Bengals tidbits

[Folanator]

I hope we have not signed this rockhead. A man this dumb will never be able to learn the pro D. Freeken idiot.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I hope we have not signed this rockhead

Flo....they can still waive him at this point.

DDN

6/1/06

Bengals' rookie wanted in connection with burglary

Nicholson, a fifth-round pick, is accused of stealing from a former Florida St. teammate.

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — Bengals rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson is wanted by police in Tallahassee, Fla., for allegedly burglarizing the residence of Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker.

Nicholson and former Seminoles teammate Fred Rouse allegedly broke into Booker's apartment and stole about $1,700 in electronic equipment when Booker and his roommates were out of town May 20-21, Tallahassee police said Wednesday.

Police spokesman John T. Newland told the Associated Press that Rouse was arrested Saturday in Tallahassee and has been charged with felony burglary and grand theft. Warrants for Nicholson have been issued in the same incident. In addition, Nicholson could be charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief for damage to the apartment.

Nicholson, the Bengals' fifth-round draft pick, has a history of off-the-field problems. He participated in the club's on-field coaching session at Paul Brown Stadium on Wednesday. His agent, Gary Wichard, did not return a telephone message seeking comment.

"It is our policy that it is not appropriate for us to comment on a player's legal situation until or unless it is resolved in the courts," Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said.

While at Florida State, Nicholson was charged with DUI, pleaded no contest and received probation. In another incident, police used a Taser on him after a bar dispute, but a resisting arrest charge was dropped.

According to Newland, Rouse confessed to the break-in and implicated Nicholson as the instigator.

"When A.J. broke into the rear window, he cut his finger," Newland said.

The NFL's personal conduct policy states that a player arrested for or charged with criminal activity "will be required to undergo a clinical evaluation and, if appropriate, additional counseling or treatment as directed. Failure to comply shall be punishable by fine or suspension at the discretion of the Commissioner."

The Bengals, who have not yet signed Nicholson, have the option of waiving him. The Cleveland Browns waived Jeremiah Pharms on May 31, 2001. Pharms had criminal charges pending against him in Seattle.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

6/1/06

It's camp countdown time

Bengals notebook

BY KEVIN KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->The Bengals on Wednesday announced the schedule for their 10th training camp at Georgetown College.

Camp will open with an evening practice July 29 and break two weeks later following an afternoon practice Aug. 11, two days before the team's first preseason game against the Redskins at Paul Brown Stadium.

In addition to 16 practices - seven afternoon (3-5 p.m.), five morning (9-11 a.m.), four evening (7-9 p.m.) - an intrasquad scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 and a mock game at 1 p.m. Aug. 5, there will be a fireworks display following the evening practice Aug. 2.

Parking is $12 per car, $25 for school buses and passenger vans and $50 for large buses. Admission is free.

ON THE JOB: The latest addition to the Bengals' backup quarterback corps - former Louisville standout Dave Ragone - spent much of Wednesday's voluntary on-field workout at the Paul Brown Stadium practice field watching and learning.

The Bengals claimed Ragone (6-3, 221 pounds) off waivers from the Houston Texans on May 24.

"When we were charting out teams that needed a quarterback, I wasn't sure Cincinnati (qualified)," Ragone said. "When they picked me up, the more I thought about it, the more I feel I'll get a chance to compete.

"We're all learning a new system here. I know (backups) Anthony (Wright) and Doug (Johnson) have been here a little longer than I have. There's no reason why I can't catch up."

A third-round selection by the Texans in 2003, he appeared in two games as a rookie but was the team's inactive third quarterback the past two seasons. Ragone was named the 2005 Offensive Most Valuable Player of the NFL Europe League after passing for 1,746 yards and 13 touchdowns.

BACK IN ACTION: Inactive for all but four games last season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, Bengals safety Madieu Williams has been an active participant during the team's on-field workouts the past three weeks.

"It's a good feeling to be back out there with my teammates," Williams said. "I'm trying to pick up where I left off last year and be better than what I was the last few years.

"I've got quite a task ahead of me, but I'm ready for the challenge."

As a rookie in 2004, Williams started 13 games at three positions and ranked fourth on the team in total tackles (95) and third in solos (71). He had 23 total tackles with one interception last season.

"This is a time for me to try some new things," Williams said, "and add some things to my repertoire that I can take with me into camp and hopefully be able to have in the bag of tricks come the regular season."

NASCAR 101: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer will serve as the honorary starter for the Meijer 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on June 17 at Kentucky Speedway.

"It's my first NASCAR event, so I'm excited about it," Palmer said. "I'm not into (auto racing) too much. I'd like to learn, because there are so many people out here on the East Coast that are into it."

E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com

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[stxbuck]

"so many people out here on the East Coast"-Carson-I love you as a QB, but take a frickin' geography class........

[BuckNutty]

Wright trying to learn Bengals offense

By The Associated Press
Thursday, June 1, 2006


CINCINNATI - The offense lined up near the goal line. Anthony Wright took the snap, looked left and saw receiver Chad Johnson, wearing his bright orange shorts, waiting for the ball.
Quick pass. Smooth catch. Scatback move. Touchdown.

Yes, running the Cincinnati Bengals' offense can be incredibly simple at times. It's the other times that Wright is focused on.

Brought in to back up Carson Palmer and perhaps fill in for him during the early part of the season, Wright is still trying to get the feel of running one of the NFL's most high-powered offenses at full throttle.

"We're installing things every day, so I still have those things running through my mind," Wright said Wednesday, soaked with sweat after a midday workout. "Sometimes things get compounded on each other. But so far, I'm doing pretty good with it. I seem to be coming on pretty well."

So does the guy he's potentially replacing.

While Wright and Doug Johnson ran the offense Wednesday during a voluntary workout in jerseys, shorts and helmets, a solitary figure jogged around the perimeter of the field and then went through his own routine nearby.

Palmer, who had his left knee surgically rebuilt in January, wore a long-sleeve gray shirt and shorts, but no brace on the knee as he jumped over pads as part of his rehabilitation. He also threw passes during a couple of low-intensity drills with receivers.

"I'm just happy to be able to do what I'm doing," Palmer said. "It's nice to be on the field and jump into a couple of drills once in a while. I definitely get that itch (to play), but I've got to stay patient and wait for my turn."

His rehabilitation has gone well so far, but there's no telling whether he'll be ready for the season opener Sept. 10 at Kansas City. If he's not, Wright - who wears jersey No. 2 - is in line to be No. 1 on the depth chart.

The free agent from Baltimore signed a one-year deal on April 21 and started a cram course in learning the playbook. Palmer spends most of his day rehabilitating the knee, so Wright and Johnson - who signed a one-year deal on Feb. 7 - have to learn the offense with the help of the coaches.

"They look great," Palmer said, after watching them work out Wednesday. "You can't tell the difference. It doesn't look like we have a couple of new guys that are missing (reads), dropping snaps, missing wide-open guys."

The rub will come during training camp, when Palmer hopes to be able to practice without limitation. He'll need to get a lot of work with the starting offense because he missed so much time while rehabilitating the knee.

Wright and Johnson also will need a lot of work to learn the fine points of the offense in case they have to run it. Wright knew he was getting into an uncertain situation when he signed with Cincinnati.

"The situation I'm in right now is kind of different," he said.

Still, it's a step up. The eighth-year veteran was a backup in Baltimore's run-oriented offense at the end of last season. He was excited to get the chance to come to Cincinnati and throw to Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, one of the NFL's top receiver tandems, in an offense that likes to air it out.

"I'm just enjoying having the opportunity to run it," Wright said. "It's been a good experience. Having guys like that really helps me out a lot as well."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_456233.html

[Ohio Steeler]

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CIN/9474137

CINCINNATI (June 1, 2006) -- Bengals rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson will travel to Florida to face charges of burglarizing the apartment of a former Florida State teammate.
Nicholson, a fifth-round draft pick last April, has been participating in offseason workouts at Paul Brown Stadium this week. The club has declined to comment while the case is handled in court.
Nicholson and Fred Rouse, another former Florida State teammate, have been charged with breaking into the apartment of Seminoles running back Lorenzo Booker and stealing $1,700 worth of electronic equipment the weekend of May 20-21.
Rouse was arrested in Tallahassee last Saturday. Nicholson was in Cincinnati when charges were filed.
Nicholson and Rouse are charged with felony counts of burglary and grand theft. Nicholson also is charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief for damage to the apartment.
The Bengals drafted Nicholson, 21, despite his history of off-field problems at Florida State. The most recent came before the Orange Bowl, when he was suspended for taking a woman to the team hotel. The woman accused him of sexual assault, but Nicholson has not been charged.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

6/2/06

LB Nicholson still part of offseason workouts in Cincy

Bengals say the draft pick is traveling to Florida on Saturday to meet with authorities over alleged burglary.

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals aren't cutting ties with linebacker A.J. Nicholson. They're standing behind him as the legal process takes its course.

The club said the rookie fifth-round draft pick from Florida State University will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., where he's wanted in connection with an alleged burglary at the residence of Seminoles running back Lorenzo Booker.

Nicholson is wanted by Tallahassee police, and former college teammate Fred Rouse has been charged with allegedly breaking into Booker's apartment and stealing about $1,700 in electronic equipment when Booker and his roommates were out of town May 20-21.

The Bengals silenced speculation about Nicholson's future with the team when they released this statement Thursday afternoon.

"A.J. was with the team (Wednesday and Thursday), participating in o