Bengals Notes by Chick Ludwig DDN

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]Coach Lewis wants right fit, value with draft's No. 9 pick [/b][/size]
By Chick Ludwig

Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

CINCINNATI — Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis didn't mention any names, but he sure dropped a lot of hints about the club's draft plans this weekend.

With the ninth overall pick Saturday, April 26, he wants an impact player.

The signs point toward defense — tackle Sedrick Ellis, end Derrick Harvey or middle linebacker Keith Rivers.

"I'm hoping that when we step up to pick at nine, the value and the match are there," Lewis said.

[b]Holes to fill in draft[/b]

In addition to the offensive and defensive lines, Lewis said the "skill spots — running back, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back — are areas we will address" in the draft.

"With 10 picks, it's an opportunity for us to kind of retool some things, add some depth and actually add people that probably will press to start very early," he said. "That's important. The way, hopefully, the draft will unfold, we'll have a little luck, and things will unfold to hit us in an area of both quality and need. That's what we're looking forward to."

[b]Glad when it's over[/b]

Is this time of year fun or stressful?

"It's not stressful," Lewis said, "but I am excited to get the draft over with so we can get on to real football. That's the part of the year I prefer, not the speculative, nebulous part of football that everybody seems to make such a big deal out of. The value of this (draft) is where these guys are a year from now and two years from now."

[b]Thurman faces tests[/b]

Middle linebacker Odell Thurman, reinstated after a two-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, still has a lot to prove.

"He's got to be able to make the team and do things the right way constantly," Lewis said. "That remains to be seen whether he can handle that kind of scrutiny day in and day out. He's still under the same guidelines he's been under through the NFL. He has done, to this point, well enough to be given this opportunity. Hopefully, he can continue on that path and separate himself from those who seem to follow him around."


Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@coxohio.com.[/quote]

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]Bengals notebook[/b][/size]
[size=3][b]Lewis: Pollack to retire with health intact[/b][/size]
BY MARK CURNUTTE | MCURNUTTE@ENQUIRER.COM

Bengals linebacker David Pollack has expressed to his head coach, Marvin Lewis, that he is "headed to retirement," Lewis said Tuesday.

"He is not completely comfortable with where medically (he is), though he has been given the release, an opportunity, to play football," Lewis said. "We know the quality of the person. ... We're proceeding that he will not be part of the football team. It's been a tough, tough decision for him and his family. "

Pollack, the team's first-round draft pick in 2005, fractured his C6 vertebrae in Game 2 of the 2006 season and has not played since.


Lewis said he spoke with Pollack a week ago, when Pollack told him of his decision.

"The good thing is he is recovered from this and is going to have an outstanding life with what could have been a horrific injury," Lewis said of Pollack.

Bengals are not expected to seek any reimbursement of $7.65 million in guaranteed money they gave Pollack when he signed a five-year contract in August 2005.

Pollack ended up playing just 16 games with six starts. He had 4.5 sacks among his 35 total tackles.

[b]ODELL REACTION: [/b]Lewis, in keeping with the organization's overall tone, said Tuesday that he is not getting his hopes up on what linebacker Odell Thurman can do for the team this season.

Thurman was reinstated by the NFL on Monday following what amounts to a two-year suspension for repeated violations of the league substance abuse policy.

"It really doesn't change things," Lewis said of Thurman's reinstatement. "He has the opportunity, if we want to keep him on the football team, he can compete for a roster spot."

Lewis said the reinstatement does not change the team's draft approach as it would relate to the possibility of taking a linebacker.

Safety Dexter Jackson is cautiously optimistic about what Thurman could offer, though he has not played since 2005.

"Before the suspension, he was one of the top young linebackers in the league," Jackson said. "He's a playmaker on defense that we lacked last year. He comes in here tired and sweaty (during workouts). He is happy to be back. He understands he made a mistake."

[b]TIGHT END:[/b] New Bengals tight end Ben Utecht has now had the chance to work on the field with Carson Palmer. And he likes it.

"You go from one great quarterback to the next," said Utecht, a former Indianapolis Colts backup who played with Peyton Manning. "I got out there. I got to run some routes. You've got a guy who puts the ball on the money all the time. He knows when to finesse it, and he knows when to throw it hard.

"Everything from leadership to athleticism both guys have what it takes. I'm just starting to get a feel for what No. 9 can do."

[b]BACKUP:[/b] Ryan Fitzpatrick is happy to be back as the team's backup quarterback. He signed a one-year, $927,000 tender late last week as a restricted free agent to stay with the Bengals.

"I had a great time last year. I learned a new system, learning from Carson and take in a new city and a new team," Fitzpatrick said. "I think this is a team on the rise, even though we had a couple of setbacks, and we can get back to the playoffs."

[b]HOLT:[/b] Glenn Holt, the former University of Kentucky star who has made an improbable journey to the NFL, is making the most of his chance now to work with Palmer.

"Right now, without Chad (Johnson) and T.J. (Houshmandzadeh) here, and Chris (Henry) gone, I'm getting more work with Carson on the field," Holt said. "He points things out. He is telling me I look good."

Holts wants to do more than challenge for the job as kickoff return man. "I want to get some downs (on offense)," he said. "Any way I can help."[/quote]

[-GoBengals-]

i was happy with holt in the cleveland game in cleveland.. i thought he stepped in and made some good catches, but after that i didnt see much from him. i assume consistancy in your role and routes as a WR is pretty important.. i hope we have our 1,2,3 guys in place from day one so they can get the proper work together.

im pretty excited for camp.

[MESP]

same here. I think having the 1-3 receivers set and ready to go throughout the off-season will help tremendously

[ccartman2]

[quote name='GoBengals' post='655689' date='Apr 23 2008, 08:58 AM']i was happy with holt in the cleveland game in cleveland.. i thought he stepped in and made some good catches, but after that i didnt see much from him. i assume consistancy in your role and routes as a WR is pretty important.. i hope we have our 1,2,3 guys in place from day one so they can get the proper work together.

im pretty excited for camp.[/quote]

I think we were pretty poor in settling on a 3 the whole season. We had green for a while, then chatman or holt, then Henry. Probably really screwed up reps in practice. I think he could be a sollid number 3. Nothing like Henry, but good enough to catch some balls for you.

[JoePong]

Holt sucks.

[claptonrocks]

[quote name='JoePong' post='655985' date='Apr 23 2008, 03:28 PM']Holt sucks.[/quote]

How does he suck as a receiver??? How much PT did he have ?? How do you expect a receiver to flourish when he has TJ. CJ and Henry in front of him?
maybe his time is now......at least he'll be given the opportunity....
Your very quick to judge based on minimal plays for a player.

[Jamie_B]

[quote name='claptonrocks' post='655989' date='Apr 23 2008, 03:45 PM']How does he suck as a receiver??? How much PT did he have ?? How do you expect a receiver to flourish when he has TJ. CJ and Henry in front of him?
maybe his time is now......at least he'll be given the opportunity....
Your very quick to judge based on minimal plays for a player.[/quote]


Holt had 8 games last year to make an impact.