Good Morning, It's Monday November 30...
December is nearly here. I guess it's going to feel like December later this week. It's just nice to be this late in the year and still have football games to talk about. Usually we're previewing the college draft by now.
THE SECOND CHANCE
Larry Johnson rushed for 107 yards in the Bengals 16-7 mind-numbing yawner over the Browns Sunday. "I'm just glad they trust me to go in there, especially with the division and the playoffs on the line" said Johnson. "I just came here for a second chance."
RUN FIRST, PASS SECOND
The Bengals ran the ball 45 times. They passed it only 24.
BORING?
Carson Palmer was asked if it got boring just handing the ball off play after play. Carson replied "Absolutely not, absolutely not, absolutely not."
NOW WHAT?
Bernard Scott rushed for more than 100 yards last week. Johnson rushed for more than a hundred yards Sunday. Next week, Cedric Benson is expected to be back. And don't forget Brian Leonard who has made some huge plays this year.
A WEALTH OF RUNNERS
Think back to a year ago when the Bengals were trying to run the ball with Chris Perry, Dede Dorsey and Kenny Watson. Often QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was the leading rusher. A remarkable change has occurred by claiming two guys off the scrap heap and drafting another.
THE DEBUT OF ANDRE
First round draft pick Andre Smith finally made it onto the field Sunday. He was used on some running plays. He told reporters he wasn't very tired because he didn't play too much.
WHAT RIVALRY?
The Bengals have won nine of the past 11 games with the the Browns.
A BROKEN RECORD
Cleveland has double digit losses for the eighth time in its 11 years as an expansion team.
THUMBS DOWN
Cincinnati native Brent Celek sprained his left thumb in the Eagles win over Washington Sunday. He told teammates he had torn ligaments. Celek caught four passes, but dropped three others on Sunday. He's a product of LaSalle and UC.
THE SUNDAY STORIES:
..The Vikings improved to 10-1 by trouncing Chicago 36-10. The Bengals play the Vikes in two weeks
..The Chargers won their sixth straight game, 43-14 over the Chiefs. The Bengals play in San Diego in three weeks.
..The Titans beat Arizona 20-17. The Titans are the first team in NFL history to win five straight games after losing their first six.
..Vince Young won his ninth straight game at quarterback.
..The Colts are 11-0. They trailed Texas 17-0 before rallying to win 35-27.
..That's the Colts 20th straight regular season victory.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
The lead expands for the Bengals. The Steelers were beaten in overtime by the Ravens 20-17. The Steelers, now 6-5, have lost three straight games.
FIVES ARE WILD
UC is fifth in the latest BCS standings...fifth in the latest AP Poll and fifth in the latest USA Today Coaches poll.
#1 vs #2
For the second year in a row, the SEC title game will be #1 against #2. This time Florida is top ranked and Alabama is ranked second. They'll meet Saturday in Atlanta. The winner goes to the national title game in Pasadena on January 7.
ALL EYES ON SOUTH BEND
Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis is back in South Bend, and we'll find out this week how long he'll stay there. Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick says he'll make a decision this week on Charlie's future. ND finished the season at 6-6. Everybody had projected a lot more wins because of the relatively easy schedule.
LOCAL BITS:
..The Cyclones won at Wheeling Sunday night 3-2. The Clones scored a pair of goals in the third period.
..Baylor beat Xavier in Orlando Sunday 69-64. Tweety Carter had 27 points including six three pointers for the Bears. Jamel McLean had 17 and Jordan Crawford had 16 for X.
..The winter season opened at Turfway Park Sunday. Coy Cat won the $50,000 Holiday Inaugural.
NOTHING FOR THE NETS
Lawrence Frank was fired as head coach of the New Jersey Nets on Sunday after his team lost their first 16 games of the season. With him gone, the Nets went out Sunday and lost to the Lakers 106-87. 17-straight losses to start the season ties the NBA record.
HE NEEDS A NEW DRIVER
Tiger Woods isn't talking to state police in Florida about an incident at his home early Saturday morning that gave him cuts, bruises and a lot more public scrutiny than he likes. He says he lost control of his SUV and hit a fire hydrant and a tree. He wasn't going very fast. His air bags didn't even deploy.
CONGRATULATIONS
To the UC Womens Volleyball team which got an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. They'll play at Ohio State on Friday. Reed Sunahara's team went 25-10 and 12-2 in the Big East.
BIRTHDAY FOR LEGENDS
..Dick Clark is 80 today. American Bandstand was music videos before there were music videos.
.. Efrem Zimbalist Junior is 91. He was in "77 Sunset Strip" in the 50's and 60's, and then "The FBI" in the 60's and 70's.
QUESTIONS..COMMENTS..CORRECTIONS
jpopovich@wcpo.com
Hope your holiday was a good one.
See you on TV
Popo
