BENGALS

Out

LB Corey Mays (ankle)

Did not participate in practice

C Kyle Cook (toe)

OT Levi Jones (back)

LB Dhani Jones (foot)

Limited participation in practice

S Dexter Jackson (thumb)

QB Carson Palmer (elbow)

DE Frostee Rucker (shoulder)

DT Pat Simms (thigh)

Full participation in practice

CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle)

JETS

Out

WR David Clowney (shoulder)

K Mike Nugent (right thigh)

Did not participate in practice

OL Damien Woody (illness)

Limited participation in practice

WR Laveranues Coles (thigh)

DT Kris Jenkins (back)

DB Justin Miller (foot)

Full participation in practice

WR Brad Smith (knee)

P Reggie Hodges (left thigh)

When asked about why the season was going so badly, Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco had his own philosophy:

"I have my own little philosophy on what's going on. And I broke it down like this: Never, ever, ever, ever go against the monster, because the monster always wins. Get it? So y'all put that in your own perspective and you'll understand where I'm coming from and why things are going the way it's going right now."

I asked if he'd kissed the monster lately: "No, it's hard to get to him. He's really high. No, I'm just playing."

Chad said it was a riddle. I think we all have an idea about who he's talking about, but not sure if Chad would acknowledge it. Nor, probably, should he, considering where he gets his paychecks.

As for his kiss of Marvin Lewis during Sunday's game: "That was my star. That was the whole point. That was the star."

Before Sunday's game, Ocho Cinco said he was going to kiss "the star" at Dallas.

On thing Ocho Cinco wouldn't do is criticize the team's playcalling: "I would never, ever, ever judge the play calling. I think it's on us as the players to execute whatever's called. So whatever's called, we should be able to execute it and execute it to its fullest. So if we're not throwing the ball, then the little things that we are doing -- the running, the short passes -- we've got to make that work, you know? If that means driving down the field 75, 60, 80 yards every time we touch it until we're able to get the ball downfield, then we've got to do it."

Ocho Cinco said the team isn't executing the short plays, so it can't expect to execute the long ones. He said they're working hard, it's just not working.

Jets running back Thomas Jones was with the Bears when they drafted Cedric Benson and has said on the record that the Bears handed the starting job to Benson because of where he was drafted.

"I'm not going to get into any kind of word battle with that guy," Benson said on Wednesday. "He probably shouldn't have said that, though."

As far as their relationship now?

"I'll definitely say what's up to him (Sunday)," Benson said.

Marvin Lewis, apparently, had a couple of things on his mind.

In response to a question about something else completely, Lewis said this: "I’ve been taking a lot of heat for saying I like our football team, but I do like our football team. I like what we’re doing. Our football team is a better football team than started this year. We haven’t won a football game and don’t ever anybody think I’m satisfied with that. Or ever that that sits well with me, because it doesn’t."

Lewis also commented on a stupid rumor about the 49ers and Bengals working on a deal for T.J. Houshmandzadeh:

"Boy, that’s a bad rumor, huh? I mean, let’s just talk about it a little bit -- and I’m sorry (P.R. director) Jack (Brennan), I have to. No. 1, OK, No. 1, you’re going to get a club in trouble for tampering. No. 2, and that club has already been penalized once this year, very harshly. No. 2, what club in its right mind would trade for a player that’s going to be an unrestricted free agent. Again, if you’re going to start a rumor, make it a good one. OK? Make it something that makes some sense to people inside the NFL and so forth. You know? It’s unfortunate. The thing I hate about it is the fact that that headline gets on the Red Zone or whatever one of those sites are, that make it look like a story, when it’s not a story and it’s unfortunate it ever got posted. If we would count back, there’s probably seven, eight, nine, ten of those that have been on that particular site that come from one particular group and that’s unfortunate. Let’s try to do a better job of reporting facts and so forth that way. OK?"

On Favre's performance against the Cardinals: "One of the things that I especially respect about Brett — and not knowing him personally prior to us acquiring him — is just what a regular guy he is. He's got such an incredible resume, this incredible body of work, But it was really important to him when he came in that he was treated like everybody else, that he did everything that the group was doing, and that he fit in. He wanted to fit in. He didn't want any sort of special consideration. It takes a unique guy to have that much success and take that approach. And the other thing I really like about him is his consistency. It doesn't matter whether he throws a pick or throws a touchdown, he goes out that next series and competes the same way. As a coach, you're always striving to teach that, that ability to overcome adversity as well as success, and he personifies that."

On Marvin Lewis: "I know Marvin really well. I was the offensive assistant his first year as a defensive coordinator in Baltimore. My office was across from his. We've kept in touch over the years. He came and was nice enough toward the charity football camp that I have in Hartford, Conn. I love Marvin. Just a great guy, really smart guy, an innovative guy and a sincere person."

On the Bengals' struggles: "We've all been through these patches, and what I will say, another characteristic of Marvin that you can see so clearly on tape is how hard these guys fight through four quarters. They get behind against Dallas; could easily have gone any one of multiple ways. But they fought back and were in position to win, and that's a real testament to him."

"We went through a pretty tough time here last year and one of the things I think is important is whehther you're winning, losing -- whatever the case may be -- is consistency. I just believe that win or lose the important thing is to learn from whatever the mistakes were that you made and be able to correct those and move forward, and reinforce the positive things, and not get too high after a win or too low after a loss because those tend to be wasted emotions. And what's so important is the next game, the next person (team) you play. Marvin and I have been friends for a long time. I know Marvin takes that approach, and he's a really consistent guy."