Thursday, September 25, 2008, 08:35 PM EST [General]
Reds AA.....Carolina Mudcats Zebulon, NC --- This afternoon the Double-A Carolina Mudcats and National League's Cincinnati Reds jointly announced the signing of a two-year player development contract running through the 2010 season. Additionally, the Mudcats will be hosting a major league exhibition game with the Reds on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at Five County Stadium. "The Reds are a baseball icon and we're proud to have such a highly-rated minor league system coming our way," remarked Mudcats owner Steve Bryant, noting that Baseball America ranked the Reds' minor league organization 3rd in baseball entering 2008. "It speaks well of the Mudcats organization that Cincinnati has been so highly interested in being here." "We're very excited about having the Reds partner with us," commented Carolina's General Manager Joe Kremer. "Many Midwesterners have relocated to North Carolina over the years, including a large number of Buckeyes and a very strong Reds following."
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Reds news RHP Francisco Cordero has returned to Cincinnati and later today was expected to have arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur from his right foot...the surgery was to have been performed by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek. RHP Edinson Volquez also has returned home for an examination...he has been bothered by tendinitis in his left knee. OF Chris Dickerson earlier today was scheduled to have surgery to remove a small piece of bone in his left ankle (Kremchek).
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Palmer on injury list QB Carson Palmer will be added to the Bengals' Injury Report today, rated as questionable for Sunday's game against Cleveland. During the practice week, Palmer has experienced soreness in his right elbow (throwing arm). "Carson has told us he's going to be ready to play, but he developed some carryover soreness from last week's game," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. "We are backing him off a little in practice today, so he has to be listed on the report."
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Write the headline Give me the Monday morning headline in the Enquirer for Bengals-Browns.
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UPDATED Trivia today We do a weekly trivia contest at the end of Bengals Breakdown. We pick four people from the crowd to compete. As a bonus for checking the blog, here are the categories for today: 1. Bowling for defense: Defensive players that have gone to the Pro Bowl as a Bengal. 2. Linebacker U.: LB'ers drafted in the first round by the Bengals in franchise history. 3. Know your opponent: Browns QB's
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Browns players appreciate Crennel's calm Cleveland Plain Dealer On any given day, Romeo Crennel hears his general manager stressing the importance of winning the next game. Or Jim Brown saying that Brady Quinn can give the team a spark, if only the coach would let him. Or Internet-fueled rumors that Bill Cowher is buying a house in the Cleveland area in preparation of taking over the team.
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Cool Tony Dungy story Indy Star Dungy used his card at the pump. As he pumped the gas, Dungy also carried on a conversation on his cell phone and idly placed the credit card atop the pump.
Offseason outlook: Cincinnati Reds MLBTradeRumors.com The Reds have roughly $54.5MM committed before arbitration raises to Encarnacion, Lincoln, and Majewski. After that, they'll still be under $60MM (with a fifth of the payroll going to the closer). The Reds entered this season with a $74.1MM payroll, so they might have money to spend.
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Line of the day Any truth to the rumor that the Ohio Lottery is sponsoring the Battle of Ohio this weekend? Someone's got to win...might as well be you? -Emailer Chad
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Game notes of note The series: This is the 70th staging of the "Battle of Ohio." The Bengals lead 35-34, including a 22-13 lead as the home team. The Bengals have won six of the last seven meetings. Carson vs Browns: In eight career games against Cleveland, Palmer has posted a 6-2 won-lost record and a 90.3 passer rating, completing 174-of- 269 (64.7 percent) for an average of 239.4 yards per game (1915 total), with 20 TDs and 13 INTs. Must see TV: For the last 54 TV ratings weeks that have included a Bengals regular-season or postseason game, the Bengals have been the top-rated show in the Cincinnati market. Uniform watch: The Bengals will wear black jerseys and black pants against Cleveland.....they are 6-4 in that combo. And then there were four: Only four players remain on the Bengals from the conclusion of the 2002 season, just before Marvin Lewis was hired as head coach. No players remain from the defense of the pre-Lewis era. The four survivors are: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR Chad Ocho Cinco, OT Levi Jones and LS/TE Brad St. Louis. Under Marvin: 34-5 when leading after three quarters...6-34 when trailing after three quarters What might have been: Sunday's contest at Cincinnati will mark the 100th career start for DT. Rogers joined the Browns this offseason. Rogers currently ranks fourth on the club and ranks fi rst among defensive linemen with 17 tackles, including 11 solo and 2 TFL. Rogers also has 1 sack for 6 yards. 5 and 5: QBs Kelly Holcomb and Derek Anderson both recorded franchise-record 5 touchdown games versus the Bengals in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Bengals killer: During his seven years with the Ravens and after one season with the Browns, Lewis has played in 13 games against Cincinnati and totaled 1,551 yards rushing on 284 carries (5.5 avg.) and 10 rushing TDs. In those 13 contests, Lewis rushed for nine 100-yard games, including seven consecutive games from 2000-04.
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Things I'm told Valeri Abati is BACK! ...The former Fox 19 Meteorologist has joined Channel 5. She is scheduled to start work around October 15th. I'm hearing she will do the weather at 6 and 11pm.
UPDATED Show preview Guests Alex Marvez, Fox Sports NFL writer Dan Clasgens, Fantasy playbook Erin Rynning, handicapper Doc Gamble, with update on injured former Withrow WR Dante Love Topics Bengals: Got a song that best describes the franchise? College football Trademarks: Athletes and players The Rant: It's the anniversary of Mike Valenti's classic rant following MIchigan St's meltdown vs ND.
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32 songs for 32 NFL teams The Angry T Cincinnatti Bengals 0-3 - Coldplay - Fix You - Someone has to fix this train wreck. Your guess is as good as mine as to how to do it.
Patridge Family gets a remake Variety "We decided to take a shot at acquiring the original rights and resurrecting the show with a new spin," Fair said.
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Did you know? Today is National One Hit Wonder Day...got one? My Top 10 Soft Cell- Tainted Love Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen Nena - 99 Luftballons The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats Puttin on the Ritz-Taco Funkytown - Lipps Inc My Sharona - The Knack Convoy, CW McCall Disco Duck Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
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A season ticket plan idea for the Bengals? CNNSI the school's new Gridiron Guarantee is appealing. Here's how it works: If you feel you haven't received your "entertainment value" from your season ticket (average price: $130), Stanford will refund your money. The only caveat: You must do it before Nov. 15, which happens to be when USC comes to town.
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UC defense seeks return to '07 form ESPN Cincinnati returned the core of one of the Big East's best defenses and perhaps the nation's best ball-hawking unit. It looked like that side of the ball would be a major strength for the Bearcats this season. That hasn't happened yet
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Cyclones trying to build on success Enquirer The event is part of the strategy the team has for adding to the fan base that latched on to the club last season during its title run. With the Reds and Bengals struggling, fans may be looking for something else.
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Browns should go ahead and make QB switch Cleveland Plain Dealer Maybe seeing the Bengals cures what ails Anderson. They have provided miracle cures around the NFL. The thought occurs that if you could trot the Bengals out to visit all the croupy and feverish in the land, there might be no problem with national health care.
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Quote of the day "I think we're all saddened by it," Coughlin said. "But we wanted to make sure the message is loud and clear. We've had success here because of the team concept, and the team concept is basically that everyone is accountable and responsible and we don't let the other guys down." Tom Coughlin, Giants coach, on two game suspension of WR Plaxico Burress
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Boone remembers, Larkin hopes to stay Washington Post "My e-mail to Jim when I was coming here: I want to talk to you about the future and see what's on your mind, what's on the Lerners' minds. Kind of, 'What is the plan and what are we going to do forward? Or, am I part of We?' "
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10 whiniest coaches in football Fox Sports 10. Rich Brooks, Kentucky 9. Urban Meyer, Florida 8. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma 7. Mike Stoops, Arizona 6. Nick Saban, Alabama 5. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State 4. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn 3. Les Miles, LSU 2. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan 1. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
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Hanigan in line to start in '09 MLB.COM "Ryan Hanigan proved very capable of catching in the Major Leagues on an everyday basis," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "If he was our starting catcher next season, I don't think we'd hesitate nor have a problem with that. If there is a frontline catcher out there and available, we'd take a look."
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Things read *Ozzie Guillen was defending his move to keep Griffey in center field instead of fan favorite Brian Anderson and his .237 batting average. ''I make the lineup,'' Guillen said, ''and if they don't like it, don't watch the White Sox.'' -Chicago Sun Times *Thank goodness for Ken Griffey Jr., who seems to be the only offensive player who showed up for the series. Griffey accounted for both Sox runs and has been responsible for all five in the series. -Chicago Sun Times
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Zips eye BCS win over UC The Buchlite While the Zips may be not familiar with the Bearcat players, they are familiar with their head coach, Brian Kelly. Before taking over as UC's head coach at the end of the 2006 regular season, Kelley was the head coach at Central Michigan for the three seasons.
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Back in the swing of things Daily Herald Griffey said he'd like to play another three seasons, and he's enjoying his stay with the White Sox. The left-handed slugger is now chasing Willie Mays (660 home runs) on baseball's all-time list.
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State of the farm: Starting pitching Redsminorleagues.com The Reds currently boast what I think will be one of the best 1-4 rotations in baseball next year with Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto. All guys are under contract for several years into the future as well, so it looks like the Reds are going to have a core there for a while. With that said, that still leaves open at least one spot in the rotation as well as the chance you are going to use at least 7 different starters through a year due to ineffectiveness and or injuries that are bound to happen to nearly every staff in baseball.
Baker squashes Patterson rumors MLB.COM "Some of the players on the Astros asked me about it," Baker said on Wednesday. "I don't know where it came from. It's really, really unfair to my daughter, my family and me. It's very upsetting. It's unprofessional. I don't know who started it."
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Dragons manager won't be back Dayton Daily News "Terry Reynolds (Reds director of development) called me, and he didn't talk very long," Scott said. "That's the decision they made. I've got to move on."
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Friday Night Lights: Even Manning is a fan ESPN Peyton Manning is a huge fan of the show, which chronicles the life and times of a small Texas town and its obsession with the high school football program. That's what Manning told Scott Porter, who plays Jason Street, the Dillon High star quarterback whose life is forever changed when he suffers a paralyzing spinal injury. Porter introduced himself to Manning not long after the Indianapolis Colts won Super Bowl XLI.
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Fulmer on booing The Tennessean Phil Fulmer, Tennessee football coach "I would have booed a couple things that I saw out there if I'd have been in the stands. That goes with the territory when your fans are passionate about what they want to see on the field. I wouldn't have it any other way from that standpoint. Now, do I like to be booed? No. Do I want to be booed again? No. But if I stay in this profession, you don't think I'll have an opportunity to get booed?" On whether players should ignore negative comments "They're going to get it whether they want to ignore or not. It's out there everywhere they look. I could not even begin to tell you the friends that have called, family, the fans, the great support that is out there. Just because somebody boos in the stands doesn't mean you don't have the support. That just means they are passionate about what they do. They want to win. Ninety-five percent of them probably never played football before, or maybe not played a sport."
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 07:37 PM EST [General]
Pope is back The Bengals today signed CB Geoffrey Pope to the practice squad. Pope (6-0, 186; Howard) is classified a first-year NFL player. He spent most of last season on the N.Y. Giants practice squad, and played in two postseason games for New York after being signed to the roster following the conclusion of the regular season. He was first signed by the Bengals as a practice squad player on Sept. 3 of this year, after being released by the Giants. He was signed to Cincinnati’s 53-player roster on Sept. 16 and played on special teams against the Giants this past Sunday. He was waived from the Bengals roster yesterday.
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Guest update Thom Brennaman, Big 10 Network...has OSU-Minnesota Saturday
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UC football TV CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati's Sept. 27 football game at in-state rival Akron will air on FSN Ohio and ESPN Game Plan, the BIG EAST announced Wednesday. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 kickoff in the Rubber Bowl. Jeff Phelps will call the action with Mike Pagel serving as the analyst. The contest will air primarily on FSN Ohio in Cleveland and Youngstown but will be available on Time Warner channel 99 in Cincinnati and Dayton as well as DirecTV and DISH Network. Customers outside of the FSN Ohio footprint will be able to access the game on ESPN Game Plan. Game Plan is available on DirecTV, DISH Network, and some local cable providers.
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Kentucky cracks down on on-line gambling Lexington Herald Leader Beshear, who supports allowing casino gambling in Kentucky, called the online operations "leeches on our communities." Kentucky loses tens of millions of dollars a year to online gambling, which is illegal in every state, he said.
What we are watching (At the moment, just wrapped up or coming in the next week) Fox House Prison Break Fringe ABC Boston Legal Dirty, Sexy Money Grey's Anatomy Private Practice CBS How I Met Your Mother Two and a Half Men Crimminal Minds CSI Las Vegas CSI Miami The Unit Without a Trace Numb3rs New Adventures of old Christine NBC The Office Law and Order TNT Raising the Bar The Closer A&E The Cleaner FX The Shield Direct TV Friday Night Lights
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What's gone wrong? I've gotta tell you....my biggest challenge is keeping Bengals talk interesting. I'm not so sure that I'm not overkilling talk for an 0-3 team. Yet, whether it's UC, Ryder Cup, Reds or other stuff, reaction seems to come from Bengals talk. My head hurts from debating Marvin, Mike, play calling, the OL woes. Let's back track. What got us to this point? Go back to Sunday December 18, 2005. The Bengals beat the Lions to win the AFC North. Since then it's all gone down hill. What happened? Rank the Top 10 impact moments for the Bengals that have led us to this point? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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Playing spoiler Reds since Sept 8 vs teams in playoff picture Milwaukee 4-2 Arizona 2-1 St Louis 2-1 Florida 1-0 Houston 1-0 Total: 10-4
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Gimme 5 Dick Vitale's 5 college basketball sleepers to watch for 2008-09 1. San Diego 2. XAVIER 3. Jack McClinton, Miami, FL 4. Alex Legion, IL 5. Michigan -From Sporting News Today
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Show preview Guest Zac Jackson, ClevelandBrowns.com Topics Bengals: Marvin and Carson speak What went wrong?: Think back to the 2005 Bengals. What are the Top 10 things that have gone wrong since winning the division Dec. 18, 2005 vs the Lions? The issues/moments that have had the biggest impact on their fortunes? UC football Reds: Anyone talking about them around your water cooler? Sports bets: In honor of Doc having to wear USC face paint....got a good story of sports bets lost and what you had to pay up with? Booing college athletes: Is it ok?
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Former Cyclone fitting in nicely with Oilers MSNBC A veteran of six NHL seasons, Cole is coming off a 22-goal year with the Hurricanes. He scored 29 goals in 2006-07 and 30 in 2005-06, when he returned from a broken neck in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final to help Carolina beat the Oilers in seven games.
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Booing Boeckman? shame on you Tom Archdeacon, Dayton Daily News To all the so-called Ohio State fans who booed Todd Boeckman, you showed yourself to be a classless bunch.
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Bengals and Browns in similar spots...the basement Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday in Paul Brown Stadium will be the fourth time since 1999 that both teams are winless when they meet. In 18 games since 1999, both teams have had losing records when they played nine times.
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Jim Brown hints change needed at QB Cleveland Plain Dealer "We don't have a superstar quarterback. We have two that have tremendous potential. One has played a lot more than the other has, successfully, and also had some failure. If we try Brady this week, it's a change of pace. Why not have a change of pace that might bring you a spark? And if he doesn't cut it, we can bring the other guy back, and we can bring Brady back.
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Boone bemoans Boeckman booing Columbus Dispatch "I thought it was very rude and disrespectful," Boone said after practice yesterday. "For somebody to boo a player who took us to a championship, that shows no respect for that player."
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Buckeyes' fade means haters must find another target Rob Oller, Columbus Dispatch Ohio State was overrated, its fans arrogant and its coach holier than thou. Then along came the migration to Southern California, where the Trojans rode herd on the Buckeyes and suddenly it's not as much fun to light into the Luckeyes.
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Brooks, Hartline say "managing the game" is priority The Lexington Herald Leader In his first month as Kentucky's starting quarterback, Mike Hartline has heard boos from the home crowd and been named Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
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Jr hits #610 to pass Sosa, Sox leads cut to 1.5 MLB.COM Griffey's home run was his second as part of the White Sox and his 39th career shot against the Twins. It was also his first since Aug. 20, when he went deep at home against the Mariners during a 15-3 victory.
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Cyclone delivers in NHL debut ROBERVALE, Quebec - Cincinnati Cyclones center David Desharnais assisted on a goal for the Montreal Canadiens in a 3-2 preseason win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. Desharnais assisted on a shorthanded goal by Andrei Kostitsyn late in the second period to give Montreal a 2-0 edge. Desharnais, 22, is participating in training camp with the Canadiens and dressed for the first time with his hometown team in a game played just 65 miles from where he amassed 374 points during his junior career (Chicoutimi). David, was further honored by being selected to the starting lineup for the Canadiens and participating in the ceremonial faceoff prior to the start of the game. Cyclones teammate Mathieu Aubin skated part of the game on his line. Desharnais appeared in 68 games, posting 29 goals, a team-record 77 assists for a league leading 106 points for the Cyclones ast season.
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My sandals....ok?.....not ok? Fashion expert Mo Egger says not ok. Then again, why is a guy checking out another guy's sandals?
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Heard it from Hoard Dan Hoard, voice of the Bearcats, was at UC basketball's first full squad workout Saturday. He told us today that Class of 2011 point guard Marquis Teague was watching practice. Teague, from Indianapolis Pike HS, is one of the top point guard recruits in the country. More on Teague from the Indy Star
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Abe Vigoda is alive, thank you very much CNN Abe Vigoda found out he was dead in 1982. He was doing a play in Calgary, Alberta, while a People magazine writer visited the "Barney Miller" wrap party in Los Angeles, California.
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Carson helps out Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH) takes to the gridiron this football season, teaming up with NFL All-Pro quarterbacks Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals and Derek Anderson of the Cleveland Browns to spread the word to football fans in Ohio and across the country and help a program that aims to find loving homes for at least 1 million orphaned animals. During the three-month IH4TH “Cats versus Dawgs” initiative, which spans the Browns-Bengals game in Cincinnati on Sept. 28 and Bengals-Browns game in Cleveland on Dec. 21, the in-state rival playcallers will battle to see who can record the most “completions” on the field (a completed pass) and off the field (an adopted pet from each player’s partner animal shelter). Iams will pledge 10 pounds of pet food to each quarterback’s designated shelter for every completed pass on the football field and local pet adoption.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 07:28 AM EST [General]
Bengals moves Signed free agent CB Jamar Fletcher to a one-year contract. Fletcher (5-10, 185; Wisconsin) is an eighth-year NFL player, with 108 games played, 45 starts, seven interceptions and 213 tackles. He played with Houston in 2007, appearing in 10 games with two starts and logging 13 tackles with three passes defensed and a forced fumble. He was with the Texans during the 2008 preseason and was released in final roster cuts. He entered the NFL in 2001 as a first-round draft choice of Miami (26th overall). He played for the Dolphins from 2001-03, with San Diego in 2004-05 and with Detroit in 2006. Waived CB Geoffrey Pope, first-year player from Howard. Pope was signed to the roster from the Bengals practice squad on Sept. 16 and played on special teams (no statistics) last week at the N.Y. Giants. The Bengals today released rookie WR Maurice Purify of Nebraska from the practice squad. Purify was with the Bengals in preseason and was signed to the practice squad on Aug. 31 after being waived in final cuts.
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Reds/Dragons news Dayton, Ohio—Dayton Dragons third baseman Neftali Soto was recognized today among the top prospects in the Midwest League this season by Baseball America, the trade publication for minor league baseball. Despite spending less than two months in the league and not joining the Dragons until July 6th, Soto gained enough attention to be selected as the league’s 10th best prospect. Baseball America announced its annual list of top-20 Midwest League prospects today. Soto, just 19 years old, played in 52 games for the Dragons and batted .326 with seven home runs and 36 runs batted in. He added 15 doubles and one triple in 218 at-bats with the Dragons. Soto’s 13-game hitting streak from August 15-28 tied for the fourth longest in Dragons history. He also had a 12-game hitting streak from July 28-August 9.
Tuesday Guest Brian Kelly Topics Bengals UC football: Feeling good about Pike and the rest of the season? College football 100 Most Important Sports Venues in America Sports blunders: The 100th anniversary of one of the biggest
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Classic "For those who follow these sorts of things, listening to a Marvin Lewis press conference is like watching a grown man tell a child about Santa Claus. You know he's full of crap and you are just waiting for the moment where he says something that isn't based in reality.-AOL Sports Fan House
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100 years ago today: One of sports biggest blunders Chicago Tribune Tuesday marks the 100th anniversary of the controversial play that landed Merkle on the short list of baseball's all-time goats. The beneficiaries were the Cubs, who without "Merkle's Boner" almost surely would not have gone on to win the 1908 World Series.
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America's Top 100 Most Important Sports Venues ESPN Page 2 "this is a list of America's 100 most important sports venues. And by that I mean the venues that have had a profound influence on the way American sports are played or have enjoyed multiple historic moments or, better yet, have had both. The criteria are a little open to interpretation"
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Great day for baseball 1,000 fans walked up and bought tickets for Monday's Reds-Marlins game.
Heard it from Hoard GoBearcats.com To put it in perspective, when Pike threw 53 passes in his last start - a playoff game for Reading High on November 8, 2003 - Jim McGreevey was still the seemingly-straight Governor of New Jersey, the "Jen" in Ben Affleck's life was Lopez, and the Bengals were looking to overcome an 0-3 start.
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Metallica, Run DMC up for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Artists become eligible for the Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first single or album and are represented in an exhibition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
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NHL Preseason debut for a Cyclone tonight CINCINNATI, Ohio - Cincinnati Cyclones center David Desharnais, the ECHL's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year, will play tonight for the Montreal Canadiens in their preseason game tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. The Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators. Desharnais, 22, is participating in training camp with the Canadiens and will dress for the game that will be televised throughout the United States on the NHL Network (channel 215 on DirecTV and channel 403 on DishNetwork). The game itself will be played at Centre Benoit Levesque as part of the Hockeyville promotion run by CBC Sports in Canada. Desharnais appeared in 68 games, posting 29 goals, a team-record 77 assists for a league leading 106 points last season. From December 31 through March 12, David turned in a 27 game point scoring streak and a league-record 20 game assist streak. He also posted 34 multiple point games during the regular season. During the Kelly Cup Playoffs, his 33 points (10-23-33) led all players-eleven more than the next highest total. "David is deserving of this chance," Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. "He worked hard last season and during this past summer to prepare himself for this chance. We look forward to seeing him and other Cyclones playing in the NHL. We wish him the best."
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TV observations from last night *MNF+Tony Kornheiser+Brett Favre=me not watching a single play *Anyone catch Dancing with the Stars?: My household was turned upside down. Casey, Peyton and Kelly fixated on the TV. I'll take Brooke Burke, Toni Braxton and Julianne Hough. I don't care how they dance. As Peyton said, "Daddy takes the pretty ones".
Julianne Hough
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Big finish for former Bearcat UC Magazine "This just meant so much," he says. "To have that sense of accomplishment, now you can say you fit into society."
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Despite loss, Steelers still best in division Pittsburgh Post Gazette The Steelers are going to win the AFC North Division. Let's get that straight right at the top. As badly as they played in Philadelphia Sunday, they still are better than Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati. They will prove that again Monday night when they smack down the Ravens at Heinz Field.
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It's crisis management for Browns Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer Fans know the story. Clock management. A sense of uncertainty during games. The 0-3 start is not all the fault of Crennel and his staff, but they have made too many mistakes and need to show they can salvage something of the season with a firm hand and solid game plans. Last year is over for them, too, not just the players.
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Brown not ruling out QB change Cleveland Plain Dealer Browns coach Romeo Crennel made it clear Monday that he's considering benching quarterback Derek Anderson and starting Brady Quinn on Sunday in Cincinnati.
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Update on former Withrow WR Indy Star "His football career is expected to be over," Hoke said. "He has touched a lot of lives and he will continue to do so."
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Millen should go, says Lions vice chairman (AP) "I think the fans deserve better and if it were in my authority, which it's not, I'd make some significant changes," Ford said Monday.
Ford Jr said it, but didn't say it all Detroit Free Press But if Ford is being hailed now for finally stating what fans have been saying for years, he should be chided for only saying half of it. The part he left out was this: "Oh, and my Dad should go as well."
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Tubby's nephew stabbed to death (AP) "We lost a special young man," Tubby Smith, the former University of Kentucky coach, said in a release. "The grieving process will take some time for my brother and his family, but I know that they appreciate and will need all the support."
Sunday, September 21, 2008, 05:26 PM EST [General]
UK football news LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky at Alabama game on Oct. 4 has been selected by CBS for live national telecast, as announced Monday by the Southeastern Conference. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT (2:30 p.m. in Tuscaloosa). The CBS crew of Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson will call the action.
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Thoughts and prayers to a Withrow product ESPN Ball State receiver Dante Love is expected to "live a normal and happy life" according to a statement released by the university, but he probably won't ever play football again.
From Elias Sports Since 1990....90 NFL teams have started 0-3. Of those 90 teams, 3 made the playoffs 1992 Chargers 1995 Lions 1999 Bills
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Over/under Reds-Marlins makeup 4,100 walked thru the turnstile this afternoon.
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What got into Justin Smith? The 49'ers DE had 4 tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble in their win over Detroit Sunday. The interception was his first since his rookie season (2001) with the Bengals.
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Big East weekly honor roll Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati Completed 20 of 24 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start to key Cincinnati's 45-20 win against Miami (Ohio).
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A-10 hoops preview Athlon So what does Miller do for an encore? Stay in Cincinnati, for one. Despite hearing his name linked with some high-profile jobs (like Indiana and Marquette), Miller signed a contract extension through 2018. That's security. And that's allowed him to build the best talent base in the A-10.
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Say what? Carson on the play calling in OT...and running the first two plays "with the way we were moving the ball on the ground, we felt like we were getting four a pop. We tried to get eight the first two with two runs to get us to third and two and have the chance to run the ball again for a first down or throw it. Unfortunately, we weren't able to move the ball, and then on third down I didn't throw a good enough pass to TJ"
Reality of the situation On their final 10 carries of regulation the Bengals gained 9 yards...including losing yards on four of those carries. After Perry ran 8 times for 54 yards in the first half....he ran 12 times for 20 yards in the second half. As a team: 10 carries 69 yards first half 17 carries 33 yards second half
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Over/under Number of fans at GABP this afternoon for Reds vs Marlins at 1:10?
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Monday show preview Marvin Lewis, 3pm Topics Bengals reaction: What did you think? What do you take out of it? Did you go? Ryder Cup: Tell me you watched it! College football
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Things read Dan Dakich, former Bowling Green coach...and IU interim coach....will begin hosting a daily sports talk radio show in October on an Indianapolis radio station.-The Sporting News Daily
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Observations *This isn't Pop Warner football. It's about results...not playing harder, improving, fighting, being close, or being gutty. They lost. *Winning teams win...losing teams talk about improving. *Where was that effort in the first two games? * I'm probably the only one to think this....I would have gone for the win in regulation. 0-2, riding a hot QB, on the road vs the Super Bowl champs...why not? Would you rather have a shot to win on the 3-yd line or hope to win the flip and drive for a score or hold the Giants in OT? *They won't go 0-16 *They won't make the playoffs *They won't get to 8-8 Offense *When you get one TD and three FG's in four red zone trips you'll lose. *With 35-seconds Carson hit TJ for 9 yards over the middle...the next play wasn't snapped til 12 seconds remained. *Carson was 12 of 15 189 yards in the 4th QT. Perry carried 12 times for 20 yds in second half. (8-54 first half) Why run twice in OT? *I certainly feel better about Carson (27-39 286). And where did that mobility come from? *3rd down was much better...10 of 17 *I feel worse about the OL...Levi was horrible...2 sacks...2 false starts *Didn't know Chatman had that in him....6-70 yards, great seperation and nice punt returns *Coates dropped a TD and it appeared the football was a foreign object to him *Mowea smacked some people at FB *Perry shows big flashes of '05 *Bobbie and Stacey were like a road crew clearing the way on Perry's TD run *TJ is TJ........Chad is a shell of himself because of the shoulder *3 delay of game penalties in three games to lead the NFL...unacceptable *Other than OT, I thought Brat's play calling was better. I liked the flea flicker and the short passes. Defense *Anyone seen the pass rush? *They could have sent 9 and not got Manning *Considering the inexperience in the secondary, they did better than I thought *Chinny beaten for second straight week *Rush defense was better.....Giants were 60 below their average *Paging Keith Rivers, paging Keith Rivers *Play David Jones long enough and you'll see why that's not a good thing Marvin 0-3 in OT 12-11 in games decided by less than a TD Why so many delay of games or timeouts used to prevent them?
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What they are saying in NY I wouldn't call the Bengals a good football team. I agree with Bill Parcells when he says you are what your record says you are. Cincinnati (0-3) has some nice players - quarterback Carson Palmer, receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who had 12 catches for 146 yards, and Chad Johnson, who changed his last name to a number (Ocho Cinco). But there is an aura around a losing NFL team that keeps it from winning games like the one at Giants Stadium Sunday. These teams never seem to have enough (energy, will, skill, desire?) to finish the job. Tim Smith, NY Daily News
"They brought a lot of Blitz Zero, this all-out blitz all day, they were kinda showing that, and we did like a dummy cadence. If they would have blitzed, we probably would throw something to Plaxico," Manning said. "For some reason, their linebacker checked out and they went to Cover 2, and then we had a perfect play to the front side. The Mike backer ran with [Amani] Toomer, Kevin Boss came across the end and made a tough catch." NY Post
"My message today was that it ended up being the power of the will," Coughlin said. "It wasn't our best game by any means, but we hung in there, we kept battling and scrapping, and we found a way to win against a good football team. I don't care if they were 0-2 or not. They play in a tough division and they are a good team." Newsday
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AFC North Browns 0-3 Cleveland Plain Dealer Who could have foreseen the Browns falling out of the playoff race before the leaves falling from the trees? Something's seriously up with Derek Anderson Cleveland Plain Dealer Not everything wrong with the Browns is the fault of Anderson, but there are enough problems with the quarterback that should raise some serious questions at the team practice facility this week. Ben blitzed, bothered and battered Pittsburgh Post Gazette "We came out here and got the dog kicked out of us," offensive tackle Willie Colon said. Coaches need to take some heat Pittsburgh Post Gazette The worst part wasn't the 15-6 loss or the nine sacks by the Philadelphia Eagles or the fact the Steelers' offense could have played the game all night and still not threatened to score a touchdown. The worst part yesterday was that the Steelers didn't have a clue what hit them at Lincoln Financial Field.
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What 0-3 means? From Pro Football Prospectus 2008 Since 1990 17% of teams have started 0-3 The average win total of teams starting 0-3: 5.9 Teams making playoffs after 0-3 start: 3.5%
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The Battle of Ohio next Sunday Bengals 0-3 Browns 0-3 When these two teams get together, throw the records out the window....please
Rudi, Rudi Lions RB Rudi Johnson had 131 total yards Sunday. He carried 14 times for 83 (long of 27) and caught three passes for 48 yards (long of 34, TD).
Rudi carries the load Detroit News "It's just getting into the groove, doing my part to help the team win," said Johnson, who had just four carries and 16 yards in the first two games combined.
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USA! USA! USA! The Americans win back the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999! 16.5 to 11.5. Europe's Miguel Angel Jimenez conceded a short par putt to Jim Furyk at the 17th hole to secure victory for the U.S. They win it with six rookies and without Tiger. What an amazing weekend of golf. What emotion! What drama! IIt was great theater. How 'bout Boo Weekly, Anthony Kim and Kentucky natives Kenny Perry and JB Holmes!? Team Captain Paul Azinger was choked up in talking about what it meant. Jim Fyruk lost it and broke down. I loved how the gallery was invovled all weekend.
