!!! THE OFFICIAL BENGALS @ PACKERS PRESEASON GAME THREAD !!!

[oldschooler]

I have some running to do. And the game is on TV here tonight.
I won't be on here later, so I figured I would start the game thread now.


[img]http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3585/bengals1lp5.gif[/img]

[size=5][b]VERSUS[/b][/size]



[img]http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6741/packers1cf5.gif[/img]




[size=7][b][color="#FF8C00"]WHO-[/color]DEY !!!!! [/b][/size][img]http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2104/buttheadmd4.gif[/img][img]http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3747/beavisps5.gif[/img]

[theman]

Sorta jumped the gun on this one by about 5 and a half hours.

[USN Bengal]

WHODEY!!! and AMEN!!!


Football season is upon us!!!

[oldschooler]

[size=5][b]TONIGHT`S GAME IS ON ESPN AND LOCAL CHANNEL (12 I think). BUT IF YOU CAN`T WATCH IT THERE FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT IS ALSO BEING STREAMED ON TV ANTS[/b][/size]


You can watch it on your computer.

But first, you would have to download TV ANTS.


[url="http://www.myp2p.eu/softwareitem.php?softwareid=4&part=software"]http://www.myp2p.eu/softwareitem.php?softw...p;part=software[/url]


Then right before game time, click on the link below and open one of the channels
that is supposed to be streaming it . . .


[url="http://www.myp2pforum.eu/nfl-cfl-afl/24820-nfl-week-preseason-week-1-a.html"]http://www.myp2pforum.eu/nfl-cfl-afl/24820...n-week-1-a.html[/url]


Note: Obviously I haven't used TV Ants yet this season. So I can't say how good the
quality is or anything like that. But if you have any problems getting it to work,
they have some tips/troubleshooting in the link above.

[Squirrlnutz]

Whats everyone looking for tonight?

I am looking at a couple things....

1. The first team O should have one series and it should end in a TD. Anything less than that is a spectacular failure.
2. I wanna see a pick by the first team secondary and a sack by one of our starting front 7
3. Sims and Shirley getting big reps
4. Utech catching a pass up the middle
5. NO INJURIES

[The Scales]

And so It begins . . . in five hours.



I'm rooting for the Defense.


GO - BENGALS!!!

[oldschooler]

[quote name='theman' post='686303' date='Aug 11 2008, 11:46 AM']Sorta jumped the gun on this one by about 5 and a half hours.[/quote]



[quote name='oldschooler' post='686300' date='Aug 11 2008, 11:44 AM']I have some running to do. And the game is on TV here tonight.
[size=5][b]I won't be on here later[/b], [/size]so I figured I would start the game thread now.[/quote]

[BengalBacker]

WHO DEY !!!!



I'll be at work during the game so someone cuss and cheer a little extra in my place.

[Jamie_B]

Also by the way for the few noobs we have this season.

Oldschooler has been deemed the official gameday thread starter, so dont start them they will just get deleted.

[oldschooler]

[b]Link for streaming audio . . . [/b]


[url="http://www.thegamelive.com/footballnfl.html#cin"]http://www.thegamelive.com/footballnfl.html#cin[/url]


I used the London KY 1400 AM link last season . . .



[b]Link for NFL.com's Game Center . . .[/b]


[url="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29799&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter"]http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=2979...=tab_gamecenter[/url]

[oldschooler]

[b]Weekly News Releases:


Bengals [/b]


[url="http://assets.bengals.com/assets/default/wr080811.pdf"]http://assets.bengals.com/assets/default/wr080811.pdf[/url]


[b]Packers [/b]



[url="http://assets.bengals.com/assets/default/wr080811_packers.pdf"]http://assets.bengals.com/assets/default/w...811_packers.pdf[/url]

[Cricket]

[quote name='The Scales' post='686308' date='Aug 11 2008, 01:53 PM']And so It begins . . . [b]in five hours[/b].



I'm rooting for the Defense.


GO - BENGALS!!![/quote]


...six hours.

[USN Bengal]

[quote name='BengalBacker' post='686310' date='Aug 11 2008, 01:54 PM']WHO DEY !!!!



I'll be at work during the game so someone cuss and cheer a little extra in my place.


[/quote]


Got your back on that one BB... and I'll down a couple of cold adult beverages in your honor too!

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]Notebook: Injuries hamper defensive tackles [/b][/size]
By Todd Korth
packrepted@aol.com
Posted Aug 9, 2008


Bolston looks forward to more playing time; injury update; roster move

Mike McCarthy joked after practice Saturday afternoon that the Green Bay Packers may be using a 3-4 defense Monday night in the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. At the rate that Green Bay’s defensive tackles are dropping out of practices lately, that may be the case.
The Packers probably will be without defensive tackles Johnny Jolly (shoulder, hip flexor), Ryan Pickett (hamstring) and Justin Harrell (back) against the Bengals. To make matters worse, Daniel Muir was helped off the field during practice with a lower leg injury, though, it appears from the way he was walking around in the locker room afterward that he will be ready to go on Monday.

If Muir can play, he probably will be joined by Colin Cole in the starting rotation and be backed up by Conrad Bolston and Alfred Malone. The position is so thin right now that defensive end Mike Montgomery has been taking snaps at the tackle position during passing downs this week in practice. Defensive end Cullen Jenkins also moves inside on passing downs.

“We're definitely going to have a problem there,” McCarthy said about the defensive tackle position. “Daniel Muir got kicked there at the end of practice. These are all questions that we'll answer tonight. We'll probably put in the 3-4 defense. Why don't you write that, OK? (smiles) Put that in for the game Monday.”

The coach was kidding, of course, but Bolston, for one, plans to make the most of the added opportunities. With good performances in the preseason games, Bolston can improve his chances of making the 53-man roster to start the season.

"It is a great opportunity to get a lot of reps,” said Bolston, who was claimed off waivers by the Packers Dec. 12 last year. “I’ve just got to take advantage of it and come out here and get a job, just like everybody else."

Bolston is in a battle with Malone and Muir for a roster spot. Pickett and Jolly are the likely starters with Cole and possibly Harrell as the backups. But if Harrell, who has yet to practice in training camp, is unable to recover from his injury, he may be placed on injured reserve, which would leave a spot open. Bolston can put himself in the driver’s seat for that spot by playing well in the exhibition games ahead.

"I’m starting to get the defense a lot better that I was last year,” Bolston said. “Last year, I really didn’t have the preseason and the OTAs to get all the defense."

Injury update
While three players returned to action, linebacker Desmond Bishop joined the group of walking wounded with a high Achilles strain. Others who did not practice included center Scott Wells (trunk), safety Charlie Peprah (hamstring), running back Ryan Grant (hamstring), defensive ends Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee) and Jeremy Thompson (stinger), offensive linemen Junius Coston (ankle) and Orrin Thompson (ankle), wide receiver Greg Jennings (knee), cornerback Al Harris (back), Harrell, Pickett and Jolly. Muir injured his lower left leg during a team scrimmage as he was getting blocked by guard Allen Barbre.

“My biggest concern right now is the health of the football team,” McCarthy said.

Harris was held out of practice for precautionary reasons after his back “flared up” following yesterday’s practice, McCarthy said. Harris was bothered by the injury for most of the second half of last season.

Aside from Muir, it is doubtful that any of the players watching practice Saturday will play against the Bengals.

“Every decision will really be based on the health, because I would like to see them all play,” McCarthy said. “It's important for us to get some momentum, to get out there and play some live football. You don't want to be going through the preseason and feel like you have work that needs to be done in games three and four. So they will clearly be health issues.”

On the bright side, running back Vernand Morency, safety Aaron Rouse and wide receiver Jake Allen returned to practice today. Morency (groin), Rouse (hip flexor) and Allen (groin), missed both practices on Friday.

Quick Hits
? The Packers used portions of the practice to game plan against the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterbacks Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn led the scout teams against Green Bay’s first-team defense. Brohm was intercepted by linebacker Spencer Havner on a pass intended for tight end Evan Moore during a scout team drill.

? McCarthy said that linebacker Nick Barnett will start out using a headset in his helmet to receive the defensive formations from coordinator Bob Sanders. Safety Nick Collins also will be using the speaker helmet.

? Safety Aaron Rouse leaped high for an interception off quarterback Matt Flynn in a goal line defensive drill.

? Tramon Williams played in place of Al Harris with the starting defense. Will Blackmon took Willliams’ place as the nickel cornerback.

? Wide receiver Donald Driver made an impressive catch downfield from Aaron Rodgers during the team scrimmage early in the practice.

? Havner and offensive tackle Ryan Considine had to be separated by teammates at the end of a play. The two began pushing and shoving each other and Havner lost his helmet in the process.

? A number of ESPN personnel were on hand for the practice, including Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Rachel Nichols and Suzy Kolber. Packers President Mark Murphy spent a lot of time talking with Jaworski during Friday and Saturday’s practices. Murphy and Jaworski played against each other in the late 1970s and early '80s.[/quote]



[url="http://gnb.scout.com/2/777659.html"]http://gnb.scout.com/2/777659.html[/url]









[quote][size=5][b]New era begins with Packers/Rodgers[/b][/size]


Associated Press - August 11, 2008 1:15 PM ET

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - For the first time in 16 years, a quarterback other than Brett Favre will start for the Green Bay Packers.

Aaron Rodgers finally gets his first start in the National Football League after backing up the durable Favre for the past three years.

Rodgers says he's excited about the opportunity to be 1 of the leaders of the Pack and to get rolling into the regular season.

He's expecting the Cincinnati Bengals will come after him with pressure because it's his first start. Opponents, no doubt, will try to find out what Rodgers is made of.[/quote]




[url="http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=8821888&nav=menu1360_4"]http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=882...;nav=menu1360_4[/url]



[quote][size=5][b]Rodgers assumes starring role [/b][/size]
[size=3][b]He’s ready to go after years as understudy[/b][/size]
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 10, 2008

Green Bay - Aaron Rodgers won't feel alone tonight.

Not as he did during the second quarter of a rain-drenched exhibition game against the San Diego Chargers three years ago, the first time he ever took a snap for the Green Bay Packers.

The communication system in Rodgers' helmet shorted out, so suddenly he was without direction from the sideline and virtually on his own. He ended up calling the next three plays on his own and exiting after a three-and-out, unable to return on the next series because the receiver in his helmet was still being repaired.

If that's the worst thing Rodgers goes through tonight at Lambeau Field against the Cincinnati Bengals during his first start in the National Football League, everything will be just fine. After getting caught in the eye of tropical storm Brett the past two weeks, Rodgers finally gets a chance to do what he has dreamed of doing since being drafted in the first round in 2005.

"You think about that all the time," Rodgers said of running through the tunnel as the Packers' starting quarterback. "Definitely, it's going to be an exciting time. Hopefully there will be more cheers than boos.

"Sometimes there's more boos than cheers in my dream. But we have a great group of fans and I'm excited about the opportunity to be one of the leaders on this football team and just get things rolling into the regular season."

It's not easy replacing a legend, let alone one who was refused the opportunity to get his job back and was embroiled in an ugly standoff with Packers management, causing an uproar among fans. When Rodgers grabs hold of the wheel for the first time tonight, the organization will have crossed the bridge from one era to another, unsure where exactly this one will take them.

It's just an exhibition game and the true test of Rodgers' worth will be Sept. 8 in the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. But the events of the past six weeks and the hard feelings they left mean Rodgers won't be given the benefit of the doubt he would have had Brett Favre's retirement gone on as planned.

"He's a tough guy," tight end Donald Lee said. "One thing we all like about him, he has thick skin. No matter how bad the situation or tough the situation he'll come out and do what he has to do. I feel like if we support him and show we're behind him, then he'll be fine. That's what teammates are for."

Rodgers has come a long way in three years as Favre's backup.

Physically, he is a vastly different player from the one who walked into the Packers' locker room fresh off his senior season at the University of California. Receiver Donald Driver said recently that the 220-pound Rodgers throws the ball harder than Favre and with less touch on short and medium routes, something he never would have said three years ago.

"When he first got here he was about 226 pounds with about 15% body fat," strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson said. "That was a little bit high. He's around 12% now and as he gets through training camp, he'll be down to 10 or 11.

"That's 10 pounds of extra baggage he didn't need to carry. As that happens, you can see the definition and with that comes confidence. Now he's moving around better. He's a little more flexible."

That physical transformation has meant a lot for Rodgers. Not only did he improve his body and his throwing arm, he became a regular during off-season workouts, which endeared him to his teammates.

He attends all the conditioning sessions and organized team activities, and this year made it a habit of holding social functions at his home in an attempt to develop leadership with his teammates. He did everything right this off-season and continues to work with assistant weight coach Mark Lovat on preventive conditioning, focusing on his throwing shoulder and the hamstring he injured last year.

On the field, Rodgers has had three seasons to watch and learn from Favre. Things were not cozy with Favre the first year, but as time wore on they developed a good working relationship and Rodgers was able to understand more of how Favre saw the game.

Last year, Rodgers finally added some quality work to his résumé, relieving an injured Favre in the second quarter of the Dallas game and leading the Packers back from a 27-10 deficit to within three points at the end of the third quarter. Rodgers completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, posting a passer rating of 104.8.

The next week he pulled his hamstring and was inactive for the next four games, marking the second consecutive year he had missed a big chunk of time because of injury.

As his first start approaches - he'll play about a quarter with the No. 1 offense tonight - the expectation level of his coaches isn't commensurate with some greenhorn four months into his NFL career. It's so high that they expect him to be as efficient and productive as Favre was last year, and maybe even better than that.

"We expect him to play well," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "We think he has a lot of ability. We're excited about him and our expectations are for him to manage the offense well and get us in the right situations. We expect him to do the things it takes to win."

Despite what he has gone through in the past week, some of the verbal abuse he has taken from fans and having to answer myriad questions about Favre's near comeback to the Packers, the expectation is that none of this has been too big for him. He has had several days to regroup after the media onslaught and prepare without distraction for this game.

Philbin hasn't felt it necessary to treat him any differently.

"He's a big boy," Philbin said. "He's 24 years old. He knows what's going on. I don't think we have to sit down by the campfire and hold his hand."

One thing Rodgers can expect, whether it's this week or opening week of the regular season, is to be tested. Opponents are going to find out what he's made of right away and it might start tonight with the Bengals.

Cincinnati has a new defensive coordinator in Mike Zimmer and opponents always have to be prepared for his blitz package.

Smartly, coach Mike McCarthy had Rodgers and the offense run through blitz protections in practice Saturday so they will be prepared just in case.

Still, it will be up to Rodgers to make the protection calls and find the hot reads that Favre, after 17 years in the league, was able to do in his sleep. The expectations are not any different for him.

"It's my first game; I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't come after me a little bit," Rodgers said. "You have to expect it. You don't know for sure, because it's a new system. But preseason, first game, I would expect some pressures."

Whether it's from the Bengals or the 69,000 fans in attendance, Rodgers is going to have to deal with it. The season starts now.[/quote]




[url="http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=781738"]http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=781738[/url]

[akiliMVP]

Players who I'll be watching very closely:
Chris Perry - Will he be explosive and stay healthy?
James Johnson - Is he an undrafted stud or Bennie Brazell II?
Ben Utecht - Does he play up to the hype given by Carson?
Pat Sims - Can he be as disruptive in the NFL as he was in the SEC?
Jason Shirley - Does he play up to his size?
Marvin White - Can he fill Madieu's shoes?
Robert Geathers - Was last year a fluke?
Johnathan Joseph - Will he play up to the hype given by coaches and players?
Keith Rivers - Is he what the defense has been missing?

[|ArmyBengal|]

Oh, my, my. Oh, hell, yes. Honey, put on that party dress

[The Scales]

I'm looking for this Bengals team to change the big story from Favre to Them

[TonyAPBTx]

I will be paying close attention to Guy-check and the WRs. If Ghiaciuc doesn't perform well tonight does Bobbie all the sudden get more "emergency" snaps at center?

I really want to see what Maxwell can show us tonight. He is by far the most unproven player who has gotten the most hype this off-season. I would really like to have a big, healthy guy in the 3rd receiver spot than a Chatman type.

[bengalbutch]

[Cricket]

I think we'll call "heads" on the coin flip.

[TeeBengal]

[b][size=7]WHO-DEY!![/size][/b]

Lets Go Bengals!!

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='TonyAPBTx' post='686321' date='Aug 11 2008, 01:21 PM']I will be paying close attention to Guy-check and the WRs. If Ghiaciuc doesn't perform well tonight does Bobbie all the sudden get more "emergency" snaps at center?

I really want to see what Maxwell can show us tonight. He is by far the most unproven player who has gotten the most hype this off-season. I would really like to have a big, healthy guy in the 3rd receiver spot than a Chatman type.[/quote]



I suppose. However, I've seen nothing bad about Bluto from the coaches all off-season. The reason Whit and Bobbie have been getting snaps at center have been because of the backups playing poorly, not Bluto.

[akiliMVP]

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/228195228_3b6be5b7d8.jpg?v=1156873194[/img]

The last time we played the Packers in the preseason in 2006, it was Carson's first game back from tearing his ACL. I was there, it was fantastic. The atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable, even though it was only a preseason game. Palmer finished the game 9/14 140 yds and 3 touchdowns. We won 48-17. I remember leaving that game thinking how damn good we would be that season....

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='akiliMVP' post='686328' date='Aug 11 2008, 01:37 PM'][img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/228195228_3b6be5b7d8.jpg?v=1156873194[/img]

The last time we played the Packers in the preseason in 2006, it was Carson's first game back from tearing his ACL. I was there, it was fantastic. The atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable, even though it was only a preseason game. Palmer finished the game 9/14 140 yds and 3 touchdowns. We won 48-17. I remember leaving that game thinking how damn good we would be that season....[/quote]


I don't think I've ever stopped to think about how badass the black on black unis are.

[JC]

Boy. I have been waiting for this for 8 long months. Not being able to watch these guys play for that long sucks.


But the road starts here. We need all the guys to mesh and gel and all that good stuff and be ready for the brutal season ahead. It's going to take a lot, but this team has playoff caliber talent, it just needs to play together.

Anyways lets start our road onto 19-0 and do what the Pats couldn't.


[size=7][b][color="#FF8C00"]WHO[/color]-DEY![color="#FF8C00"]![/color]![/b][/size]