The Chickster is having dinner with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson at 5:30 p.m. today at a Cincinnati area restaurant … Please check back later this evening for blog updates regarding:
• Wednesday’s signing of LB Victor Hobson.
• PETA won’t appreciate Marvin Lewis’ comments about Pat Sims & Jason Shirley.
• Chick Ludwig playing Santa Claus (VOICE ONLY!) for ESPN reporter Bob Holtzman’s daughters.
===LUDWIG AT LARGE ALERT: Bengals’ rash of arrests from 2005-07 more than just a “blip on the radar.”===
IN MARVIN’S WORDS
“I don’t know why any one around here should think this, but sometimes guys think they’re above the law.
“And I think there are rules and there are laws and so forth and you’re subject to them. And really there’s a heightened sense of awareness of it. And you’re not going to get away with things.
“My message is: ‘If you have to go somewhere where you feel you’ve got to carry a handgun, you don’t need to be going to that spot. Let us help you go somewhere else.’
“If you feel the urge, all right, if you feel the urge — we go through a lot of stuff; we have since ‘03 as far as our counseling and so forth and having people come in and express how you do things and so forth, and that’s not changed.
“We had a little, let me say dip in the thing or a blip on the radar there for a bit — but I just wanted to remind the guys to keep doing things as pros and be smart and understand, ‘Don’t take your life, your career and other things at risk.’ “
ACCORDING TO CHICK LUDWIG’S RESEARCH…
From Dec. 15, 2005, to June 18, 2007 — a span of 19 months — 10 Bengals players were arrested in a total of 15 incidents.
The offenders and number of incidents were:
WR Chris Henry-4, LB Odell Thurman-2, LB A.J. Nicholson-2 and ONE EACH for DE Frostee Rucker, DT Matthias Askew, LG Eric Steinbach, WR Reggie McNeal, CB Deltha O’Neal, CB Johnathan Joseph and TB Quincy Wilson.
Of the “CINCINNATI 10” — the 10 players arrested since December 2005 — seven are no longer with the team.
LONG GONE: Thurman, McNeal, A.J. Nicholson, Askew, Steinbach, O’Neal and Wilson.
In my opinion, the biggest disappointment this season is the No. 32-ranked offense in general and the offensive line in particular.
The offense is ranked 32nd — dead last at 232.4 yards a game — and, to me, solely responsible for the team’s 1-10-1 record.
Even before left tackle Levi Jones (back) and left guard Andrew Whitworth (ankle-Injured Reserve) exited with injuries, the unit had drastically underachieved.
The line is not void of talent. However, without right tackle Willie Anderson — the 13-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler signed with the Ravens after being released Aug. 30 as a salary-cap casualty — it lacks leadership, direction, confidence and, most of all, success.
Major upheaval is on the horizon for 2009.
Right tackle Stacy Andrews, who is not dominating like a franchise-tagged player should ($7.455 million), will likely leave in free agency.
Center Eric Ghiaciuc is an UFA (unrestricted free agent) who probably won’t be invited back.
And Jones’ future is in doubt because of his injury history.
Aside from Whitworth, who signed on long-term in the offseason, and rookie left tackle Anthony Collins, who shows plenty of promise, everyone’s job is in jeopardy across the offensive front.
Getting quarterback Carson Palmer (right elbow) healthy and keeping him well-protected will be the No. 1 priority of the offseason.
BALTIMORE WRITER: ‘THE TEAM YOU COVER STINKS’
After Sunday’s game, a 34-3 Ravens’ victory, a Baltimore writer approached me in the press box and said: “The team you cover stinks! That’s some bad junk out there.”
He said that during film study, the Ravens noticed that 6-foot-2 quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was taking three-step drops and getting rid of the football in quick-rhythm fashion.
“Because he’s right-handed, the defensive linemen said they were going to raise their left hands and bat the ball down,” he said.
Fitzpatrick was 12 of 31 passing for 124 yards. He fumbled twice, got sacked three times, had five passes swatted at the line of scrimmage and had two passes slip out of his hands.
‘TOUCHDOWN TIM’ IN MIDDLETOWN
“Hey, Chick: Sunday was my first game I attended this season, and most likely my last. I will eat the Redskins and Chiefs tickets. I could give them to a children’s organization, but I wouldn’t do that to those kids. They have been through enough.
“I have had season tickets since 1982. Unless my kids want the tickets, I am done.
“Marvin, Mike and anyone else who collects a check from this team has lost all credibility in my eyes. They should be kicked out of the NFL.
“Go Fenwick!”
ANGRY CHAD IN DAYTON
“Here is a fan’s perspective (mine) on the recent Mike Brown interview.
“Thanks for all of your coverage of the Bengals during this horrible season.
“I am so disgusted by Mike Brown’s comments in his interview. I question why I am a Bengals fan. I love my team. But why do I continue to support this guy.
There are several things that bothered me.
• He said he was counting on our LB crew being Rivers, Pollack and Thurman. Really? He must have been the only person in the world expecting Pollack to be there playing this year. In fact, I’m guessing if we were counting on Pollack and Thurman to be here playing this year, we probably would not have drafted Rivers or spent a 1st round pick on a LB. But apparently we are all stupid enough to believe Mike Brown on this one.
• When asked about a general manager he replied the fans are just talking ‘themes’. Really? I believe as fans we have been begging and asking for a GM since Mike took over for his dad. The only year we weren’t begging for a GM was the only year in the past 15 when we were having a winning season. So apparently the one constant thought we’ve been having since 1989 has only been a theme and not the truth. I guess we’re stupid.
• The coaches are doing an outstanding job. Really? Bratkowski cannot move the ball. He runs the same stagnant offense that every team figured out back when he worked for the Seahawks. Our DBs cannot make a play on the ball in the air, our D-line gets no penetration and our O-line cannot finish their blocks. Even Cedric Benson commented yesterday that guys aren’t finishing their blocks. But the coaches have done outstanding and we’re stupid.
• Ocho Stinko will honor his contract. Why? We don’t want him. The coaches don’t want him. Carson doesn’t want him. He doesn’t want us. It will be typical Mike Brown to keep Chad and let T.J. walk. Amazing! Mike believes that Chad puts butts in the seats and not winning football games. Of course we’re not football people so we must be stupid.
• Miscellaneous: Carson Palmer will help the team rebound when he returns and the training staff is fine. What? Carson will spend more time on his back with this O-line than he will in the pocket. And if the training staff is so good, why do all the Bengals players go somewhere else to get treated and examined? I guess we’re stupid. Someone should tell Mike Brown the truth. He’s not fooling anyone. We know who here is at fault and his own comments demonstrate his own stupidity when it comes to his team, his coaches and his fans.
LETTER TO “LUDWIG AT LARGE” FROM CHRIS HUGHES, FORMER SPORTS EDITOR OF THE GEORGETOWN (KY.) NEWS-GRAPHIC
Hey Chick:
How are you doing? Ecuador is great .. after a trip to Cincinnati for Christmas, I’m off to Chile.
Anyway, I just read that Brian Kelly is staying at UC and the school announced major renovations to Nippert Stadium — improvements that have been on the radar several years, according to Mike Thomas.
Exactly like I reported in my story earlier this year (and they denied in a follow-up story the next day in the Enquirer) when I broke it after obtaining the architectural plans for an expanded Nippert. And there is a new basketball arena in those plans too … It is only a matter of time before that is announced as well.
Nippert Stadium
I posted the link to the story I wrote in January below. There is only one photo of the expanded Nippert Stadium on the web site, though I did send additional photos of Nippert and the new basketball arena to Lance McAlister (of WCKY-AM radio, 1530 The Sports Animal) for his blog the day after I broke the story.
Anyway, feels good to be vindicated after being blown off 11 months ago just because I worked at a small newspaper.
The Bengals today made the following roster and practice squad moves:
• Moved free safety Marvin White from the roster to the Reserve/Injured list.
White, a second-year player from Texas Christian, suffered a knee injury in last week’s home game against Baltimore.
Marvin White
White has played in all 12 games this season, with 10 starts, and leads the secondary with 81 tackles (second on the team).
He also has had an interception and four total passes defensed. White’s move leaves the Bengals with 52 players on the active roster, one below the limit.
PRACTICE SQUAD ADDITION
• Signed defensive end Ben Ishola (pronounced “EE-sho-luh”) to the practice squad.
Ishola (6-3, 255; Indiana) is classified a first-year NFL player.
Ben Ishola
He opened 2008 with Indianapolis and played in four of the Colts’ five preseason games, with eight tackles, including one sack and two tackles-for-loss.
He was waived by Indianapolis on Aug. 30.
He entered the NFL in spring 2006 as a college free agent signee with Miami and was waived at the conclusion of preseason.
A native of Germany, he spent 2007 with the Colts as an International Practice Squad Player.
• Why didn’t WR Plaxico Burress shoot himself in the leg earlier, like the week leading up to the Bengals-Giants game? Bengals would’ve won the game.
• Where was Bengals WR Jerome Simpson against the Ravens? The only time he got on the field was when he gave Andre Caldwell a chest bump after Caldwell’s 43-yard kickoff return.
• How can people say the University of Cincinnati Bearcats “don’t travel well?” Hell, the ‘Cats haven’t been anywhere! Whether it’s wretched Miami for the Orange Bowl (SMELL OF STALE BEER & CIGARS) or sweet New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl (SCENT OF URINE ON BOURBON STREET), I believe Bearcat fans will show up and spend some cash.
• Why is Chris Henry still on the Bengals’ roster? Dude’s only going half speed on the field and can’t get open. And when a ball comes his way, it winds up on the floor.
• Is Mike Brown serious? Everything is not peachy in Bengaldom. Major changes are in order for the coaching ranks and roster personnel, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Hey, Mike, wake up and smell the Rose Bowl.
“Injury-wise, Marvin White ruptured his ACL early in the game (Sunday) and continued to play with it all the way through. It was quite a surprise to everyone afterwards when they did a scan, that he had a ruptured ACL and MCL. At some point this week we’ll replace him on the roster.
“On Carson (Palmer), we’ll continue to step up the rehab this week, but he will not be ready to play against the Colts.
Marvin Lewis
“We’ll just have to see how the other guys come around and mend this week — Eric Henderson, Levi Jones, Ben Utecht, and Antwan Odom. Utecht had the foot injury.
“The other guy that came out of the game a little banged up was Chris Perry, with a groin strain. Jonathan Fanene got poked in the eye, but everything seemed to clear.
“T.J. (Houshmandzadeh) had a mild concussion, but it seemed to clear. Everything else (regarding injuries) is just how we went into the game. We probably lose another guy, and we’ll have to adjust this week. We have the possibility of adding another guy, so we’ll see about that.
“As I said after the game, we fell behind in the field position early. We had a poor punt for the first one of the game, but after that Kyle (Larson) seemed to punt very well.
“We gave them the football at midfield three or four or five times throughout the game, and that makes it a little difficult. Our inability to make things happen and score points offensively makes it hard to win.
“You’re going to have a difficult time beating a team without scoring any touchdowns in the NFL. We’re going to continue to work to find a way to rectify that.
“We need to get some first downs, which lead to getting points, and we need to get some touchdowns scored when we have the opportunity.
“Defensively it comes down to the four explosive plays we allowed in the football game and the inability to get off the field on third downs.
“That has been my message to the football team and we have to go back to make sure we stay on the same page and get the things done correctly.
“If we do that we can put good plays together and progress the ball down the field. And we need to do whatever we can to not give up the big plays.”
This is not a joke, although we kind of wish it was. December is Cooked Grasshoppers Month. If this doesn't sound like something you'd like on a plate at your next holiday party, then check out some much more appetizing options on our restaurants page. » Restaurants
Here's where you get to tell the world what you think. Every week you get to vote on the best that the Dayton area has to offer in entertainment, restaurants, recreation & and a few other bizarro categories.
What would the holidays be without Scrooge and a little bah humbug? The Human Race Theatre opens its version of the classic tale "A Christmas Carol," Thursday, Dec. 4. The show runs through Dec. 21 at the Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St. Tickets are $33 to $40 for adults and half price for children. Also, La Comedia in Springboro is featuring "Miracle on 34th Street" Wednesdays through Sundays through Dec. 31. Tickets are $47-$65 for adults, $25 for ages 11 and younger. More »
A big action adventure with big, big stars Nicole Kidman and "Sexiest Man Alive" Hugh Jackman. Set in Australia (duh) on the brink of World War II, the plot follows English aristocrat Kidman and cattledriver Jackman as they fight to save the land she inherited. More »
Some are searching for new customers. Others are looking for a test market for new appetizers or entrees. Others want customer feedback on which new wines to add to the wine list. Whatever their reasons, more restaurants in the Dayton area are using wine tastings and wine dinners to try to get new, fresh faces to cross their doorsteps. A decade ago, diners could easily count on one hand the number of restaurants that held regular wine events. Now, the number exceeds a dozen and is growing. More »
Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.
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