Head coach Marvin Lewis was a little more forthright with his troubled players than usual on Wednesday.
"I told the people that yes, you embarrass us as an organization, myself, and the coaches when these things occur," Lewis said of rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson and second-year receiver Chris Henry. "Right, wrong or indifferent, there are certain things that you're asked not to be a part of or around."
Lewis is very positive on Carson Palmer's rehab and confident Palmer will be ready for opening day.
Anderson says of the contract situation with the offensive linemen:
"I want to make sure we have a chance to compete for that ring and make sure people know we're not talking about contracts," Anderson said after practice. "(Jones), that's my best friend on this team. Go get him (extended) first. He's playing on a high level right now. He's a left tackle. Go reward him now."They rewarded me with a big contract back in 2000. I want my friend, (Jones) and Steinbach, these young guys, to get the same opportunity and get rewarded the way I was five, six years ago. If they don't do me, there are no hard feelings. My initial goal is team."
Here are other notes
- Mark Curnutte of the Enquirer, in the article listed above, reports that David Pollack is finally practicing again.
- Chris Perry will miss the mandatory minicamp while Rudi Johnson is "expected to be cleared next week".
- Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson also notes that "Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson are going to get roughly the same number of snaps at quarterback at the minicamp, with the recently-acquired Dave Ragone still learning. With four QBs going to training camp, the odd man out could be the free agent rookie from Eastern Washington, Erik Meyer."
INJURY UPDATE: At the moment, Lewis said all but running back Chris Perry should be ready for the mandatory minicamp. Lewis said he continues to strengthen his knee.That would mean running back Rudi Johnson (coming back from a knee scope) is going to make his first appearance of the spring. As is left tackle Adam Kieft, who hasn't practiced since tearing his ACL and MCL last August in the Mock Game.
Guys to keep an eye on who might not be back between now and then are cornerback Deltha O'Neal (still recovering from a knee scope), wide receiver Chris Henry (knee), defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene (hamstring), and long snapper Brad St. Louis (pulled pectoral muscle). And Palmer has yet to be cleared full go.
Some notables not practicing Wednesday were defensive tackle Sam Adams, middle linebacker Odell Thurman, and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Houshmandzadeh is back in Los Angeles for personal reasons. The only starter or regular, at the moment, who looks to be questionable for the July 29 start of camp is Palmer.
Boomer Esiason presented a "$1 million check to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on Wednesday."