Do a Little Dance? Chad does, but Bengals not in the mood
Football Betting Lines
10/31/2006 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - We knew Chad Johnson could dance, but who knew he was bilingual?
Johnson strutted around in warm-ups with the phrase "Ocho Cinco" firmly placed with Velcro over his name on the back of his jersey. The Spanish term, which translates to Johnson's number 85, added to a week-long list of antics from the star wide receiver.
In the press, Johnson said he would cut his Mohawk if he didn't own Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall, and while he did catch a 12-yard TD pass from Carson Palmer, it came against Atlanta's other cornerback Jason Webster.
"I told him after the game that I have the clippers," said Hall. "If he's a man of his word, he'll be cutting it."
Those clippers may be busy at the moment because with each passing week they are cutting away the hopes of Cincinnati's season.
Following a devastating 29-27 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, veteran offensive lineman Willie Anderson didn't mince words about the up-and-down season to date.
"We need to toughen up. We need to man up," said Anderson, echoing the phrase uttered in this very same report just several weeks ago. "We have tough guys, but it's spotty. The good teams have it, we don't. Point blank."
When asked what could be done to rectify the problem, Anderson simply stated, "Make changes. Shake guys up."
From the top down, a seething club could not believe what hit them after the game.
For the second straight week, Michael Vick terrorized an AFC North defense, throwing three more touchdowns after tossing a career-high four in an overtime victory over Pittsburgh.
"He threw the ball accurately on the run, on the move, he made some plays," said head coach Marvin Lewis.
Palmer on the other hand was running for his life most of the game, constantly pressured despite only being sacked twice.
"They brought a couple pressures where we didn't have enough people to pick them up and we didn't convert on the hot routes," surmised Palmer. "They did a good job covering up the guys that are supposed to be running the hot routes and getting open."
Vick was finding plenty of open guys, especially while creating extra time to navigate the field for receivers.
"The average pass play takes what, two, three, four seconds?" asked Bengals linebacker Brian Simmons. "With Vick, he turns it into 10 seconds. It is what it is."
"What it is" falls under another loss, the second in three games to an NFC South opponent. Cincinnati fell on a late touchdown in Tampa Bay before rallying to beat Carolina in Week 7.
FRUSTRATION OR COMPLAINING?
Rudi Johnson carried the ball five times for 32 yards on Cincinnati's initial drive of the game. He ran the ball just seven more times the rest of the contest.
Why?
Some Bengals weren't sure of the answer and voiced their displeasure after the game.
"It's a joke," said Anderson.
"There's too much going on. Stick with what's working," added Johnson. "If you're trying to win, if you want to win the ballgame, stick with what's working. If they find a way to stop it, change up but don't cold turkey something for no reason."
The running back mustered only 14 yards after the positive opening possession.
"Our offensive line could have manhandled them all day," added a frustrated Johnson. "And they know that. Our offensive line knows that."
When asked about what amounted to calling out the coaching staff during his Monday press conference, Lewis responded, "It's a normal thing that the players go through, 'It's not me, it's got to be somebody else.'"
What about Johnson's lack of touches, coach?
"Rudi touched the ball 50 percent of the plays that he was in. That's pretty good."
Stay tuned to see how this drama unfolds.
QUICK HITS
- Please be careful how you celebrate a solid return to the field, Chris Henry. The Tennessee product exhibited the big-play capability that had deserted the Bengals offense in his absence. Henry caught five passes for a game-high 81 yards and a touchdown following a two-game suspension.
- Johnson didn't record a carry after the 2:21 mark of the third quarter. Morten Anderson finished off a time-soaking drive with a 39-yard field goal for a 29-20 lead with only 7:42 left, and Cincinnati abandoned the run needing two scores to win or tie.
- Safety Kevin Kaesviharn left the game early in the second half with a knee bruise, and did not return. He did not record a tackle one week after collecting the big interception to preserve the victory over the Panthers.
- Shayne Graham, like the rest of the team, had an up-and-down day. He booted a 51-yard field goal, his longest since his career long of 53 yards against Denver in 2004. He also drove a kickoff out of bounds, setting up an Atlanta score.
"Let's hope that's the only one this year," said Graham. "I think I had only one of them last year. I was kicking outside the numbers because of their return game and I just didn't get all of it."
- Justin Smith had a big day on defense with 12 tackles and 0.5 sacks, while Caleb Miller recorded nine tackles and Ahmad Brooks continued to make the most of his opportunity with seven takedowns.
- Don't think turnovers are the key to any game in the NFL? Cincinnati fell to 3-17 under Lewis when losing the turnover battle.
UP NEXT: HUGE DIVISIONAL GAME WITH RAVENS
The Bengals (4-3) travel to Baltimore (5-2) to face the division-leading Ravens in a huge matchup this Sunday.
"About 15 or 16 teams would love to have the chance we have," said Simmons. "To be in first place in our division at the halfway point."
The Bengals will still be battered for Sunday's contest. On Monday, Lewis ruled out center Rich Braham (knee), left tackle Levi Jones (knee) and wide receiver Kelley Washington (hamstring) for this Sunday's contest.
The two teams must keep up to speed on tiebreaker scenarios should they finish in a dead heat. Neither club has lost in the division, and both sport 3-1 records in the conference. The Bengals have won two straight on the road against the Ravens, and Palmer has had tremendous success in his last three starts against a stingy Baltimore defense.
The signal-caller has thrown for 932 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions in those games.
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Big 12 Conference betting odds
Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State
Texas joins Texas A&M and Kansas as locks after getting league win No. 11. Texas Tech greatly helped its own hopes and crippled OK State's with the two-point win Saturday. Is K-State the last reasonable hopeful? Could be an elimination match in Stillwater on Tuesday, at least for the Cowboys.
Work left to do:
Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on.
Oklahoma State [18-9 (5-8), RPI: 50, SOS: 35] Still without a road win, the Cowboys now need to win two on the road just to get to .500 in conference play. It's hard to recall a team (OK, other than Clemson) falling so precipitously from lock status to almost certainly out of the NCAAs at this point. There are wins to be had in the last three, including a very big home game against K-State on Tuesday, but this team is reeling. Can you tell the pressure to win is getting to them with the way the final possession played out at Texas Tech? There are some good nonconference performances to lean on, specifically beating Missouri State and Syracuse on neutral floors and Pitt in OK City, but if the Pokes don't right this very, very soon, that won't be enough.
Kansas State [20-9 (9-5), RPI: 56, SOS: 96] It pays to be in the Big 12 North. The nine league wins are Colorado (twice), Missouri (twice), Iowa State (twice), Baylor, Nebraska and (a good one against) Texas. That helps explain the middling computer profile. The win over USC is nice, but the nonconference leaves a lot to be desired. The game at OK State in Stillwater on Tuesday is huge, as it could KO the Cowboys and leave K-State with a home date against Oklahoma with which to work.
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
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