive line was often in reverse, Perry said it should not matter; he expects to succeed under any circumstances.
"That's good of Chris," coach Marvin Lewis said with a smile, "but it doesn't come down to one thing or one guy."

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

Palmer: Offense can be fixed

Bengals' scoring woes offer no comfort to Titans' Fisher

By Mark Curnutte ? [email protected] ? September 11, 2008


Missing: one offense, orange and black -- includes quintet of 300-pound-plus offensive linemen, sleek receivers and one Palmer, Carson, quarterback, strong-armed, cool-headed, 6 feet, 5 inches, 230 pounds.
It was last seen Nov. 25 at Paul Brown Stadium -- in a 35-6 victory against Tennessee.
The Bengals gained 426 yards and scored five offensive touchdowns that day. The performance was their overall finest of the disappointing 2007 season, woes which stretched across a long offseason to the opener Sunday at Baltimore. It was there that the offense could produce just three points and 154 yards, fewest for a Bengals offense since 94 on Sept. 24, 2000, at Baltimore.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

After the Cincinnati Bengals' woeful performance against Baltimore, some fans apparently already decided they have seen enough. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that ticket brokers are reporting the cheapest prices ever for home openers; Riverfront Choice Tickets, one of the area's leading brokers, was offering an upper-deck seat for the game Sunday with Tennessee, with a face value of $64, for $38.