Bengals tidbits

[ScriptOhio]

Originally Posted by buckeyefool

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.

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[ScriptOhio]

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."

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[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.

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[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.

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