Bengals News

Palmer might not like it, but Bengals need HBO exposure
Comment
July 3
Dayton Daily News
 
"First there was a sigh. Then a roll of the eyes and a turn of the head. I had just asked quarterback Carson Palmer how he feels about his teammates becoming HBO's latest stars this summer when "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals" unfolds from Georgetown (Ky.) College. He didn't utter a word. His body language said it all. Palmer will relish the scrutiny of NFL Films' cameras and microphones about as much as he enjoyed rehabilitating his right elbow injury from a year ago when the tendon and ligament were detached from the bone. As Associated Press reporter Joe Kay wrote: "The cable channel and NFL Films chose one of the least successful and most dysfunctional teams of ..."
Warrant issued for ex-Bengal
Comment
July 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"A warrant was issued for former Bengals running back Chris Perry for failure to pay back-taxes. Perry lived in the 1700 block of Woodruff Lane, according to court documents. He now owes the city of Wyoming thousands of dollars of taxes from 2006 and 2007. Police have not released exactly how much he owes. He was supposed to be in court June 17, but failed to show. His warrant was then issued. Perry had been in court April 22 but it is unclear what happened on that date. "He was not there on the 17th when he was required to be," Wyoming police Lt. Rusty Herzog said. If arrested, Perry will be issued a $15,000 bond. It is not clear if Perry still lives in Wyoming, police said. His house on ..."
Bengals safety Williams open to competition
Comment
July 2
Dayton Daily News
 
"When the Cincinnati Bengals signed five-time Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams to a 1-year contract this offseason, he was immediately anointed the team's starting strong safety. That may indeed be the case when the smoke settles in training camp, but the 8-year veteran is prepared to compete for a starting position. "I want to be the best and will take that onto the practice field," Williams said during the recent minicamp. "I'm going to compete and whatever I do I will try to do at a high velocity. I see all the other guys are like that as well. The competition is great and we will have a great team because everyone is competing for the same jobs and that's a good thing." With so much depth ..."
Bengals first-round pick Smith would like to avoid holdout, attend camp
Comment
July 1
NFL.com
 
"Cincinnati Bengals rookie Andre Smith, the sixth overall pick in the draft, said Tuesday that he hopes to be signed and in training camp on time because a holdout could hamper his transition from left tackle to right tackle. However, Smith's wish to get a deal done could be more complicated because he was drafted one pick after New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, who signed a five-year contract that could be worth up to $60 million and has $28 million guaranteed. Quarterbacks tend to receive the heftiest salaries, so Sanchez's deal could skew the terms for players selected immediately after him, which is an argument the Bengals probably will make with Smith. The Bengals also could say ..."
Bengals' new center Cook has 'it'
Comment
June 29
Dayton Daily News
 
"What the Bengals want and need, Kyle Cook has. The second-year center from Michigan State has taken advantage of his opportunity and seized the starting job, replacing Eric Ghiaciuc, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent on April 30. "Kyle's got the 'it' factor," offensive line coach Paul Alexander said. "The guys follow his direction and that's what we're looking for. You have to take charge. That's one of the requirements of the job. "You have to make the right calls. You have to synthesize complex things in a hurry and be right. He's got the brains. He just understands it. He may be one of the smartest guys we've had." Cook signed as an undrafted college ..."
Bengals put new wrinkles in the O
Comment
June 28
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Bengals' 2009 offense won't be new. Just different. It sure can't get any worse. Its NFL ranking of 32nd last season - 245.4 yards a game - was as low as you can go. Dead last. "I'm not going to describe anything," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "You're going to have to wait and see. "We are going to be different. We've got some things that are changed, and we have things that are very similar, too. There are a lot of things we had on film that we're going to be doing, and doing a lot better." Look for more shifting and motioning by the wide receivers and running backs in an attempt to create matchup problems for enemy defenses. "We're still running Brat's offense," ..."
Bengals fans may be a little fed up
Comment
June 26
Dayton Daily News
 
"Have you ever thrown a party where nobody showed up? That's basically what happened on the final day of Cincinnati Bengals minicamp on Saturday, June 20. The club opened the doors of Paul Brown Stadium, hoping fans would take advantage of the club's "Select-A-Seat" event while watching the team practice for free. The result? There couldn't have been 1,000 fans in the joint. This was your only opportunity to witness the club in action prior to its July 30 arrival at Georgetown (Ky.) College for training camp, yet you stayed away for any number of reasons. Apathy is at the top of my list. Season tickets are available for public sale for the first time since 2006 because fans are tired of ..."
Bengals' Palmer works to improve arm strength
Comment
June 26
Dayton Daily News
 
"Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer looked good at minicamp last week, but admits that his arm strength needs some work. The quarterback's plan to strength the arm is no ancient Chinese secret. In fact, the solution to the problem is a fairly easy fix. "Throw," Palmer said. "It's just like when a track guy needs to get faster. You don't do 5,000 squats, you run and run some more. To get your arm in shape you throw and continue to throw. So I will be throwing all summer long as well as in training camp." Palmer missed 12 games last season with a serious elbow injury. Now the former Pro Bowler is looking to rebound and lead his team to the playoffs. Palmer's offseason preparation ..."
Bengals' Benson comfortable carrying the load
Comment
June 24
Dayton Daily News
 
"When Cedric Benson was selected by Chicago with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, the Bears were expecting big things from the running back. Benson had just finished up an illustrious career at Texas, where he received the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back in 2004. However, the runner never quite lived up to the team's expectations and things quickly soured. It seems as though a dark cloud was cast upon Benson's career since his arrival in Chicago. He was constantly scrutinized and the negative publicity kept coming. Frequent injuries and run-ins with the law didn't help his case. Needless to say, Benson's playing days in the Windy City were short-lived. He was ..."
Bengals sign another draft pick
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June 22
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Bengals today signed DT Clinton McDonald of Memphis, one of the team's seventh-round selections in the 2009 draft, according to a press release. McDonald (6-2, 283) ranked third in Conference USA last season in sacks (seven) and was a starter for the East in the East-West Shrine Game. He played four seasons at Memphis, appearing in 48 games with 33 starts."
Bengals sign DT McDonald
Comment
June 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Bengals have signed defensive tackle Clinton McDonald of Memphis, the team announced today. McDonald was a seventh-round draft pick who played four seasons at Memphis and played in 48 games with 33 starts."
Intense position battles taking shape among Bengals
Comment
June 22
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their three-day minicamp over the weekend and the team showed a lot of promise. Every indication suggests that next month’s training camp could be one for the ages with some intense battles for a position. Here are some camp observations: • Anyone who would suggest that Jordan Palmer is on the roster simply because he is the younger brother of Carson Palmer would be making an asinine remark. Young Palmer is definitely earning his keep and showing some real signs of improvement. In fact, Jordan Palmer looked better than free agent acquisition J.T. O'Sullivan at times. He has all the physical tools and incredible arm strength to make all the throws. ..."
Jones: Defense can be a top-10 unit
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June 22
Dayton Daily News
 
"Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer calls Dhani Jones and Dat Nguyen the most intelligent middle linebackers he's ever coached. Nguyen (pronounced "win") played seven seasons for Dallas (1999-2005) and is currently the Cowboys assistant linebackers coach and defensive quality control coach. Jones is a 10-year veteran and clear-cut leader of the Bengals' defense. "Dhani's sharp. He handles everything pretty quickly," Zimmer said. "He tells guys where to line up. He knows the checks. He knows what everybody does on the defense. It's really nice having a guy like that." Fresh off the weekend's mandatory minicamp, Jones believes the Bengals' 12th-ranked defense can become a top-10 unit. ..."
Team's progress pleases Lewis
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June 21
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Three months of conditioning workouts, 11 organized team activity sessions and five minicamp practices later, the Bengals feel like they are in better shape. Now, how that will translate six weeks from now when the team reports to training camp in Georgetown remains to be seen. But after last year's off the field drama with Chad Ochocinco and on field questions regarding the futures of Rudi Johnson and Willie Anderson, the Bengals appear to be more competitive and focused going into their summer hiatus. "I think we've had a really good offseason of work on the field. The 1,000 snaps gives us an opportunity to get through some things on defense and offense," said coach Marvin Lewis after ..."
Bengals' 3rd-round pick Johnson showing versatility
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June 21
Dayton Daily News
 
"The subject is Bengals rookie Michael Johnson, and inquiring minds want to know why the former Georgia Tech star defender slid to the third round in the NFL Draft. Despite his team-high 17.5 tackles for loss, including 9.0 quarterback sacks in 2008, Johnson drew criticism from NFL scouts and draft experts for not playing hard all the time and showing too much inconsistency. Little did they know the pain he had endured. That lingering groin and abdominal injury turned out to be a sports hernia. "I'm not really trying to put anything out there as far as an excuse," Johnson said. "You get on the field and go play." And nobody played better on defense during Bengals minicamp than the freakish ..."
Bengals D-line: Bring on the QBs
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June 21
Dayton Daily News
 
"Opposing quarterbacks beware. When the Bengals' three-day, mandatory minicamp ended at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, June 20, defensive tackle Domata Peko made a promise. "I see us getting after the quarterback a lot more than we did before," he said. "We've made good strides this offseason. We're all working better. The D-line's looking good.""
Bengals LBs: 'Underrated is good'
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June 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"In a division that features hard-hitting linebacking units in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Bengals young corps emits a small blip on the radar screen when it comes to being noticed. But that is the way linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald likes it. "Underrated is good," said FitzGerald, when asked to compare his unit to the Steelers and Ravens. If anyone has knowledge of AFC North linebackers, it is Fitzgerald, who coached in Baltimore for four seasons before coming to Cincinnati last year. With a 10-year veteran leading the unit along with a bevy of youth, the Bengals' linebackers are healthy again and looking to improve upon some of the gains they made last season. Their progress will be a ..."
Coffman OK'd to get in action
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June 20
Dayton Daily News
 
"Bengals rookie tight end Chase Coffman finally gets to chase his dream. His injured left foot has healed sufficiently enough to allow his participation in minicamp this weekend. "My foot's still not 100 percent, but it's more than great to get back out here and start doing stuff again," Coffman said. "These are my first couple of practices. There's still a lot of stuff I need to crispen up and just make smoother. But for the most part, I'm getting the offense down and I'm excited to keep learning." The son of former Green Bay Packers tight end Paul Coffman earned the 2008 Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end after 90 receptions for 987 yards and 10 TDs for the Missouri Tigers. But he ..."
Whitworth eager to play left tackle
Comment
June 20
Dayton Daily News
 
"Need some shade on a sunny, sweltering day? Just stand next to the Bengals' Andrew Whitworth. At 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, he occupies one of the most important positions on the team. After spending most of his three seasons at left guard, Whitworth is back where he belongs - at left tackle, protecting quarterback Carson Palmer's blind side. "Left tackle is a position that you have one of your elite players play," Whitworth said during a break at minicamp, which concludes today, June 20, at Paul Brown Stadium. "That's the position I want to take the responsibility of playing, and playing well." Whitworth entered the NFL in 2006 as a second-round draft pick out of LSU, where he was a pillar ..."
Coaches confident with Cook
Comment
June 19
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"As the Bengals' offensive line continues to make progress during the offseason, so has center Kyle Cook. Named to the first team before the organized team activities began last month, Cook has continued to develop and gain confidence as he tries to keep the starting job. One reason why Cook has continued to progress is his ability to make decisive calls on the line and to get everyone on the same page. "The biggest thing from day one has been communication," Cook said. "If you make the calls there should not be any problems. In the past there have been communication problems that led to some breakdowns." Offensive line coach Paul Alexander is impressed with Cook, and called him one of the ..."
Chad spices minicamp with talk of playoffs
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June 19
Dayton Daily News
 
"Minicamp kicked off at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday, June 18, with wide receiver Chad Ochocinco predicting a playoff season. "It's going to be scary," he said. "I'm trying to surpass what I've already accomplished. No point in going back to that." The five-time Pro Bowler (2003-07) struggled in 2008, turning in the worst season (53 catches, 540 yards, 4 TDs) since his 2001 rookie year. After training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., Ochocinco claims he's in the best shape of his life, and proved it by running 28 40-yard dashes in conditioning drills Wednesday. Separate groups ran 14 sprints each. He competed in both groups. "I'm in stupid shape," he said. "I wasn't just ..."
Bengals' sellout streak in jeopardy
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June 19
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Bengals are opening the gates to Paul Brown Stadium for the final minicamp practice Saturday, June 20, hoping fans will take advantage of the club's "Select-A-Seat" event. Season tickets are available for public sale for the first time since 2006, meaning the franchise-record streak of 44 consecutive sellouts is in jeopardy. "I have a lot of faith in our fans that they'll do the things they've done in the past," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "It'll be a fun day for fans to have an opportunity to come in and see our football team work." The stadium will be open from 9 a.m. until noon, with practice from 9:55 a.m. until 11:40 a.m. Free parking is available in PBS Lot 1, located on the ..."
Camaraderie, focus 'a good sign' for Bengals
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June 19
Dayton Daily News
 
"The last time I saw a Bengals player leave his position group in the locker room and approach another position group was 2005 when quarterback Jon Kitna left his cozy corner to play cards with the running backs during lunch. Now I'm seeing outside linebacker Keith Rivers speaking with right guard Bobbie Williams and middle linebacker Dhani Jones talking to defensive tackle Tank Johnson. The Queen City Kitties are actually crossing the Line of Demarcation and communicating with one another. What gives? "The most pleasant thing has been the atmosphere here," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said on Thursday, June 18 - Day One of minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. "It's been very upbeat. ..."
Mrs. Palmer puts foot down: Chad not a houseguest
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June 19
Dayton Daily News
 
"Carson Palmer's wife, Shaelyn, can rest easy. There's no way her husband, the Bengals' quarterback, is going to let Chad Ochocinco, the team's star wide receiver, crash at their Southern California home in July while the two work out together. Three's company? Hardly. Carson said Shaelyn got either a text message or e-mail from a friend, saying Ochocinco planned to stay with the Palmers in the days leading up to training camp. Shaelyn gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - on Jan. 20. "As soon as I walked in the door from work the other day, she just gave me that look," Palmer said. "I'm like, 'Whoa, calm down. It's media stuff. It's Chad being Chad.' "I told her, 'Don't worry. I haven't ..."
Ochocinco optimistic about 2009
Comment
June 18
ESPN.com
 
"Optimism is running extremely high with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. But leave it to receiver Chad Ochocinco to take the team's optimism several notches higher. "It's going to be a great year; we're going to the playoffs," Ochocinco guaranteed during Thursday's opening of mandatory minicamp. "We're going ... We're making progress. I mean, I see it, and I can come out on a limb and say what we're going to do." Ochocinco said he's happy, his mind is clear and everything feels right with the 2009 Bengals. The former Pro Bowler spent most of the offseason working out independently in Los Angeles before joining the team and looks in great shape. Ochocinco also said this year's team ..."
Stallworth's lenient sentence irks MADD
Comment
June 18
Dayton Daily News
 
"The criminal justice system in Miami fumbled a chance to send a strong message about drunken driving with the laughable plea agreement reached in the DUI manslaughter case of Donte Stallworth. Facing up to 15 years in prison for killing a 59-year-old man after a night of drinking, the Cleveland Browns receiver instead was given a 30-day jail sentence. And five of those days were waived, meaning he'll be out in plenty of time for training camp. Isn't that a relief? "That (lenient sentence) is what we were talking about in the office," said Andrea Rehkamp, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Southwest Ohio. "What did Michael Vick get for fighting dogs?" Try 23 months. Of ..."
Bengals carry high hopes into minicamp
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June 18
Dayton Daily News
 
"Questions abound as the Bengals gather for a mandatory, full-squad minicamp today, June 18, and through Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium. Can the retooled offensive line jell to protect quarterback Carson Palmer and open holes for tailback Cedric Benson on a consistent basis? Will Palmer's healed right elbow remain strong throughout a 16-game schedule? Which player will be anointed the starting fullback? "There are all those variables," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "But we feel we have weapons to be successful." Like the wide receiver trio of Chad Ochocinco, Chris Henry and newcomer Laveranues Coles; rookie tight end Chase Coffman, who joins veterans Reggie Kelly and Ben ..."
Ten things Bengals fans should know
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June 18
Dayton Daily News
 
"Ten things all Cincinnati Bengals aficionados should know as minicamp unfolds today, June 18, through Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium. Up for grabs: There's stiff competition at every position except quarterback, where Carson Palmer is the clear-cut starter. Backup QB J.T. O'Sullivan has much greater arm strength than former backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, who signed with Buffalo on Feb. 27. Spread offense: Look for Chad Ochocinco, Chris Henry and Laveranues Coles to be on the field when the Bengals go with three wideouts. "You're going to see that combination, plus others," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. Line dance: Left to right, the offensive line looks like this - Andrew Whitworth, ..."
Palmer pleased as minicamp starts
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June 18
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Last year at this time, Carson Palmer knew that the Bengals were going to be in for a rough season. As the Bengals begin their three-day mandatory minicamp Thursday, the attitude is different. "In my seven years here, this has been as good as its been," Palmer said. "The mindset of the team, the amount of distractions is down and the focus is where it needs to be. As far as talent wise, this is probably the best talent we've had but the most maturity we've had by far. We're where we need to be, we're headed in the right direction." While last year's minicamp was largely focused on off-field issues, this year's will be about the changes on the field, both in personnel and playbook. With ..."
Bengals' sixth-round pick first to sign
Comment
June 17
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Bengals signed the first of their 11 draft picks, agreeing to terms with Morgan Trent. The deal was confirmed by his agent, Doug Hendrickson. The team signed the University of Michigan cornerback, who was selected in the sixth round, to a four-year deal worth $1.85 million with a $112,000 signing bonus. Trent suffered a stress fracture in his foot during rookie minicamp May 2, and had a small screw inserted."
Bengals agree to terms with Trent
Comment
June 17
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Bengals have signed the first of their 11 draft picks, agreeing to terms with Morgan Trent. The deal was confirmed by his agent, Doug Hendrickson. The team has signed the cornerback, who was selected in the sixth round, to a four-year deal worth $1.85 million with a $112,000 signing bonus. Trent, who played at the University of Michigan, suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the rookie minicamp on May 2, and needed a small screw inserted into the foot. Trent said last week that the foot should be healed and he should be ready to go when training camp begins on July 30. According to Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog (who is keeping a running tally of all the draft signings), ..."
Bengals' offense finally together
Comment
June 14
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"With apologies to Michael J. Fox, if there is one theme for the Bengals offense going into minicamp, it is back to the future. With coordinator Bob Bratkowski doing one of the biggest overhauls of the playbook in his nine years here, the five practices Thursday-Saturday will be a reinstallation of the plays and concepts that offense has learned during OTAs. "We may add one or two new things, but most of it is going to be a reinstallation of the concepts of what we started in the first OTA," Bratkowski said. "We're going to go back in the five practices for the benefit of the young players and kind've start over. Here's a play that you learned three weeks ago, and we're going to go in and ..."
Chad, Carson getting along just fine, so far
Comment
June 12
Dayton Daily News
 
"As far as I'm concerned, Bengals stars Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco are like an ol' married couple. They argue, fuss and fight - we've all seen the sideline and on-field in-your-face animation between the two competitors. But at the end of the day, it's love. Chad has said it often, and he repeated it in the Bengals' open locker room after the club's Organized Team Activity practice at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday, June 11: "There is no 85 without 9, and there is no 9 without 85." These two talented cats can't seem to live with one another or live without one another. Palmer, of course, disagrees vehemently with my marriage theory. "All that squabbling, it's all hype," Palmer said. ..."
Bengals' Fanene could have impact on defense
Comment
June 12
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Cincinnati Bengals are prepared to unveil their revamped unit when the team holds its mandatory minicamp Thursday, June 18. A lot of hype has been generated over the Bengals stellar draft and offseason acquisitions. Although everything looks good on paper the real evaluation shall be determined by the team's play on game day. With a wealth of talent at nearly every position this season, the Bengals are expected to have some interesting battles taking place during training camp. One player who is gearing up for a heated competition is defensive end Jonathan Fanene. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Fanene has been a role player along the defensive line since being drafted by the Bengals in the ..."
Chad, Carson getting along just fine, so far
Comment
June 12
Dayton Daily News
 
"As far as I'm concerned, Bengals stars Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco are like an ol' married couple. They argue, fuss and fight - we've all seen the sideline and on-field in-your-face animation between the two competitors. But at the end of the day, it's love. Chad has said it often, and he repeated it in the Bengals' open locker room after the club's Organized Team Activity practice at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday, June 11: "There is no 85 without 9, and there is no 9 without 85." These two talented cats can't seem to live with one another or live without one another. Palmer, of course, disagrees vehemently with my marriage theory. "All that squabbling, it's all hype," Palmer said. ..."
Second-year receivers stepping up
Comment
June 11
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Over the past three seasons, T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught nearly 30 percent of the Bengals' passes. With receivers Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell entering their second seasons, a lot will be expected from them to help fill the void left by Houshmandzadeh's departure to Seattle. So far during the team's organized team activity (OTA) sessions, both receivers have made strides in their quest for more playing time. Simpson, who was drafted in the second round last year, continues to impress with his athleticism while Caldwell, a third-round pick, has been playing a lot at the slot position and could emerge as a third-down receiver. "I think what's really happening now is that they are ..."
Chad reports to Bengals
Comment
June 9
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"A week earlier than anyone expected and in a much more low key manner than last year, Chad Ochocinco reported to the Bengals today. Ochocinco arrived in Cincinnati this morning after taking a flight from Los Angeles. He took his physical and then joined his teammates for their OTA session. The practice was closed to the media. The team will practice twice this week with Thursday's session open to the media. The ninth-year receiver told the team's official website on Monday that he talked coach Marvin Lewis last week and that he had his first conversation with quarterback Carson Palmer yesterday for the first time since the end of last season. "I know people are trying to say we're mad at ..."
Bengals could be Cards, or fold
Comment
June 7
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"First, the good news. Boomer Esiason thinks there's no reason why the Bengals can't be this year's Arizona Cardinals. Now for the reality: Plenty of questions remain. Esiason discussed the Bengals and AFC last week during a break at Boomer's Big Bang, a two-day sporting clays pro-am event at the Elk Creek Hunt Club in Owenton, Ky. to benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis research. "With the three wide receivers they have and the quarterback they have, they can be as exciting as the Cardinals offensively if they get things rolling right," Esiason said. But the former Bengals quarterback, who still holds four team records from his 10 seasons here (1984-92, '97), is ..."
Boomer: Bengals could be Cards, or fold
Comment
June 7
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Now for the reality: Plenty of questions remain. Esiason discussed the Bengals and AFC last week during a break at Boomer's Big Bang, a two-day sporting clays pro-am event at the Elk Creek Hunt Club in Owenton, Ky. to benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis research. "With the three wide receivers they have and the quarterback they have, they can be as exciting as the Cardinals offensively if they get things rolling right," Esiason said. But the former Bengals quarterback, who still holds four team records from his 10 seasons here (1984-92, '97), is concerned about the maturity of first-round pick Andre Smith and the team's overall psyche, especially if they have another ..."
Rookies showing community spirit
Comment
June 6
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Tom Nelson and Rey Maualuga have been teaming up on the field on defense, but on Friday they were working together to fix up playground equipment. Nelson, a safety, and Maualuga, a linebacker, joined the rest of the Bengals' rookies in helping members of the community rebuild the Tot Lot in Carthage, which was damaged by a fire set by vandals last August. "We're seeing it as an opportunity to give back and help the community," Maualuga said. "Even though most of us are from out of town, it's a chance to get out and show our faces. "It will be great to see it when it is completed and see the kids playing in it." This is the first time a Bengals rookie class has taken on a community project. ..."
Chad admits to performance issues
Comment
June 6
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"What seemed to be Chad Ochocinco week on the NFL Network wrapped up Friday with a blunt admission from the Bengals wide receiver about his performance last season. "I'm not even going to lie to you, I'm going to say it. Last year, the offseason, I didn't lift one weight, I didn't run one route, I didn't exercise. I didn't do nothing because my focus was on getting out of a situation I didn't want to be in. I'm not going to lie," Ochocinco said. "And the result of my season, whether we as a team did bad or not, that's what I get. I get hurt in the preseason. I didn't lift no weights. If I had been on my right regiment, I guarantee you my collarbone, my shoulder wouldn't pop out of place. ..."
Bengals coach Lewis rescinds party invites to students after error
Comment
June 6
Dayton Daily News
 
"Thousands of Cincinnati Public Schools students learned Friday, June 5, that a personal invitation from Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis to a party at Paul Brown Stadium next week wasn't meant for them. In recent days, a prerecorded phone call from Lewis started going to almost 20,000 elementary-aged students in CPS, telling them to come to an exclusive 'Academic Achievement Party' at the stadium with Lewis and four Bengals players next Saturday. But the call was a mistake. Only about 2,500 students who made the 'A' Honor Roll in at least two grade periods this year are allowed to attend the party, the culmination of a yearlong incentive program sponsored by the Marvin Lewis Community Fund. ..."
Esiason cautiously optimistic
Comment
June 5
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"First, the good news. Boomer Esiason thinks there's no reason why the Bengals can't be this year's Arizona Cardinals. Now for the reality: Plenty of questions remain. Esiason discussed the Bengals and AFC last week during a break at Boomer's Big Bang. The two-day sporting clays pro-am event was held at the Elk Creek Hunt Club in Owenton, Ky., and benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis research. "With the three wide receivers they have and the quarterback they have, they can be as exciting as the Cardinals offensively if they get things rolling right," Esiason said. But the former Bengals quarterback, who still holds four team records from his 10 seasons here (1984-92, ..."
Chad says he'll be at minicamp
Comment
June 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Besides warmer weather, what is another sure sign that Bengals minicamp is drawing closer? Talk about a wide receiver not at the team's OTAs starts to dominate the conversation. With an NFL Network crew in attendance, the main topic wasn't about Carson Palmer's elbow, the addition of Laveranues Coles or Tank Johnson or the progress of Andre Smith and Rey Maualuga. Instead, it was on Chad Ochocinco and why he wasn't here. Such is life when the national cameras are around, but NFL Network's visit coincided with another development - Ochocinco gave an interview … to NFL Network. In his first interview since Super Bowl week, Ochocinco, who called last season humbling, an embarrassment and a ..."
Hall could face league discipline
Comment
June 2
ESPN.com
 
"Cincinnati Bengals starting cornerback Leon Hall is not out of the woods just yet. Despite his drunken driving case being reduced this week to a misdemeanor charge of reckless operation of a vehicle, the former first-round pick could face a fine or suspension before the 2009 season. "Yes, he is still under review for potential discipline," NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said Tuesday. "Pleading to a lower charge doesn't prevent you from discipline." The league is expected to examine the facts of the case and determine what to do next with Hall. According to the Bengals, Hall hasn't had any additional transgressions with the law. That could work in Hall's favor, because the NFL typically ..."
Bengals' Hall dodges DUI charge
Comment
June 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Leon Hall, 24, pleaded guilty in Municipal Court this afternoon, to reckless operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and he was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all but three days suspended. Those three days will be spent at a residential driver prevention program. Hall was in court today facing a charge of drunken driving. His attorney, Ed Perry, negotiated with the county prosecutor's office for reduced charges. Perry represented two other Bengals cited for drunken driving in Clermont County. Wide receiver Chris Henry and former Bengals cornerback Deltha O'Neal were both found guilty of reckless operation of a vehicle."
Palmer: We still need Chad
Comment
May 31
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Carson Palmer has always been about loyalty, which is why during the past two weeks he has talked about the progress of the receivers who are participating in the Bengals offseason program. But don't think for one second that means he doesn't need Chad Ochocinco. For anyone who thought that, Palmer put a rest to those assumptions on Thursday when he appeared on Fox Sports Radio's Petros and Money Show. "He's a damn good receiver - that's obvious, everybody knows that - but the guys that are working here and busting their butt here deserve a shot," Palmer said. "When he shows up he'll show up and hopefully he's in great shape and he's ready to play. "But I never once said anything about not ..."