Bengals tidbits

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

7/29/06

Bengals rookies in camp



Cornerback Johnathan Joseph agreed to a five-year deal in time to report to training camp today in Georgetown, Ky., bengals.com reported.
Terms were undisclosed.

Cincinnati’s first-round selection is expected to join the majority of the Bengals’ draft picks for the team’s first practice tonight. Only thirdrounder Frostee Rucker, a defensive end from USC, and fifth-round pick A.J. Nicholson, a linebacker from Florida State, are without deals.

Second-round pick Andrew Whitworth, a 6-foot-7, 339-pound offensive lineman out of Louisiana State, agreed to contract terms yesterday, his agent told bengals.com.

Middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks also was close to a deal, the Web site said. Brooks, a third-round pick from Virginia, is expected to see immediate playing time, particularly with third-year player Odell Thurman suspended for the first four regular-season games for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
The team announced the signings of defensive tackle Domata Peko (fourth round, Michigan State) and safety Ethan Kilmer (seventh round, Penn State).

[buckeyefool]

long but worth the read

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5353

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

7/30/06

NFL

Bengals hit ground running this year

Top pick has signed; players, fans fired up

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Finally, football.
The Cincinnati Bengals were able to start putting an ugly offseason behind them and return to the field yesterday in hopes of building on the franchise’s most successful season in 15 years.
"The guys are excited," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "They’re back here ready to go. It’s a very exciting time for our football team, an opportunity to prepare for the ’06 season and do great things. The guys have worked very hard since they’ve left us (after the June minicamp) and have reported back in great shape and great spirits, which is most important."
The Bengals opened training camp last night in front of an orange-and-black-clad crowd of an estimated 4,200 fans eager to watch football instead of grimacing at the latest police blotter incident.
So pumped was the crowd that it cheered when one Jesse Boone, an undrafted rookie center from Utah, took the field as the first player to begin stretching. The biggest ovation was reserved for quarterback Carson Palmer, who took firstteam repetitions as he continues to rehabilitate his surgically reconstructed left knee.
For the first time since Palmer’s rookie season of 2003, the Bengals’ first-round pick was not a holdout. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph, the 24 th overall selection, agreed to a five-year contract worth $8.2 million ($5.6 million guaranteed).
"This is a guy who wants to play football," Lewis said. "That’s the way he’s approached things all the time. Fortunately, the business side of it hasn’t gotten in his way. Sometimes it does."
Last year’s first-round pick, linebacker David Pollack, missed all of training camp. With the exception of third-rounder Frostee Rucker, all the Bengals’ other draft picks were signed by yesterday afternoon. All agreed to four-year contracts.
But not all the news was good in Bengals land. Secondyear linebacker Odell Thurman, recently suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, was a no-show. (Thurman is eligible to practice and play in the preseason.)
Based on his clipped answers to questions, Lewis’ patience with Thurman has been exhausted.
"We’ll have someone play there for the season so we won’t worry about a guy that’s not here or who’s not a part of our football team right now," Lewis said. "He’s a non-factor."
Thurman is listed on the depth chart as the team’s fourth option. Brian Simmons is listed as the starting middle linebacker, backed up by rookies Ahmad Brooks and A.J. Nicholson.
Asked whether the Bengals expected Thurman to report, Lewis said they did.
"If you want to be in charge of him, you’re welcome," he said. "He’s dealing with some things with his family and they’d asked that he be allowed to do this. There’s no pressing need of time for him to be here, so we’re allowing him to do this."
Lewis said he didn’t know when Thurman would report, "and I’m not concerned with that."
Defensive tackle Sam Adams, offensive lineman Adam Kieft, receiver Kelley Washington, running back Chris Perry and defensive end Jonathan Fanene were placed on the physically-unable-toperform list. Lewis did not disclose their injuries.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

Dispatch

7/30/06

Palmer won’t be rushed into testing knee

Current timetable has him missing early exhibitions

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Carson Palmer stood under center for the first snaps of training camp last night.
"It felt rusty, like a typical first day of practice," he said.
That doesn’t mean the quarterback will play when the Bengals open the preseason Aug. 13 at home against Washington.
Palmer indicated yesterday that the Bengals’ timetable will have him sitting out the first two preseason games. He revealed as much when asked about the importance of taking a hit on his reconstructed left knee.
"Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to play in the third or fourth preseason game and just see how it holds up," he said.
That schedule could change.
"We talk about plans, and plans are great," Palmer said. "But going into uncharted territory — my first reconstructive knee surgery — the plan, of course, is to play (the regular-season opener) against Kansas City. If it doesn’t, I have to roll with the punches."
The typical timetable for return after an injury similar to Palmer’s is eight to 12 months.
Coach Marvin Lewis said the team’s medical staff believes it’s time to "immerse" Palmer in football and "let him go."
Palmer said his knee has improved since minicamp, but he is not close to fully healed.
"The process is just slow," he said. "Looking back at minicamp, I thought by now I’d be sprinting full speed and all that. I just need to be patient, realize that from month to month there’s not that much of a difference, not a drastic change."
Depth - chart released

The first depth chart of the season had few surprises. With Odell Thurman absent and outside linebacker Brian Simmons taking his middle linebacker spot, David Pollack and Landon Johnson are the other two outside linebackers.
Bryan Robinson has been shifted from defensive tackle to left defensive end, with Justin Smith returning to right end, supplanting 2005 starter Robert Geathers.
All 11 offensive starters remain the same for the second consecutive year.
Bengals bits

Receiver Chris Henry (knee), who has been arrested four times since December, has been cleared medically. … Olentangy graduate Kyle Takavitz was placed on the non-football injury list after recent surgery.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

[Folanator]

There is no excuse for Odel not to be in camp. You are getting sober, big deal. Freeken quit, go to meetings and go do your job. Not showing up for work is just amazing and I can see why Marvin is [censored]ed. I just lost a bunch of respect for a player that I liked a lot.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

7/31/06

Pollack gets first taste of Georgetown

Second-year linebacker missed all of the Bengals' training camp last year because of a holdout.

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis' cell phone rang the night before training camp opened. On the line was a "gym rat" — outside linebacker David Pollack.
"He said, 'Hey, how do I get here and how do I get there? Where's this and that?' " Lewis said.
A 20-day holdout who missed all of camp last season, Pollack — the club's No. 1 draft pick in 2005 — had never been to Georgetown College, and his excitement was evident.
"The guy lives to play football," Lewis said. "He's getting experience, and that's what training camp is all about. This is important, because he will be able to see things that he only saw where it was do or die for us.
"Now he has a chance to see it, whether it be a rush, coverage or blocking scheme, and be able to critique off of it. The 1,000 repetitions we'll get here, he'll get a bunch of those. That will be big."
Pollack's inconsistent rookie season — 35 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in 14 games with five starts — was attributed to his holdout. With a year of experience, his learning accelerates with each snap.
"That's a great thing for me," Pollack said. "I haven't had a ton of reps at my position. The more I get, the better it is. The more you see it, the better you are. I'm trying to see it over and over again. Eventually, it will stick. To just work as hard as I can and get better. That's all I want."
Pollack drives a beat-up SUV, has a messy locker and wears a visor upside down. But his magnetic personality gives the defense character.
"He's what you want," Lewis said. "You want a gym rat, and we needed that kind of personality on our defense. We have it on offense, and we had to bring some guys in on defense that way.
"He's not afraid to be out front. He doesn't shy away from doing what's right and doing it full speed. He's not ever going to be a malingerer or a guy that wants to take an easy way. That's what you've got to have."
The enthusiastic Pollack is a natural leader.
"Everybody has their own personality," he said. "As long as everybody plays hard and we hold each other accountable, we'll be doing good."

DDN

7/31/06

Bengals treated to talk by basketball coaching great

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino gave the Cincinnati Bengals an ego-building pep talk at midfield before Sunday's practice at training camp. The players applauded Pitino in the 90-degree heat, and head coach Marvin Lewis thanked him with a handshake.
Pitino, a former NBA head coach for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, leaned on a friend — Celtics legend Bill Russell — for his theme.
Russell is considered sports' greatest team player because he won back-to-back NCAA championships for the University of San Francisco, an Olympic Gold Medal and 11 NBA titles.
"I just talked about a team ego, something Bill Russell talked to my Celtic team about," Pitino said. "It's great to have an ego as long as the ego is about team. All the statistics in the world are meaningless unless you win a championship. That's when statistics are truly valuable. We talked about how to impact your teammates. That's what ego is all about. The individual ego is not important. The team ego is what's important."
Pitino was invited to camp by Ray "Rock" Oliver, the Bengals assistant strength and conditioning coach who worked with Pitino at the University of Kentucky. Pitino's son, Ryan, 16, is serving as a Bengals' ball boy during training camp.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

7/31/06

BENGALS NOTEBOOK

Steinbach isn’t sweating extension

Monday, July 31, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Eric Steinbach didn’t sound upset or disappointed.
Training camp has begun and his unofficial deadline for signing a contract extension with the Bengals has passed.
"To be honest, I’m not worried about it," the left guard said yesterday. "Whether I re-sign with the Bengals or go to free agency, it’s a win-win."
Cincinnati entered last offseason facing the prospect of having all five starting offensive linemen be eligible for free agency after 2006. In April, the Bengals re-signed right guard Bobbie Williams. Last week, left tackle Levi Jones agreed to a four-year deal potentially worth $40 million.
"You don’t see centers or guards with blockbuster deals, and I’m not looking for one, either," Steinbach said. "I want something put on the table that’s respectable and that I can play the rest of my career with, and I’ll be happy."
Steinbach might be selling himself short. Philadelphia Eagles guard Shawn Andrews recently signed a seven-year extension that reportedly could pay him $50 million. Entering his prime at age 26, the agile, versatile Steinbach should be primed for a big payday.
Steinbach said he isn’t closing the door on a potential in-season deal with Cincinnati. But now that camp has begun, Steinbach said he will concentrate solely on football and let agent Jack Bechta handle business. It sounds as if Bechta will be doing the listening, not the dialing.
"I’m not worried about the contract right now," Steinbach said. "I just want to win and get to the playoffs and Super Bowl."
Pitino addresses Bengals

University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino addressed the team during their pre-practice huddle. Pitino’s son, Kyle, is volunteering as an assistant with the equipment staff during training camp.
Pitino, former coach of the Boston Celtics, invoked a theme preached by legendary center Bill Russell.
"I sort of repeated his message," Pitino said. "I talked about team ego rather than the ego that’s unimportant, and that’s the one that relies on statistics. Statistics are irrelevant when you don’t win."
Bengals bits

Third-round pick Frostee Rucker became the final draft pick to agree to terms. The defensive end signed a four-year deal. … Punter Danny Baugher, expected to challenge incumbent Kyle Larson for the punting job, was the first player released in camp. … Undrafted rookie Erik Meyer suffered a sprained ankle in practice. Meyer is trying to win the third-string quarterback job. … Olentangy graduate Kyle Takavitz said an appendectomy is the reason he’s on the nonfootball-injury list. The offensive lineman expects to be able to practice late this week.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

8/1/06

After two-day absence, suspended LB Thurman arrives in camp

Tuesday, August 1, 2006


GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Linebacker Odell Thurman arrived at Cincinnati Bengals training camp after a two-day absence and apologized for his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
“I want to say that I did make a mistake. I want to apologize to my teammates, the guys who sweat with me, this organization, my friends and family and, most of all, to the fans and the kids that look up to me,” Thurman said Monday.
Thurman was a no-show for the Bengals’ first training camp practice Saturday. Coach Marvin Lewis said the middle linebacker had received the team’s permission to attend to family business.
“Now he’s got a chance to get himself in condition to play football,” Lewis said.
The Bengals, also dealing with the arrests of four players during the offseason, took a hit on defense last week with the suspension of Thurman for the first four games of 2006. A second-round draft pick out of Georgia last year, Thurman led the Bengals in tackles and had five interceptions as a rookie, helping Cincinnati reach the playoffs with its first winning record since 1990.

Dispatch

BENGALS

Thurman apologizes for making mistake
He will not practice for at least two weeks

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Odell Thurman arrived belatedly to training camp yesterday, but the Bengals’ second-year linebacker won’t return to the field for at least two weeks.
Last week, the NFL suspended Thurman for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He said last night that he won’t practice with the team until it breaks training camp Aug. 12. The Bengals’ first preseason game is the next day. Given that, it’s unlikely that he will see much, if any, playing time in the preseason before the suspension takes effect.
About speculation that he has a drug problem, Thurman laughed and said, "Not at all." Coach Marvin Lewis also said he did not believe Thurman had a drug problem.
Thurman missed the June minicamp to attend to what Lewis termed personal business. When Thurman was a no-show at the start of training camp Saturday, it was clear Lewis’ patience had been exhausted.
"If you want to be in charge of him, you’re welcome," Lewis said then.
Thurman was contrite yesterday.
"First of all, I want to say I did make a mistake," he said. "I want to apologize to my teammates — the guys who sweat with me — this organization, my friends and family and, most of all, the fans and kids who look up to me."
Thurman would not elaborate on the nature of his violation or the problems he had in the offseason.
Lewis said Thurman won’t participate in training camp because he missed a large chunk of the offseason workouts with the team.
"He’s not been with the rest of the guys doing what they’ve been doing, so we want to make sure he’s in condition to do that," Lewis said.
Thurman led the Bengals with 148 tackles and intercepted five passes and forced four fumbles. But he also made mistakes that exasperated coaches.
He’s listed as the fourth-team middle linebacker behind Brian Simmons and rookies Ahmad Brooks and A.J. Nicholson.
"I’m just going to do what I’ve got to do to help the team so I can get back on the field the fifth game," Thurman said.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com