Bengals PR staff wins NFL writers award

The Cincinnati Bengals public relations staff on Friday was named as the NFL’s best for 2005 in voting by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA). The Bengals will receive a trophy from the PFWA to mark their winning of the Rozelle Award, given annually to the league’s PR staff that excels in its dealing with the media. Jack Brennan, former Enquirer Bengals beat writer, is public relations director. P.J. Combs is assistant director, and Inky Moore is the PR assistant. The PFWA also announced four other awards: Titans general manager Floyd Reese, the Horrigan Award for media cooperation (non-player); Giants tailback Tiki Barber, the good guy award for media cooperation by a player; Houston Chronicle reporter John McClain, McCann Award, for distinguished service as a football writer; and Colts coach Tony Dungy, Halas Award, for overcoming great obstacle and personal tragedy to continue in his work.
-- Mark Curnutte

QB Raggone traded to Rams for draft pick

The Bengals traded quarterback Dave Raggone to the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday for an undisclosed draft pick. Raggone, The Bengals acquired Raggone off waivers from Houston on May 24. He is a fourth-year player from the University of Louisville. The Bengals have four quarterbacks on their roster: Carson Palmer, Anthony Wright, Doug Johnson and rookie Erik Meyer.
-- Mark Curnutte

Bengals extend Georgetown deal through '07

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
The Bengals will train at Georgetown College through at least 2007.
Coach Marvin Lewis, speaking today at the Georgetown/Scott County Chamber of Commerce, announced the agreement.
“This year will be my fourth in Georgetown, and I look forward to both this year and the next. I have found the entire experience at Georgetown to be excellent in getting our season off to a productive start.”
The Bengals moved their training camp to Georgetown beginning in 1997. They had trained at Wilmington College for the first 29 years of their existence.
The Bengals will train for two weeks this summer at Georgetown. Camp will open with a night practice July 29. As the Bengals have improved on the field during the regular, so has their training camp attendance.
“The facilities at Georgetown College remain state-of-the-art by league standards,” Lewis said today. “The people who run the camp are professionals who afford us a warm welcome every year.”
During the past few years, several NFL teams have begun to hold training camp at their home stadium, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.
The Bengals have three practice fields adjacent to Paul Brown Stadium, and now can use the game field inside the stadium for practice because it is artificial turf. There is an increased sense that the Bengals might join the growing number of teams in the near future and move camp to their home base.
Yet Lewis and team president Mike Brown both are said to enjoy the experience of getting away and think it is good for players to focus on football.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals wrap-up minicamp at stadium

Quarterback Carson Palmer did not practice this morning at Paul Brown Stadium, where the Bengals wrapped up their three-day minicamp. Coach Marvin Lewis said Palmer's therapist decided to have the quarterback rest. Palmer practiced four times Thursday and Friday.

"Two hard days of work, got what we needed to get done, took a little rest today," Palmer said.

Lewis said Palmer was two months ahead of schedule.

"Not really. I'd like to be full speed," Palmer said. "I'm greedy a little bit. It feels good and I've still got two months to feel better, and hopefully I'll be there. Everything felt good and strong. It feels good. Yeah (wanted to go today), but I've got to be smart with it."

Lewis declared camp a success.

"It's been a good five practices, a good three days," he said. "We come out of it ahead of where we went into it. Kind of know, because of the back-to-back practices, get to check the conditioning level a little bit. We've had great, hot humid weather, which has been good. Give the guys a little introduction of what it will be like down in Georgetown.

"Been a good productive last three days, Carson getting the four good practices in and come through and show himself where he is and have an opportunity to build on it as we head into training camp."

Lewis also said his team was healthy and said just tailback Chris Perry (knee, ankle) and offensive lineman Adam Kieft (knee) might be limited when the Bengals practice for the first time July 29 at Georgetown College, near Lexington.

Wide receiver Chad Johnson, who tweaked a groin muscle Friday, practiced at full-speed today.

-- Mark Curnutte

News and Notes from Day 2 of minicamp

Chad Johnson and safety Kevin Kaesviharn went up for a pass during the afternoon practice today, and Johnson came down hard. He made his way to the sideline and fell, flopping from side to side. He was taken off on a cart, presumably for an MRI. He appeared to be a groin injury. "He tweaked a muscle," coach Marvin Lewis said. "He's fine. The core (muscles)." ... Backup quarterback Anthony Wright, the favorite to start the season if Carson Palmer can't, looked sharp in the final 11-on-11 team session during afternoon practice. ... Backup tailback Kenny Watson missed both practices today with a jammed finger. ... The Bengals are using second-round draft choice Andrew Whitworth on the left side of the line, at guard and tackle.

News and Notes from Day 1 of minicamp

Coach Marvin Lewis said defensive tackle Sam Adams was rehabbing from an injury. Adams did not practice with the team but worked with trainers and rode a stationary bike on the sideline. Lewis would not say what was wrong with Adams. Adams declined comment when approached about why he was not practicing. ... Tailback Chris Perry, tackle Adam Kieft, long-snapper Brad St. Louis and wide receiver Chris Henry did not practice. ... Center Eric Ghiaciuc returned to practice. ... Cornerback Deltha O'Neal (knee) left the afternoon practice, and Lewis said O'Neal needed more work on the side before rejoining the team. ... Quarterback Carson Palmer ended up leading the team in 11-on-11 team drills at the end of the afternoon practice. ... Second-year linebacker Odell Thurman was not on the field today, and Lewis said Thurman was excused from minicamp for personal reasons.

Trainer: Palmer ahead of schedule

Carson Palmer is ahead of schedule in his rehab from major knee surgery, a "model patient" and has only experienced "minor bumps in the road," Bengals trainer Paul Sparling said this morning before the team took the field for its first minicamp practice. Sparling said the coaches, trainers and front office remain "cautiously optmistic" that Palmer would be able to play in the opener Sept. 10 at Kansas City. "He comes into the training room and asks, `What's next?'" Sparling said of Palmer's attitude in rehab. "We've never had to push him, not once. He tells us what's bothering him, what's sore." Palmer has worked on dropbacks, thrown and shuffled over ground pads to improve his agility. Sparling also said wide receiver Chris Henry (knee sprain) and running back Chris Perry (knee surgery in April) were not cleared for minicamp.

How much longer can Bengals keep Henry?

Strike 4.

An arrest warrant was issued today in Kenton County for Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, who turned himself in at 3:50 p.m. today on charges he provided alcohol to three women under the age of 21.

The warrant is related an incident alleged to have taken place April 30 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Covington.

Henry was wanted for three counts of unlawful transaction with a minor.

The Bengals issued their standard comment today about Henry's latest alleged legal transgression.

"We don't comment on something when it's just in the stages of charges," Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan said.

The arrest warrant in Kenton County is the fourth for Henry since December, when he was arrested by Covington Police and charged with marijuana possession.

In January, while in Orlando, Fla., Henry was arrested by Orange County police and charged with three gun-related offenses, two of which were dropped. He still faces an August court date in Orlando for illegal possession of a concealed weapon.

Then, on June 3, an Ohio High Patrol officer stopped Henry for speeding on Interstate 275 in Union Township, Clermont County. The trooper smelled alcohol about Henry and his automobile, and after Henry was said to have failed field sobriety tests, he was arrested and taken to the Milford Police Department. There he voluntarily submitted to a breath test and measured a .092; .08 is the legal limit in Ohio.

Henry’s lawyer entered a plea of not guilty in Clermont Municipal Court in Batavia. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for June 20.

Coach Marvin Lewis addressed Henry's continued legal problems following the receiver's third arrest last week.

"That bothers me when someone doesn't quite understand social laws, no question that bothers me," Lewis said.

Some fans simply want Henry released from the team and consider him a negative distraction. The league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association and the legal system govern both players right now. The team’s hands are somewhat tied, but it's clear Lewis' patience is being tested.

"I don't need to comment on that. That's bigger than me," Lewis said in reference to the collective bargaining agreement. "But at some point, you have to make a decision whether this guy is good enough for our football team, and decisions can be made that way, as well. Because if you can't function, then obviously you may not be good enough because I can't count on you."

Henry is a solid football player, with upside on the field. Off the field, he is proving to be an embarrassment, and no player is that good to be left alone to drag down an entire organization.

Henry established himself as a solid No. 3 NFL wide receiver as a rookie, with six touchdown catches. It's not like the team doesn't have other qualified receivers: Lewis glowed about former UC receiver Antonio Chatman, who caught 49 passes at Green Bay last season. Tab Perry is worth of more offensive opportunities. Players say seventh-round pick Bennie Brazell is flashing his Olympic hurdler speed in spring practices, getting behind the secondary and catching the ball. He is likely to unseat somebody and make the team.

-- Mark Curnutte

WR Henry arrested on DUI charge

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was arrested early Saturday morning after a routine traffic stop and charged with driving under the influence.

Henry was stopped at 1:18 a.m. Saturday by Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Shimko.

Henry was traveling 82 miles an hour on Interstate 275 North, according to the police report.
The officer said he smelled the odor of alcohol about Henry and his vehicle and administered field sobriety tests. At that time, the officer determined that Henry was under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest.

Henry was taken to the Milford Police Department, where, at 2:06 a.m., he voluntarily submitted to a breath test. He measured .092 blood-alcohol content. The legal limit in Ohio is .08.

Henry was released to the custody of a friend, police said. Henry will appear Friday, June 9, in Clermont Municipal Court. Police also said Henry was polite and courteous in his dealings with the officer.

The DUI charge is another legal blemish for Henry and the Bengals.

Last week, Henry’s trial for carrying a concealed firearm earlier this year in Orlando was moved to Aug. 21, according to Orange County (Fla.) court records. Henry, 23, was arrested Jan. 28 in Orlando and charged with possession of a concealed firearm, improper exhibition of a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm.

A pretrial conference is set for Aug. 8 in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit Court.

According to the police report, he was a member of a party riding in a limousine that got into a conflict with another group. Henry allegedly pulled a 9mm Luger from the waistline of his pants, pointed it at someone on a downtown Orlando sidewalk and then tossed the gun back into the limo.

In December, Henry was arrested on charges of marijuana possession in Covington. He pled guilty to the charge but avoided jail time by entering a drug rehab program as a part of his plea agreement.

The Bengals had no comment today on Henry’s arrest Saturday, though coach Marvin Lewis is said to be aware of it. The Bengals’ policy is not to comment on charges against any of its players while the legal process is ongoing.

Depending on the results of the Florida case, Henry could face additional disciplinary action from the NFL that would go beyond possible court sentencing.

On Saturday, Bengals rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson was to return to Florida to meet with law enforcement officials there, according to a statement issued by the Bengals on Thursday.

Nicholson and another former Florida State player face charges of burglary and grand theft after allegedly stealing about $1,700 worth of electronic equipment from the Tallahassee, Fla., home of Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker and his two roommates last month.

Tallahassee police issued three warrants charging Nicholson, a fifth-round draft pick who led the Seminoles in tackles the past two seasons, with grand theft and burglary, both felonies, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.

A call to Tallahassee Police made this afternoon seeking information whether Nicholson surrendered was not immediately returned.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com