Cincinnati Bengals News

Super Bowl special for Zimmers
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February 8
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"After a season in which the Zimmer family suffered its greatest loss, the family also got to celebrate the biggest win in New Orleans Saints history. With the Saints' 31-17 win over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, linebackers assistant Adam Zimmer has brought a second ring to the family. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer won his as Dallas' secondary coach when the Cowboys beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. After the game, Adam's dad and sisters Corri and Marki got to celebrate on the field and took pictures near the victory stage at midfield. "I said to my dad that it's been a long year," Adam Zimmer said, referring to the sudden death of his mom Vikki last October. The ..."
Super Bowl special for Zimmers
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February 8
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"After a season in which the Zimmer family suffered its greatest loss, the family also got to celebrate the biggest win in New Orleans Saints history. With the Saints' 31-17 win over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, linebackers assistant Adam Zimmer has brought a second ring to the family. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer won his as Dallas' secondary coach when the Cowboys beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. After the game, Adam's dad and sisters Corri and Marki got to celebrate on the field and took pictures near the victory stage at midfield. "I said to my dad that it's been a long year," Adam Zimmer said. "We had a rough patch but here we are. It was sweet. You didn't ..."
Report: Maualuga to enter rehab
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February 8
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"After meeting with NFL officials earlier this week, Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga will enter a rehab facility at the end of the month, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Schefter reported that Maualuga is planning on checking into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., later this month for 30 days or longer. It is possible that he would miss the beginning of the team's offseason conditioning program, which will begin in late March. Maualuga was thinking about entering the center sooner but left with Bengals teammates Domata Peko and Jonathan Fanene today for a trip to Samoa."
Sources: Maualuga to enter rehab
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February 7
ESPN.com
 
"Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga will check into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., later this month for at least 30 days, according to multiple NFL sources. Maualuga, who pleaded guilty to drunken driving in Kentucky on Tuesday and apologized for his actions, had considered checking into rehab this past week, but opted to put it off until after a previously planned trip to Samoa, sources said. He is expected to enter the facility once he returns. The rookie linebacker from USC was arrested on Jan. 29 in Covington, Ky., after police said he hit a parking meter and two parked cars. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty and received a suspended seven-day jail sentence, two ..."
Super Bowl reunites Zimmer family for first time since Vikki's funeral
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February 7
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Zimmer family has gathered to watch one of their own coach in the NFL's biggest game of the year. But one person is missing. When New Orleans faces Indianapolis today in Super Bowl XLIV at Miami, it will mark the first time the Zimmers have been together since the funeral for Vikki Zimmer in Cincinnati Oct. 13. Adam Zimmer is in his fourth season as a linebackers assistant with the Saints. He's the son of Vikki and Mike Zimmer, the Bengals' defensive coordinator. "He doesn't seem nervous," Mike Zimmer said of how his son was handling the week of buildup to today's game. "I'm sure he will start to get nervous on Sunday when the jets fly over the stadium." Vikki's death affected not only ..."
Chad Ochocinco: Please sign Owens
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February 5
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"With free agency set to begin one month from tomorrow, Chad Ochocinco gave his endorsement to adding another big-name receiver to the Bengals – Terrell Owens. Ochocinco earlier in the day told Fox Sport's Jay Glazer that the Bengals were going to sign Owens, who is an unrestricted free agent. Later in the day from South Florida, where he was making the rounds on radio row for Super Bowl week, Ochocinco slightly changed his stance, saying he was in favor of signing the enigmatic receiver. "Eighty one and eighty five, what more is there to say?" Ochocinco said. "I like what we have but I think a veteran presence and giving Carson another target someone of that caliber. Can we not say take an ..."
NFL players preparing for 2011 lockout
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February 5
Boston Globe
 
"As collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the NFL Players Association and the NFL owners continue to drag, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said he expects the owners to lock out the players before the 2011 season. Chad Ochocinco, representing OCNN, asked the first question of a press conference this afternoon in which the NFLPA laid out their message. He asked Smith how worried he is about a lockout next season. "On a scale of 1 to 10," Smith said, "it's a 14." Smith said he and NFLPA president Kevin Mawae have informed players to save 25 percent of their paychecks in order to prepare for a lockout. Mawae said negotiations for a CBA have been "frustrating" and moved ..."
Source: Maualuga meeting with NFL
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February 4
ESPN.com
 
"Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga will meet with NFL officials Wednesday to discuss his recent off-the-field incident, a league source tells ESPN.com. Maualuga pleaded guilty to a DUI charge Tuesday in northern Kentucky after hitting two parked cars and a parking meter in the early morning of Jan. 29. In recent years, the NFL has come down hard on players for off-the-field incidents. According to the source, a final ruling is not expected to come out of Wednesday's meeting, which was described as more of a personal evaluation of Maualuga by the NFL's substance-abuse team. He is now entered in Stage 1 of the league's substance-abuse program. Maualuga was a second-round pick ..."
Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga pleads guilty to DUI charge
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February 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga pleaded guilty to drunken driving Tuesday morning in Kenton District Court, four days after he was arrested in Covington. Police arrested Maualuga early Friday on charges of drunken driving and careless driving after he struck two parked cars and a parking meter on Scott Street. Though he was not scheduled to appear in court until Feb. 25, Maualuga's attorney, W. Robert Lotz, requested that his plea be added to the docket Tuesday morning. District Judge Ken Easterling sentenced Maualuga to seven days in jail, discharged on the condition that he have no more offenses for two years and that he pay for any damage not covered by insurance, said ..."
Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga pleads guilty to DUI charge
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February 2
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga pleaded guilty to a drunk driving charge Tuesday morning in a Kenton County courtroom. Maualuga was sentenced to seven days in jail, fined $350 and his driver's license was suspended for 90-days. He was also put on two years probation. Maualuga was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Friday after officers responded to 634 Scott Street for a report of a traffic accident, according to Covington Assistant Police Chief Spike Jones. Police say Maualuga was at the Mad Hatter on Scott Street."
'Reporters' Darnell Dockett, Ochocinco? Bring it on
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February 2
Arizona Republic
 
"As soon as the NFL started allowing hand puppets, reporters in wedding gowns and men sporting distracting feathered boas to cover Super Bowl media day, the game ceased to become an event to be treated with deference and austerity. I'm OK with that. With two weeks of hype, how many updates can you handle about Dwight Freeney's ankle? Seriously, the dude's either going to play or not play. Now what? How about Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett working as a correspondent for the Ochocinco News Network in the days leading up to Sunday's Colts-Saints meeting? Bring it on. Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco may be a divisive figure, but I've always found myself in the entertained, not ..."
County studies Cincinnati Bengals' offer
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February 2
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Cincinnati Bengals have extended the proverbial olive branch to Hamilton County, offering $40 million in concessions to help ease financial problems in the county's stadium fund. But that offer won't fix the problem and comes with several strings - one of which, if true, would soundly sink the deal. The county commissioners say one of the concessions appears to allow the Bengals to end the lease - and potentially leave Cincinnati - in 2017. That's nearly 10 years earlier than the current lease allows. The Bengals, however, told the media and commissioners that they are not asking to get out of the lease early. The paragraph in question simply solidifies the lease as it currently ..."
Bengals mean business
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February 2
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"You'll never get something for nothing from the Cincinnati Bengals. Quantcast They might not lead the NFL in wins on the field. Off it, they're the Lombardi Trophy. They're pretty much the '75 Steelers when it comes to lawyering. In the all-important financial shrewdness category, they're the '85 Bears. The team is offering to help revive Hamilton County from its self-inflicted financial coronary, owing to the Manhattan-for-beads stadium lease and other unrelated riverfront projects. The club is offering the county $40 million in lease concessions. Sort of. Knee-jerk reaction to any Bengals largesse is "Hmmm.'' Carefully considered reaction to any Bengals largesse is "Hmmm.'' It's good the ..."
FB Neal lone Bengal on NFL's All-Decade team
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February 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Bengals ended up having one member of the NFL's All-Decade team as Lorenzo Neal, who spent two seasons in Cincinnati (2001-02), was the lone fullback named to the team. Neal was the lead blocking back during back-to-back 1,300 yard seasons by Corey Dillon. Neal also played in Tennessee, San Diego, Baltimore and Oakland during the decade. Florence native Shaun Alexander, a Boone County High graduate, was also named. Alexander, who played for nine seasons 2000-08, is one of four backs on the team along with LaDainian Tomlinson, Jamal Lewis and Edgerrin James."
Chad Ochocinco doesn't get kicks in Pro Bowl
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February 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco's did not get his wish of kicking or punting in the Pro Bowl, but he did accomplish one thing by collecting his $45,000 check for helping the AFC win. "Basically, this covers half of my fines for the whole season, so I'm really happy," he said. "I'm $45,000 richer. It's beautiful. It's a great ending to a great year and a good start for 2010." Although he didn't get his kicks, Ochocinco played a key role in the AFC's 41-34 victory over the NFC 41-34 at Sun Life Stadium. • Scoring summary and statistics His quarterbacks targeted him more times than any other receiver in the game and he caught four passes for 80 yards. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback ..."
Bengals offer Hamilton County $40 million in Paul Brown Stadium lease concessions
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February 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Bengals are offering to make short- and long-term financial concessions on their Paul Brown Stadium lease to help alleviate the predicted shortfall in the Hamilton County stadium fund, a move that could end years of bitter legal wrangling between the team and county. Quantcast In a letter written Oct. 16 by the Bengals to county Administrator Patrick Thompson, the club is offering to relieve the county of $2 million worth of capital repairs to the stadium, which opened in 2000. According to the letter, acquired Sunday night by The Enquirer, the Bengals would pay to replace carpet inside the stadium's club level area, convert to an electronic ticketing system and put in a new playing ..."
Bengals lose strength coach Oliver to UK
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January 30
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Associate strength and conditioning coach Ray "Rock" Oliver is leaving the Bengals to become the director of strength and conditioning for the University of Kentucky's football program. Oliver, a Cincinnati native who had been with the Bengals since '04, was seen during Hard Knocks when he blew the horn to wake people up at the beginning of the day. Oliver said it was tough decision to leave the Bengals, but the opportunity to work with close friend Joker Phillips He has previous associations with UK and basketball coach John Calipari. Oliver was the strength and conditioning coach under Rick Pitino from 1988-92 and worked for Calipari with the Nets (1996-97) and as the director of ..."
At Pro Bowl practice, Chad Ochocinco's already stealing the show
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January 29
Palm Beach Post
 columnist Dave George
"There are two players wearing No. 85 at the Pro Bowl's AFC practice session. If it takes more than a few seconds to tell which of them is Antonio Gates, tight end, and which is Chad Ochocinco, loose cannon, well, you're just not paying attention. That the Pro Bowl has come to Miami, Ochocinco's hometown, is the surest guarantee of edgy South Florida-style entertainment in an exhibition that otherwise might as well stay in Hawaii, or fade away altogether. At his alma mater, Miami Beach Senior High School, they knew him as Chad Johnson, mild-mannered student raised by his grandparents in Liberty City. So much has happened since then. So much may happen Sunday at Sun Life Stadium, which kind ..."
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Maualuga charged with DUI
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January 29
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga was held Friday morning at the Kenton County jail in Covington on charges of drunken driving and careless driving. Maualuga, 23, of Cincinnati was scheduled to appear Friday morning in Kenton County District Court for a video arraignment, jail officials said. He was booked in shortly after 3 a.m. after Covington police pulled him over. He was arrested at 1:45 a.m. after officers responded to 634 Scott Street for a report of a traffic accident, according to Covington Assistant Police Chief Spike Jones. They responded and determined that Maualuga was the driver of a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire with Ohio plates that struck two vehicles and a parking meter, ..."
Mock drafts: Bengals like TE, but which one?
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January 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"With less than three months until the NFL Draft, and everyone gathering down in Mobile starting on Monday for the Senior Bowl, the first series of mock drafts are being released even though positions 29-32 have not been finalized. As is normal this time of the year, three of them have the Bengals taking different players with the 21st pick. ESPN's Mel Kiper has the Bengals selecting Florida tight endAaron Hernandez in the first round. According to one draft observer I talked to, Hernandez is seen as a faster, smaller version of Chase Coffman, who would supply less as a blocker than Coffman. Considering that Coffman's major deficiency was trying to develop as a blocker, who knows if this is ..."
Chad Ochocinco begins 'Tour of Giving'
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January 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Chad Ochocinco says the New York Jets could win the Super Bowl, but their toughest test will come Sunday against Indianapolis. Why? Because Peyton Manning is far and away the best quarterback at picking apart blitzes. "He'll make Rex pay,' said the Bengals wide receiver, referring to Jets coach and defensive wizard Rex Ryan. It was Thursday morning. No. 85 was whipping up biscuits in the new kitchen at the Freestore Foodbank on Central Parkway to begin a three-day, charity bus tour that's going to Miami, site of Super Bowl XLIV. The gregarious one wasn't shooting a guest spot for the Food Network, but he could have been. He might have lost a half-step on the deep routes (he turned 32 two ..."
Wayne grad, UC star looking to stick with Bengals
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January 19
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Cincinnati Bengals are off to a fast start in addressing some key areas on defense. A few days after the team's season came to a screeching halt, they signed former Wayne High School cornerback Mike Mickens to a two-year contract on Friday, Jan 15. Mickens had a standout career at the University of Cincinnati before being picked in the seventh round by Dallas in the 2009 draft. The cornerback did not see regular-season action in '09 but played in all four preseason games for the Cowboys. "It feels real good to be back home," Mickens said in an interview on Sunday. "I played my last four years of college football in Cincinnati and have family close by to watch me play. So coming home ..."
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis named NFL coach of the Year
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January 16
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"There are two people Chad Ochocinco is campaigning for to get awards this year – Marvin Lewis and Mo'Nique. Well, one down and one to go. After a six-win improvement, an AFC North title and guiding the Bengals through two off-the-field tragedies, Marvin Lewis has been named the NFL's Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. Said Ochocinco last week: "Coach Lewis should be coach of the year because of the turnaround he did for us, just like Mo'Nique should win an Oscar for her role in the movie Precious. Those are my two things for 2010." In the vote of 50 writers who cover the league, Lewis received 20½ votes, which was nine more than New Orleans's Sean Payton. San Diego's Norv Turner ..."
Ochocinco to race Titans' Johnson?
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January 15
ESPN.com
 
"The Cincinnati Bengals got a player in the Pro Bowl after all. Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco was selected as an alternate Friday. He replaced injured New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker (knee) on the AFC roster. Ochocinco reacted to the news by declaring he would take part in a charity sprint. "Adam I am racing Chris Johnson, the loser is giving there pro bowl check over to those in need in Haiti," Ochocinco wrote on Twitter, referring to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter."
Bengals defense happy to have Mike Zimmer back
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January 13
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Jonathan Joseph, half of the cornerback tandem around which Mike Zimmer designed one of the NFL's top defenses, said having "Coach Zim" back in the Bengals' fold for another three years is "something to celebrate" The offseason is only three days' old, but Zimmer's re-signing is the "best news we've had so far," he said. "Coach Zim told us at our season-ending meeting that he loved us and that he wanted to come back and that hopefully he would be back," Joseph said Tuesday upon learning the news that Zimmer had signed a three-year extension. "We know it's a business, but we're also a family here. Coach Zim's been through a lot this year (with the loss of his wife), more than any of us can ..."
Mike Zimmer staying to oversee Cincinnati Bengals defense
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January 13
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Mike Zimmer, who was considered by many to be the Bengals' top free agent going into the offseason, will be here for the next three seasons. The team and its defensive coordinator agreed to terms on a new contract Tuesday, answering one of the biggest questions of the past couple months: Would Zimmer stay or leave for a better offer? "It's good. I felt good with the players and Marvin (Lewis) and we still have a lot to go (in terms of continuing to make progress)," Zimmer said from Dallas, where he is visiting his two daughters. In two seasons under Zimmer, the Bengals have made great strides on defense. This regular season, they ranked fourth in the 32-team league in yards allowed with an ..."
Zimmer staying to oversee Cincinnati Bengals defense
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January 13
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Mike Zimmer, who was considered by many to be the Bengals' top free agent going into the offseason, will be here for the next three seasons. The team and its defensive coordinator agreed to terms on a new contract Tuesday, answering one of the biggest questions of the past couple months: Would Zimmer stay or leave for a better offer? "It's good. I felt good with the players and Marvin (Lewis) and we still have a lot to go (in terms of continuing to make progress)," Zimmer said from Dallas, where he is visiting his two daughters. In two seasons under Zimmer, the Bengals have made great strides on defense. This regular season, they ranked fourth in the 32-team league in yards allowed with an ..."
Bengals retain defensive coordinator Zimmer
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January 12
NFL.com
 
"Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has signed a three-year contract to remain with the team, a source with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday. Zimmer's retention – his contract was set to expire – is considered a huge deal for a team that won the AFC North this season, largely on the strength of its defense. Zimmer, who just completed his second season with Cincinnati, was reported to have been targeted for the defensive coordinator job in Washington under new coach Mike Shanahan. Zimmer also figured to have other suitors based on the job he has done in turning around the Bengals' defense."
Evaluations begin for Cincinnati Bengals
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January 12
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Any one who was looking for major announcements out of Monday's season-ending press conference by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis came away disappointed. The Bengals are in the evaluation process of their staff and roster. When asked about the future of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Lewis said he was "very confident" that Zimmer would return for a third season. Zimmer's contract expired after Saturday's game and he traveled to Dallas to visit his daughters on Monday. Lewis also said that he expects there to remain consistency among the coaching staff. "I think our coaching staff will end up all being … we'll be fine," he said. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said he also expects to be ..."
Bengals draw tougher schedule
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January 12
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Bengals' opponents next season include all three of the other 2009 AFC Division champions. AFC East champ New England is on every AFC North team's schedule, as the North and East divisions are paired in the schedule rotation. As AFC North champions, the Bengals also draw standings-determined games against the champs of the AFC South (Indianapolis) and West (San Diego). In interconference play, the AFC North teams will play the NFC South. The Bengals will have home games against New Orleans and Tampa Bay and will travel to Atlanta and Carolina. Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Miami, San Diego, New Orleans, Tampa Bay. Away: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New England, ..."
Bengals disperse amid talk of changes
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January 11
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Players exchanged numbers, most of them carried their jerseys out and all of them talked about their plans for the next two months. All of the Bengals did agree on one thing -- the offseason started earlier than they imagined. Following Saturday's 24-14 loss to the Jets in an AFC wild-card game, the Bengals reflected on coming up short while also planning on what to do until they come back for offseason conditioning in late March. "I don't think we're thinking about next season at all," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "We didn't expect to be in the situation that we are in right now. It's going to take some time to get past it from the expectations that we had for ourselves and the way ..."
Bengals should fancy passing more
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January 11
Cincinnati Enquirer
 columnist Paul Daugherty
"The NFL flies now. It sprints where it used to jog. More than ever, it is a quarterbacks' league. They make movies about left tackles, they make highlights from the hits of linebackers and safeties. The league's Twitter star is a wide receiver. So what? Quarterbacks drive the car. Give them the keys to the Ferrari and let them motor. It wasn't coincidence a game that featured two very good defenses and two very good running games was decided by two very different quarterback performances. Mark Sanchez was great, Carson Palmer was not, and that was all that mattered. If the Bengals want to keep the ball rolling, they need to throw it. The best teams rush the passer and protect the passer. ..."
Palmer to undergo surgery on left thumb, Jeanty will not need surgery
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January 11
Cincinnati Enquirer
 (scroll down)
""I don't think we're thinking about next season at all," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "We didn't expect to be in the situation that we are in right now. It's going to take some time to get past it from the expectations that we had for ourselves and the way things worked out." Palmer will undergo surgery on his left thumb this week. One person who will not have to have surgery is linebacker Rashad Jeanty, who fractured his left fibula in the loss to the Jets. The injury is described as being similar to the injury fellow outside linebacker Rey Maualuga suffered two weeks ago. One of the more immediate matters will be if there are any changes on Marvin Lewis' coaching staff. The only ..."
New-school Baltimore Ravens trying to achieve old-school New England Patriots success
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January 10
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Baltimore Ravens' first step toward the Super Bowl looms as a statement game. At a frigid Gillette Stadium on Sunday, the Ravens' precocious new guard will clash with the New England Patriots' venerable old one in an AFC wild-card game. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady set the standard in the past decade, capturing three Super Bowl championships. Ravens coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco just splashed onto the NFL playoff landscape, becoming the first head coach-quarterback tandem to make the league's postseason their first two seasons. Will the Patriots (10-6) continue their postseason supremacy, or will the Ravens (9-7) further validate ..."
Bengals eliminated from the playoffs by Jets
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January 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"One team converted their opportunities, the other didn't which is why the New York Jets are advancing to the AFC's Divisional round and the Bengals will be cleaning out their lockers. After a strong start by the Bengals in the first quarter, the Jets scored 21 unanswered points and took control en route to a 24-14 victory in an AFC Wild Card game at Paul Brown Stadium. The 10-7 Jets, who will travel to either Indianapolis or San Diego next weekend, have won six of their last seven. The Bengals, also 10-7, end the season with losses in four of their final five games. "You have to make plays and our downfall today was our inability at crucial times to make plays that made the difference," ..."
Bengals receiving corps goes thin
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January 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Cincinnati Bengals limped into halftime of Saturday's playoff game against the New York Jets with just two healthy receivers on their active roster. Their ailing passing game was in the hands of Quan Cosby (a player with just five career receptions) and Chad Ochocinco (a player going against one of the league's top lockdown cornerbacks). Things certainly couldn't have gotten worse, but they didn't get much better. Cincinnati, facing the league's best pass defense, finished with just 146 passing yards. It was a vast improvement over a Week 17 loss to the Jets in which it had zero net passing yards. But it still wasn't enough for the team to snap its streak of 19 straight seasons without ..."
Backup fills in nicely for Jeanty
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January 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"It didn't take long for the Bengals to need another linebacker. On the New York Jets first offensive series, linebacker Brandon Johnson had to replace Rashad Jeanty, who had been hurt on the opening kickoff. "The first feeling you have is a deep feeling of sadnesss seeing a teammate go down," Johnson said. "We had just seen 'Bam-Bam' (linebacker Rey Maualuga) go down a couple of weeks ago." Jeanty, who had replaced Maualuga on Dec. 27 after Maualuga had broken his left ankle vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, was at first reported to have sprained his left knee and ankle. But by the time the Jets were on only their second possession, the news was much worse: Fractured left fibula, done for the ..."
Marvin on missed FGs: "It killed us"
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January 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Saturday afternoon was uncharacteristically bad for Bengals kicker Shayne Graham who missed field goal attempts of 35 and 28 yards in the second half. "It is a shame, and it killed us," said Lewis. "Unfortunately kicking is mostly a one-man operation. I know Shayne feels worse about it than anyone. Those points obviously make a big difference." The usually accessible Graham exited the Bengals locker room following Saturday's game without addressing the media. Graham, the most accurate field goal kicker in Bengals history with an 86.8 success rate, had missed just once this season from 20-29 yards and only twice from 30-39 yards. Graham received the team's franchise tag in February, ..."
Bengals offense now 'akward'
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January 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"It's hard to say what lost this game for the Bengals. This "awkward'' game, as Carson Palmer called it, was filled with things the Bengals didn't do. They didn't make easy field goals, they didn't play like smart veterans on a rookie quarterback's play fakes. Their receivers got lots of single coverage and couldn't beat it. Their quarterback was seriously out of whack. Let's start with that. "We have to keep the pieces around him to enable him to use his skills as much as he can,'' said Marvin Lewis. No question, coach. What are his skills? We don't say this to be flip, or even critical. We've watched a season in which a former Pro Bowl QB has become Dilfer-ized to the point where even ..."
Updates Goodell talks Bengals, NFL issues
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January 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The last time Roger Goodell saw the Bengals it was in New Orleans last month for Chris Henry's funeral. This time he saw them under better circumstances. The NFL's commissioner was at Paul Brown Stadium for Saturday's AFC Wild Card game between the Bengals and Jets and addressed a variety of issues. Among them: Does he feel that Washington and Seattle were in compliance of the Rooney Rule, where teams have to interview a minority candidate for a head coaching vacancy, even though both teams have appeared to target their candidates? "They have in both cases," Goodell said. "I can assure you they have complied with the rule with the information that I have. I mean I've been in contact ..."
Bengals will look to retain Zimmer
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January 10
NFL.com
 
"The Cincinnati Bengals will open contract talks with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer next week in an effort to retain him. Zimmer's contract is set to expire and a source with knowledge of the situation said the Bengals want to try to persuade the sought-after coach from taking a job elsewhere. According to a source, the Washington Redskins are interested in hiring Zimmer to join new coach Mike Shanahan's staff as defensive coordinator. If it becomes a bidding war, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has shown the willingness to pay what is needed. The Bengals tend not to spend excessively. Zimmer is revered in Cincinnati for building the defense into one of the better units in the NFL in his ..."
Benson sets a record, but Jets beat Bengals
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January 10
Chicago Tribune
 
"With their rookie quarterback playing mistake-free, the New York Jets turned their surprising playoff appearance into a long-running production. Mark Sanchez handled single-degree wind chills and the playoff pressure with no problems Saturday, throwing a touchdown pass on a rollout play, and the NFL's top running game took it from there, setting up a 24-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Sanchez went 12 of 15 for 182 yards, becoming the fourth rookie quarterback since 1950 to start and win a playoff game. Considered the Jets' weakest link heading into the playoffs, he became their rallying point. "He just kept getting better as the season went along," coach Rex Ryan said. "I told him ..."
Jets' Darrelle Revis holds Cincinnati Bengals' Chad Ochocinco to two catches in wild-card
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January 10
New York Daily News
 
"You can call him Johnson. Chad Ochocinco will have an entire offseason to consider the name change he promised, now that he was unable to get much done against Darrelle Revis for the second straight week. Between Revis' tight coverage and the wildness of quarterback Carson Palmer, there wasn't much he could do to avoid the Bengals' 24-14 loss to the Jets in Saturday's wild-card playoff game. It wasn't much of a 32nd birthday for Ochocinco. "I'm going to be here for a while," Ochocinco said in front of his locker after slowly getting dressed. "I don't feel like going home. Friends, family, mom, grandma ... I'll be right here ... for about a month." Ochocinco didn't make his first catch ..."
Jets defense is grounded by rushing attack of Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson
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January 10
New York Daily News
 
"Rex Ryan was beaming over the performance of his Jets Saturday, but the first thing he mentioned after Gang Green's 24-14 win had nothing to do with the many positives. "Not exactly what I had in mind, giving up (171) yards rushing," he said. A lot of that total, the highest allowed by the Jets all season, had to do with the hard running of Cedric Benson. But Ryan's team, which prides itself on stopping the run, will have to shore that up as the playoffs continue. Luckily for Gang Green, next week's potential opponents, the Colts and Chargers, ranked last and next-to-last in the league in rushing, although that was of no solace to Ryan, who saw Benson break Ickey Woods' Bengals playoff ..."
Bengals look like Bungals again
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January 10
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The season that will live in infamy will be remembered as the one in which the Steelers blew five fourth-quarter leads and the one in which they couldn't score a touchdown against the worst defense in the NFL Those memories will hurt for a long time but on the day after the first games of the NFL playoffs what might be hurting the Steelers even more is the realization they lost two games and the division title to the Cincinnati Bengals. Or should I say Bungals. The good news for the Steelers is that there's no insurmountable opponent in the AFC North standing in their way to a return to the playoffs next season. The division champion Bengals clearly showed they are no such club yesterday ..."
Jets, Revis shut down Ochocinco again
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January 10
New York Post
 
"How do you say overrated in Spanish? Chad Ochocinco needs a new last name. For the second straight week, Darrelle Revis and the Jets silenced the mouthy receiver. Ochocinco? More like Ocho-Stinko. He finished with two catches, two more than he had in the regular-season finale at The Meadowlands. That's two weeks, plenty of talk and little production for those of you scoring at home. Ochocinco barely made a ripple in today's AFC wild-card game. Carson Palmer threw his way just five times. His biggest contribution of the day was drawing a questionable 26-yard pass interference call on Revis that put the Bengals in scoring range. Even that didn't work out for the Bengals as Shayne Graham ..."
Unlike the rest of his teammates, Braylon Edwards will be playing the Bengals for the third time this season.
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January 9
Bergen Record
 
"Before being traded from Cleveland, the talented wide receiver played his last game in a Browns' uniform when Cleveland lost to Cincinnati, 23-20, in overtime. "Before I got traded," Edwards said this week, "I didn't see the playoffs on any horizon. Once I got traded here, the organization was already 3-1 and playing real good football. I knew, with the core guys this team had, we could go to the playoffs. Here we are. It's huge." The Jets will make their first playoff appearance in three years today when they visit the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Neither team has a lot of positive history in this situation, as Cincinnati will be making only its second postseason appearance since 1990. ..."
2 who got away from Chicago Bears having great success
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January 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"It was a breakdown over the last three seasons that brought the Bears' brain trust together at Halas Hall for a news conference Tuesday in which it pledged to get things straight. Nothing since the team's loss in Super Bowl XLI has been worse than the handling of the backfield, and it will be on display Saturday in the NFL playoffs' wild card round as the Jets ride a career-best season from Thomas Jones into Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium to face Cedric Benson and the Bengals. The pair that combined for 1,857 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Bears in 2006 has flourished, and now the trade of Jones to the Jets to move up in the second round of the 2007 draft looks worse than the selection ..."