The Daily Banter: Defense Is Hitting Hard

+ One of the observations by visiting ESPN writer James Walker is how hard the defense is hitting.

The unit was very physical, and I saw at least three noticeable hits by safety Gibril Wilson and linebackers Keith Rivers and Brandon Johnson. In addition, safety Roy Williams got an interception in the middle of the field off quarterback Carson Palmer in team drills. The defense also stopped the offense from scoring in two-minute drills.

+ And Mike Zimmer is very pleased with the defense's progress thus far.

"We seem to have good retention from (organized team activities) and last year in what we're trying to get done," Zimmer said. "Last night I forgot to put a check in and they made the check from the OTAs. There's been some good carryover."

+ Bengals placekicker Dave Rayner has converted 11 of his last 12 field goal attempts.

+ I wouldn't phrase it like the headline writers on ESPN's AFC North blog, who writes "Bengals started the Brett Favre legend." More like Brett Favre started the Brett Favre legend.

Favre struggled early but had enough magic to earn his first NFL come-from-behind victory, throwing two touchdowns late in the final period to help the Packers topple the Bengals, 24-23.

Consider it the start of the Favre legend.

"I'll never forget it," said (Paul) Anderson, who coaches Bengals running backs. "We were playing Cover 2, and the next thing you know, it was big plays and they came back and won the game. We turned the ball over at a crucial time and that was it.

"He just seized the moment, and that's what great players do."

+ In a massive samples size of 11 players, they rate the Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor as the most overrated player in the Big Ten. And I'm sure that the website named AnnArbor.com has nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.