Bengals tidbits

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

5/5/06

Bengals notebook

How's the knee, Carson? Fine, thankyouverymuch

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Carson Palmer continues to rehabilitate his left knee and train during the Bengals' offseason strength and conditioning program. And he continues to answer the question.

"Yeah, everything's going great," he said Wednesday. "It's a long, slow process. I'm moving along as my leg gets stronger."

Asked how tired he is of answering questions about his knee, Palmer said, "Very."

BEN'S BACK: Center Ben Wilkerson was cleared medically at the end of the season and has been participating in offseason workouts. Signed as a rookie free agent a year ago, Wilkerson was the 2005 draft's top-rated center until suffering a serious injury to his left knee in his final game at LSU.

"I'm just anxious to get back on the field and get going again. It has been so long," said Wilkerson, who could challenge Eric Ghiaciuc for the backup center job if healthy.

QB OR WR?: The Bengals' top two receivers, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, said they were excited about the addition of sixth-round draft pick Reggie McNeal, who played quarterback at Texas A&M but will be placed at wide receiver by the Bengals.

"Is he playing receiver?" Houshmandzadeh said of McNeal. "I think he can play quarterback, but you know how they do African-American guys? They want to move him to receiver because he's fast. It's the truth. I think he can play quarterback. He looked good to me in college.

"You know, if that's the case (McNeal plays receiver), yeah, he'll learn. Maybe we can do him like (Antwaan) Randle El. He's faster than Randle El; he's a better thrower than Randle El."

Randle El played quarterback in college at Indiana but has played primarily receiver as a pro.

TRYOUT: Andy Wellendorf, former Elder and Mount St. Joseph wide receiver, will get a free-agent tryout with the Bengals at their rookie minicamp May 13-15.

Former Boston College linebacker Ricky Brown, who also played at Elder, signed a free-agent contract with Oakland.

DRAFTED: Milford High School product Zach Strief was drafted in the seventh round (210th overall) by the New Orleans Saints out of Northwestern.

MORE FREE AGENTS: Running back P.J. Pope, Wyoming High School Class of 2002, signed a free-agent contract with the Bears. He had played at Bowling Green.

Former Miami University quarterback Josh Betts signed a rookie free-agent contract with Indianapolis. And former RedHawks wide receiver Martin Nance signed as an undrafted player with Buffalo. Former UC defensive end Adam Roberts signed with the Tennessee Titans as a rookie free agent. Rob Smith, a former Highlands High School offensive lineman, signed with Cleveland. And Kyle Ralph, an offensive lineman from St. Xavier High School, agreed to terms with Seattle.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/5/06

After all the talk before the draft about how the Bengals might switch to the 3-4 defense, it didn’t happen. Part of the uncertainty stemmed from the Bengals picking too late (24 th) to know which players would be available.

If North Carolina State defensive end/outside linebacker Manny Lawson, for example, had been available, the 3-4 would have been a more attractive option, but the 49 ers took Lawson at No. 22.
Marvin Lewis doesn’t think it is a big deal. His Bengals have used a base 4-3 defense, the system he used as defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in 2000. But he began his NFL coaching career as linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who use a 3-4.

[sandgk]

Particularly good to hear that Ben Wilkerson is coming back strong. If not this season, he certainly could be gold in coming years.

[Folanator]

QB OR WR?: The Bengals' top two receivers, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, said they were excited about the addition of sixth-round draft pick Reggie McNeal, who played quarterback at Texas A&M but will be placed at wide receiver by the Bengals.

"Is he playing receiver?" Houshmandzadeh said of McNeal. "I think he can play quarterback, but you know how they do African-American guys? They want to move him to receiver because he's fast. It's the truth. I think he can play quarterback. He looked good to me in college.

Huh??? Half the freeken QB's in the league are Black there TJ. Might want to just stick to catching footballs rather than giving social commentary.

[GoBucks89]

Originally Posted by Folanator

Huh??? Half the freeken QB's in the league are Black there TJ. Might want to just stick to catching footballs rather than giving social commentary.

Right. The coaches will play McNeal where he can best help the team. It's not about one guy, it's about 53.

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by GoBucks89

Right. The coaches will play McNeal where he can best help the team. It's not about one guy, it's about 53.

I doubt we have any intentions to play McNeal at QB. I was never impressed with his throwing ability at the college level and he definetly isn't a pro QB imo. He did run a great option attack for A&M though. I'm just excited about that speed.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

5/10/06

2007 will be year of free agency for Bengals

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

No way were the Bengals going to pull off a sign-and-trade with wide receiver Kelley Washington. He's too valuable now that Chris Henry's future is as murky and muddy as Cincinnati's Mill Creek.

Henry, whose off-the-field problems are well-documented, could face a suspension from the league office. Washington is needed for insurance purposes. After signing his one-year tender as a restricted free agent, Washington will play the role of good soldier this fall, then bolt — faster than a speeding bullet — when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next spring.

• Fans piling into Paul Brown Stadium this fall need to take a good, long look around. Plenty of Bengals won't be back in 2007.

Seventeen players are due to become unrestricted free agents in the spring if they don't get contract extensions. Here's a breakdown:

Offense
LT Levi Jones, RT Willie Anderson, LG Eric Steinbach, RG Scott Kooistra, C Rich Braham and C Larry Moore; TEs Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart; TB Kenny Watson; and Washington.
Defense
LE Justin Smith; LBs Marcus Wilkins and Hannibal Navies; CBs Tory James and Rashad Bauman; SS Anthony Mitchell; and FS Kevin Kaesviharn.
• Wide receiver is by far the deepest and most talented position on the roster with perennial Pro Bowler Chad Johnson topping a list that includes T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Antonio Chatman, Washington, Tab Perry, P.K. Sam, Jamall Broussard and a trio of rookies in Ethan Kilmer, Bennie Brazell and ex-quarterback Reggie McNeal.
Kilmer could emerge as a safety, and don't be surprised if Brazell gets groomed as a cornerback. McNeal is a developmental wideout who could save the club a roster spot by becoming the third QB behind Carson Palmer and Anthony Wright. McNeal will cut his NFL teeth on special teams.
• For now, second-round draft pick Andrew Whitworth will play left offensive tackle because that's where he's comfortable. He's strong enough to push defenders off the ball and has the agility to move in space, but the jury is out on whether he can be trusted to handle the NFL's speedy pass rushers off the edge.
Whitworth is a valuable insurance policy in case either Jones or Anderson don't return in 2007.
• Of the 15 college free agents who signed last week, my favorites to stick on the 53-man roster are the "Killer B's" — Arizona punter Danny Baugher and Miami RedHawks linebacker-turned-strong safety John Busing. Baugher's foot can dethrone incumbent Kyle Larson, and Busing is a wrecking ball on special teams.