Late-night ruminations on the Bengals

MIAMI -- Having just filed my last story for the Enquirer's print edition for Thursday, I'm sitting here in the media room at the Miami Beach Convention Center (no, I'm not down the road at South Beach partying) trying to organize myself for the weekend story budget.

First, some thoughts on recent developments in no particular order:

-- Re-signing offensive lineman Scott Kooistra was a solid move. You can never have too much depth on the line, and when given the chance, Kooistra has performed well. Credit the Bengals for developing the likes of Eric Ghiaciuc, Stacy Andrews and Kooistra in the last few years. And quarterback Carson Palmer today here in Miami had nothing but praise for 2006 rookie Andrew Whitworth.

I like the way Kooistra plays. He has a chip on his shoulder and a mean streak.

-- Could the Bengals not have a better ambassador than Palmer?

-- Chad Johnson truly enjoyed himself making the rounds to 17 radio and TV interviews this morning. Chad and the Bengals coaches need to find a way to improve his consistency from game to game. He can not disappear.

-- The most underappreciated development of the week was the Bengals' retention of quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese. He didn't get the job as Carolina offensive coordinator after interviewing there a couple of weeks ago. And he removed himself from interview in Miami, where new coach Cam Cameron will call the plays.

Zampese is vital in the continued success of Palmer. Zampese has played a role in providing intelligent guidance for the four-year quarterback. Zampese is a coordinator in waiting. He knows how to follow and lead. Palmer benefits from the stability on the offensive staff. His position coach is his advocate and buffer.

-- The Bengals need to spend their first two draft picks on defense, and thankfully, the junior class has added some talent. And they need to sign a star defender in free agency the likes of linebackers Adalius Thomas (Baltimore) or Lance Briggs (Chicago) or cornerback Asanti Samuel (New England). Thomas is a impact player unlike many others, but the sense is Baltimore is unlikely to let him get away and could tag him in free agency.

The Bengals simply need a lot of help on defense.

Bear Down, Chicago Bears ... Chicago Symphony Orchestra

MIAMI -- The following email and link are being widely circulated among displaced Chicagoans everywhere in light of the Bears' berth in Super Bowl XLI.

It's fine music, actually, and an example of how a sports team -- no matter pro, college or high school -- can promote a sense of community like few other civic elements.

And before I get charged and convicted for being a homer -- I am an Illinois native -- I already am on record with the Indianapolis Star with a prediction of Colts, 24-17, for the game Sunday.

Covering the Bengals and NFL for seven years has removed my rooting interest, not that it was even still that strong in 2000. I do appreciate the game more than ever. I am fascinated by the NFL as an industry and its grip on American society and, increasingly, its popularity around the world.

I don't root for the Bears. I don't root for the Bengals. But, selfishly, I must admit, I was rooting hard in the AFC Championship Game for New England to lose. I didn't want to cover the Patriots in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in the past six years -- though I have tremendous respect for that franchise's sustained excellence in the free agency era.

Carson: 100 percent by camp; stop breaking law

MIAMI -- Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer did not win the FedEx Express Air Player of the year -- that honor went to New Orleans' Drew Brees -- but Palmer's evolution to team face and voice continued this afternoon at the Super Bowl.

Using a large stage at the FedEx announcement and subsequent interviews with national radio stations and Cincinnati-based media covering the event, Palmer forcefully said his law-breaking teammates must make better decisions.

"Marvin (Lewis) can't call everybody every night," Palmer said of his head coach at the FedEx news conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center. "He can't put a curfew on guys. It's something that needs to stop. Life is about making the right decisions and learning from the times you don't."

He did not get angry with teammates, nine of whom have been arrested in the past 13 months, but he did grow increasingly frustrated.

"It happens once, you hope a guy can learn from a slap on the wrist," Palmer said. "We're all supposed to be professionals and handle ourselves as professionals. I'm a glass-half-full guy. But enough is enough. Hopefully, it will stop."

Palmer also said he played last season at less than 100 percent health, starting just eight months to the day (Sept. 10) after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery. He said he is looking forward to a "normal" offseason that will allow him to do regular conditioning and get on the field to throw with his receivers.

"I'm a repetition guy," he said. "I'm excited about getting into the offseason and working on my mechanics."

Palmer won the FedEx air award twice during the season, both times he was nominated. San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson won the FedEx Express Ground Player of the Year.

Hanging with Chad in Miami Beach

MIAMI -- Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson made the rounds this morning on Radio Row at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

He is in the process of making 17 media stops, in conjunction with his role as pitchman for Degree deodorant.

Johnson's hometown is Miami. And he says he hasn't gone to any parties but has been on TV more than any of the players participating in the Super Bowl.

"Ah, man, I want to play in this game," he said.

During one interview, with an all-sports station from Chicago, one of 90 stations set-up this week on Radio Row, Johnson was asked what the Bengals had to do to get into the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

"We don't have to change anything," said Johnson, who will fly next week to Hawaii to play in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl game. "We are right where we need to be offensively. I don't play on the other side of the ball. Marvin (Lewis) will take care of that. That's what he does. He is the defensive guru."

Dressed in a black Degree cap and matching black T-shirt, Johnson moved with ease through each station -- ESPN 1000 in Chicago, Sirius NFL Radio, WNST Baltimore, WQAM in Miami.

He was asked about the string of off-field issues, namely the nine teammates who have been arrested in the past 13 months.

"It's disappointing that the off-field issues continue to happen," Johnson said. "It's not much (teammates) can do to prevent it. You have this thing called the (NFL) Rookie Symposium. It takes you from A-Z on how to do the right thing. But some guys get into a comfort zone and think they can get away with stuff. But you are under such a miscroscope that you have to be even more careful.

"Last year was our year. The year before it was the Vikings. Next year it will be somebody else."

Club signs OL Kooistra to three-year deal

MIAMI -- The Bengals this afternoon announced that they have signed offensive lineman Scott Kooistra to a three-year contract through 2009. Kooistra would have been eleigible to become an unrestricted free agent March 2.

Kooistra has produced whenever he has had the chance to play, and he is a valuable part of a solid backup group of offensive linemen for the Bengals.

Kooistra, who will be a fifth-year player in 2007, played in 15 games in 2006 with time on both offense and special teams. He has played in 54 games with one start since joining the Bengals as a seventh-round draft pick in 2003.

Chad makes Sporting News all-pro team

2006 Sporting News all-pro team, announced this afternoon:

OFFENSE: WR Chad Johnson, Cincinnati; WR Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis; TE Antonio Gates, San Diego; OT Walter Jones, Seattle; OT Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore; C Olin Kreutz, Chicago; G Shawn Andrews, Philadelphia; G Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota; QB Drew Brees, New Orleans; RB Larry Johnson, Kansas City; RB LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego.

DEFENSE: DE Julius Peppers, Carolina; DE Jason Taylor, Miami; DT Jamal Williams, San Diego; DT Kevin Williams, Minnesota; LB Lance Briggs, Chicago; LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago; LB Shawne Merriman, San Diego; CB Rashean Mathis, Jacksonville; CB Champ Bailey, Denver; S Ed Reed, Baltimore; S Adrian Wilson, Arizona.

SPECIALISTS: K Robbie Gould, Chicago; P Brian Moorman, Buffalo; KR Justin Miller, N.Y. Jets; PR Devin Hester, Chicago.

Zampese not interviewing with Dolphins

MIAMI -- Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese is not interviewing with the Miami Dolphins, he said this afternoon.

Zampese won't interview for the position of offensive coordinator with the Dolphins because of the lack of play-calling duties, according to published reports in South Florida.

Miami head coach Cam Cameron said he will call the plays.

Zampese has said he is very happy in Cincinnati.

He was offered the Jets' coordinator's job a year ago and turned it down.

Rams hire former Bengals assistant Roberts for special teams

MIAMI -- The St. Louis Rams have hired former Bengals assistant coach Al Roberts as their special teams coach.

Roberts and Rams coach Scott Linehan coached together at the University of Washington in 1996, the year before the Bengals hired Roberts and drafted former Washington tailback Corey Dillon.

"I learned more about special teams in my one year with Al than in all of my other years I was a coach," Linehan said today. "His passion for the sport is second to none."

Roberts' stint with the Bengals was far from successful. He was fired after the 2002 season, when the Bengals allowed four special teams touchdowns. Especially damaging was the Carolina game, when Bengals president wanted to see rookie Travis Dorsch punt, and the Panthers' Steve Smith returned two line-drive Dorsch punts for touchdowns.

"I'm excited to be working for Scott Linehan," said Roberts, who has tried to get back into the NFL since his firing.

He replaces Bob Ligashesky. Roberts, 61, has his work cut out for him. The Rams have allowed 20 special teams touchdowns since Dick Vermeil departed following the Super Bowl-winning 1999 season.

Bengals defense vs. Bears, Colts defenses

MIAMI -- Studying defenses the likes of the Bears' and Colts' and comparing them to the Bengals, one major point stands out: The Bengals do not have a difference maker that offenses have to account for on every play.

There's no Brian Urlacher, the Bears middle linebacker. There's not even any Bob Sanders, Indianapolis' hard-hitting safety.

So the question becomes do the Bengals re-sign free agent defensive end Justin Smith? Why? They haven't done much with him in six seasons, one playoff game, one playoff loss, a defense that could never match its No. 9 ranking of Smith's rookie season in 2001.

So you look around at defensive free agents the likes of Bears outside linebacker Lance Briggs, Baltimore free agent end/linebacker Adalius Thomas or New England cornerback Asanti Samuel. Samuel might be the single best player in free agency this year. He doesn't want to re-sign with the Patriots. He could come in and fit any system. The Bengals might want to consider breaking the bank to sign the best cornerback of this class.

Never mind the excuses leaking out of the Bengals' front office onto various Web sites that they don't have the money or salary cap space to re-sign Smith or go after an A-list free agent. They have plenty of both. What might be lacking is the will. I get a message through the Bengals PR staff once in a while that the front office is unhappy with and thinks my analysis of their cap room is inaccurate. Yet they are reluctant to offer any proof that I can print.

The Bengals could do whatever they want to financially. If I were a fan of the Bengals, I wouldn't be happy with their efforts in free agency. They keep signing players who have little impact or are four, five or six years past the point when they could have made a big difference.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis likes to talk about how a defense plays with 11 players. OK. So did the Baltimore defenses he coordinated. But he had 11 great players when the Ravens won the Super Bowl, including safety Rod Woodson, a younger and more mobile Sam Adams at defensive tackle and Ray Lewis in his prime as an inside linebacker.

Hello from South Florida

MIAMI -- More than the news conferences with Bears coach Lovie Smith and linebacker Brian Urlacher, the most memorable event for me Sunday, just an hour after arriving here, was driving past the Orange Bowl stadium on a media shuttle bus.

I remember, as a kid, watching televised Super Bowls from the Orange Bowl. A pair of Steelers-Cowboys games played there were especially memorable.

I always wondered what it would be like to live in a place where it was 70 degrees in January. I was out in the middle of nowhere, in north-central Illinois, within (frozen) spitting distance of the Wisconsin line. It was a place where there was nothing to stop the cold wind blowing from the northwest and Canada.

Back to the Orange Bowl and evidence I'm not in Cincinnati any more.

In this morning's edition of the Miami Herald, this story summary on the front page caught my eye: "CASTRO PARTY. Miami has planned a celebration at the Orange Bowl for when the ailing Cuban leader dies."

Inside, on the top of the Metro & State section, is the story. The headline reads, "When Castro dies, part's on." It accompanies a Miami Herald file photo from 1961 of President John F. Kennedy honoring the 1961 Bay of Pigs invaders at Miami's Orange Bowl, "a landmark for Cuban exiles."

More later.

NFL not clear on Henry

The question of whether Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry will serve a suspension for his off-field transgressions is in the hands of the NFL office.

This afternoon, responding to the question from the Enquirer, AFC Information Manager Steve Alic had a prepared statement: "We are reviewing this and will take appropriate disciplinary action in due course," Alic said.

The question, following Henry's guilty plea this morning in Kenton District Court that he provided alcohol to under-aged females, is whether the crime falls under the NFL substance abuse policy. The crime involved alcohol, but Henry did not consume it.

The sense is that Henry will be suspended for four games at the start of the 2007 season. He tied with a team-high nine touchdown receptions in just 36 total catches and had a team best 16.8-yard per catch average.

Henry already has one strike against him under the policy, a guilty plea to marijuana possession, that required counseling/treatment.

The second violation brings a four-game NFL suspension, the one that linebacker Odell Thurman served at the start of the 2006 season. Thurman was suspended for one year (the third strike) after a DUI arrest Sept. 25.

In Kentucky, Henry does go to jail; suspension possible

This is from reporter William Croyle in our Northern Kentucky newsroom:

COVINGTON - Chris Henry is in Kenton County jail today and will be there until Saturday. The Bengals wide receiver pleaded guilty this morning in Kenton County District Court to permitting possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, a class B misdemeanor. That was amended down from the three charges he was originally facing of unlawful transaction with a minor in the third degree, class A misdemeanors.

(Bengals coach Marvin Lewis released this statement today regarding Henry's sentence: "It's good that this case has been resolved. Now Chris must continue to strive to mature and grow both as a player and a person."

Henry's alcohol-related conviction is expected to bring a mandatory four-game suspension under the NFL's substance abuse policy. Henry's first offense under the policy was pleading guilty in Kenton District Court to marijuana possession, the first polic violation which brought mandatory counseling/treatement. A second violation causes a four-game suspension. The Enquirer is seeking clarification from the NFL office about whether the conviction constitutes a violation because alcohol was involved, even though Henry was not convicted for possibly consuming it.

The Bengals referred questions about a possible league-mandated suspension to NFL officials.)

Henry received the maximum sentence of 90 days in jail with 88 days suspended.

However, Judge Douglas Grothaus imposed conditions on Henry in order for those 88 days to remain suspended. Henry must:

-- Pay a $250 fine plus court costs.

-- Have no criminal activity for two years.

-- Not consume alcohol or drugs for two years.

-- Report to the Kentucky Alternative Program for drug and alcohol assessment.

-- Give two speeches – one at Two Rivers Middle School and one to Holmes High School athletes – on the dangers of drugs and alcohol and how they have negatively affected his career.

If Henry violates any of those orders, he will have to serve the 88 suspended days.

Henry was charged with giving alcohol to three underage females April 29 of last year.

WR Henry avoids jail time, NFL suspension

My Enquirer colleague Barrett J. Brunsman reports this morning from Batavia about the ongoing legal saga of talented but troubled Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry. The full story is on the Enquirer's Web site.

BATAVIA – Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry has avoided a possible drunken-driving conviction that could have resulted in an NFL suspension by pleading guilty to a lesser charge of reckless operation of a car in Clermont County.

While he was sentenced to the maximum 30 days in jail, that was suspended – meaning Henry can remain free as long as he adheres to conditions outlined Wednesday by

Judge Anthony W. Brock of Clermont County Municipal Court.

In addition to keeping a job, Henry must:
-- Report to a probation officer for two years.
-- Not consume any alcohol or illegal drugs.
-- Submit to random drug tests.
-- Agree to let the court review drug tests on Henry administered by the NFL.
Continue with substance-abuse and behavior-improvement counseling he began in May.
-- Stay out of bars.

A resident of Florence, Henry, 23, said he had just left Déjà Vu – a Union Township club where women are paid to dance nude – when stopped on Interstate 275 by an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper at 1:18 a.m. June 3, according to a police report.

Trooper Michael T. Shimko arrested Henry on charges of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and speeding. A trial had been scheduled for Feb. 15.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for today in Kenton County, where Henry has pleaded not guilty to charges or providing alcohol to three teenage girls in a Covington hotel room in April.

Lyric of the day: What it has to do with the Bengals

A reader wanted to know what John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance" lyrics and a couple of posted comments have to do with the Bengals.

In the brave new world of newspaper blogs, which are not governed the same way that print editions are, I'll tell you (in my mind) what those lyrics have to do with the Bengals. I've probably danced around it too long, given the latitude of electronic print journalism these days and what's expected of us:

The person who covers the Bengals for the Cincinnati Enquirer is a U.S. citizen, votes in every election, pays every dollar he owes in taxes, volunteers, contributes to charities, has read the text of the State of the Union address (it almost made me throw up) and has two teen-aged sons that I don't want getting hurt for an unjust cause. Afghanistan is one thing. Iraq another. Furthermore, I think the guy in the White House is not qualified for the job, has surrounded himself with mean-spirited and power-hungry people, will be remembered as one of the most failed presidents in U.S. history and was re-elected by misleading and falsely scaring the American people.

I love my country deeply and know what great things it is capable of; our history is filled with noble international deeds. I'm grateful for the opportunities U.S. citizenship has provided me and I am mindful of my responsibility to give back. I am thankful for the sacrifices of the armed services, present and past, including my father, who saw combat as a U.S. Marine in the Pacific in World War II.

But these days, we're making enemies faster than we can kill them. There is too much evidence that we don't take adequate care of too many of our troops when they come home. Go overseas and talk to people from just about every other part of the world, including those from ally nations. The consensus is this administration likes being a bully and is on the attack to mask incompetence in an variety of foreign and domestic issues. I wish I were as nationalistic as I once was, but I'm not.

We don't live in a vacuum internationally, and I don't live or work in a football vacuum: hut, hut, hike.

You're entitled to your opinion. Bring it on. I welcome it. But I'm entitled to mine.

Lyric of the Day: State of the Union

From the pen of the late, great John Lennon and Paul McCartney ...

Ev'rybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

C'mon
Ev'rybody's talking about Ministers,
Sinisters, Banisters and canisters
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.

All we are saying is give peace a chance

Levi: No room for error off field

Left tackle Levi Jones called back late last night, past deadline for the newspaper version of the story on reaction by Bengals veterans to the arrest of cornerback Johnathan Joseph on marijuana possession.

Jones is a very bright man, well-spoken and insightful. He'd be the Bengals' Willie Anderson if Willie weren't there.

"When I found out, my first reaction was, `Here we go again,'" Jones said from Arizona, where he is rehabbing his knee at the Athletes First complex. "I sympathize with the player because you never know what the situation is."

Jones recalled his own arrest at the Super Bowl in Houston in early 2004. He was charged after an alleged altercation with a police officer outside a club. He later was exonerated.

Then Jones touched on coach Marvin Lewis' parting message at the end of the season regarding off-field behavior.

"He did emphasize that we had no room for error," Jones said. "As players, we're all grown men. We have to make decisions on our own."

On his health, Jones said he and his doctor had begun a rehab program for his knee and are hoping to avoid additional surgery. He had surgery in early October and missed 10 games.

Story of Johnathan Joseph's arrest

A couple of readers of this blog apparently do not check out the Enquirer's Web site and asked for the details on the Johnathan Joseph arrest. Here they are from the Jan. 23, 2007, Enquirer:

The case of Johnathan Joseph, the ninth Bengals player arrested since Jan. 1, 2006, brings into focus the fine line Cincinnati has tried to walk in turning the corner from NFL pretender to contender.

The second-year cornerback was arrested early Monday morning in Boone County on possession of marijuana.

Out of the 16 players the Bengals took in the 2005 and 2006 drafts, six have now been arrested.

The other players are linebacker Odell Thurman, wide receiver Chris Henry, defensive end Frostee Rucker, linebacker A.J. Nicholson and wide receiver Reggie McNeal.

Four of those six players arrested were drafted in the first three rounds: Thurman and Henry (second- and third-round picks in 2005) and Joseph and Rucker (first- and third-round picks in 2006).

There's no denying the on-field talent of many of the players who get into trouble in their off-hours.

Joseph started nine games and played in all 16 as a rookie. He led the team with 19 passes knocked down and was sixth defensively with 67 total tackles. He has excellent speed and quickness and is a capable tackler in run support.

But the off-field problems have affected the team, which missed the playoffs this season, on the field.

The Bengals lost Thurman, the team's leading tackler as a rookie in 2005, to a pair of NFL suspensions for violating its substance-abuse policy. He did not play a down in 2006 and might not play again for Cincinnati.

The arrests also drew the attention of the NFL commissioner and have made the Bengals the butt of national jokes. The Bengals led the NFL in the unofficial category of players arrested with eight during the 2006 calendar year, two more than San Diego. No database is known to exist that would allow a historical comparison of arrests between the 2006 Bengals and other NFL teams through the years.

Bengals PR director Jack Brennan on Monday repeated the organization's policy of not commenting on ongoing legal issues involving a player.

"We don't comment on these cases when they are still at the point of charges," Brennan said. "We don't think that would be appropriate."

'They do crave discipline'

Efforts to obtain comment from Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis were unsuccessful Monday. In his postseason news conference Jan. 2 and again last week during an interview with The Enquirer, Lewis emphasized his need to get tough with players.

"I think there's an outcry from our guys to go back that way," Lewis said Jan. 2. "I hear it and see it, so my challenge is to go back to that. We've tried to allow guys to grow - both mature as men and mature as players.

"But the thing we continue to find is they've got to be constantly policed and corrected. ... They long for that from me to be that way to be, I guess, the hard-ass all the time in certain areas. So we'll make sure I give them what they want. They do crave discipline."

The coach had resorted to fines as punishment. No more. He will cut playing time.

Joseph is charged with possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. He was taken into custody at 2:15 a.m. after a car in which he was a passenger was stopped at U.S. 42 and Braxton Road. A Boone County sheriff's deputy said he stopped the 1999 gold Ford for weaving in and out of lanes at a slow rate of speed. A police report states the vehicle crossed the center line three times.

The driver, Kelsy Glover of Fairfield, was charged with careless driving and operating on a suspended license. Glover told the deputy that she was eating food and reaching for Joseph's juice when she was stopped, according to the report.

The police report states the deputy searched a Super Bowl XL backpack Joseph was holding after smelling a strong odor of marijuana during the traffic stop. Marijuana was found in the backpack next to a video game system, deputies said.

Joseph, of Union, was released from the Boone County jail early Monday.

Joseph, even though not convicted, must attend treatment sessions as a first-time violator of NFL policy. Punishment is spelled out in the league's collective bargaining agreement and is currently out of the Bengals' control.

A second violation would bring a four-game suspension, and the third strike brings one-year banishment.

Looking for integrity

Character counts in the NFL, or at least that's the unofficial motto.

Several Bengals coaches, including Lewis, will be in Mobile, Ala., this week, scouting top draft-eligible college players at the Senior Bowl. The annual NFL scouting combine is next month in Indianapolis, where the Bengals and other teams frequently discuss the importance of character and integrity in the players they bring into the organization.

Interviews lasting 15 minutes are held with dozens of players at Indianapolis. The goal is to learn more about the person. Teams have game film, sprint times and weight-lifting results to measure a player's on-field skills.

In the past few years, Lewis has talked about the excellent character of players such as guard Eric Steinbach and linebacker Landon Johnson and intelligence of offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth, whom he got to know during combine interviews.

Last year, when the Bengals announced Joseph as their first-round pick, Lewis and the other coaches said the defensive back had a solid character and would bring no personal baggage into the NFL. Everybody talked about what Joseph would do on the field.

"He's a guy who has the height, the speed and the athleticism to make cuts in and out of the breaks that you look for in a tall corner," Lewis said in April.

Since then, the focus has turned to the Bengals' off-field behavior issues, which have caught the attention of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. In December, Goodell called Bengals president Mike Brown and offered his help in stopping the arrest problem.

"Obviously, when you have incidents that don't reflect well on the National Football League, you have to deal with that aggressively," Goodell said Dec. 12. "Our players and coaches are seen at a higher level by the public."

A call placed Monday to Greg Aiello, NFL vice president of public relations and the commissioner's spokesman, was not returned.

Goodell, who succeeded Paul Tagliabue before the start of the season, visited Cincinnati in September.

Goodell told reporters then that he spoke sternly to Bengals players.

"I was very direct with the players about their responsibility in their community and what they represent in their community and how important they are in setting a positive tone," Goodell said during his visit. "I think they understood the message."

Enquirer reporter Jim Hannah contributed.

Zampese: No word yet

Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese is in Mobile, Ala., at the Senior Bowl, and he said just a few minutes ago that he has not heard from the Carolina Panthers about their offensive coordinator job. Zampese interviewed last week in Charlotte with coach John Fox.

Palmer's voice, image on Disney's `The Replacements'

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer makes his acting debut on Disney's hit animated series "The Replacements," Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel.

Palmer guest stars as himself in the episode when Todd (voiced by Nancy Cartwright) and his best friend Jacobo (voiced by Candi Milo) argue over who gets possession over the football that Palmer throws for his record-breaking touchdown.

"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Disney on 'The Replacements.' It was a great experience and I was proud to play a part in teaching children the importance of sharing. I am very thankful that Disney afforded me this great opportunity and am now a big fan of the show," said Palmer, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner and first overall draft pick in 2003 from the University of Southern California (USC).

A two time All-Pro Quarterback, Palmer led the NFL in touchdown passes 2005 and set franchise records for quarterback single season passes (32) and single season completions (345 yards).

Emma, football and her dad

I had my children over this past weekend. My commitment to be an accessible father after a divorce is just one of the reasons I decided to stay home from covering the AFC Championship Game. It was my weekend to take care of the kids.

With kickoff close to 7 p.m., the deadlines are terrible for a beat writer. Besides, Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star knows a lot more about the Colts than I do. It was a more manageable assignment for Enquirer Sports columnist Paul Daugherty than for me; he wrote an excellent column about Peyton Manning.

I stayed home and combed through the Bears, Saints, Colts and Patriots media guides during the day, in search of local connections. We published a story this morning. It's also on this blog.

I will fly Sunday to Miami and report from the Super Bowl for the entire week for what will be the seventh consecutive year. The March league meetings also are on the horizon, after the scouting combine in late February, not to mention free agency in early March and the draft in late April. Talk about a hotstove league.

What unfolded this weekend, though, while I attempted to continue to better balance my life, was memorable time with this little girl I'm crazy about. Her name is Emma, my daughter and the spitting image physically and spiritually of my older sister Joan.

Emma is 9 and in the fourth grade at St. Vivian School.

When my mother died in October, Emma and my sons insisted on going with me to Illinois for the visitation and funeral. We began to strongly identify ourselves as a four-person family unit, once broken but now coming back together in a stronger way -- like a fractured bone. The boys were pallbearers along with other grandsons. Emma never let me out of her sight and tended to me, as the only divorced sibling of the seven, as would a wife. She sat beside me. She had tissues available if she spotted me tearing up. She took my arm to make sure I knew I wasn't alone. She patted my back and stroked the back of my hair and neck if I was overcome by grief. In football-speak, she stepped up.

So, Emma and I are pretty tight. Always have been. Getting closer every day.

Friday night, we headed to Bethany School in Glendale for her volleyball game. Same thing Saturday morning back at St. Vivian. A friend thinks quality time with a child is a subset of quantity time. I think sometimes all you have in life with your children are trips to the hardware or grocery store, so you had better make them good. Emma and I do enjoy our numerous trips to Finneytown Kroger.

Sunday was football day, and Emma's growing interest in the NFL blows me away. She's a girl's girl.

But this is the same little girl who has pretty much taken ownership of the one piece of NFL clothing I own, a gray Bears sweatshirt, that was a gift from my brother. She watched a lot of the Bears game and sat with her brother to take in most of the Colts-Patriots game last night.

"Why does the clock stop?" she asked me at one point, kicking the toes of her black, high-top Chuck Taylor Converse into the carpet.

"It stops on an incomplete pass."

A few minutes later, she asked, "Dad, do you know Peyton Manning?"

"I have been in his press conferences and asked him a couple of questions."

"He seems nice."

Emma also asked me why I said I was happy for Colts coach Tony Dungy. I told her about his son having committed suicide at the end of 2004 and how Coach Dungy came back to work and lived out his faith for the world to see.

"He's a great example," I said.

"He has a nice face," she said during his post-game interview on TV.

The beauty of sports is the community it can help build both in a city and even one household that's trying to piece itself back together, where a little girl has taken a huge interest in football and her dad's work. It's another common bond. She has met Bengals players Bobbie Williams, Shayne Graham and Rudi Johnson. She has talked to coach Marvin Lewis a few times, and he has been kind to her.

Bobbie is her favorite player. We have a Bobbie Williams replica No. 63 Bengals jersey on order from NFLshop.com.

This girl is the same one who asked for and received her own copy of Springsteen's "Darkness on the Edge of Town" CD for Christmas. She wants "Tunnel of Love," too. Her favorite Bruce song is "Jesus Was an Only Son" from "Devils and Dust."

Last night, as I tucked her into bed and kissed her forehead, she said she wished there were a way she could go to the Super Bowl with me to keep me company.

I said, "Me, too, baby girl. Me, too. Do you know that I thank God every day that you are my daughter? He must really love me to have given me you as my daughter."

"I know. You tell me that all the time."

Local connections aplenty in Super Bowl XLI

Super Bowl XLI between Indianapolis and Chicago is not short on local storylines.

The NFC champion Bears were put together by a member of the Cradle of Coaches.

Jerry Angelo has led the team to three division titles in six years as Bears general manager. Angelo played defense tackle for three seasons (1968-1970) at Miami University and coached as a graduate assistant in 1971.

A team built through the draft, the Bears have a Bengals connection in the front office. Chicago’s director of pro personnel, Bob DePaul, was a Bengals assistant coach from 1994-96, spending 1995 as the defensive line coach.

Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake spent time in Bengals training camp in 1983.

In the Bears NFC Championship Game victory Sunday against New Orleans, they ran for 198 yards and allowed no sacks. Chicago’s offensive line coach is Harry Hiestand, who coached the offensive line at the University of Cincinnati for five seasons (1989-1993) and was the Bearcats offensive coordinator in 1993. The Bears’ assistant line coach, Harold Goodwin, coached Bengals offensive linemen Eric Ghiaciuc and Adam Kieft at Central Michigan.

The Colts, making their first Super Bowl appearance as a franchise since moving to Indianapolis in 1984, have a couple of major Bengals coaching connections on their staff.

Leslie Frazier, Indianapolis’ special assistant to head coach Tony Dungy, was Bengals defensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004. Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks was Bengals defensive backs coach from 1992-96.

The Colts have three players with local connections: Backup linebacker Rocky Boiman played at St. Xavier High School. Linebacker Tyjuan Hagler played at the University of Cincinnati. And rookie tailback DeDe Dorsey was with the Bengals in training camp.

Zampese interviews for Carolina job

A source late this afternoon confirmed to the Enquirer that Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese was in Charlotte, N.C., today to interview for the vacant position of offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.

Zampese has been quarterbacks coach for the Bengals for the past four seasons. Because of his work first with veteran Jon Kitna and then his role in developing Carson Palmer into a Pro Bowl player, Zampese is considered one of the top candidates for open coordinator positions around the league.

The Rock Hill (S.C) Herald had reported this morning that Zampese arrived Wednesday to interview today with Panthers coach John Fox.

Zampese joins current Panthers quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy and running backs coach Jim Skipper as the known candidates to replace veteran play-caller Dan Henning, who was fired Monday, the newspaper reported.

A decision about the Panthers job should be known by Tuesday, the source said.

If Zampese were to leave, he would be the second vacancy on an excellent Bengals offensive staff. Former wide receivers coach Hue Jackson was hired as Atlanta's offensive coordinator.

The Bengals hired former Saints offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard as Jackson's replacement, and talk inside Bengals offices is that Sheppard could be moved to replace a possibly vacated QB coach job. The name of Terry Robiskie, former Browns wide receivers coach, is mentioned again as a possible addition to Marvin Lewis' staff.

The Bengals do not comment on job searches, either their own or those of employees.

Bengals release 2007 ticket prices

The Cincinnati Bengals this afternoon released general admission ticket and single game ticket prices for the 2007 season at Paul Brown Stadium:

SEASON TICKET PRICES (per game)

Zone EE (North End Zone, Club Level) -- $55
Zone J (Corners, Canopy Level) -- $55
Zones D, E (Corners / End Zone, Field Level) -- $65
Zones F, G, H (Sidelines, Canopy Level) -- $63
Zones A, B, C (Sidelines, Field Level) -- $73
Zone CC (Convertible Club, Club Level) -- $73

The Bengals also set general admission single-game prices, in the event single-game tickets or ticket packs become available:

SINGLE GAME TICKET PRICES (if available)

Zone EE (North End Zone, Club Level) -- $60
Zone J (Corners, Canopy Level) -- $60
Zone D, E (Corners / End Zone, Field Level) -- $70
Zones F, G, H (Sidelines, Canopy Level) -- $68
Zones A, B, C (Sidelines, Field Level) -- $78
Zone CC (Convertible Club, Club Level) -- $78

Pollack to fans: Thank you

This item released this afternoon by Bengals public relations department:

Bengals linebacker David Pollack continues to show good early results from Jan. 3 surgery to repair the neck fracture he suffered during the team’s Sept. 17 game against Cleveland at Paul Brown Stadium. Spine specialist Dr. Anthony Guanciale, who performed the surgery, has said it went without complications.

... He was quickly able to resume normal activities outside of football, though he has continued to wear a neck immobilization device. He spent the last 14 weeks of the season on the injured reserve list and is now on the Bengals’ offseason roster.

Today, Pollack asked the Bengals to distribute the following statement from him on his behalf:

“I want to thank the many, many people who have sent me their best wishes since my injury. Your encouragement and friendship has meant a great deal to me and my family. I’m grateful for my recovery, and I’m encouraged by the prognosis from my recent operation. The doctors tell me it went well, maybe even better than expected.

“I haven’t given up on the possibility of playing football again, but any decision on that is a way down the road. My recovery is not complete. I’ve got a ton of work to do with doctors and trainers, and my neck just has to finish healing. We’re going to take all of that one day at a time."

Bengals announce Geathers' signing

Defensive end Robert Geathers, whose 10.5 sacks this past season were the most by a Bengal since 1983, today signed a six-year contract with the Bengals.

Geathers is a fourth-year NFL player in 2007. His contract expired after the 2006 season, and he was eligible to become a restricted free agent in March.

Geathers led the defense last season with his 10.5 sacks, which were the most by a Bengal since Eddie Edwards had 13.0 in 1983. Geathers in 2006 was the first Bengal to reach double digits in sacks since 1992, when Alfred Williams had 10.0. Geathers played in every game in 2006 and had 52 total tackles.

"I’m as happy as I can be, and very proud for Robert," Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said. "He’s a sharp young man, a true pro who handles himself like a professional at every practice and every meeting. He has shown what that means with his play on the field. This could not happen to a more deserving person, and it makes us a better defensive football team."

A fourth-round Bengals draft choice in 2004, Geathers was on the inactive list for his first two games and has since played in 47 in a row, including postseason.

Geathers has a nice mix of experience and youth. He won't be 24 until August.

Report: Geathers to sign six-year extension

The Bengals are expected to announce today that they have signed defensive end Robert Geathers to a six-year contract extension.

Geathers had 10.5 sacks this past season and was the first Bengals player since Alfred Williams in 1992 to reach double-digits in that category.

Geathers will receive a reported $14 million in the first year and as much as $33.7 million over the life of the deal if he reaches all incentive clauses, according to ESPN.com.

The Bengals had no comment late today on the report, and Geathers' agent could not be reached to confirm the contract.

Palmer `Air Player' of year nominee

Carson Palmer is one of three finalists for FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year honors.

This season Palmer completed 324 of 520 passes for 4,035 yards and a passer rating of 93.9, and his 28 touchdown passes ranked second in the NFL. He threw for two or more touchdowns in 10 of 16 games and threw for more than 250 yards in eight games. Palmer was nominated for two FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week awards, winning both times.

Palmer won the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year award last year after claiming FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week honors a league-record five times during the course of the season.

If Palmer wins the award, FedEx will donate $25,000 to Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Willie: Might not play in Pro Bowl

Just heard from Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson.

He said his injured foot is feeling better and he might or might not need surgery. He had a bone injury.

I congratulated Willie on making another All Pro team. He is deserving. He got my vote.

Anderson said he would go to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl but might not play.

From his home in Atlanta, Anderson also said Falcons fans are excited about new coach Bobby Petrino and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who was Bengals wide receivers coach the past three years.

The Falcons agreed to terms with Jackson and former Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator Tuesday. A formal announcement is expected today.

The Bengals are exceptionally tight-lipped about coaching searches, so new word internally is available on whom the Bengals are considering for Jackson's replacement. Coach Marvin Lewis and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski were prepared for the possibility of Jackson's departure and had discussed possible replacements after the season ended Dec. 31.

One candidate is believed to be former Browns wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie.

Lyric of the day: "Beautiful Boy"

Players and coaches aren't the only ones who "fall off a cliff" at the end of an NFL season. So do newspaper beat writers. You go from a rigid, game- and practice-driven schedule, regular deadlines and advance stories, to more of an enterprise and spot news mode.

The loss of the tight schedule can be disarming and unsettling. You kind of wake up the next morning and have some time to yourself. You realize another six-seven months has passed in the blink of an eye.

I'm better -- still not good enough, though -- at balancing the major elements in my life these days, even during the season. Age and experience can be gifts, if you let them.

I am struck this morning, as I sit here and look out my window at the wet street and tidy lawns on my College Hill street, by the upcoming birthdays later this month of my sons. Pete will be 17 and Matthew 15.

Time passes quickly. One minute, you're pulling two mop-headed little boys in red wagon over to the schoolyard playground to push them on swings and hit stones with a Whiffle Ball bat.

Then you hand them the keys to your car. You watch football games together. They remind you of the way you used to get mad and of the stupid things that came out of your mouth. You become the butt of their good-natured jokes. We laugh a lot, often at me. You try to help them avoid the mistakes you made. You parent them within parameters and guidelines, not on a tightrope. You try to give them room to learn from their errors, all the while buffering the walls they might hit. You realize that some days the best you can do is feed them and give them a safe, clean place to sleep.

The transition is as old as time. What I am experiencing is nothing new, though new to me. You ask your late parents to send down guidance; they brought up four boys and three girls. You pray not to be the weak link in a chain of generations that did this job well. You tell your sons that you, at age 44, are still learning and know now how much you don't know.

I enjoy the young men that Pete and Matthew have become. And I'm fortunate and blessed by God that they still reach out to me in their own ways and on their own schedule. A friend with two sons in their 20s has reminded me to soak in as much as I can these days; it all changes when they go to college.

I, too, am reminded of a John Lennon lyric -- there's always a lyric, right? -- that eloquently touches on this passage of time and growth of boy to man. It's from his 1980 masterpiece "Double Fantasy" record.

"Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

"Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While you're busy making other plans."

Jackson close to finalizing deal with Falcons

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports this morning that Bengals wide receivers coach Hue Jackson, having received permission to talk with the Falcons, is close to finalizing terms of a contract to become offensive coordinator. The deal could be done as early as this morning.

At a news conference Monday, new Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said he would call offensive plays, normally the job of the offensive coordinator.

Jackson is an excellent coach with an impressive background. He managed some of the most explosive personalities on the Cincinnati roster and kept them focused on the game each week. Jackson always was as honest as he could be with the media and was appreciated for his candor. When I watched him work at practice and interact with players, I could see a strong leader who was equally adept at being a productive follower on a team of coaches.

On that note, coordinators Bob Bratkowski and Chuck Bresnahan are excellent interviews. Special teams coach Darrin Simmons is good to talk to, as well, about football and life back on his father's wheat farm back in Kansas. Like many of the players, they are people you wouldn't mind having as next-door neighbors.

Anderson, Chad Johnson make AP All Pro team

Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson and wide receiver Chad Johnson were named to the Associated Press All-Pro, all-star team, announced this afternoon.

Enquirer Bengals beat writer Mark Curnutte is one of the 50 nationwide voters.

His All Pro ballot:


OFFENSE:

WR (2)
Steve Smith, Carolina; Chad Johnson, Cincinnati

TE (1)
Antonio Gates, San Diego

T (2)
Willie Anderson, Cincinnati; Jammal Brown, New Orleans

G (2)
Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh; Shawn Andrews, Philadelphia

C (1)
Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis

QB (1)
Drew Brees, New Orleans

RBs (2)
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego; Steven Jackson, St. Louis

FBs (1)
Mack Strong, Seattle

Place Kicker (1)
Robbie Gould, Chicago

Kick Returner (1)
Devin Hester, Chicago

DEFENSE:

DE (2)
Jason Taylor, Miami; Julius Peppers, Carolina

DT (2)
Kevin Williams, Minnesota; Richard Seymour, New England

OLB (2)
Adalius Thomas, Baltimore; Lance Briggs, Chicago

ILB (2)
Brian Urlacher, Chicago; Al Wilson, Denver

CB (2)
Champ Bailey, Denver; DeAngelo Hall, Atlanta

SAFETY(2)
Adrian Wilson, Arizona; Ed Reed, Baltimore

Punter (1)
Brian Moorman, Buffalo

T.J.: Hue Jackson going to Falcons

Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh confirmed this afternoon that Bengals receivers coach Hue Jackson will be the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator under new head coach Bobby Petrino.

Jackson likely Falcons next offensive coordinator

The Bengals are likely to lose a valuable and talented member of their coaching staff, wide receivers coach Hue Jackson. A source in Atlanta said Jackson is likely to become the offensive coordinator for new Falcons coach Bobby Petrino.

Jackson and Petrino were on the same Arizona State staff for two seasons, 1992-93; Jackson stayed through 1995. He had a season as offensive cooordinator for Steve Spurrier with the Washington Redskins in 2003. He was offensive coordinator at California in 1996 and Southern Cal from 1997-2000.

Petrino will be introduced this afternoon as Falcons coach, replacing Jim Mora, fired last week.

Petrino and his Louisville staff visited Bengals training camp near Lexington, Ky. (Georgetown College) at least two times over the years.

The Bengals, as club policy, do not comment on coaching searches involving any of their employees. Coach Marvin Lewis said last week that his entire staff of assistants was under contract for the 2007 season. Bengals president Mike Brown, however, has allowed his coaches to pursue promotions with other teams. After the 2003 season, former wide receivers coach Alex Wood was allowed to go to the Arizona Cardinals as offensive coordinator under Dennis Green. That move opened the spot for Jackson.

Under Jackson's guidance, Chad Johnson has made three consecutive AFC Pro Bowl teams. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has emerged as a dangerous No. 2 receiver with more than 900 receiving yards in 2004 and 2005 before breaking past the 1,000-yard mark in 2006. Also, second-year wide receiver Chris Henry, despite repeated brushes with the law away from the stadium, has been a productive player on the field.

Jackson stressed down-field blocking in the run game from his receivers and the goal of running for yards after the catch. Houshmandzadeh is especially talented at gaining yards after the catch.

With one of the NFL's most prolific offenses and a talented offensive coaching staff, the Bengals were ripe and remain ripe to be picked for coordinators. Quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese also has been a coordinator candidate in the past two years. Running backs coach Jim Anderson has interviewed for other jobs, as well, namely the head coaching position at Stanford University after the 2002 season.

Lewis to Cowher: Thank you

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis this afternoon released a statement marking the resignation of Bill Cowher as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lewis, like Cowher, a Pittsburgh-area native, was linebackers coach on Cowher's first Steelers staff from 1992-95.

“I want to thank Bill for all he’s done for me," Lewis said. "It has been a privilege to coach with him and against him. I wish all the best for him and his family with whatever the future holds.”

Palmer wins team's `courage' award

The Cincinnati Bengals have named quarterback Carson Palmer as this year’s team winner of the Ed Block Courage Award.

The award honors NFL players who demonstrate commitment to the values of sportsmanship and courage. Each of the 32 NFL teams selects one player as its nominee. Palmer will be honored with the other team winners at the annual awards banquet in Baltimore on March 20.

Palmer started every game for the Bengals in 2006, returning from a serious knee injury (torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments) suffered in the 2005 season playoffs against Pittsburgh.

His hard work during rehabilitation helped him start the regular season opener on Sept. 10, just eight months to the day since his reconstructive surgery. Palmer was selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team for the second consecutive year. He threw for 4,035 yards, which broke Boomer Esiason’s 20-year old franchise record of 3,959. Palmer threw for 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

“It would have been easy for Carson to have gotten discouraged and focus on the unfortunate fact that he got injured during his first playoff game,” Bengals head trainer Paul Sparling said in a statement released by the team. “Instead he chose to focus on doing everything he could to get back on the field as quickly as he could, which speaks to his courage and character. And his teammates recognize that.”

Bengals designate four players for NFL Europe

The Bengals today designated four players for allocation to the NFL Europe League for 2006.

The four are offensive tackle Alan Reuber of Texas A&M, linebacker Jason Berryman of Iowa State, tight end Sean Mulcahy of Connecticut and defensive lineman Jimmy Verdon of Arizona State.

Reuber’s past NFL experience qualifies him to be allocated directly to an NFLEL team of the Bengals’ choosing. That team is yet to be determined. Berryman, Mulcahy and Verdon were not with an NFL team during the 2006 regular season, and they will be subject to the NFLEL Draft, scheduled for Feb. 23.

Curnutte's AP postseason awards ballot

Now that my picks have won two of the first three awards, here is my ballot as one of the 50 nationwide voters for the official Associated Press NFL postseason awards.

Most Valuable Player: LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego (There was no other choice.)

Comeback Player: Carson Palmer, Cincinnati (Chad Pennington is deserving, but maybe I was swayed by watching Palmer up-close.)

Defensive Rookie: DeMeco Ryans, Houston (Bengals liked him coming out of school.)

Offensive Rookie: Vince Young, Tennessee (He was 8-5 as a starter for a not-so-good team.)

Defensive Player: Shawne Merriman, San Diego (He did the crime, he did the time. And before and after, he was the most dominant defensive player in the NFL.)

Offensive Player: Steven Jackson, St. Louis (The second coming of Marshall Faulk; Jackson led league in scrimmage yards and was the reason his team was in contention until the last weekend.)

Coach: Sean Payton, New Orleans (He did the best coaching job, bringing the team back to the city and remaking the roster in the process.)

Pollack undergoes surgery

Bengals linebacker David Pollack underwent surgery earlier today to address a fracture of the C6 vertebra and related damage.

Spine specialist Dr. Anthony Guanciale, who performed the procedure, said it went without complications, and that Pollack is resting comfortably. Pollack’s hospital stay is not expected to last more than a few days, the Bengals said in a release.

Pollack’s progress will be monitored closely by Dr. Guanciale in coming months. No forecast of Pollack’s eventual return to football will be made at this time.

The surgery was performed to repair damage that occurred when Pollack made a hit on Cleveland running back Reuben Droughns in the Week 2 game Sept. 17. Pollack suffered no paralysis from the injury. He was quickly able to resume normal activities outside of football, though he has continued to wear a neck immobilization device. He is on the Bengals’ injured reserve list.

Pollack attended the game Sunday against Pittsburgh and talked on the field before the game with Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, like Pollack, a former University of Georgia player.

Former Bengals assistant fired in Jacksonville

After an 8-8 season, Jaguars coach Del Rio fired three members of the offensive staff, including former Bengals assistant and quarterback Ken Anderson. Del Rio said none of the team's quarterbacks have progressed to an elite level. Also fired were coordinator Carl Smith and wide receivers coach Steve Walters. Del Rio fired special-teams coordinator Pete Rodriguez and didn't renew the contract of Mark Michaels, Rodriguez's assistant.

Bengals add another bad boy in Berryman

The Bengals signed former Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman to two-year contract Tuesday -- he is one of 10 newcomers to the offseason roster.

But, according to the Des Moines Register, Berryman is just another bad boy on a roster filled with them.

According to the newspaper, Berryman last played for the Cyclones in 2005, when he was third on the team with 72 tackles, had had several legal problems.

The Register reports: "In his last college game, the 2005 Houston Bowl, he collected 12 tackles and five sacks. As a freshman, he was named the Big 12's defensive newcomer of the year in 2003.

"Berryman, however, drew almost as much attention to himself off the field.

"He was kicked off the team last January shortly after being ticketed for being "on premises under age" at a dance club. He had spent 258 days in the Story County jail for punching an Iowa State student and robbing him of $4 and a cell phone from in August 2004. He was released from jail in April 2005 and was allowed to rejoin the Cyclones that August.

"Berryman applied for the 2006 NFL supplemental draft last summer but was not selected."

Bengals add 10 players to offseason roster

The Bengals this afternoon announced they have signed 10 players to their offseason roster.

Signed from the practice squad at the end of the season are tight end Tim Day (oregon), tight end Ronnie Ghent (Louisville), defensive end Eric Henderson (Georgia Tech), offensive lineman Nate Livings (LSU), fullback Chris Manderino (California), offensive lineman Alan Reuber (Texas A&M) and cornerback Brandon Williams (Michigan).

The remaining three players were not with the Bengals in 2006 and recently visited with the team.

They are linebacker Jason Berryman (Iowa State), tight tight Sean Mulcahy (Connecticut) and defensive lineman Jimmy Verdon (Arizona State).

Each of the players signed a two-year contract.

Teams are allowed to add players to their roster after they are eliminated. The limit is 80. The Bengals now have 62 players on their roster.

Chad Johnson to work on NFL Network

This just in from the NFL, if you can't get enough of Chad Johnson:

Beginning with Wild Card Weekend and continuing throughout the playoffs, NFL fans will get a unique perspective of this season’s quest for a Super Bowl championship as NFL Network deploys Chad Johnson (Cincinnati Bengals), Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins), Darren Sharper (Minnesota Vikings) and Marcellus Wiley (Jacksonville Jaguars) to report on the postseason for NFL GameDay.

The four players will report live, providing post-game analysis and locker room interviews with players and coaches. Following are the Wild Card Weekend assignments:

Saturday, January 6
Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts – Darren Shaper
Dallas Cowboys @ Seattle Seahawks – Chad Johnson

Sunday, January 7
New York Jets @ New England Patriots – Marcellus Wiley
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles – Clinton Portis

Lewis apologizes to fans for disappointing season

Even as Bengals coach Marvin Lewis this afternoon anticipated a new team in 2007, free agents Justin Smith and Kelley Washington had removed their nameplates from their locker-room cubicles.

They are just two of 13 unrestricted free agents.

“We anticipate, hopefully, signing all of our guys,” Lewis said.

But bringing them all back is highly unlikely.

Lewis held his post-season news conference this afternoon at the stadium.

“We didn’t finish the way we would like,” Lewis said of his third 8-8 season in four seasons in Cincinnati. “I apologize to our fans. We are disappointed for them.”

Lewis touched on a variety of topics in a free give-and-take with reporters.

He said all of his assistant coaches and coordinators are under contract and that he did not anticipate any changes.

Criticized widely for his performance as head coach, Lewis also was critical, saying he had done “bad, average to worse.”

He disputed the claim that the team’s spate of off-field problems and arrests affected his team on the field, other than the three games missed by wide receiver Chris Henry and one missed by cornerback Deltha O’Neal.

But Lewis did promise to return to running a tighter ship and being more demanding of player behavior.

“I tried to allow guys to grow as men and players,” he said, adding that they “need to constantly be coached, policed and corrected. … I’ve got to be a hard-ass all the time and make sure I give them what they want. They do crave discipline.”

Fines do not work as a form of punishment, Lewis said, so he will resort to cutting a man’s playing time.

“Maybe that saves the other 53 guys,” he said.

Asked about suspended linebacker Odell Thurman, Lewis said, “He is not a member of this football team. I don’t see (his return) on the horizon.”

Up to 12 players are expected to have “clean-up” surgery in the next few weeks, said Lewis, though he would not reveal any of them by name, except linebacker David Pollack.

Pollack will have surgery on his fractured C-6 vertebra and will have a recovery time before making a decision about whether to resume his football career.

The offseason strength and conditioning program is tentatively scheduled to begin April 2, Lewis said, and he expected all of his players – with the exception of tailback Chris Perry (ankle) – to be ready for on-field work in May.

Asked about the team’s on-field performance, Lewis said he was heartened by the development of players such as young offensive linemen Eric Ghiaciuc, Stacy Andrews and Andrew Whitworth – all forced to play considerable time because of injuries to starters – as well as the performances of defensive players Domata Peko, Johnathan Joseph and Ahmad Brooks.

Lewis said tailback Kenny Watson, tight end Tony Stewart and safety Kevin Kaesviharn “raised their level of play.” He said Henry could develop into an excellent player “if he can continue to improve socially.”

Defensively, the team “has got to develop an identity,” Lewis said. It’s disappointing. We had a good start, a blip in the middle but didn’t finish good. It’s not where we want to be.”

Pressed for specific changes he might consider on defense, Lewis said he and his coaches would look at “everything.”

Bengals to draft No. 18

The NFL released the official draft order today for April.

One of eight NFL teams to finish with an 8-8 record, the Bengals will select 18th overall as result of their .535 strength of schedule rating.

Jacksonville will draft No. 17 and Tennessee 19th.

Clearly, the Bengals' greatest needs are on defense.