Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco has been deactivated for tonight's game at Pittsburgh for the violation of team rules.

"We have nothing further to announce until after the game," said Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan.

The NFL's official TV network is reporting "got into it last night with someone in the Cincinnati organization."

The team traveled to Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

First off, all of us here are very happy that our buddy Lance McAlister is doing well. On his blog, he talks about what's been going on the last couple of days and why he's out until Monday.

Trust me, we're all happy Lance is going to be OK and that he remembered reading what John Fay of the Enquirer wrote earlier this year. The thing those two have inc omon besides their tickers taking a break is they're both great guys, who just happen to do great jobs. I'm glad both are friends and I'm more glad that both are still with us.

So, for those that were asking, that's where Lance has been. I'm sure he's driving everyone in the hospital nuts, but we would have it any other way.

I've talked to Lance the last couple of days, and as you can imagine, he's in great spirits. You know, because he's Lance. He was bummed he didn't get to tease me with bringing up the Eagles (the band, not the football team) and some trumped up B.S. topic about them being anything worse than a prime example of the bloated, mediocre nature of 70s mainstream music.

* Speaking of good things and good people -- classy, classy move here by Bob Castellini and Walt Jocketty.

* John Kiesewetter over at the Enquirer has an important reminder. Don't let bad TV (tonight's Bengals-Steelers game) interrupt good TV (The Office, 30 Rock).

* I've been amazed that people in Tennessee keep mentioning Brian Kelly as a candidate for the UT job, but it's people in Cincinnati who keep saying it won't happen because Tennessee wouldn't want him... Doesn't make sense to me. Listen, the people in Tennessee don't care of you're from Boston or Pluto, if you're a liberal or a Bolshevik, all they care about is if you win football games. Brian Kelly wins football games. You keep hearing about how closed-minded those Southerners are, but you're hearing it from people from Cincinnati -- now, who has the prejudice?

* You know, Pitt kinda wants to win this game too.

* As always, Joe Posnanski says it better than I could ever dream...

* Elvis Costello has a new TV show on the Sundance Channel.

* Paper Magazine has a feature on Paul Rudd

* King Records will be honored this weekend.

* Carrie Brownstein, formerly of Sleater-Kinney, reviews Wii Music.

* Holy crap on a cracker! Jeff Tweedy, Johnny Marr and Ed O'Brien join Neil Finn. I'm gonna need a moment.

* And, well, I've got to get headed to Pittsburgh. Talk to you guys later

Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, citing a source within the program, is reporting UC's Brian Kelly is the top choice of the Volunteers.

Griffith writes:

But UT athletic director Mike Hamilton is still researching and considering other candidates.

South Florida coach Jim Leavitt can be added to the list of those candidates, according to the source.

Leavitt, 51, was a candidate for the Alabama head coaching vacancy in 2003 and again in 2006, but family issues kept him in Tampa.

As for Kelly, it's worth noting Michigan took a long look at Kelly before passing. Wonder why? Kelly's resume appears sterling.

 

I'm on with Nick Brunker from 3-6 today, filling in for Lance on 1530Homer and 1530Homer.com.

We're gonna talk about quite a few things (I'd hope, over three hours, you know?). Join in 749-1530 or ctr@1530Homer.com

* Will Ryan Fitzpatrick survive Thursday's game? With Whitworth, Jones and Kooistra out, it could be rough.

* Is there anything better than snow and football? We may have some of that tomorrow night.

* An interesting article on SI.com by Andy Staples about college football spending. The Bearcats are doing it without much, while Texas Tech is among the big spenders. Andy will join us.

* I do love a college football rivalry trophy -- but is there one more ridiculous than the "River City Rivalry" trophy.

OK, these teams have played seven times in history, this is not worthy of a trophy.

And as silly as that thing looks, check out how big it is in this picture.

If your trophy didn't begin before World War II, it just seems kinda weak.

The River City Rivalry trophy, you are no Floyd of Rosedale, Little Brown Jug, Old Oaken Bucket or Keg of Nails.

* What are the best rivalries in college football? I don't know that OSU-Michigan is in my top 3. It may be 4. Maybe 3.

* I can't say I disagree with Rich Rodriguez.

* Worst hat ever.

* How appealing is the Tennessee job?

* The Wan-stache is coming -- more mustache love

* Yeah, UK stinks, but they have Ashley Judd

From the Bengals:

* Placed WR Antonio Chatman on the Reserve/Injured list. Chatman, a sixth-year player from the University of Cincinnati, suffered a cervical injury this past Sunday against Philadelphia. Chatman ends his season with 10 games played, 21 receptions for 194 yards and a 7.5-yard average on 21 punt returns.

* Signed OT Dennis Roland from the Bengals practice squad. Roland (6-9, 325; Georgia) is a first-year NFL player. He has been on the practice squad for 11 weeks this season. He opened the 2008 preseason with Tampa Bay and was waived in final roster cuts. He entered the NFL in 2006 as a college free agent with Dallas. He spent most of 2006 and 2007 on Tampa Bay’s practice squad. He was on Tampa Bay’s 53-player roster for two games in 2007 (was a gameday inactive).