Tag: Cincinnati Bengals (Page 46 of 47)

      Joe Flacco wins NFL debut as Ravens top Bengals

      September 7, 2008 /

      Joe FlaccoRookie Joe Flacco outplayed Carson Palmer as the Baltimore Ravens topped AFC North rival Cincinnati 17-10. Flacco completed 15 of 29 passes for 129 yards while Palmer was just 10 of 25 for 99 yards and an interception.

      • Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco was forced into the starting lineup due to injuries but rushed for the winning score and helped the Ravens outgain the Bengals 358-154 in total offense.
      • Carson Palmer was held to 99 passing yards, only the third time in his career he has been held under 100 yards. He also didn’t have a TD pass for the 12th time in his career, three of those times coming at the hands of the Ravens.
      • Baltimore improved to 12-4 at home against the AFC North since 2003.

      Nice start for the 2008 rookie quarterback class as both Flacco and Matt Ryan earned victories in their debuts. Flacco was particularly impressive, even though the Ravens didn’t ask him to do too much. He was steady and didn’t make any mistakes, which is exactly what Baltimore needs from their rookie at the start of his career.

      The Bengals only touchdown came from a 65-yard fumble recovery by Jonathan Joseph in the fourth quarter. Baltimore’s defense is still one of the best in the league, but it’s a little shocking that Cincy’s only touchdown came from its defense. Bengals’ running back Chris Perry rushed for only 37 yards on 18 carries, which is significant seeing as how longtime starter Rudi Johnson was recently cut to give Perry an opportunity to start.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Bengals, NFL to recognize Chad as Chad Ocho Cinco

      September 5, 2008 /

      It’s official: Chad Johnson is Chad Ocho Cinco. The NFL and Bengals will recognize Ocho Cinco’s name change this weekend when Cincinnati takes on the Ravens in Baltimore.

      Chad Ocho CincoThe receiver had his name changed in his home state of Florida last week. It’s a reference to his uniform number—Ocho Cinco means “eight five” in Spanish. When the NFL celebrated Hispanic Heritage month in 2006, he wore it on the back of his uniform for pregame warmups, but had to remove it for the game because of NFL rules—it wasn’t his real name.

      The Pro Bowl receiver asked the media to start calling him by his new name this week. The Bengals couldn’t change the name on his uniform until the NFL gave permission.
      In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Thursday, league spokesman Greg Aiello said simply: “It’s his legal surname.”

      The receiver has declined to talk about the motivation for his attention-getting change. Coach Marvin Lewis said the receiver had been considering it since last March.

      The change to Ocho Cinco is the receiver’s latest promotional move. He’s also known for his touchdown celebrations, his golden Mohawk for one season, his race against a horse and his list of defensive backs who failed to cover him.

      This whole thing is absolutely ridiculous but as a sports writer I can’t wait to use this name in game previews and recaps. I know I’ll smile every time I write, “Palmer found Ocho Cinco in the back of the end zone for the Bengals’ go-ahead touchdown. Then Ocho Cinco got loose again in the Ravens’ secondary for a 15-yard gain. Ocho Cinco certainly didn’t take a siesta on Sunday as he torched the Ravens.” Ocho Cinco…ha!

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Bengals shopping Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson to play with torn labrum

      August 25, 2008 /

      With the emergence of Chris Perry and Kenny Watson, the Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly shopping running back Rudi Johnson.

      ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that the Bengals are shopping Rudi Johnson in trade talks.
      Mort says they’re asking for a “real receiver,” or someone who could help if Chad Johnson (partially torn labrum) has a setback. We doubt Cincy could get anything for Rudi, but this may be a sign the team is ready to move on with Chris Perry and Kenny Watson. Johnson’s roster spot could be in doubt.

      Johnson is only 28, but he got a ton of carries from 2004 through 2006 and he looked worn down last year. It just goes to show you how much of a pounding this running backs take. It’s no wonder more teams have moved on to a running back-by-committee approach in efforts to keep their players healthy and fresh all season.

      On a related note, Bengals’ wide receiver Chad Johnson apparently will play with a torn labrum this season according to the team’s website.

      Chad Johnson jammed his feet into his locker and angled his arms down on his stool and executed the pushups on what ESPN.com is reporting as a torn left labrum.

      But nothing has changed. While he said he would need surgery if the shoulder pops out again (and that is presumed to be a season-ending procedure), he said “it’s unlikely.”

      But, it’s the kind of injury where people have had it pop out in their sleep. So he is literally snap-to-snap, and he says he won’t need the surgery, “If I make it through.”

      Wearing a harness on his shoulder and his ankles taped as if he was going to go through a full practice, Johnson said he’s talked to 10 players who have played seasons with the injury. Among them are Kellen Winslow, Donte Stallworth and Brian Westbrook.

      Well if the man is doing pushups, obviously the injury isn’t too serious. But still, it can’t be good that he could miss the season if it pops out again (something that could happen even if he slept on it wrong).

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Bengals’ secondary improving, but safety is still an issue

      August 24, 2008 /

      In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at how the Cincinnati Bengals have re-built their secondary through the draft, although the safety position still looks like a potential weakness.

      It’s no secret the strength of the Cincinnati Bengals resides on offense. With Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson running the show offensively, the Bengals haven’t had an issue lighting up the scoreboard over the past three seasons. It’s keeping opponents from light up the scoreboard that’s been the problem in Cincinnati.

      The Bengals have made a collective effort to improve their defense in the past three drafts, using their last three first round picks on that side of the ball. In 2006, Cincy selected South Carolina corner Jonathan Joseph with their first round pick and in 2007 the Bengals took another defensive back with their first pick in Michigan’s Leon Hall. This past draft, the team tabbed USC outside linebacker Keith Rivers in the first round.

      But back to the secondary.

      Outside of being suspended one game for violating the league’s substance abuse policy in October, Joseph took considerable steps in his development in only his second year. After recording 58 tackles and no interceptions as a rookie in 2006, Joseph totaled 62 stops and four picks last year.

      Hall proved many draft pundits wrong after snagging five interceptions, a forced fumble and 69 tackles as a rookie last season. Several so-called experts made claims that Hall was overrated and would get exposed by NFL receivers, but he more than held his own and was one of the best first round picks in 2007.

      While Joseph and Hall are developing into a nice tandem at corerback, the Bengals’ safety position is a weakness. The team lost veteran safety Madieu Williams to free agency in the offseason and while he under performed last year, he was still a productive player and a solid starter. Set to replace Williams is Marvin White, a 2007 fourth round pick who lacks experience and top end speed. But he made plenty of plays collegially at TCU and the team hopes that playmaking ability will transfer to the NFL.

      Youngster Chinedum Ndukwe was giving veteran Dexter Jackson all he could handle for the Bengals’ starter at strong safety, but a knee injury has sidelined Ndukwe and it appears Jackson’s job is safe for now. While Jackson has starting experience, he’s limited in coverage, which could spell trouble with White still trying to learn the free safety position.

      Depending on how the safeties perform this year, the Bengals could have one of the better young defensive backfields in the league. But another potential issue is that the front seven isn’t expected to produce much of a pass rush. And it won’t matter how good this young secondary is if the quarterback has all day to throw.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Is Chad Johnson’s injury worse than initially thought?

      August 19, 2008 /

      Bengals.com thinks there’s reason to believe that Chad Johnson’s shoulder injury is worse than first believed after the team re-signed troubled receiver Chris Henry.

      A signing indicates that Chad Johnson’s sprained shoulder is serious enough that they look to be preparing for the possibility that Johnson could be sidelined for several weeks. Although Johnson insisted Monday night he’ll be back for the opener.

      But that’s not the only injury that has clouded the receiver picture in the last 48 hours. There is also rookie receiver Andre Caldwell’s sprained foot and T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s hamstring. He’s 50-50 at best to play in his first preseason game Saturday night against the Saints, and the Bengals could be forced to sign a receiver in addition to Henry.

      Not good. The usually explosive Bengals’ offense not only has injury concerns at wide receiver, but the running back position is also unsettled with Rudi Johnson, Chris Perry and Kenny Watson all battling for the starting job. Throw in a below average defense and the Bengals could be in for another down year.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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