Bengals make 10 roster moves, no surprises

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

The Bengals announced several roster moves this afternoon but have to cut two more players by Tuesday to reach the league requirement.

The club removed 10 players from the roster, reducing it to 70. With three roster exemptions for NFL Europe, the Bengals have to get to 68 by 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Moves made today:

-- Waived seven players: defensive linemen Elton Patterson and Greg Scott, tight ends Kori Dickerson and Lyonel Anderson, linebacker Cedric Sullivan, wide receiver Matt Cherry and fullback Doug Easlick.

-- Placed rookie center Ben Wilkerson on the reserve/non-football injury list. He suffered a serious knee injury at the end of his college career at LSU.

-- Placed sixth-year linebacker Nate Webster and rookie guard Steven Vieira on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

Webster (knee) and Vieira (foot), like Wilkerson, will be able to return to practice under a roster exemption beginning Oct. 17 – the Monday following Week 6 play. They may practice for 21 days before the team has to make a decision regarding their roster status.

Looking ahead to the preseason finale Friday night at home against Indianapolis, Lewis listed strong safety Kim Herring (shoulder) as out. Herring, who wore a sling after the Philadelphia game, will have more tests Monday, Lewis said.

He also listed linebacker Caleb Miller (ankle) and wide receiver Kelley Washington (hamstring) as doubtful (25 percent chance to play).

These players are probable (75 percent chance to play): right tackle Willie Anderson (knee), wide receiver Tab Perry (hamstring), running back Chris Perry (unknown), left tackle Levi Jones (knee), wide receiver Peter Warrick (hamstring, knee), tight end Reggie Kelly (knee), cornerback Greg Brooks (hand), kicker Shayne Graham (groin) and free safety Madieu Williams (back).

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Halftime notebook: Eagles lead, 27-3

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

PHILADELPHIA – Rookie first-round pick David Pollack is listed as a linebacker but played several snaps Friday night at defensive end.

Pollack, whose 20-day contract holdout caused him to miss all of training camp, lined up for an entire series of plays at right defensive end.

Earlier, he had alternated between standing left end and down right end.

Pollack had Donovan McNabb in his grasp for a potential sack in the second quarter, but the Eagles quarterback – known for his physical strength – got away and tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Philadelphia, behind three McNabb touchdown passes, led 27-3 at halftime in preseason Game 3.

TWO-MINUTE WOES: For the third consecutive preseason game, the Bengals let the opposition score inside the two-minute warning of the first half.

McNabb threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Lewis with 1:09 remaining. Lewis beat cornerback Tory James, who did not turn around to locate the ball in flight.
In nine of 16 games last season, the Bengals allowed scores inside the two-minute warning of the first half.

WARRICK WATCH: Peter Warrick dressed but did not play in the first half against the Eagles. He didn’t practice for four consecutive days this week.

Warrick is coming back from a knee injury, but a tender hamstring kept him off the field last week.

LINEUP SWITCHES: The Bengals had three changes in the starting lineup because of injuries.
Kevin Kaesviharn started at free safety instead of Madieu Williams, who has back and hamstring injuries. Williams, slowed by hamstring and back injuries, in expected back next week.

Tight end Matt Schobel started instead of Reggie Kelly (knee), and Stacy Andrews started at right offensive tackle ahead of Willie Anderson (knee).

Williams, Kelly and Anderson were just three of 14 Bengals players who did not dress.

The others: kicker Shayne Graham (groin), cornerback Greg Brooks (hand), cornerback Terrell Roberts (knee), tailback Kenny Watson (knee), cornerback Reggie Myles (groin), linebacker Nate Webster (knee), linebacker Caleb Miller (ankle), center Ben Wilkerson (knee), guard Steve Vieira (foot), offensive tackle Belton Johnson (calf) and wide receiver Kelley Washington (hamstring).

IN GAME: Strong safety Kim Herring left the game in the first half with an injured right shoulder and did not return.

Left tackle Levi Jones missed a series. Left guard Eric Steinbach moved outside, and Larry Moore played left guard. Jones returned late in the second quarter.

Schobel went down in the first half with an apparent lower left leg injury. He had covered a punt. Schobel ran off the field without assistance.

OH, BROTHER: Andrews played against his brother, Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews. Shawn Andrews played college ball at Arkansas, Stacy at Mississippi. Both are second-year NFL players.

Stacy Andrews was called for a false start penalty on the first Bengals possession. He had a second false start penalty and a holding call later in the first half. Andrews was matched against Philadelphia defensive end Jevon Kearse.

TRIBUTE: A moment of silence was observed prior to the game for Thomas Herrion, the 49ers offensive guard who died after a preseason game last Saturday in Denver.

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Warrick has "tender hamstring"

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

The Bengals returned to practice today for a second consecutive day at Paul Brown Stadium, and for the second day in a row Peter Warrick was on the sidelines.

Coach Marvin Lewis said Warrick’s previously injured knee is fine but that the sixth-year wide receiver has a tender hamstring.

Warrick played in the preseason game Friday at Washington, five days after practicing for the first time since going on the injured reserve list in November.

Warrick was dressed in street clothes and said Sunday after not practicing that his knee was getting rest.

Offensive lineman Willie Anderson and rookie linebacker David Pollack each practiced in pads for the first time this afternoon. Anderson declined comment after practice because he was “sore” and had to go to the trainer’s room for treatment.

Defensive lineman Duane Clemons (ankle) returned to practice this afternoon.

In addition to Warrick, kicker Shayne Graham (groin), running back Kenny Watson (knee) and tight end Reggie Kelly (knee) did not practice.

The team practiced in full pads.

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Bengals cut four players

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

The Bengals this afternoon made four roster cuts prior to practicing at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Bengals released defensive end Derrick Crawford, offensive tackle Reese Hicks (Lebanon High School), wide receiver Freddie Milons and fullback Jeremy Thomas.

The releases drop the Bengals roster to 81 players.

In a pre-practice news conference, coach Marvin Lewis looked ahead at the third preseason game Friday night at Philadelphia.

Lewis listed the following players as questionable: defensive end Duane Clemons (ankle), cornerback Reggie Myles (groin, abdomen) and wide receiver Tab Perry (injury unknown).
Offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Belton Johnson are expected to return to practice.

Lewis also said he expected that kicker Shayne Graham (groin) would miss the Eagles game.
Cornerback Greg Brooks (hand) could begin practice this week in a limited degree. Lewis said he expected tight end Reggie Kelly (knee) and linebacker Caleb Miller (ankle) back in time to play in the preseason finale Sept. 2 against the Colts at home.

After watching film of the Bengals’ 24-17 victory at Washington on Friday night, Lewis said that starting quarterback Carson Palmer needs to play better.

“He didn’t play as well as he need to play, and he needs to keep playing better,” Lewis said of Palmer. “He knows there are some things he needs to do to get better. He’s learning a lot in these areas of what we can and can’t do. But we’ve got to be able to handle things early in the game.

“We’ve got to go out and make first downs and get the field position turned around.”
In the first four possessions Friday night at Washington, the Bengals starting offense gained just 61 yards on 22 plays. Drives ended in punts three times and a Palmer interception.

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Pregame notes: Pollack works out at FedEx Field

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

LANDOVER, Md. – David Pollack wasn't expected to play in the preseason game Friday night against the Redskins, but he worked out beforehand with linebackers coach Ricky Hunley at FedEd Field.

Pollack performed pass-drop and other drills under Hunley’s guidance.

Pollack signed a five-year contract Wednesday to end his 20-day holdout. It wiped out all of training camp. Pollack will be on the practice field Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Pollack did dress in uniform for the game but was not expected to play, a Bengals spokesman said.

STREET CLOTHES: Eleven Bengals players did not dress for the game: wide receiver Tab Perry, kicker Shayne Graham, cornerbacks Greg Brooks and Terrell Roberts, safety Madieu Williams, linebackers Nate Webster and Caleb Miller, center Ben Wilkerson, offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Belton Johnson, tight end Reggie Kelly and defensive lineman Duane Clemons.

GETTING CLOSER: Anderson, who worked out on the field before the game, has reportedly been cleared medically by Dr. James Andrews. Anderson recently saw Andrews in his Birmingham, Ala., office.

There was no official word yet from the team about when Anderson was to begin practicing, though coach Marvin Lewis said Wednesday that he expected Anderson pack next week.

FAMILIAR FACE: After a one season with the Carolina Panthers, former Bengals cornerback Artrell Hawkins is now with the Redskins.

He did not play in the preseason game Friday night because of a hamstring injury.
But Hawkins did visit before the game with his former Bengals position coach, Kevin Coyle. Bengals defensive backs Kevin Kaesviharn and Reggie Myles, as well as wide receiver Chad Johnson, all chatted with Hawkins on the field before the game.

YOUTH FOOTBALL: Several organizations, including the Cincinnati Bengals and Lewis’ foundation, will announce plans Monday for a new youth football collaborative.

The initiative will affect 2,600 Cincinnati youngsters playing in the National Youth, American Bantam and Buckeye Youth football leagues. The collaborative will provide equipment, offset league fees and secure field time for practices and games.

The collaborative also has secured the participation of the Nike shoe company. It has agreed to donate a pair of cleats to each of the players in the three leagues.

Long-term plans focus on efforts to build a state-of-the-art youth football facility in Cincinnati.

In addition to the Bengals and the Marvin Lewis Community Fund, the other participating organizations are the Hatton Foundation and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.

Lewis, Bengals president Mike Brown and wide receiver Chad Johnson all are scheduled to speak at a news conference Monday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Bengals wore all-black, pants and jerseys, Friday night. ... Bengals coaches Hue Jackson (wide receivers), Chip Morton (strength and conditioning), Paul Gunther (staff assistant), Hunley and Lewis all worked for the Redskins in recent seasons.
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Podcast No. 11: C. Perry, Warrick practice

Podcast No. 10: Warrick returns to practice

Bengals lose preseason opener

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

In summary, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he was glad his team played a game and showed that the preseason hype is just that.

His third Bengals team, the one expected to break the franchise’s 14-year playoff drought, lost its exhibition opener Friday night, 23-13, to New England.

“I’m excited,” Lewis said. “Now we can set the course and stop reading about how great we are. I think it was needed and very timely to play a real football game.”

The Bengals first-team offense moved the ball up and down the field but came with just three points.

They came out throwing deep, but it was their run game and short passing offense that gave them a brief 6-3 lead in the first half.

The Patriots scored on their final possession of the first half on a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Cassel to wide receiver Jason Anderson. New England led 10-6 at halftime.
Anderson beat backup cornerback Brandon Williams in the open field to score untouched.

New England scored on their third consecutive possession – the opening drive of the second half – with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.

The Bengals scored their lone touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard pass from Casey Bramlet to rookie wide receiver Chris Henry, who used his height to screen the defensive back.
When the Bengals had the ball in the first half, second-year running Chris Perry electrified the Paul Brown Stadium crowd with nine touches in the first half.

Perry turned a screen pass left into a 16-yard game to start a scoring drive midway through the second quarter. Guard Eric Steinbach was out in front blocking.

Later in the drive, Perry leapt over defense end Rodney Bailey in the backfield to gain 6 yards and spun away from linebacker Roosevelt Colvin behind the line for 4 yards.

Perry, the most exciting player in training camp, finished with 12 rushes for 41 yards and three receptions for 27 yards.

But he wasn’t pleased.

“Other people might say it looked good, but I’m not satisfied,” Perry said. “I couldn’t make the second man miss. My legs still aren’t back like I want them to be yet.”

The drive stopped at the New England 7, and the Bengals had to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Shayne Graham.

“We had opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage of them,” Lewis said. “We missed a tackle on their touchdown play. Some guys played well, but overall we’ve got to do better.”

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, intercepted on his first pass attempt of the night, was 4-for-11 passing for 37 yards. He threw long for wide receiver Chad Johnson, who beat the defense, but the ball was short. Cornerback Asante Samuel intercepted.

Palmer later was short to Johnson on a deep post.

“My fault,” Palmer said. “I didn’t get the ball out far enough for him. They just weren’t good throws.”

Palmer’s passer rating was 8.5.

The Bengals first-team offense did put together a 58-yard drive on their next possession in the first quarter.

Rudi Johnson ran six times for 40 yards on the drive, including an 18-yarder from the 50 to the 32. He ran left behind guard Steinbach and tackle Levi Jones.

The drive stalled on a third-and-3 play from the 25-yard line. Palmer’s pass for wide receiver Kelley Washington was a little high and bounced off Washington’s hands.

Then Carter Warley, the kicker signed this past week, missed wide left on a 43-yard field goal attempt. Graham is nursing a sore right (kicking) hamstring.

Warley earned a measure of vindication on his next attempt, also from 43 yards. He split the uprights to cap 10-play, 29-yard drive set up by cornerback Deltha O’Neal’s interception.

O’Neal had grabbed an overthrown pass by Rohan Davey and returned the ball 18 yards to the Bengals 46-yard line.

Perry caught a 9-yard pass to move the ball into New England territory. Then he ran 1 yard for a first down.

A 17-yard Palmer pass to Chad Johnson moved the Bengals into field-goal range.

At the point where the Bengals led 3-0, they had a 2-1 edge in time of possession. The Bengals had the ball for 10:15, the Patriots 4:59.

On defense, Bengals defensive linemen Robert Geathers and Bryan Robinson each collected sacks. Geathers later was called for a defensive offside penalty. Bengals defensive end Elton Patterson sacked Cassel in the third quarter.

Former Bengals running back Corey Dillon, who earned a Super Bowl ring in his first season with the Patriots, rushed four times for 26 times in the first half. He had a long run of 20 yards to the left of the offensive set. Two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady did not play. He was a late scratch.
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New kicker in camp; Warrick not practicing

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. – The Bengals this morning unveiled a backup kicker, Carter Warley.

He was working out with special teams coach Darrin Simmons on the main field during the practice that started at 9 a.m.

Kicker Shayne Graham has a sore right (kicking) groin and might not be able to kick in the preseason opener Friday night against New England.

Warley followed Graham to Virginia Tech, where he was the team’s kicker.

Also of note this morning, wide receiver Peter Warrick was not practicing. He was examined Tuesday night by team physician Dr. Angelo Colosimo. Warrick had hoped to be cleared medically from knee and shin injuries that have disabled him since November, when he was put on the injured reserve list.

Wide receiver Chad Johnson (ankle) also was not participating in practice, though he was on the field in street clothes.
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Warrick: I'm ready to practice

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Peter Warrick said late this afternoon that he is ready to play and healthy enough to resume practicing on a daily basis.

The Bengals sixth-year receiver, sidelined since November with shin and knee injuries, was headed into an examination with Dr. Angelo Colosimo, a Bengals team physician.

“I’m ready, man,” Warrick said after he missed the team’s afternoon practice. He would like to be on the field, in uniform, for the Wednesday practice that begins at 9 a.m.

He is clearly ready emotionally and said he has a lot to prove to himself and other, unspecified people who “forgot about me.”

Warrick played in four games in 2004. He suffered a stress fracture of the fibula making a 30-yard catch in the opener at the Jets.

“When you’re hurt, a lot of people forget about you,” said Warrick, entering the final season of his six-year rookie contract. He is due to make a base salary of $2.28 million this season.
He remains confident of his place on the team, even if his role has been undefined for many years, he said.

“I can do what other receivers can do, but not many receivers can do what I do,” said Warrick, who has 264 career receptions with the Bengals. “Even when I was healthy, I didn’t know my role.

“However they want to use me, use me to the best of my ability.”

T.J. Houshmandzadeh emerged as the team’s No. 2 receiver in 2004 after Warrick was injured. Houshmandzadeh had 73 receptions for 978 yards and earned a four-year contract from the Bengals as an unrestricted free agent.

“T.J. is a great receiver, and taking nothing away from him, but if I’m healthy, he wouldn’t have got that shot.”

Coach Marvin Lewis said last week that, if healthy, Warrick has a place on the team. Lewis wants Warrick to be able to practice regularly without taking a week off at a time.

Warrick said he would like to return punts, as well as play receiver.

“Punt returns, personally, I could make it to the Pro Bowl as a punt returner in Cincinnati easier than as a receiver,” Warrick said.
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Podcast No. 9: Vikes sign James; Pollack slotted

Defense plays well in scrimmage

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

GEORGETOWN, Ky. --

The Bengals’ defense, despite heavily tempered comments by coaches, dominated the offense Friday night in the team’s annual intra-squad scrimmage.
The offense scored only one touchdown on a 43-yard touchdown pass by Carson Palmer to Chad Johnson, who had beaten rookie free agent cornerback Patrick Body on a fly pattern.
Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowl receiver, had nine receptions for 134 yards.
Otherwise, the defense had its way, winning 40-22 in an adapted scoring system at Georgetown College.
The first-team offense twice stalled in red-zone possessions inside the 20-yard line, and the second-team offense came away with no points, as well.
On its second drive, the first-team offense moved to the defense’s 9-yard line but moved backwards on a pair of pre-snap illegal motion penalties.
“You can’t do those things,” said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who reserved specific comment and comments about most players until he saw the film.
Backup linebacker Larry Stevens had a strong night with three tackles and a fumble recovery on the only turnover of the night.
“We have to improve our pad level in every area, blocking for the ball carrier, protecting ourselves from blocks, tackling. We’ve got to play lower,” Lewis said when asked for his general impressions, “We got a lot of good work done on special teams.”
Coordinator Chuck Bresnahan’s defense showed improvement compared to live work in practice Wednesday night.
“At least we got to the ball,” he said. “We’re still not a good tackling football team. We got a little more disciplined in our pass coverage. But we made one more step forward.”
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Training camp reader e-mail responses

It's Thursday, Aug. 4, about 12:30 p.m. Time for a few reader
questions that have come in about the Bengals:

Letter 1, from Matthew in Rahway, N.J.: Is the holdout of David
Pollack due more to lingering 1990s Bengals front office negotiating
tactics, agents wrangling over what equates to NFL pennies,
or a little of both?

If you had to pick one, which of the first two draft selections
would the Bengals miss more this season, Odell Thurman (had he
stayed out) or Pollack?

And, finally, do you think it's possible the Bengals will be
less likely to name rookies the starter before they sign their
contracts in the future? Is this something that's making the
negotiations more difficult, too?

Answer: Good questions from the home state of the great Bruce
Springsteen. (I missed his show in Cincinnati the other night,
but, based on what I heard, he was his usual incomparable self.

And before I jump into football, I'd also like to recommend Son
Volt's new CD, "Okemah and the Melody of Riot," to any one who
likes great Americana-style rock 'n' roll with politically-oriented
lyrics; take a listen to "Jet Pilot." (Okemah, by the way, is Woody
Guthrie's hometown.)

OK, football. The constant in Bengals rookie negotiations is
management. It's their choice how and on whom to spend their
money, but it seems silly to have -- as Matthew refers to it -- NFL
pennies keep the top draft pick out of training camp. The organization
and agent share equally in the holdout, an issue not unique to the Bengals.

Pollack is more valuable to the Bengals than Thurman. Obviously
a higher-rated player, Pollack can do more in terms of rushing
the passer and adding another solid defender against the run.

I'm also not so sure coaches are going to be able to keep Landon
Johnson off the field this year. He does too many things well.
right now, Johnson and Brian Simmons are the two linebackers
left on the field in nickel passing downs when cornerback Keiwan
Ratliff comes in as the fifth defensive back.

And, finally, it wouldn't seem a depth chart would hurt or help
contract negotiations. Marvin Lewis is quick to point out that
it's just a piece of paper that's put together in "37 seconds"
for reporters.

Letter 2, from Tom in Saylor Park: I am thinking of a 10-6
season with a trip to the playoffs. If Carson (Palmer) and Chad
(Johnson) get hooked up, it could be even better. I sure hope we
are getting someone that is mean and tough enough to replace
(linebacker Takeo) Spikes.

Now I have a gripe for one of your fellow "Enquirer" writers.
Cornhole the game was invented by the great people on the West
Side of Cincinnati, not somebody on the East Side who decided to
play it at his bar.

Answer: A 10-6 finish is a possibility, but it would seem from
this perspective that a playoff berth depends more on the
defense.

As for cornhole, don't ask me. I'm from a farm town in
north-central Illinois. The only corn out there is in the
fields.

Letter 3, from Wally: Is Kevin Greene a player or a coach?

Answer: He is a coaching consultant in camp for about six days
working with the linebackers and outside pass rusher, such as
defensive end Justin Smith. He might have been brought in by
Lewis to work with Pollack, but Smith has been Greene's most
attentive student. Greene is retired as a player.

Podcast No. 8: No deal yet for Pollack

Podcast No. 7: Pollack's agent visiting camp

Thurman expected at camp Tuesday

GEORGETOWN, Ky. – The Bengals have reached agreement on a multi-year with rookie linebacker Odell Thurman, his agents said late tonight.

Thurman is expected to fly in from Atlanta overnight and be at the Bengals’ training camp in time to sign the deal Tuesday morning and practice at 3 p.m.

He has missed seven practices. His holdout lasted for five days.

Agent John Michels would not confirm the length of the contract, though it is believed to be for five years.

"We have a tentative agreement," Michels said. "It’s comparable to the deals around us."

The Bengals would not comment on the Thurman deal tonight, and team spokesman Jack Brennan said the Bengals would not confirm a deal or comment until the contract was signed.

Thurman’s deal leaves only first-round pick David Pollack, an outside linebacker, as the only unsigned player on the roster.

Pollack was listed on the depth chart dated July 10 as the started at strong-side linebacker. Thurman was listed as the starter in the middle. But he will face an uphill battle, even after missing just seven practices.

Second-year linebacker Landon Johnson has had an outstanding camp and earned rave reviews from linebackers coach Ricky Hunley after practice tonight.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Podcast No. 6: LB Thurman agrees to contract

Podcast No. 5: Chris Perry back at practice