Paper: Bengals invite Purify

The Bengals will announce their list of college free agents either Thursday or Friday, the start of their annual three-day rookie minicamp.

Alexander to Bengals?

The draft is completed. The Bengals did not select a running back. Coach Marvin Lewis said the team is optimistic that tailbacks Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry will return to health and the field in 2008. There is depth with Kenny Watson. There is the untapped potential of DeDe Dorsey, who has been a regular during the offseason at the facility. There is the Kenny Irons, who probably won't be ready for the start of training camp as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL injury, but he was the Bengals' second-round pick in 2007.

OK, what about adding a former league MVP to the mix in Shaun Alexander? The former Boone County star and Florence resident was terminated by the Seahawks this offseason after eight years in Seattle.

"Making calls to teams. Bengals are on our list!" Jim Steiner, Alexander's agent, told The Enquirer in an e-mail this morning.

The NFL's most valuable player in 2005 hit some impressive statistical milestones in 2007.

His four rushing touchdowns give him 100 for his career. He added another receiver touchdown and has 12 in his career.

He rushed 207 times for 716 yards. He now has 2,176 attempts for 9,429 yards. He started 11 games and played in two more, pushing his career totals to 97 starts and 119 games played.

He will turn 31 on Aug. 30.

Questions: If you are the Bengals, do you attempt to sign Alexander and bring him home to end his career? Would the move be more emotional than a dispassionate one that could help the team?

Kiper: C-plus for Bengals draft

Keith Rivers is solid player with great character. Jerome Simpson is a hard-working receiver and WR Andre Caldwell could be a second or third option right away. While junior DT Pat Sims was a very underrated player out of Auburn, OT Anthony Collins should have stayed at Kansas for another year. Still, he was decent fourth-round pick. Safety Corey Lynch is a playmaker (he blocked the field-goal attempt in the closing seconds of Appalachian State's upset win at Michigan last season). Some scouts I spoke with thought Lynch -- who went in Round 6 -- could go as high as the fourth round. Villanova TE Matt Sherry is not a very good blocker, but he has very good hands and could push for a roster spot. Wide receiver Mario Urrutia didn't have a great 2007 season and I'm not sure why he came out. Urrutia has talent, but should have gone back to Louisville for his senior season. Angelo Craig flashed pass-rushing abilities at times; at other times he disappeared.

Bengals waive S Turnbull

The club waived third-year pro Nick Turnbull this morning, a day after using one of its two sixth-round draft picks on Appalachian State safety Corey Lynch.

Bengals rookie free agents

The Bengals won't release the names of their rookie free agents until they are all signed.

Bill Koch, who covers UC sports for The Enquirer, reported this morning that Bearcats running back Bradley Glatthaar and defensive end Anthony Hoke signed rookie free agent contracts with the Bengals, guard Digger Bujnoch with the Giants and fullback Doug Jones with the Rams. Glatthaar and Bujnoch are Elder grads. Jones is from Dixie Heights.

The Bengals also drafted UC defensive end Angelo Craig in the seventh round Sunday.

Former UC safety Haruki Nakamura was drafted in the sixth round by Baltimore.

Anderson HS's Norwell to Pats

Chris Norwell, a 303-pound defensive lineman who played at the University of Illinois, is signing as a college free agent with New England. He played high school ball at Anderson.

Louisville tight end Scott Kuhn, who is from Burlington and played at Conner High School, is signing as an undrafted college player with the Baltimore Ravens.

5 picks on offense, 5 on D

The Bengals added 10 players to their roster this past weekend in the NFL draft. A quick look:

Round / Overall / Player / Pos. / School / Comment

1 / 9 / Keith Rivers / LB / Uncommon leadership potential, likely to start as rookie, strong against run as sure tackler

2 / 46 / Jerome Simpson / WR / Coastal Carolina / Give Bob Bratkowski benefit of doubt for history of picking receivers

3 / 77 / Pat Sims / DT / Auburn / Strong junior season suggests he can contribute in rotation again run, as pass rusher in rookie season

3 / 97 / Andre Caldwell / WR / Florida / Experienced pass catcher might be able to add threat on kickoff returns

4 / 112 / Anthony Collins / OT-G / Kansas / Bengals coaches like his flexibility to play either guard or tackle positions on the line

5 / 145 / Jason Shirley / DT / Fresno State / Marvin Lewis is convinced that off-field problems will be resolved for 330-pounder

6 / 177 / Corey Lynch / S / Appalachian State / Probably will m make roster on special teams, six blocked kicks in college

6 / 207 / Matt Sherry / TE / Villanova / Will be given chance to add weight and develop as blocker, talented receiver

7 / 244 / Angelo Craig / DE-LB / Cincinnati / Hard-playing prospect could get opportunity to develop on practice squad

7 / 246 / Mario Urrutia / WR / Louisville / Third receiver drafted is a tall target at almost 6-5 and had big 2006 season with 58 receptions (six touchdowns)

-- Mark Curnutte

Final pick is WR Urrutia

With their second of two seventh-round picks, the Bengals picked wide receiver Mario Urrutia of Louisville. He is the third wide receiver taken in 10 picks. He is almost 6 feet, 6 inches and weighs 232 pounds.

Bengals take UC DE Craig at 244

The Bengals stayed home to select Angelo Craig, a defensive end from the University of Cincinnati. He is projected to be an outside linebacker in the NFL. It was the 244th overall pick of the draft and the first of two for the Bengals in the seventh round. They come back at 246 with their final selection.

He is 6 feet, 4 inches, 252 pounds. He started 11 of 13 Bearcats games in 2007 and finished with three sacks. He also played basketball at UC for part of one season.

TE Sherry at No. 207

With the 207th overall selection, their second pick of the second round, the Bengals selected Villanova tight end Matt Sherry. He is almost 6 feet, 4 inches and 250 pounds. He had 37 receptions for 461 yards and five touchdowns last season.

He was team captain at Villanova last season. So were Bengals first-round linebacker Keith Rivers at Southern Cal, second-round wide receiver Jerome Simpson at Coastal Carolina and fourth-round wide receiver Andre Caldwell.

S Corey Lynch at 177

The Bengals have selected safety Corey Lynch of Appalachian State with the 177th overall pick in the sixth round.

Lynch blocked three kicks last season on special teams. He is almost 6 feet, 1 inch and 204 pounds. He has played well in big games for the Mountaineers and projects to be a solid backup safety in the NFL and an immediate contributor on special teams.

One of his blocked kicks was Michigan's field-goal attempt at the end of Appalachian State's upset of the Wolverines, which he also recovered and returned deep downfield.

Bengals grab DT Shirley

With the 145th overall pick in the draft, their lone fifth-round selection, the Bengals have chosen defensive tackle Jason Shirley of Fresno State. He is 6 feet, 5 inches and 338 pounds.

He was arrested in October for suspension of driving under the influence.

By Shannon Russell
srussell@enquirer.com

The Bengals took a big risk by picking Fresno State defensive tackle Jason Shirley in the fifth round of Sunday’s NFL draft.

Not because of his football skills, but because of his checkered past.

The Bengals, reeling from 10 player arrests in a 14-month span in 2006 and 2007, made a surprise move in Shirley. He played only three games last season because of three separate off-field incidents and suspensions.

“It’s a little bit of a risk, yes,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “There’s a lot of guys who have gone over the last two days with more substantial things hanging over their heads.”

The 6-foot-5, 330-pound former Bulldog was suspended for Fresno State’s first two games for conduct detrimental to the team.

“That was a team issue, a personal team issue with coaches and teammates. I made a bad decision and it was one of those things that I had to pay for,” Shirley said.

He crashed his car into an apartment building Oct. 8 and fled the accident scene. He posted a blood-alcohol level of 0.12 -- which is well beyond the state’s 0.08 legal limit, the Associated Press reported, and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Shirley was suspended from the team for the season, but returned four weeks later when athletic director Thomas Boeh reversed his decision.

Shirley had medical documents that showed a concussion he received days before the crash, according to the Fresno Bee. His reprieve didn’t last long. Shirley was dismissed from the team almost one month later. He was cited on suspicion of driving with a suspended license and expired tags. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of driving under the influence and one count of hit-and-run because of the October incidents.

A jury trial is pending.

“I have a court date May 21. And right now, everything’s going kind of smooth. I can’t really get into the details about it, as advised to me by my lawyer, but it’s going smooth,” Shirley said. “It’s looking real good, and hopefully I can get that expunged off my record.”

Lewis said Shirley was “a guy we’ve done a lot of homework on,” and that the Bengals believe the case’s outcome will favor Shirley.

Shirley became the teams’ second defensive tackle drafted this weekend, following Auburn’s Pat Sims, who was selected in Round 3. Shirley took off the spring semester to prepare for the draft and said he’s just four classes shy of graduating with a degree in African-American Studies. He plans to graduate next spring.

Shirley hoped his past wouldn’t affect his chances to be drafted. He conveyed to Bengals officials that he is not the person his previous actions indicate.

“I was just making sure to them, that they knew that what happened was in the past,” Shirley said. “I really am a good person, and the things that happened to me off the field were just some mistakes that I made that’s not in my character.”

No. 112: Bengals take OT Collins

The Bengals used their fourth-round pick on offensive tackle Anthony Collins of Kansas. He was a two-year starter and gave up his final year of eligibility to enter the draft. He was rated as a second- to third-round pick. He is 6 feet, 5 inches, 310 pounds.

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals line coach Paul Alexander said this afternoon that Kansas tackle Anthony Collins, drafted by the team with the 112th overall pick of the weekend, is the prototypical Bengals offensive lineman.

“Big, explosive, strong, long arms (and) tough,” Alexander said of Collins, the team’s fourth-round pick.

And versatile, don’t forget versatile.

Collins, at 6 feet, 5 inches, 310 pounds, can play either tackle or guard position.

What about center?

“I could play anywhere they wanted me to play,” said Collins, who played both tackle positions in the same game at Kansas.

Collins started 23 of 24 games the past two seasons. He is an early-entry junior.

“There were four guys we really liked as a Bengals offensive lineman,” Alexander said. “When you watch film, his guy doesn’t hit the quarterback.”

The official stat sheet handed out by Bengals public relations, though, listed that Collins allowed six sacks for losses of 41 yards and three quarterback pressures in 476 pass plays.

Alexander said Collins is expected to come in and compete immediately, unlike 2004 fourth-round pick Stacy Andrews, who was a project but has developed into a top-flight lineman.

Collins played left tackle in college but might project more as a right tackle or guard in the NFL.

He played right tackle in 2006.

Collins, a first-team Associated Press All-America selection in 2007, said he could gain the necessary weight to make the move to guard.

Alexander said Collins does not play too high and has the type of body that would allow him to make the transition to guard.

At No. 97, Bengals take WR Caldwell

The Bengals added their second wide receiver of the draft when they picked Florida's Andre Caldwell. He had 56 receptions for the Gators in 2007 with seven touchdowns and is regarded as having explosive kickoff return ability. He is 6 feet, 207 pounds and projected to a second-to-third round pick.

He started the first three games of the 2005 season but then broke his right leg. He gained a medical red-shirt season.

Caldwell ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and can make people miss after catching the ball.

He started all 11 games in 2007 and converted 17 of 27 third-down plays he was involved in.

Caldwell, the younger brother of Rams wide receiver Reche Caldwell, is the second receiver drafted by the Bengals. They took Coastal Carolina's Jerome Simpson with the 46th overall pick in the second round on Saturday.

By Shannon Russell
srussell@enquirer.com

Andre Caldwell broke his right leg on a kickoff return against Tennessee in 2005 and missed the remainder of the season at Florida.

Recovering from that injury was among the hardest things he has ever done.

“It took me about a whole year before I was 100 percent,” Caldwell said. “It was a long, tough year.”

He hasn’t missed a step since then. Coming off a senior season in which he ranked second among Gators players with 56 receptions for 761 yards and seven touchdowns, Caldwell dazzled in the Under Armour Senior Bowl in January.

He scored on a 2-yard touchdown run as time expired, setting up the game-winning extra point in a thrilling South victory.The Bengals liked what they saw in the 6-foot, 203-pound wide receiver and picked him in the third round of Sunday’s NFL Draft.

He was selected 97th overall.

Caldwell, the brother of St. Louis wide receiver Reche Caldwell, has been lauded by draft analysts for his offensive versatility. He saw time at split end and slot receiver last season.

“We talking upstairs about what we’d do with him, and he has played a lot of slot work when he was at Florida, so that’s a good thing for him,” said offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. “But it goes back to initially starting him at one spot and going from there, and getting a real sense of (his) football intelligence.”

The Bengals took wide receiver Coastal Carolina’s Jerome Simpson in the second round, but coach Marvin Lewis said Saturday that Simpson probably “isn’t a guy who we would put value on in returns.”

Caldwell has explosive speed and may be called upon to do just that. He said his time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was about 4.35.

Bratkowski said special teams coach Darrin Simmons will take a look at both receivers.

“He always asks these skill guys coming in, ‘Have you ever returned kicks? Did you do it in high school? How much did you do it in college?’ I’m sure (Caldwell will) get some looks back there, because you always have to have a back-up, an emergency guy,” Bratkowski said.

Lewis was glad Caldwell stayed on the board as long as he did, and believes his size, athleticism and speed translate into big potential.

While the Bengals weren’t on Caldwell’s radar, he was pleasantly surprised and eager to join the franchise.

One of his memorable brushes with Ohio was when the Gators beat Ohio State, 41-14, in the 2006 national championship. Caldwell caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tim Tebow with 23 seconds left until halftime and the Gators led, 34-14.Caldwell had 35 starts in 53 games at Florida. He owns the school career record with 185 catches for 2,349 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The former Gators captain said he models himself after Chad Johnson, Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens. But unlike Johnson, he has no plans to celebrate after scoring.

“No, I ain’t a dancer,” Caldwell said. “I just go out there and make plays and do everything to help the team win the game.”

Bengals take DT Sims in third

The Bengals finally addressed a pressing need at defensive tackle and took Auburn's Pat Sims in the third round this morning with the 77th overall pick. He is 6 feet, 2 inches and 310 pounds.

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

In 2005, defensive tackle Pat Sims quit the Auburn football team to cope with the death of one of his four sisters, Vonda Nimmo, who had a heart attack at age 31.

“She was the first person I called mom,” said Sims, a defensive tackle taken this morning by the Bengals with the 77th overall pick in the NFL draft.

Sims, who fills a gaping need at defensive tackle for the Bengals, started all 13 games for Auburn last season and had 37 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks.

He left the team after two games of the 2005 season to cope with his half-sister’s death.

“I still think about her every day,” Sims, 23, said.

After staying on campus and in school, he asked coaches to return to the team in 2006. He played in all 13 games, though he did not start, and had three sacks.

“In my head, I missed football,” he said. “It was time to get back. (He missed) everything, hitting, the ability to tackle. It was not a good year. I needed time to get myself together.”

He appears to have an appreciation for the game that comes with time away from it.

Sims, at 6 feet, 2 inches, 310 pounds, was projected as a second-round pick.

“He’s a very, very strong man,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said this morning. “He had to grow up and come through some things. We’re happy with that selection.”

In 2007, Sims played seven games with a cast on his left hand after breaking a bone in his middle finger in practice.

“In the Mississippi State game, he made play after play after play with that cast on his hand,” said Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes, who came away impressed with Sims’ toughness.

Sims is the youngest of 10 children. In addition to the loss of his half-sister, he said he had a brother die, as well.

His father is a retired longshoreman who still holds jobs building houses and as a janitor.

“He’s always working,” Sims said of his father. “He can’t sit still.”

Movement describes Sims’ game, as well.

“I can bring penetration (as a pass rusher),” Sims said. “I can stop the run.”

From Keith Rivers' blog

Bengals take WR Simpson at 46

The Bengals selected Jerome Simpson, a wide receiver from Coastal Carolina. Pro Football Weekly projected Simpson as a fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Simpson had 41 receptions last season for a 17-yard average and 11 touchdowns. He is 6-1, 193 pounds. In four years, he had 161 receptions and 44 touchdowns.

The Bengals had their pick of some better-known receivers, including Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly, Texas' Limas Sweed, Michigan's Mario Manningham and Cal's DeSean Jackson. Defensive tackles Pat Sims of Auburn, Trevor Laws of Notre Dame and Marcus Harrison of Arkansas were available, too.

Looking ahead to No. 46

In the second round, the Bengals should be in the neighborhood to get a solid defensive tackle. The two that could be there are Notre Dame's Trevor Laws and Auburn's Pat Sims.

Numerology

The Saints traded their 10th overall and 78th overall (third round) picks to New England for the seventh selection, where New Orleans took defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis of Southern Cal.

The Bengals, logic would say, could have gotten that trade with the Patriots for their ninth and 77th picks.

The Bengals were willing to trade that very same pick, No. 77, their third-rounder, to Detroit, along with a fifth-round pick, for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.

More on Keith Rivers

Ravens move up, take QB Flacco

The Ravens, who traded down to No. 26, moved up to No. 18 with Houston in the first round to take quarterback Joe Flacco.

At 14, Chicago took offensive tackle Chris Williams. At 15, following a trade with Detroit, Kansas City took guard Branden Albert.

Then at 16, without a trade, Arizona took cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Then Detroit, in a spot traded by Minnesota to Kansas City and then to the Lions, selected offensive tackle Gosder Cherilis.

Picks stack up

At No. 10, New England took Jerod Mayo. At 11, Buffalo took cornerback Leodis McKelvin.

At 12, Denver took offensive tackle Ryan Clady. And, with 13, Carolina took Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart.

Bengals take LB Rivers

With defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis off the board, the Bengals just selected linebacker Keith Rivers with the ninth overall pick. Bengals linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald ran the linebacker drills at the Southern Cal pro day workouts in early April.

Ellis is a proven run defender.

The Bengals have taken a defensive player in four consecutive first rounds, with Rivers joining linebacker David Pollack (2005) and cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall.

Jags trade up from 28, take DE Harvey

The Jaguars moved up to No. 26 to eighth to select Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey.

The Bengals now have their choice from linebacker Keith Rivers, cornerback Leodis McKelvin and Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall.

Saints trade up, take DT Ellis

The Bengals sat on their ninth pick, while New Orleans leap-frogged over them and Baltimore to select defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis from Southern Cal. He was the player the Bengals were thought to like most.

The Saints gave New England the 10th and 78th overall picks for the No. 7 pick to get Ellis.

Jacksonville has just traded up No. 26 in the first round to get the No. 8 pick from Baltimore.

Jets take DE Gholston sixth

The Jets, who wanted running back Darren McFadden, selected defensive end Vernon Gholston of Ohio State.

Two picks until the Bengals go. Do they trade up for Ellis? New England at No. 7 likes Ellis.

6-7-8 scenario?

Gholston to Jets at 6.

Guard Branden Albert to Patriots at 7.

Cornerback Leodis McKelvin to Ravens at 8.

That would leave Ellis for the Bengals at No. 9.

DT Dorsey goes to KC at 5

Sedrick Ellis is still available with three teams still left to pick before the Bengals.

Kansas City has taken defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey from LSU.

The Jets, Patriots and Ravens are the next three picks.

The Jets are expected to take defensive end Vernon Gholston.

Raiders take RB McFadden No. 4

Oakland, which has other needs, has selected Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick.

With four picks remaining until the Bengals go at No. 9, top defensive tackles Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis remain available.

Kansas City is next at 5 with one of the most mysterious selections. Do they take Dorsey, left offensive tackle Ryan Clady or Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston?

Falcons take QB Ryan No. 3

The Falcons, who had debated taking LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey with the third overall pick, have selected Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.

Dorsey was not expected to get past Atlanta. Now Dorsey and Southern Cal defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis are still in play with three picks gone. The Bengals are at No. 9.

DE Chris Long No. 2 to Rams

Word is ...

... that my projection of the Bengals' interest in linebacker Keith Rivers is over-stated.

A more likely pick, if defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis is gone, could be cornerback Leodis McKelvin. The former Troy star would be the third consecutive cornerback taken in the first round, joining Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall.

Hall, who is a smart player, could play some safety as the nickel defender -- against a division filled with pass-catching tight ends Kellen Winslow Jr., Heath Miller and Todd Heap.

McKelvin, in addition to being the top-rated cornerback, is the top kick returner available with seven career kick returns for touchdowns.

For a team desperate to improve its punt return game, the Bengals could use McKelvin. He had three punt returns for touchdowns last season and averaged an incredible 18.3 yards per punt return.

If it's not Ellis at No. 9 for the Bengals, the top trio now appears to be McKelvin, defensive end Derrick Harvey or running back Rashard Mendenhall.

Round 1 shaping up -- maybe

NFL media says that the Rams are leaning toward defensive end Jake Long at No. 2 and that Atlanta will take quarterback Matt Ryan at 3. Then Oakland will take the player the Jets want at 6, running back Darren McFadden.

LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey could go to Kansas City at No. 5, but the Chiefs need an offensive tackle.

Then it's the Jets, Patriots and Ravens -- at Nos. 6, 7 and 8 -- before the Bengals go at No. 9.

Nobody is saying, but would the Bengals talk to the Chiefs and take a shot at getting Dorsey? But the Bengals are thought to like Sedrick Ellis better than Dorsey.

Chad to NFL TV: I'll sit out

In an interview with NFL Network, Chad Johnson said he is prepared not to play in 2008.

"I will take the criticism," Johnson said. "I will stick by my guns, and I will not be there. I feel things need to be done to make this team better. I don't blame Marvin Lewis. I love him. You have never heard me say one bad thing about my coaches or teammates. I know it's not up to Coach Lewis. Whether I'm traded, or if we get better players, is not up to him. If it was up to Coach Lewis, then he would do it."

Johnson is demanding a trade. Once a face of the Bengals, Johnson wants out of Cincinnati.

"What's changed for me is that I don't feel that we can compete," Johnson told the league-owned TV channel. "Look at Cleveland and what they are doing to win. The Patriots and Indianapolis are going for a ring every year. When going for a ring, it all starts at the top. We need to do more and bring in more. We're staying the same. Yes, we have good players, but we need great players. We need defense. They say the money is tied up on offense; I'm not buying it. Look at others teams who are doing it, like Cleveland."

Draft Day: Post 1

The Bengals aren't scheduled to pick for at least three hours -- around 4:20-4:30 this afternoon.

I'm at Paul Brown Stadium, where we work in a press room across a hall from the locker room.

I just saw Bengals running backs coach Jim Anderson and asked him if he would be appearing in the interview room today -- Rounds 1 or 2 -- to introduce a running back.

"Don't know, never know," Anderson said.

The Bengals are interested in Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall at No. 9.

The Bengals also like Southern Cal defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, Southern Cal linebacker Keith Rivers and Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey.

Under the radar: Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who is considered both the top corner and return man available. Would the Bengals draft a cornerback in the first round three years in a row? They took Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall the past two years.

The Bengals coaches and front office executives are in their offices in the administration building. Media is not allowed up there.

Pro Football Writers awards

The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) is announcing its award winners today for 2008.

-- Good Guy Award: Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre

This award is given for the player who best helped the media do its job. A PFWA member who nominated Favre said there was "no better interview in the game. Ask the guy a question and he'll bare his soul."

Favre not only gave detailed, honest answers but increased his availability to national and out-of-town reporters. Leading into games, Favre did more conference calls than in previous seasons with media covering the opposition even knowing he would inevitably be asked the same questions about his possible retirement.

Favre answered the inquiries with class and dignity before making his retirement official in March.

-- Horrigan Award: Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren

This award is given to the person (not a player or team media relations member) who helped the media best do its job last season. Holmgren enters his final season as Seattle's coach -- and perhaps his last as a coach anywhere -- much to the dismay of those who cover him. In fact, those PFWA members consider it an upset that he has never won this award considering his openness and incredibly consistent availability even to those critical of him.

Holmgren is very patient in explaining his thinking about a variety of issues, including those that other coaches might be reluctant to discuss. It should be noted that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was a very close runner-up, falling just three votes short of tying Holmgren in the balloting.

-- Halas Award: Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett

This award is given to the individual in the NFL who overcame the most adversity to succeed last season. Everett was chosen among one of the strongest groups of candidates the PFWA has ever nominated for this award.

In the 2007 season-opener, Everett sustained a fracture and dislocation of his cervical spine. Doctors initially characterized the injury as life-threatening and stated he was likely to have suffered permanent neurological impairment. But days later, Everett showed significant movement in his arms and legs, which led doctors to speculate that he may eventually be able to walk again. Everett walked in public for the first time at Ralph Wilson Stadium before the home finale against the New York Giants on December 23, 2007.

-- Rozelle Award: Seattle Seahawks

This award is given to the media relations staff that best helped PFWA members do their jobs. Seattle has become a perennial finalist and received the most nominations for the second time in three years. The Seahawks are regarding as one of the NFL's most media-friendly teams. This is evidenced by the strong support Seattle coach Mike Holmgren received in Horrigan Award voting and outpouring of tributes being paid to Gary Wright, the former media relations director who is retiring in June as the team's vice president of administration.

Extra touches set the Seahawks apart, like the overnight shipping of CD-ROMs with game releases to out-of-town media and complimentary valet parking for visiting reporters during the playoffs. Dave Pearson, Seattle's director of communications and broadcasting, has spearheaded these changes while earning respect as one of the NFL's top media relations chiefs. A support staff that includes Lane Gammel, Julie Barber, Rich Gonzales and Jeff Garza also is considered one of the league's most helpful.

-- McCann Award: Len PasquarelliThis award is named in honor of the first executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Dick McCann Award is given annually by the PFWA to honor one of its members for distinguished service.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh and working as a teacher, coach and newspaper stringer, Pasquarelli became editor of Pittsburgh Steelers Weekly in 1978. He joined the Pro Football Weekly staff in 1982, then went to the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel to handle the Indianapolis Colts beat in 1986. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hired Pasquarelli to cover the Atlanta Falcons in 1989. A decade later, he entered cyberspace with SportsLine.com before landing at ESPN.com in 2001.

Pasquarelli became ill during Pro Football Hall of Fame voting at the last Super Bowl and had emergency, quintuple bypass surgery -- but not before he voted and wrote his column. Pasquarelli will be honored at this year's Hall of Fame dinner in Canton.

PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS (2003 to 2007)

HORRIGAN
2003 - Herm Edwards, New York Jets
2004 - Ozzie Newsome, Baltimore Ravens
2005 - Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons
2006 - Floyd Reese, Tennessee Titans
2007 - Steve Alic, NFL media relations

GOOD GUY (Award instituted in 2005)
2005 - Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
2006 - Tiki Barber, New York Giants
2007 - LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego.

HALAS
2003 - Robert Edwards, Miami Dolphins
2004 - Sam Mills, Carolina Panthers
2005 - Mark Fields, Carolina Panthers
2006 - Tony Dungy, Indianapolis
2007 - Drew Brees, New Orleans

ROZELLE
2003 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2004 - Houston Texans
2005 - Philadelphia Eagles
2006 - Cincinnati Bengals
2007 - Houston Texans

McCANN
2003 - Joel Buchsbaum, Pro Football Weekly
2004 - Rick Gosselin, Dallas Morning News
2005 - Jerry Green, Detroit News
2006 - John McClain, Houston Chronicle
2007 - John Clayton, ESPN

Bengals won't get Robertson

The Broncos are comfortable with the condition of Robertson's knees. The Bengals weren't but would have been OK with signing him if the Jets had decided to release him in June.

Rosenhaus: Bengals, please trade Chad

Ellis, and if not Ellis, then Rivers

If I am the Bengals with the No. 9 overall pick Saturday in the NFL draft, I take Southern Cal defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis if he is there.

If Ellis is gone, most likely to Kansas City, then I take Ellis' Southern Cal teammate, linebacker Keith Rivers. Rivers excels in run defense and is solid in pass coverage. He can play all three linebacker positions.

Second round: More defense.

Third round: Wide receiver.

Crystal (foot)ball

With Michigan offensive left tackle Jake Long agreeing to terms Tuesday with Miami, making him the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the Bengals are now expected to pick one from the following players at No. 9:

Ryan Clady, Boise State offensive left tackle

Sedrick Ellis, Southern Cal defensive tackle

Derrick Harvey, Florida defensive end

Chris Long, Virginia defensive end

Leodis McKelvin, Troy cornerback

Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois running back

Keith Rivers, Southern Cal linebacker

Jonathan Stewart, Oregon running back

Report: Bengals did turn down Redskins

UPDATED, 4:56 p.m. (Blogger has been malfunctioning all day, repeatedly delaying my posts from Paul Brown Stadium.)

In scouring my tape of Marvin Lewis' press conference from 11:30 this morning, I have come across this question and answer:

Reporter: "Have you received any trade offers for Chad (Johnson)?"

Marvin Lewis: "No."

INITIAL BLOG POSTING: After the second ESPN this afternoon, in which Lewis told Chris Mortensen that his initial report was correct and that the Bengals had turned down Washington's trade offer for Chad Johnson, The Enquirer contacted Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan.

Brennan gave the following statement to The Enquirer:

"A questioner (a television producer) said ESPN had reported a Redskins trade offer of two first-round picks. Coach Lewis denied such an offer had been made.

"But ESPN, in fact, did not report an offer of two first-round picks. Coach Lewis later confirmed that the ESPN story, as actually written, was accurate. Marvin told the Redskins that we were not interested trading Chad."

ESPN initially reported that Washington had offered its first-round pick this year (No. 21 overall) and a conditional third-round pick in 2009 that could escalate to a first-round pick if Johnson met performance levels.

Drew Rosenhaus, Johnson's agent, has not returned a phone message from The Enquirer seeking comment on the day's news of Washington's trade offer.

The Bengals would take an $8.03 million salary cap hit if they traded or released Johnson before June 1. After June 1, the Bengals could spread the salary cap hit into 2009.

Palmer on Chad: I've moved on

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer this morning down-played the reaction Chad Johnson had to comments Palmer made last week.

Palmer had said he had talked to Johnson, who has demanded to be traded, and Palmer said Johnson had told him he would be "there when he had to be."

Johnson, though ESPN.com, fired back to Palmer and essentially told Palmer to mind his own business.

"I take it with a grain of salt," Palmer said this morning when asked about Johnson's reaction. "I've moved on."

"No," Palmer said when asked if he had talked to Johnson in the past week.

"I've always tried to be a (forgiving-and-forgetting) guy. I hope he's here. He's a good player," Palmer said. "It's just part of the gsame. It's such a business. You have to be prepared to move on."

Lewis: No Chad trade offers

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, in a pre-draft news conference this morning, said the Bengals have not received any trade offers, including one from the Redskins for their first-round pick this year and third-round pick next year, for disgruntled wide receiver Chad Johnson.

The 2009 pick could elevate to a first if Johnson were to hit performance incentives, according to ESPN.com.

"Errant," is how Lewis described the report of the trade offer. "I don't think Mike Brown received a call."

"No," Lewis said again when asked if Brown had received any trade offers.

"In don't think anything has changed. We're going to go through and not be concerned," Lewis said when asked if Johnson's threat to not to play would affect the team's draft plans. "I think he has made it clear he's not going to play, and that's what I've been aware of since the end of last season. I think it's time to do what you say you're going to do, and we'll move forward.

"He has a contract through 2011. He stated, without an opportunity to go to another team with a new contract he wasn't going to play. I think he's a man of his word, and says he's not going to play, so don't play."

Lewis: Pollack will retire

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals linebacker David Pollack has expressed to head coach Marvin Lewis that he is “headed to retirement,” Lewis said late this morning in a news conference.

“He is not completely comfortable where he is medically,” Lewis said. “We know the quality of the person. We’re proceeding that he will not be part of the football team.”

Pollack, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2005, fractured his C6 vertebrae in Game 2 of the 2006 season and has not played since.

Lewis said he spoke with Pollack a week ago, when Pollack told him of his decision.

“The good thing he is going to have an outstanding life,” Lewis said of Pollack.

Bengals confirm Thurman return

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman, after what has amounted to a two-year NFL suspension, learned this afternoon that he has been reinstated by the league, the Bengals announced this afternoon.

"Odell has met the NFL’s conditions for reinstatement and has been added to our offseason roster," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement released by the club. "It is now up to Odell to continue to meet all NFL guidelines, and to maintain a standard of personal responsibility that will allow him the chance to compete for a spot on our team."

Thurman missed the past two seasons because of repeated violations of the NFL substance abuse policy.

His first application for reinstatement was denied in July, and he was told he could reapply after the 2007 regular season.

In January, Thurman was granted permission to begin working out with the team at Paul Brown Stadium.

Thurman was the Bengals second-round draft pick in 2005 from Georgia. He played in every game, including the playoff loss, and led the team with 148 tackles during the regular season. He also led the team with four forced fumbles, and his five interceptions tied for the most for an NFL rookie that season.

Thurman had been splitting time between Greater Cincinnati and his hometown of Monticello, Ga. He is working out and regularly attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings and working with a counselor.

Thurman opened the 2006 season with a four-game suspension, but it was extended to a full year Sept. 27 following his DUI arrest Sept. 25.

The Bengals expected to have him back for the 2007 season.

Much has changed for 2008.

The Bengals have a new defensive coordinator in Mike Zimmer and linebackers coach in Jeff FitzGerald. The team also is considering a switch to a base defense that uses four linebackers instead of three.

Thurman could team with Ahmad Brooks to form an imposing, big-play tandem of linebackers in the middle.

NFL reinstates Thurman

Wyche running for office in S.C.

T.J.: Maybe best to trade Chad

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson's confidant, said Thursday that his teammate of seven years is serious about not playing again for the Bengals.

Houshmandzadeh told The Enquirer that it might be best, in spite of the salary cap hit, if the Bengals were to grant Johnson’s wish to be traded.

"If he’s not traded, he’s going to be a problem," Houshmandzadeh said.

He found himself talking to both Johnson and quarterback Carson Palmer on Wednesday, the day Johnson strongly refuted Palmer’s comment that Johnson had told him he would report to the Bengals when required.

"Honestly, it’s the same thing; he doesn’t want to be here," Houshmandzadeh said. "Will he eventually show up? I don’t know. Logic would tell you he would show up and get a credited season. Whatever month it is – September, October (or) November – it’s going to be a distraction."

Houshmandzadeh compared the situation to a husband and wife divorcing. If one spouse wants to leave, the only reason that spouse might stay is out of pity, he said.

"It’s going to be ups and a whole lot of downs," said Houshmandzadeh, comparing Johnson’s relationship to the Bengals. "It’s early. We’ve got May, June and July. We have 53 players on the team. Do you want to roll the dice and get him to Cincinnati and see if he will perform and be professional? But will it be such a disruption that it will be another season down the drain – a season when (esteemed right tackle) Willie Anderson doesn’t get to the playoffs?"

Houshmandzadeh, the team’s player representative, told Johnson that he faces more than $14,000 a day in fines for not reporting when required.

"He doesn’t care," Houshmandzadeh said of Johnson’s reaction.

By crossing swords with Palmer, Houshmandzadeh said, Johnson might have picked a fight he can’t win.

"Carson is the $119 million man," Houshmandzadeh said. "I talked to him (Wednesday). He said, `I don’t know what I said to (anger Johnson).'"

Fitzpatrick signs for one year

Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, one of the Bengals' restricted free agents, signed a one-year contract today, the club announced.

It is for the one-year RFA tender of $927,000.

Fitzpatrick is a fourth-year NFL player in 2008. He was on the roster all season in 2007 as the No. 2 QB behind Carson Palmer but did not have a pass attempt. He has six games of NFL experience with three starts, five of those games with St. Louis. He is 76-for-135 passing in his career with four touchdowns and eight interceptions.

He was acquired by the Bengals on Sept. 1 from St. Louis in exchange for the Bengals' seventh-round draft pick this year.

Chad to Carson: Out of my business

Chad Johnson, the Bengals' disgruntled five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, took exception to comments made this morning about Johnson by quarterback Carson Palmer.

Palmer said Johnson told him that he would be at the mandatory minicamp in mid-June.

Unhappy with what he read on the Internet, Johnson called EPSN.com's John Clayton and told Palmer to stay out of Johnson's business and that he would not report.

Johnson has refused to speak to Cincinnati-based media since October.

Locker-room notes

The Bengals are in their fourth week of their offseason strength and conditioning program and just held an open locker-room period for the media.

-- Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said he would sign his $927,000 restricted free agent offer with the Bengals in a day or two.

-- Carson Palmer, speaking for the first time about the release two weeks ago of wide receiver Chris Henry, "You thought it might happen, given his track record. It's too bad. (Henry is) an amazing talent, and to see him throw it away is tough. He's a good-hearted person. It's just too bad."

-- On the need Henry's departure creates for the Bengals at wide receiver, Palmer said he was concerned but also enthused about the players in the program.

"It doesn't seem we have a lot of options from the outside perspective," Palmer said. "But we have Antonio (Chatman), Glenn (Holt), and now Doug (Gabriel) is here. We still have T.J. (Houshmandzadeh) and Chad (Johnson). ... None of them are rookies. They are guys with experience."

-- Palmer said he has spoken via phone with Johnson, who is skipping the offseason program because of lingering unhappiness with the organization, and Johnson told Palmer that "he'll be there he has to." That would be the mandatory minicamp in mid-June.

-- Gabriel, signed as a street free agent after a year out of football, said his early work with Palmer reminds him of New England quarterback Tom Brady, with whom he also played.

-- New tight end Ben Utecht said he would throw later today with Palmer for the first time.

Bengals not on Monday, Sunday night

Bengals' 2008 regular season schedule, announced at 2 p.m. by the NFL:

Sun., Sept. 7, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 14, TENNESSEE, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 21, at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 28, CLEVELAND, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 5, at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 12, at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 19, PITTSBURGH, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 26, (BYE)
Sun., Nov. 2, JACKSONVILLE, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 9, at Houston, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 16, PHILADELPHIA*, 1 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 20, at Pittsburgh (NFL NETWORK), 8:15 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 30, BALTIMORE*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 7, at Indianapolis*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 14, WASHINGTON*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 21, at Cleveland*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 28, KANSAS CITY*, 1 p.m.

From Bengals PR:

The Bengals’ 2008 schedule, released today by the National Football League, features a rigorous first half. Four of the first six games are on the road, and four of the first seven are against 2007 playoff qualifiers.

The home opener will be on Sun., Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. against Tennessee, an ’07 playoff team. The Bengals posted their most lopsided win of ’07 in a home game against the Titans, prevailing 35-6. Cincinnati starts the season on the road for the fourth time in the last five years, facing Baltimore at 1 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 7. It marks the second straight Bengals season opener against the Ravens, following a wild 27-20 Bengals win at Paul Brown Stadium in last year’s lid-lifter.

Road games at the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys stand out during the opening six-game stretch.

The Giants game, on Sun., Sept. 21, will be only the second Cincinnati match in the last 10 years against a defending Super Bowl champion from outside the Bengals’ division. The Bengals have held their own in their last 15 games overall against defending Super Bowl champs, showing a 7-8 record.

The Dallas game on Oct. 5 will be the featured doubleheader game on CBS, with a Cincinnati kickoff time of 4:15 p.m. The Cowboys tied for the NFC’s best record last season at 13-3.

"As always, it’s exciting to receive our schedule, and we know the challenges right from the start,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “We have a division opponent on the road, the home opener against a young playoff team in Tennessee, and then the defending world champions."

Barring possible changes due to flex scheduling, Cincinnati’s only night game will be at Pittsburgh on Thursday, Nov. 20 -- a week before Thanksgiving -- at 8:15 p.m. The game will be aired on the NFL Network, and will also be simulcast by a local Cincinnati station yet to be determined.

"Battle of Ohio" games against Cleveland are scheduled Sept. 28 at Paul Brown Stadium and Dec. 21 at Cleveland. The Bengals lead Cleveland 35-34 in the all-time series.

The Bengals will close the season at home for only the second time in the last five years, hosting Kansas City on Dec. 28. Though they are not in the same division, the Bengals and Chiefs will be playing for the fourth consecutive year.

DL Robinson to Arizona

Defensive lineman Bryan Robinson, who spent the past three seasons with the Bengals, signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, according to the Arizona Republic.

Robinson is an 11-year veteran who will be 34 in June. He was a backup for the Bengals in 2007 and had 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Robinson also has played for the Rams, Bears and Dolphins.

The Bengals made no attempt to re-sign Robinson.

Schedule release at 2 p.m.

The NFL will release the regular-season schedule today at 2 p.m.

The Bengals' regular-season opponents are known.

Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Washington.

Away: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, New York Jets and New York Giants.

The league will release times and dates, including possible prime-time games.

Draft planner; schedule unlikely today

Don't look for the NFL regular season schedule to be released today by the NFL. Sometime later in the week is now the plan.

Looking ahead to the weekend of April 26 and 27, the NFL Draft, remember that Rounds 1 and 2 only will be held Saturday. Round 3 was moved to Sunday this year.

Round 1 will begin at 3 p.m. April 26. Teams will have 10 minutes. Barring a trade, and if the eight team selecting ahead of the Bengals take all 10 minutes allotted, the Bengals will pick around 4:20 p.m. Teams have 15 minutes in 2007.

Teams will have seven minutes to make their pick in the second round, down from 10 in previous years.

Round 3 will begin Sunday at 10 a.m. In Rounds 3-7, teams will still have five minutes to pick. The Bengals select 14th in the third round, so they could be making their pick around 11:10 a.m. April 27.

"What we were trying to do with the changes we made in the draft is make it more entertaining and make it more fun for the fans," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said April 2 at the end of the annual league meeting. "There was a significant amount of time during the picks that teams just sat on their picks, waiting to see if somebody came to them. We felt that it was a time that was not necessary."

The Bengals will have two picks in the third round. The NFL announced the awarding of four compensatory picks March 31 to the Bengals. Original picks can be traded. Compensatory picks can not.

The team's 10 picks:

Round / Round pick / Overall pick / Type
1 / 9 / 9 / Original
2 / 15 / 46 / Original
3 / 14 / 77 / Original
3 / 34 / 97 / Compensatory
4 / 13 / 112 / Original
5 / 12 / 145 / Original
6 / 11 / 177 / Original
6 / 41 / 207 / Compensatory
7 / 37 / 244 / Compensatory
7 / 39 / 246 / Compensatory

The Bengals traded their original seventh round pick, the 10th pick of the seventh round and 217th overall, to St. Louis in September in exchange for backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

What are your top 10 picks in draft?

OK, I've had my first couple of chances to write a mock draft of the first round, all 31 picks.

Go ahead, what do you think will happen in Picks 1-10, with the Bengals at No. 9?

We'll update our mock draft online at the end of the week and again on draft morning, April 26.

Team waives DE Verdon

The Bengals this afternoon waived defensive end Jimmy Verdon, a first-year NFL player from Arizona State. Verdon joined the Bengals as a free agent in January 2007 but suffered a knee injury in NFL Europa play that sidelined him for the 2007 NFL season.

Graham supports Yellow Ribbon

Bengals kicker Shayne Graham will appear at 2 p.m. today at the Eastgate Bigg's store -- 4450 Eastgate Blvd. -- in support of the Maupin family, Yellow Ribbon Support Center and Let Us Never Forget Scholarship Fund.

NEWS: Times, dates for preseason games

Opponents for the four-game schedule were announced last week by the NFL. Times and dates were released this morning.

The dates and times of the regular-season schedule are expected to be released by the league office early next week.

The complete Bengals' 2008 preseason schedule:

DAY / DATE / OPPONENT / TIME
Monday / Aug. 11 / at Green Bay / 8 p.m.
Sunday / Aug. 17 / DETROIT / 7:35 p.m.
Saturday / Aug. 23 / NEW ORLEANS / 7:35 p.m.
Thursday / Aug. 28 / at Indianapolis / 7 p.m.

Bengals' regular-season opponents:

Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Washington.

Away: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, New York Jets and New York Giants.

Jordan Palmer appearance

This note just in from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati:

New Cincinnati Bengal, Jordan Palmer, will be at the Buenger Boys & Girls Club in Newport this Friday to host the Boys & Girls Clubs Annual Quiz Bowl.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati’s Annual Quiz pits teams of four members ages 10-14 from five different clubs against each other in a Jeopardy style battle of wits. Students compete in five categories: math, science, history and current events, sports and entertainment, and arts and literature. The winning Club will return home with the infamous “Quiz Bowl Cup,” along with bragging rights for the year.

The Buenger Boys & Girls Clubs is at 36 E. 10 St., Newport. The event starts at 6 p.m.

BANG club: Peko not unruly

UPDATED with The Enquirer story on the Bang nightclub incident linked to blog post.

Leo Goeas, agent for Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko, forwarded this release late this afternoon from the BANG Nightclub to absolve Peko of unruly behavior on the night of March 29.

The release states:

"To clarify an earlier press release, BANG Nightclub states that although Mr. Domata Peko was present at the club on Saturday, March 29, 2008, his behavior was not unruly. Further, any association made by media outlets or others between Mr. Peko and those persons who engaged in unruly or abusive behavior is incorrect.

" We thank Mr. Peko for his assistance in resolving this matter and wish him and the Cincinnati Bengals success in the coming season. BANG Nightclub is an upscale establishment that strives to treat all guests equally. BANG expects its guests to treat one another with class and respect. Accordingly, BANG will not tolerate unruly or illegal behavior."

-- BANG Nightclub

Bengals sign WR Gabriel

The Bengals today signed free agent wide receiver Doug Gabriel to a one-year contract.

Gabriel (6-2, 215; Central Florida) is a fifth-year NFL player in 2008. He has played in 57 games with 12 starts and has 101 career receptions for 1,550 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has 86 career kickoff returns for a 21.5-yard avg., with one touchdown.

He was a fifth-round draft choice of Oakland in 2003 and played for the Raiders through 2005. He was traded to New England just before the start of the 2006 season and played for the Patriots before being re-acquired by Oakland on waivers in December of that year.

He was released by the Raiders on Aug. 27, 2007 and was not with an NFL team during the 2007 season.

Bengals waive RB Wilson

The Bengals today waived halfback Quincy Wilson, a second-year NFL player from West Virginia. Wilson played in one game last season, the Dec. 30 season finale at Miami, after signing as a free agent Dec. 26.

Thoughts on Henry, draft, Chad, Rudi

Back at it after a couple of much-needed days off:

Item 1: Chris Henry. Henry is out of jail and back at his downtown apartment, under home incarceration. He is unemployed and will almost certainly face stiff NFL discipline under the league's personal conduct policy, which was the reason for 10 games of suspension the previous two seasons. Another team could pick him up off waivers, but that is unlikely. But you never know. A lot of NFL coaches have messiah complexes, that they can save a player that no one else could.

Though there is a general sadness among many Bengals fans about Henry squandering his talent and opportunity, the Bengals' decision to waive Henry is seen as addition by subtraction. Now the team is likely to spend a higher draft pick on a wide receiver, not necessarily in the first or second rounds, but they do have two third-rounders. Productive NFL receivers can be found in Round 3, for sure. The Bengals would favor a receiver with kickoff-return experience in college.

Back to Henry: He always was polite and soft-spoken with me in the locker room. I never dealt with him away from the stadium, though his legal-system exploits ate many days and nights chasing down details. I talked by phone the other day with T.J. Houshmandzadeh about Henry. He said my observations of Henry were his, as well. Polite, professional in the building. But unable to handle himself away from the stadium. I credit the Bengals for sticking the Chris Henry, the person, for as long as they did. They can't be criticized for cutting ties for the betterment of the team.

Item 2: Chad Johnson. When all is said about Henry, and it almost is, the key to the offseason will be Marvin Lewis' management ability as head coach to get Johnson back in the fold and pointed in the same direction as his teammates -- toward the goal of postseason play. Whether Lewis can reel Johnson back in will be the defining action of his tenure as Bengals coach.

Item 3: Sedrick Ellis. Many mock drafts have Ellis, the talented Southern Cal defensive tackle, falling to the Bengals with the ninth overall pick. The Bengals, including defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, were at the Southern Cal pro day workouts last week, according to USA Today. An astounding 25 NFL prospects worked out. Linebacker Keith Rivers stole the show, according to the paper.

But Ellis outdid his workout performance at the NFL scouting combine in February. He was 11 pounds lighter, down to 297 pounds.

The Bengals and Saints, who pick at No. 10, already have arranged for Ellis to make pre-draft visits for a closer medical look.

Item 4: NFL regular season schedule. It is likely to be released this week or early next week by the NFL. Opponents already are known, but the schedule will provide times and dates of any prime-time games.

Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Washington.

Away: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, New York Jets and New York Giants.

Item 5: Rudi Johnson. I was impressed by the serious tone and message coming from Rudi Johnson in a phone conversation I had last week with the tailback. He is determined to regain the form that made him a 1,400-yard runner in 2004 and 2005. The hamstring that forced him to miss five games in 2007 is healed. There's a chip on his shoulder, though, which is a positive sign for Bengals fans.

PFWA awards ballot

Each year, members of the Pro Football Writers of America present five awards in the NFL. Voting has begun through April 26. These awards focus on the inner workings of the independent media's coverage of the NFL.

A copy of the ballot members received:

Horrigan Award (For the person -- not a player or team public relations staffer -- who helped the media best do its job last season):

-- Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner. Goodell’s background in NFL public relations and his understanding of our jobs have helped improve the lines of communication between the media and teams. His appearances at our writers meetings at the Super Bowl, where he asks about our concerns, are further proof of his commitment to getting it right.

-- Mike Holmgren, Seahawks coach. Holmgren enters his final season as the Seahawks’ coach – and perhaps his last as a coach anywhere. Those who cover him regularly consider it an upset that he has never won this award, considering his openness and incredibly consistent availability, even to those critical of him. Holmgren is very patient in explaining his thinking about a variety of issues, including those that other coaches might be reluctant (read: paranoid) to
discuss.

-- Jerry Jones, Cowboys owner. Since purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones has been one of the most outspoken owners in all of sports. Never shy about giving his opinion, he is willing to speak to reporters on just about any subject, and fill your notebook to the brim. He is occasionally criticized for his opinions, but the fact that he is always willing to give them makes him one of the most valued people in the league.

-- Bill Polian, Colts president/general Manager. Polian has been particularly good at providing big-picture observations about the league, competition committee issues, and the draft. A number of writers have commented about his candor at the scouting combine. Polian is never shy about stating his opinions, even if he occasionally ruffles the feathers of the people he works with throughout the league. In other words, he’s good copy.

-- Dan Rooney, Steelers owner. A previous Horrigan nominee, Rooney remains a go-to guy among NFL owners. He is consistently available, and the fact that he speaks his mind on a variety of subjects -- whether they pertain to the Steelers or the NFL -- makes him one of the league’s most important voices. Perhaps the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; Rooney’s father, Art Rooney Sr., is a previous Horrigan winner.

Good-guy Award (For the player who best helped the media do its job):

-- Brett Favre, Packers. One of those who nominated said "No better interview in the game. Ask the guy a question and he'll bare his soul.'' Also noted that he continued to conference calls, at least more than some of his quarterback brethren.

--Bob Sanders, Colts. Cited for his willingness to be accessible and have something to say, win or lose, good or bad.

--Darren Sharper, Vikings. One who nominated called him "terrific'' over a long period of time.

--Fred Taylor, Jaguars. One who nominated said "His career has been a media learning curve, and this year was the best by far.''

--Jason Taylor, Dolphins. Several folks noted his willingness to be candid and offer something to say in what was a difficult season all around.

Halas Award (For the individual in the NFL who overcame the most adversity to succeed last season):

-- Eli Manning, Giants quarterback: Playing under intense scrutiny in the largest media market, Manning got hot in the last half of the season and led his team to three postseason victories on the road and into the Super Bowl. He played the best games of his career when they mattered most.

-- Kevin Everett, Bills tight end: In the opener, Everett sustained a fracture and dislocation of his cervical spine that his doctors characterized as "life-threatening" the day after the injury, and stated it is likely to leave him with permanent neurological impairment. However, on September 11, 2007, Everett showed significant movement in his arms and legs, which led doctors to speculate that he may eventually be able to walk again. Everett walked in public for the first time at Ralph Wilson Stadium before the home finale against the New York Giants on December 23, 2007.

-- Washington Redskins: The entire team rallied together after the shooting death of teammate Sean Taylor, piecing together a four-game win streak to qualify for the playoffs. One Seattle writer -- the Redskins lost a wildcard game there -- was impressed by the sincere closeness of the players and the spirit of cooperation with the media.

-- Plaxico Burress, Giants WR: He endured a season of serious ankle injuries that limited his ability to practice. Still, he was the Giants top receiver with 70 receptions for 1,025 yards. He also set a franchise playoff record in the NFC title game with 11 receptions for 154 yards as the Giants advanced to Super Bowl XLII, where he caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the Giants 17-14 upset of New England.

-- Greg Ellis, Dallas LB: The NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2007, Ellis returned from a torn Achilles' tendon suffered Nov. 12, 2006. He returned in Game 4 of 2007 and had the first of 12.5 sacks, tying for the team lead. During his injury and contract squabble with the Cowboys, Ellis was credited with his mentoring and leadership to younger players.

Rozelle Award (For the P.R. staff that best helped the media do its job):

-- Arizona Cardinals: Mark Dalton, senior director, media relations. The Cardinals have never won the Rozelle Award.

-- New York Giants: Pat Hanlon, vice president of communications. The Super Bowl champion is a multiple Rozelle award winner.

-- Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Boyko, director of football media services. The Eagles are a multiple Rozelle award winner.

-- San Diego Chargers: Bill Johnson, director of public relations. The Chargers are a finalist for the second consecutive year.

-- Seattle Seahawks: Dave Pearson, director of communications and broadcasting. Seattle has become a perennial finalist and received the most nominations for the second time in three years.

McCann Award (Named in honor of the first executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Dick McCann Award is given annually by the PFWA to honor one of its members for distinguished service):

-- Vic Carucci: After a cup of coffee with the Utica Observer Dispatch in 1979, Vic Carucci gained his first NFL beat with the South Jersey Courier Post, where he covered the Eagles for three seasons. He then went to the Buffalo News in 1982 and tracked the Bills for 17 seasons, all four Super Bowl losses included. He served a two-year term as PFWA president. Carucci joined NFL.com in 1999 and has been there since. He has authored nine books on NFL subjects, five of them New York Times best-sellers. He continued to work this past season despite undergoing cancer treatment, which has been successful.

-- Vinny DiTrani: Never having worked for another paper, "The Sage" started out at the Bergen Record in 1967. He took over the Jets beat in 1969, the season after they won Super Bowl III, and assumed the Giants beat in 1974. Aside from a stretch when he covered the league from 2001-03, DiTrani has covered the Giants ever since, going to four Super Bowls as a beat reporter. DiTrani is a longtime member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors.

-- Peter Finney: The Big Easy native is nearing 63 years at the New Orleans States, then States-Item, then Times-Picayune. Peter Finney was hired as a high schools writer in 1945 and became sports columnist in 1961. His tenure easily encompasses the lifespan of the Saints; they were 40 by the time he could write about their first NFC title appearance. Finney continued to cover the Saints (and the city) through the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. He has covered every Super Bowl except for the first two -- because his sports editor thought it was a fad.

-- Alan Greenberg: The longtime Hartford Courant writer died in March 2007 of a heart attack. He was 55. Greenberg, a Baltimore native and Syracuse grad, got his first big break from the Atlanta Constitution and was hired by the Los Angeles Times in 1979. Six years later, he joined the Courant. He covered all three of the Patriots' championship teams.

-- Len Pasquarelli: After graduating from Pitt and working as a teacher, coach and stringer for a few years, Len Pasquarelli became editor of Pittsburgh Steelers Weekly in 1978. He joined the Pro Football Weekly Staff in 1982 and then went to the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel to handle the Colts beat in 1986. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hired Pasquarelli to cover the Falcons in 1989. A decade later he continued his nomadic trek, entering cyberspace with SportsLine.com before landing at ESPN.com in 2001. Pasquarelli became ill during Pro Football Hall of Fame voting at the last Super Bowl and had emergency, quintuple bypass surgery -- but not before he voted and wrote his column.

Bengals waive punter Baugher

The Bengals today waived punter Danny Baugher, a first-year player from Arizona. Baugher had signed with Cincinnati as a free agent on Feb. 5.

Willie, Rudi on Henry departure

Reaction on the Bengals' release of wide receiver Chris Henry:

Willie Anderson: "I'm sorry for his family. We, as a team, know how much he was doing for his family. More than the Bengals were depending on him. He had family up here after (Hurricane) Katrina (hit New Orleans). He had a whole lot of family up here. You know more bad news is coming for him after today. Just pray for him, man, as corny as that sounds. I hope he and his family are OK through this ordeal."

Rudi Johnson: "It's definitely sad. He had talent. He's a very talented kid. But as a teammate, I have to ask myself if I did enough to help him, even though I did a lot. You wish him the best and hopefully he gets the message and gets the big picture.

"Last season, I talked to him a lot when he wasn't playing. He was at my house a lot. He would say he was determined to turn his life around. It's sad that he was telling me one thing and doing another."

Preseason opener at Packers

The Bengals' 2008 preseason schedule, announced this afternoon by the NFL, includes a Monday Night Football opener at Green Bay and home games against Detroit and New Orleans.

The nationally-televised ESPN game at defending NFC North champion Green Bay — the first MNF broadcast of the season — is scheduled for Aug. 11 with a 8 p.m. kickoff. The Bengals play host to Detroit and New Orleans in Preseason Weeks 2 and 3, respectively, and then close out the preseason on the road at defending AFC South champion Indianapolis.

Exact dates and kickoff times for Preseason Weeks 2-4 will be announced at a later date.

"As the draft approaches and we get the preseason schedule, it’s exciting to be getting closer to football again,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "The opportunity to open with a national game in one of the NFL’s most historic places should provide a great charge for our team."

The last Bengals visit to Green Bay’s Lambeau Field was a regular season game on Dec. 3, 1995.

This preseason will be the third year in a row that the Bengals have played a Monday Night Football game during preseason, and it’s the second time in those three games that the opponent has been Green Bay. The Bengals defeated the Packers 48-17 in a MNF game at Paul Brown Stadium in 2006 and lost 24-19 at Atlanta in a MNF contest in 2007.

This year's Bengals-Packers telecast also will air on a local, non-cable station, yet to be announced. Aside from that game, the Bengals’ preseason schedule will be televised live regionally on the Bengals Preseason TV Network.

--Preseason Week 1, at Green Bay (ESPN), Mon., Aug. 11, 8 p.m.

--Preseason Week 2, DETROIT, weekend of Aug. 15-17.

--Preseason Week 3, NEW ORLEANS, weekend of Aug. 22-24.

--Preseason Week 4, at Indianapolis, weekend of Aug. 29-31.

BREAKING NEWS: Bengals waive Henry

The Bengals just moments ago said they have waived wide receiver Chris Henry.

Bengals president Mike Brown issued the following statement:

"Chris Henry has forfeited his opportunity to pursue a career with the Bengals. His conduct can no longer be tolerated.

"The Bengals tried for an extended period of time to support Chris and his potentially bright career. We had hoped to guide him toward an appropriate standard of personal responsibility that this community would support and that would allow him to play in the NFL. We acknowledge those fans who had concerns about Chris; at the same time we tried to help a young man.

"But those efforts end today, as we move on with what is best for our team."

Chad to TV: I'll be there

Disgruntled Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson told EPSN on Wednesday night that he plans to show up for the mandatory full-squad minicamp in mid-June.

Johnson told ESPN's Brian Kenny he will not sit out the 2008 season. Johnson has refused to speak to the Cincinnati-based media since mid-October.

Johnson reacted strongly to comments made Tuesday by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis at the NFL annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. Lewis said the Bengals are "prepared to move on" if the all-star wide receiver decides to sit out the 2008 season.

But, "If (Johnson) shows and does things, and does (them) the right way, I'm willing to take the bullets for him again and allow him to come back the right way," Lewis said.

Johnson didn't like Lewis' statement.

"Don't take any bullets for me. Don't take one bullet," Johnson said in the ESPN interview. "Do I get in trouble? Do I do anything wrong off the field? Do I? What bullets? I'm not a player that comes with bullets. I'm no threat. I'm not a problem. OK, I celebrate. Whoop-de-do. You know what you get when I touch the field every Sunday."

Johnson said he will show up for the mandatory mid-June minicamp.

"My plans are to show up and embarrass everybody that tries to cover me," Johnson said. "If they're satisfied with what we have, and think that's gonna get us where we need to go, then so be it."

Henry in trouble again

Pending the result of Chris Henry's court appearance this afternoon in Hamilton County, where he is charged with assault on an 18-year-old man, the Bengals are expected to have some comment on the case -- a departure from their policy.

The story is somewhat on hold now, until Henry appears in court.

Looking back a year ago this month, when Henry was suspended for eight games by the NFL for violation of its personal conduct policy, here were his conditions for re-instatement -- which was granted. Some of these points might apply -- repeat, might -- now that Henry is in legal trouble again.

Spelled out by the league, Henry had to:

-- Have no further adverse involvement with law enforcement.

-- Cooperate with all required counseling, education, and treatment assigned to him under league programs.

-- Meet weekly with Bengals’ player development director, Eric Ball.

-- Comply with all conditions imposed on him by any court, including requirements of community service. Failure to comply will result in additional discipline, including possible banishment from the league.

It was one year ago today, April 3, 2007, that Henry met in New York with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

In a letter to Henry, Goodell wrote: "Your conduct has brought embarrassment and ridicule upon yourself, your club, and the NFL. I must emphasize to you that this is your last opportunity to salvage your NFL career."

QUESTION: If you are the Bengals, what do you do about Henry now? Do you let the NFL handle it?

Dungy: Utecht will be good

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Colts head coach Tony Dungy had nothing but good things to say about his former backup tight end, Ben Utecht, now with the Bengals.

"He’s going to be a really, really good player for Cincinnati," Dungy said this afternoon as the NFL annual meeting ended. "He’s an extremely smart guy. He can catch the ball, he runs routes. He had to be the blocking tight end for us, so that part of his game really improved over three years because he was thrust into it. He’s a leader. He’s a hard worker. We hated to lose him. I’m sure he’s going to help them.

"He’s looking forward to playing with Carson (Palmer) and probably get in the same type of deal that Dallas (Clark) had, where you had two great outside receivers and he’s going to be the guy that works the middle of the field. I know he’s really looking forward to it.

"I don’t know if they've ever had (a stretch-the-field tight end), maybe since (Rodney) Holman and Dan Ross. Those guys that get down the middle and make big plays as a tight end. He can do that. He can run and he s a big target. He can run and he can run after the catch. He’s going to help them offensively."

Re-seeding fails

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The NFL proposal to re-seed its playoff tournaments (AFC and NFC) failed this morning at the annual league meeting. The format will remain that each of the four division winners in each conference will get a home game, even if their record is not better than a wildcard team.

The Bengals were against the proposal, which was not even voted on. The show of hands in support was not sufficient to move to a formal vote.

"I feel the fans understand and identify with the divisional setup we have now," Bengals president Mike Brown said early this afternoon. "They feel if we win the division we ought to have a home game. I feel that way. Why reach out for a perfect form of justice that's not attainable anyway?"

In other votes, the winner of the pre-game coin toss now can defer to receive the ball until the start of the second half. Previously, teams could not defer to receive the ball at the start of the second half.

Before the new rule was adopted, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said this morning, that he had preferred to lose the coin toss. "I'd rather play defense first and have the ball on offense to start the second half," he said. Still, Brown voted against this change, too, but later said, "There is something good about having our rules, whenever possible, be the same as the colleges."

The force-out rule was elimated. A catch is good on the sideline only if a receiver gets both feet down or is carried out. The push-out was done away with. The only way a reception or fumble recovery stands -- without both feet coming down in bounds -- is if the receiver is held up and carried out of bounds. The reason is to give the receiver and defender equal opportunity to complete the play.

NFL approves communicator for D

(UPDATED) PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NFL owners voted 25-7 late this morning to approve a resolution to allow a communication device for a defensive player.

Each offensive and defensive team is now permitted to have one player on the field with a speaker in his helmet. The quarterback wears it for the offense. Now the defense will have one, as well as a backup helmet for another player. The Bengals supported the measure.

"It gives a degree of equity to the defense," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "You're still going to have to be prepared to signal in calls. It might enable some young players do more, earlier.

“We have had to play a lot of young linebackers. It will help young players be a more integral part of the defense (because they can be instructed from sideline)."

At the AFC Coaches' Breakfast this morning, Lewis said he was for the device: "I think the defensive helmet will be a good addition to the game. It will eliminate some things -- you still will have to have the ability to signal defenses. You're going to have to be prepared because there might be a timing issue with it."

Which Bengals defender would wear it?

"I don't know who's out there. It's going to be a three-down player," he said. "I think it probably be a linebacker or safety. Another guy who could handle it is Robert Geathers, who has been trained as a linebacker. He is a three-down player. We will have some flexibility that way. It could be a safety. A linebacker."

Later in the morning, owners agreed to table until their May meeting the Kansas City proposal to prohibit hair from covering a player's nameplate and numeral on his jersey. Lewis, a member of the competition committee, which studies and proposes rules changes, said the committee wanted more input from the NFL Players Association.

These two measures were the only ones discussed and voted on this morning in the general session in which competitive committee recommendations were reported.

Lewis on Chad, running game

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, holding court at the annual AFC Coaches' Breakfast during the NFL annual meeting, said this morning that the Bengals are committed to running the ball offensively in 2008 and does not "know what (Chad Johnson) is going to do.

Johnson, the team's disgruntled, five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, has made a series of comments -- most of them negative about the Bengals -- over the past three months. He has threatened to sit out, though he remains under contract through 2011 with Cincinnati.

"It's unfortunate that Chad has put himself in that situation because a lot of people who really had affection for him now see him in a different light," Lewis said. "Hopefully some of the things he said, he's going to have to face one way or another. If he shows and does things, and does (them) the right way, I'm willing to take the bullets for him again and allow him to come back the right way."

The Bengals will not trade Johnson, Lewis said again.

"We are prepared to move on," Lewis said when asked if Johnson decides to sit out. He is not required to be in Cincinnati until the mandatory full-squad minicamp in the middle of June.

Lewis said he has told his staff that the offense will run the ball like it did in 2003 and 2004 and will be "more physical" on offense. "There are a lot of times you need to run the football to finish the game, and we didn't."

On the injury front, the Bengals are optimistic that tailback Chris Perry might be on the field come May and June, but Lewis said that Perry – who has missed most of three of his first four NFL seasons because of injury, including all of 2007 because of a serious ankle injury – remains under the supervision of the Bengals’ athletic training (medical) staff.

The team is not counting on tailback Kenny Irons, who missed all of his rookie season after sustaining a knee ligament injury in the preseason.

And linebacker Odell Thurman, who has been serving a two-year league suspension, might know by mid-April whether he will be re-instated, Bengals president Mike Brown said Monday night.
Still, Lewis said this morning, “We’re not counting on Odell."

In terms of rules changes the league's owners will vote on today and Wednesday, Lewis said he favors keeping the playoff seeding the way it is, to reward a division-winning team with a home game. "I would hate to see us go away from that model," he said.

He favors the rule to eliminate the "force-out" call on a receiver and the in-helmet communicator for a defensive player.

Police cite WR Henry for expired plates

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- This bit on The Enquirer's Web site this morning from my colleague Jennifer Baker:

In his latest brush with the law, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was cited earlier this month for driving a vehicle with an expired license plate.

Henry, 24, of Florence paid a $149 fine on March 26, Hamilton County court records show. Cincinnati police pulled his red, 2007 Land Rover over March 16 in the 2100 block of Vine Street in University Heights, his ticket shows.

The National Football League suspended Henry for most of last season (the first eight games) due to violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, including a January 2007 conviction involving alcohol and minors in a Covington hotel room in the spring of 2006.

He was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all but two of the days suspended. He was warned that future misconduct could result in the end of his NFL career.