Bengals tidbits

[ScriptOhio]

Not a bad pick up, and looks like they are trying to add decent depth to the lb's which killed them last year.

Cincinnati Bengals, National Football League - CBSSports.com

CINCINNATI (AP) -The Bengals agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday with unrestricted free agent linebacker Darryl Blackstock, his agent said.

Agent Brad Blank would not discuss terms of the deal, but said the 24-year-old Blackstock planned to sign Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pound Blackstock has 44 career tackles and four sacks in 46 games with the Arizona Cardinals, who chose him in the third round of the 2005 draft. He had 21 tackles and three sacks last season.

Bengals linebacker Blackstock suspended for banned substance

CINCINNATI (AP) -- The NFL suspended Cincinnati Bengals reserve linebacker Darryl Blackstock for the next four games on Tuesday because he used a performance-enhancing substance.
The Bengals signed Blackstock as a free agent from Arizona in the offseason. He has played in all five games, including one start, and has four tackles. The fourth-year veteran said in a statement that one of his nutritional supplements contained an ingredient banned by the league.
"I've apologized to my coaches and teammates for an unfortunate mistake," Blackstock said. "I did not intentionally violate the policy, but I know it's my responsibility to use only approved nutritional supplements, and I didn't realize I was taking an over-the-counter product that included a banned substance."

Entire article: Bengals LB Darryl Blackstock suspended for four games - NFL - SI.com

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NFL
Offense in low-gear rut
Attempts to show big-play potential haven't worked
Thursday, October 9, 2008 3:24 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

MATT SLOCUM Associated Press
T.J. Houshmandzadeh struck for a score against the Cowboys, but the Bengals' longest pass play this season is only 26 yards.




CINCINNATI -- Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco met the media yesterday with a riddle, meant to explain his lack of production this season: "Never, ever, ever, ever go against the monster," he said, "because the monster always wins. Get it?"
The insinuation is that owner Mike Brown is freezing him out of the offense as punishment for his public demand of a trade in the offseason. He laughed about it later, so it was unclear if he said it as an excuse or a joke.
Regardless of Ocho Cinco's intent, there are plenty of more practical explanations for the offense's lack of big plays: an inability to protect quarterback Carson Palmer, coverages designed to prevent long completions, receivers who are not getting open downfield, Palmer's elbow injury, even 60 mph wind gusts against Tennessee.

Continued...............

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ocho Cinco fesses up: He kissed coach

CINCINNATI (AP) ? Chad Ocho Cinco fessed up: He kissed the coach.
The Cincinnati Bengals receiver acknowledged on Wednesday that he leaned into coach Marvin Lewis and gave him a peck on the cheek during a 31-22 loss in Dallas. He said it was the first time he?d ever kissed a coach.
?It was probably the last,? he added.
What brought this on?
The Pro Bowl receiver was struggling through another afternoon of double coverages and missed chances on Sunday. He had only three catches for 43 yards as the Bengals fell to 0-5. When he came to the sideline at one point, Lewis reminded him to stay positive.
?He whispered something in my ear that I really liked, so I kissed him,? Ocho Cinco said.
The receiver leaned in as if he was going to say something into Lewis? left ear, then planted a quick one on his cheek. It was reminiscent of the way former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter kissed coach Bill Cowher after he returned an interception for a touchdown during a game in 2006.
Ocho Cinco said the inspiration for his peck came from an exchange with Lewis after a play.
?He just said, ?Keep your head in the game, stay focused, blah blah blah,?? the receiver said. ?And he said, ?Smile!? This little thing coach Lewis and I have: When things aren?t going right, he just looks at me and says ?smile.? Whatever?s going on, it goes right away.
?It?s a little thing we?ve got going, so it?s pretty cool. It?s kind of been able to keep myself from getting angry, from getting mad, from getting frustrated. Smile. And I do the same to him when he?s out there screaming in practice or something don?t go right in the game. I?ll just walk by him and just say, ?Smile!??
There?s not much reason for the Bengals to smile these days.

Entire article: Ocho Cinco fesses up: He kissed coach | ajc.com

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NFL
Facing Favre excites Bengals
Defensive backfield faces known risks, opportunities vs. legendary passer
Friday, October 10, 2008 3:10 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

BILL KOSTROUN Associated Press
New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre leads the league with 12 touchdown passes and a 110.8 passer rating.



CINCINNATI -- The old soldier can still aim true. That much was evident in his most recent fight, when Brett Favre riddled the Arizona Cardinals with six touchdown passes.
He threw five interceptions in his most recent showdown with the Bengals. The only thing that has changed since then is his helmet and home stadium.
Favre, a 21st century paladin, has always had a gun and always had confidence in his ability to use it, often to his team's benefit, sometimes to its detriment. So the Bengals are preparing for just about anything when they face Favre and his new team, the New York Jets, on Sunday.
"You've got to play to the echo of the whistle," safety Chinedum Ndukwe said. "Even if somebody has him wrapped up, he might fling it over his shoulder or flip it behind his back or underhand it somewhere. We've seen him do it. The one thing we know for sure is that he's going to air it out."

Continued................

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals' Palmer won't start because of bad elbow
Fizpatrick gets call vs. Jets; team hopes injury will heal with rest alone
Saturday, October 11, 2008 3:12 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Tony Gutierrez associated press
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has been dealing with elbow soreness for three weeks.



CINCINNATI -- Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer will not start Sunday because of lingering soreness in his right elbow. He might serve as the backup quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick will begin the game under center.
Coach Marvin Lewis said Palmer's injury has not worsened since he first felt soreness three weeks ago, but it has not healed enough for him to play and practice as normal. The hope is that with rest the elbow will repair itself.
"We're trying to get it to be not a week-to-week thing, try to get the thing calmed down, where it doesn't give him any irritation or problems at all," Lewis said.

Continued..............

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

espn.com

Fans of winless Bengals flood site with tickets, some below face value

ESPN.com news services

Updated: October 14, 2008, 10:45 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- Disappointed fans of the winless Cincinnati Bengals are trying to unload thousands of tickets for remaining home games, many of them well below face value.
The online ticket agency StubHub.com has 3,000 tickets for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. At least 4,000 tickets are available for each of the remaining games.

Some sellers don't care about making a profit. There are $64 tickets priced as low as $24.

Continued................

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

With Fitzpatrick in, changes afoot

Thursday, October 16, 2008 3:18 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

CINCINNATI -- The handoff has not officially been made, but Ryan Fitzpatrick took over another of Carson Palmer's duties yesterday when he sat in front of a bank of cameras and microphones for the Bengals' weekly quarterback news conference.
"I'm starting to feel more like Carson now," Fitzpatrick said with a smile.
He then assured the audience his elbow feels fine. Palmer, on the other hand, will miss at least one more game because of lingering soreness in his right elbow and probably a few more.
Palmer saw a specialist on Monday in New York and might see another. If the second opinion had any effect, the Bengals are not saying. Coach Marvin Lewis said Palmer will miss this game but again gave no further details. Palmer declined to comment.

Continued..............

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

When will Bengals finally get a win?
Schedule doesn't hold much hope of turning year around
Friday, October 17, 2008 3:00 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Matt SlocumAssociated Press
Receiver Chad Ocho Cinco hasn't been able to smile over a victory this season.

CINCINNATI -- Six months ago, Bengals officials were so sure the team could compete for a postseason appearance that they turned down two draft picks -- potentially two first-round draft picks -- for disgruntled receiver Chad Ocho Cinco.
Six games into the season, 2008 looks like a rebuilding year. The defense is young and still learning a new system. The offense could use an infusion of talent. The final 10 games figure to be most valuable as an educational experience for future seasons.
But in the sports world, every performance is graded in the harsh terms of win or loss. Record books do not recognize lessons learned. So history will remember the 2008 Bengals primarily for the number of wins they earn, and so far they have none.

Continued............

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals
Ndukwe invests in his future
Safety owns stake in restaurant, has goals beyond field
Saturday, October 18, 2008 3:27 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


CINCINNATI -- The Rookwood Pottery building has a proud history here as a home of fine art and food. When the building recently became available, Chinedum Ndukwe saw an opportunity, just as he recently saw Derek Anderson's pass before the Cleveland quarterback threw it.
With hours of study behind him and the support of teammates around him, Ndukwe made his move. He is now one of four investors in the Rookwood Bar and Restaurant, which will open for dinner Wednesday in the trendy suburb of Mount Adams.

Continued................

 

[DaytonBuck]

Other than Chiefs I'm not seeing a game that's winnable. Texans D-Line will have Fitzpatrick running for his life.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Rivers is supposedly out for the rest of the season with a broken jaw. I think it was from that play in the Steelers game where Hines Ward knocked Rivers into next week. Looks like he had to learn the hard way that defenders need to have some sort of field presence in the NFL.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Who would a better fit for the Bengals, Wells or Ringer?

By Carlos "Big C" Holmes | Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 12:00 AM
Like it or not Bengal fans, it?s time to start thinking about the 2009 NFL Draft. The 0-7 Cincinnati Bengals would have the No. 1 pick if the draft were held today. So which direction would the team go with the first overall pick?
There?s a popular consensus among fans and some draft experts who believe that running back would be the way to go for the Bengals. Either Chris ?Beanie? Wells (Ohio State) or Javon Ringer (Michigan State).

Drafting either one of these cats would mean instant offense for the Bengals.
In a nutshell?
Cont...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals lack poise, Lewis says

Thursday, October 23, 2008 3:21 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Matt Slocum Associated Press
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis wants to see his players trust each other instead of individually trying to make big plays in a bid to get the Bengals back on track.




CINCINNATI -- Chad Ocho Cinco is sure the Bengals have the same dynamic offense that finished in the top 10 in the league each of the previous three seasons. He sees it in practice every day.
"We're so smooth," he said. " So smooth. Then we get (to game day) and it doesn't turn out."
In seven games, the offense has scored eight touchdowns. It ranks last in the NFL with an average of 226 yards per game, down from 348 last season.

Continued...............

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Cornerbacks have been a bright spot

Friday, October 24, 2008 3:01 AM
By Scott Priestle


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


CINCINNATI -- Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph, recent first-round picks of the Bengals, knew they would benefit from facing Pro Bowl receivers Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh in practice every day. The wideouts took the role seriously.
"We wanted to help them," Houshmandzadeh said.
Now they take the rivalry seriously. Hall, in his second season, and Joseph, in his third, give as well as they take.
"Obviously it goes in our favor more than their favor," Houshmandzadeh said with a smile, "but it's definitely a competition now. Rarely do you see anything harder in the game."

Continued..............

 

[cincibuck]

DDN
ike it or not Bengal fans, it?s time to start thinking about the 2009 NFL Draft. The 0-7 Cincinnati Bengals would have the No. 1 pick if the draft were held today. So which direction would the team go with the first overall pick?
There's a popular consensus among fans and some draft experts who believe that running back would be the way to go for the Bengals. Either Chris "Beanie" Wells (Ohio State) or Javon Ringer (Michigan State).

Please, please, don't let them take any player I like, especially a Buckeye. No one, not even Braylon Edwards*, deserves to be stuck with this francise.

*He'd be a nice fit though. Maybe they could trade a draft pick for him. Edwards and Perry in the same offense....